A Catchless Report

 Met up with Dave this lunch time down in Robin Hoods Bay. Weather predictions were not too bad, SW winds, 2 to 3 with the chance of them building later. We hastily got onto the water and tuned into the weather report on the VHF. This confirmed much the same for the next 24 hours...2 to 3 SW now, building to 4 or 5 later



We shot out to some ground that has been kind to us in the past, our hopes were high as there was a couple of other small boats sat out there. Drogues were deployed and big shads were lowered to the sea bed...


It soon become obvious the wind was building sooner rather than later and more from the South than SW, the big tides were making presentation difficult too.





Nothing was happening on the far mark and the other two boats soon dissapeared, we decided to head back to the inshore grounds



The wind had really started whipping up around the headland, coming closer in was the right move





Dave took a couple of videos of my paddling for me to scrutinise






With the conditions getting no better it was time for home

More Learning in Fabulous Surroundings Pt 2

This weekend was the final sessions of Level 2 Coach training with Saun and Harry of Wild River.

What a brilliant course that has now opened up so many more questions...........







The real work starts now, wish me luck.............


Ken

More Learning in Fabulous Surroundings

Arrived in Cumbria Friday evening ready to start Level Two Coach Training first thing Saturday morning. This was being held at Derwentwater Marine with Saun and Harry of Wild River Coaching. http://www.wildriver.co.uk
It was a fabulous weekend with plenty of interesting and constructive learning.

 

To top it off there was time for a pleasant paddle after the course on Saturday evening. It was a beautiful evening and for the first time ever I took the Ipod with me. I wouldn't normally consider it while paddling on the sea or with company. But what a fabulous experience.





With direct access to the water from the digs - Derwentwater Youth Hostel



A short drag back up the drive



And what a view from the hostel



Looking forward to days three and four of the course next weekend.

Loch Lomond Inchcailloch Island Hoping

My dear friend George had thought of a fantastic weekend, it entailed booking an island on Loch Lomond for our exclusive use. The time of year was right - April which meant few midges, the forecast was great...so we jumped at it. Met up with Tony (Trotter), his lad Sam, Stephen and Sophie the dog and of course George and myself. I brought my lad too, 5 year old Anthony, always a gamble, never camped before and quite new to boating....


We met up at Balmaha, loaded up, the guys were on kayaks, I took the open canoe so I could ship our lad and Sophie across. Within half an hour we were on the island and setting up camp and then time to relax



Well the adults could, the lads were given the task of collecting fire wood



and a bit more relaxing...



and a bit of food...



Tony kept us topped up with brews (when the beer wasn't about) and thanks to George we dined like kings...



and just a quick spot of fishing fro George....



Under the watchful eye of the lifeguard



Some just decided to play in the sand



A beautiful place to spend the weekend







Before we knew it, the daylight was nearly gone





and some others came and joined us...



Time to light the fire and just a bit more food





All lights out by 8.30..........honest.....

Up early and breakfast, duck eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and plenty of bread....

and coco-pops for others





Kit packed away, plan was to get it all packed away in the vehicles and then back out for some 'serious' fishing......



All stowed nicely



How does George get away with carrying so little???



Oh I see now.......





What a beautiful morning







Sam thoroughly enjoying himself..



Then to some fishing......plenty of fish showing down at the bottom of the loch but even after having several follows we were unable to hook into a fish.



Stephen fortunately did a little better on the fly





On the whole a lovely weekend, 700 miles, just home...and just so badly want to go back, the boy is fairly keen too, the best gamble i've ever taken. Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and paddling the open boat, it was made extra special by having my lad with me. this really is the start of something extra special.

1st Uptiding of the Year

I was so keen to get out and fish last Sunday, forecasts were borderline but do-able. Tried ringing friend Dave Saturday night but he was out galavanting around Scarborough town - them young uns. Couldn't sleep, was so keen to get out, up for 4.30am, I actually saw the sun come up over the fields, first time in a long time since I've seen that. As any good friend would do, I text Dave at 6am to let him know my intentions.

Launched from North Landing and headed towards Bempton, a little lumpy but quite ok. Got a call from Dave to say someone rudely awoke him so he got up and was now at the Landing car park . He decided to head towards Brail to do a bit of uptiding to begin with and we kept in touch on the phone and VHF.

Well it was hard work, I sat there uptiding with best baits....



In a fave area....



And the best I could manage was these....





Dave didn't fair much better, we met up a little later and tried several other techniques including jigging and shadding but the cod simply were not there...



But anyway, still a nice day on the water and its still very early season although this time last year we had already had some very productive days uptiding. Plenty of time for good fishing in the coming months though.....