SA - nice day out on the lake

[skorgard]

I got to West Lakes about 6 o'clock, well before dawn to see a calm lake with no wind. I met Andy, the moderator of Kayak Fisher SA who was just setting off in his well-equipped PA as well as a mate of his in Andy's old Sport. I wanted to try my new artificial garfish is to see whether there might be some hungry monstrous silver sided beast who wanted to snap it up but it is attracted no interest. As dawn came up I had done about one third of the lake and changed to a small Yo-Zuri Mag Minnow to tempt some of the STs that should have been about. Apart from one small enquiry I had no action until I got almost to the other end of the lake and then it was a strike every couple of minutes from feisty STs. I had to play dodgems with all the rowers but I decided to go in the opposite circulation to them so I could see them coming and take evasive action. I boated half a dozen it looked like clones and lost a couple on the retrieve. The gear was just perfect for it. My mates know that I don't like egg beaters and prefer overheads. I just can't get the accuracy with the egg beaters to drop those $20 hard bodies just near the pontoons. To do better and to try and get my girls started I bought a Zebco closed face kit a few months ago. I loaded it with Berkeley Nanofil as I wanted really something fine to give me reasonable capacity on a small reel. On this tackle the ST's were just superb.

One I got level with Delfin Island the action stopped just as it and started and no further action until back to the launch spot. As I started to unloaded a guy in a powerboat warned me that there would be about 40 kayakers coming through and in a couple of minutes there was a whole fleet racing fast, all sorts; K1s OC1s, paddlers, all ages really going for it.

After 11 kms I had done a complete lap. After I packed up I headed to the rowing club for the "Chairman's Breakfast" and replete I headed home to arrive at 1030 as promised.

Great morning.

[grinner]

good on you skorgard. just read beekeepers thread and see you have 3 foster kids as well.

all the best with that wonderful vocation.

dont do what i did this avo and put one behind you on the AI. i wanted to see how much water she'd take on thru the rudder cables and the answer is a helluva lot. young fella was sitting in water.

gloves on the fish make it look chilly down there.

[suehobieadventure]

11km is a good workout hope you dodged the racing kayaks but I bet the stealth can fly when you put the turbo in gear !! Looks like a nice morning out.

[solatree]

Onya Paul - great morning,. But whats wrong with a nice egg beater ? I luv em.

[Squidley]

Nice, next time I'm at West Lakes I'll give the STs a go if/when Plan M doesn't work out . Grinner, I was browsing articles at this site and came across this bit:

"Seal up the rudder left/right and up/down line intake tubes with clear silicone. This can help eliminate internal seepage from rudder lines. Pay special attention to the tube end caps where they meet the hull plastic and even push a bit of silicone down into the tube ends (but if you do this, be sure to actuate the lines periodically while silicone dries to prevent lines sticking to it)."

[skorgard]

But whats wrong with a nice egg beater ?

Nothing Andy I just can't cast accurately with them. And the aesthetics are all wrong.

[skorgard]

I bet the stealth can fly when you put the turbo in gear !!

Yes it does Sue with plenty of glide but I still suspect that you would beat me in just the Adventure hull and decent fins. But I am finding the paddling somewhat hypnotically attractive.

[suehobieadventure]

I understand where you're coming from i have bought a 14.5 ft Wilderness systems sea kayak. Have had it over to KI twice and just loving paddling again. Did a 16km trip with shep last time awesome fun. Thought about Stealth but love the dry ride.

[solatree]

i have bought a 14.5 ft Wilderness systems sea kayak

Nice buy Sue - yes there is something about a good paddle.

Did a 16km trip with shep last time

And how did you get to know Shep Sue ? I do like his work ...with brush and with pilchard !

to try and get my girls started I bought a Zebco closed face kit a few months ago.

I bought one of those in Texas Paul, to get my then 4 yo son into fishing (hes now 25 !) - I was most proud when he pulled a nice size channel catfish from one of the Hill Country streams just west of Austin ! But they are ugly - the Zebco reels that is - not the Catfish - they were cute (and tasty) !

[Zilch]

Nice report.

there might be some hungry monstrous silver sided beast who wanted to snap it up but it is attracted no interest.

I can relate to this after my effort / result today.

Like you, it was enjoyable just to be out on the water.

Steve

[kanganoe]

Good to see the sistership with some fish blood on it.