Kayak Fishing Blog

People with Disabilities Sailing and Kayak Angling Fun Day

People with Disabilities Sailing and Kayak Angling Fun Day
by
John & Helen - Anglers Afloat team members

Well last year saw the first Disability Day.  After much planning and organizing, the day came together.  What a success that was.

No sooner had the day passed when the next one was being planned.

Martin Hurst from Anglers Afloat, the UK’s biggest kayak fishing forum, got together once again with Bev Tucker, the disability officer, and they worked together with Powys County Council who funded the event with the help of a Sports Council for Wales Community Chest Award. Llangorse Sailing club hosted the event at Llangorse Lake in South Wales.

On Friday, the 25th of June, 2010, the team from Anglers Afloat arrived at the lake to take out the team from the BDAA (British Disabled Angling Association). The Lads had a great time fishing from a kayak and expressed a feeling of total freedom.

Johnson Outdoors Ltd supplied their Ocean Kayak Demo fleet for the weekend, which was used to it’s full extent. The Sailing Club provided use of its facilities and Sailing Fleet manned by their own members.

On the Saturday morning we had 24 places pre-booked to have a paddle on a kayak. These guests all have a Disability of a kind ranging from blindness, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, wheelchair users to learning difficulities.

The Team were given their safety talk and equipment check, the safety boats were in place and the day began.

Jo & Cath were doing a fantastic job signing in and out the guests. They were issued with a rubber band to wear on their wrist and fitted with a PFD.

We had two guests per team of three Anglers Afloat paddlers. The route planned took about 15 minutes to paddle and included us giving basic instruction on paddle technique. The expressions on their faces were priceless and very hard to put into words. Lots of fun was had especially when we taught then how they could splash us with their paddles - a great way for us to keep cool in the burning sun!

After a very busy morning, we stopped for a lunch break. The guests were lining up to go out again and the crowd on the jetty was getting bigger and bigger.

The Team from Anglers Afloat were pushing themselves to the limit to make sure everyone had some time on the water. Even when there was a queue forming, one of our lads got together with the BDAA guys and got all the youngsters fishing from the jetty. Everyone was having a fantastic time and the smiles showed that.

As the day came to a close, the team retreated back to the campsite where the BBQ was lit and a few drinks consumed, we found out that over 90 guests passed through the registration and some took to the water more than once.

We all agreed, even though it’s hard work, the rewards from so many smiling faces are worth every paddle stroke and to see people with such bravery overcoming some of their fears is just fantastic.

Throughout the day, we came across some pleasant surprises, one stemming back to last year - two young lads paddled out and they were all over the place, but still had a great time. This year the two lads appeared again, so we decided to put them between two of the team. They started to paddle out with a fantastic paddle stroke and were tracking perfectly. We later found out that the lads enjoyed last years event so much, that they took up kayaking and fishing at their school! What a result!

I can speak for all of the team, when I say it’s a pleasure to spend the weekend with such brave and courageious people. I think we all learnt something and can’t wait for next years event.

John & Helen (Anglers Afloat Team Members)

You can visit the Anglers Afloat website here - Anglers Afloat

Kayak Fishing in Japan

It is really fun to watch the sport grow in different countries. Japan has really grown and I was cruising this Japan Kayak Fishing Blog and checking out the pictures … (because it’s not in English) and here is what I saw -

It’s a big Kayak Fishing world out there!!

Here’s a link to the site - http://kfac.naturum.ne.jp/c20102990.html

Scotty Double Gear Adapter

We just started carrying Scotty’s Double Gear Adapter #427. When you are using the Adjustable Rod Holder Extender #459, this #427 allows your rod holder to angle in a different direction than just forward.

But … the #427 doesn’t swivel … until now ….

Our Hook 1 Customer Dominique from France sent me this video with his changes to the #427. BUT … THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY AND MAKE THIS PRODUCT NON-RETURNABLE. I just wanted to show you what his innovation was -

1st Annual Hook 1 Kayak Fishing Gear Calendar - 2010

Our Calendar is fresh off the press and ready to ship!  A great Christmas present, Birthday present … you name it!  It is full of pictures from customers and kayak fishermen and women and kids!!

8 1/2 x 11″ glossy

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Get yours while they last!!

MLPA - Southern California - Save your fishing areas!

I hadn’t been to an MLPA meeting before as my schedule hasn’t allowed it, but I went to one last night.  I have posted all of the materials on our site so that if you aren’t able to go either, you can read the literature handed out, see the maps at this point in the game, and download a comment form and send it in.  Your comments need to be specific and should be mailed in by September.   See the future meeting schedule for information on the time line.

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION