I recently met up with the NZ importer of the Buff products and got talking to him about how I used my Buff, and whilst the Visor Buff worked apparently one of the newer High UV Angler Buffs would suit my use better, so here is my new Buff: (of course I had to pick a fishy one)

And again it’s proved it’s worth, not sure if there is but it feels like there is a difference between the two materials used between my old Visor Buff and this new High UV Angler Buff, the new one feels thicker and seems to wick more moisture away from me better but may be I’m imagining that…

Dropping the visor does seem to make it easier to wear, I did ask if I could just cut the visor off my old Buff and the answer was yes and it won’t unravel (apparently – I haven’t done it).

Buffs aren’t cheap but it’s one of those products I’ve paid my money for and got it or more back from, I like it early in the morning for keeping the cool air off me as I paddle out to the spot and in the day for keeping the sun off. I recently on my last Barrier trip purposely didn’t wear any sunscreen and just used the Buff for keeping the sun off my face and neck and I’m glad (very glad) to say it was a success, well nearly… I did get burnt on the sides of my head, the little bit of skin in the area between my cap, sunnies, and the Buff so yes you do still need some sunscreen but at lest one bottle should now last me all summer instead of the multiple bottles I normally use during the course of a summers fishing!

Discuss this review and Buffs in the forum > Click Here

This is a running rig for an Ocean Kayak Ultra 4.7, they are also available for the Prowler 13 and 4.5 and I’m sure they could be adjusted/made for other makes and models

What you get:

Ready assembled running rig
Two stainless steel saddles
Four 5mm screws

Fitting is pretty simple thanks to the brass inserts that are moulded into all the Ocean Kayak Prowlers

The bow

Saddle fitted

The stern

Saddle fitted

Once the saddles are fitted it’s a simple matter of undoing the quick link, slipping it over the saddle, and closing the quick link again

Repeat at the other end

All fitted, yep that’s how easy it is!

So now a bit about the business end, the clip to your anchor or drogue, one of the differences between this and the standard Ocean Kayak one I had is the attachment system employed, in the old one it was another quick link, it’s been great very robust, never jammed up on me but it doesn’t lend itself to a quick release. You may need to release your anchor/drogue in a hurry one day, got a big fish on, need to move yourself in a hurry, etc this is where the Rob Fort one is better, it uses a simple spring loaded swivel clip, looks quite small but it’s very solid so should pack the strength needed, and the bonus of the clip is it’s also a swivel great for those times your drogue twists in the current and swell, no more twisted half closed drogue!

You’ll also see the Rob Fort one is using 6mm braided rope as opposed to my old 4mm one, not sure it needs to be 6mm but it does run through the 6mm pulleys smoother, only down side is the knots of course are bigger…

So that was it, not a huge job but a running rig is a must have on your kayak so here’s another option.

You can order them from Rob Fort via his website, or I think you can drop in and see him just outside Coromandel Town, his website is:www.kayakadventures.co.nz

The running anchor used is this one RFX Running Anchor System Prowler Ultra and retails for $79.00

Cheers, Mental

PRICE – RRP typically in the $120 – $130 range

WHERE TO GET ONE – Most sports/outdoor stores

PRO’s - Light (no pun intended), discrete, well balanced, water resistant, variable light intensity with infinite dimmer, variable beam from flood to spot. Brighter than my 3x D cell maglight with a spotlight beam that seems to be capable of starting fires! In my normal operation I find the dimmest setting is on a par with my other LED headlamp and is more than adequate for general use.

CON’s – Not waterproof, but would suit most kayaking conditions except rain or a dunking. The 3x AAA’s would have been better as AA’s for longer life

SUMMARY – I went into the store to evaluate this beastie on behalf of a friend who wanted to use it for floundering. As soon as I saw the performance, I bought one on the spot. I have since used it on search and rescue operations and night abseils and has been examined and commented on favourably by those peer groups. I honestly think you’ll want one too as soon as you see the punch this thing packs.

Cheers
HLD

Click Here to discuss this product / review in the forum

Size is everything, normally sea anchors are sold on the length of your boat equation, big long boat equals big sea anchor, small tinny needs a little sea anchor, so therefore when kayak fishing first started the standard isue was a little sea anchor that would normally be used for a 12 foot dingy. The problem we have on a kayak is that we have very little water resistance but a big wind resiatance, therefore we get blown around very easily, much more so than a 12 foot row boat, so we actually need a BIG sea anchor…

The second difference we have in a kayak is that we want the sea anchor to be on or near the surface at all times, what we do not want is the sea anchor sinking and going down deep and a nice big swell come through, if it does the sea anchor will simply pull the kayak down and you will very quickly find yourself in the drink, of course with all the buoyancy a boat comes with it’s not an issue for the boats. Thankfully the is a very simple solution to this problem, attach a float to your sea anchor…

So with the “why’s” covered lets look at the “how” with the Tagit Kayak Sea Anchor, this product has been designed for the kayaker, it’s a good size anchor for us, with this anchor you will be slowed down sufficiently in most safe wind speeds we venture out in. Secondly it has a built in float strip which runs along the full length of the anchor itself, this keeps the anchor up on the surface all the time.

The anchor is made from a canvas material that looks to be coated with a PVC on the inside, it has good thick webbing straps running back to a stainless D ring for you to connect the anchor to your running rig or other anchor system on your kayak.

This is another good kayak focused product from Tagit, locally made here in New Zealand and very reasonably priced – Take a look at their website – www.FishingDirectNZ.co.nz – or have a look for their products at your local tackle shop.