The UK Hobie Fishing Team sponsored by Shore Thing/ The Hobie Centre
For the last seven years, Shore Thing/ The Hobie Centre has been sponsoring the UK Hobie Fishing Team. The UK Fishing Team are a group of keen anglers that we have specially selected for sponsorship. Their enthusiasm, drive and skill have really helped push forward the sport of kayak angling. Over the last eight years, the sport has found it’s momentum, and it is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK.
Dave Morris – Member of the UK Fishing Team since 2012 – founder of Anglers Afloat and organiser of the Swanage Classic.
Dave Morris
David has been fishing since a young lad, spending the summers staying on his Aunty and Uncle’s farm, fishing the lake at the bottom of their garden, happy to catch anything. He was introduced to his passion, kayak fishing in 2003 and soon after launched www.anglersafloat.co.uk
In 2010, he fished his first major international competition in Jacksonville, Florida, since then he has travelled around the world to participate in local and global competitions.
David joined the Hobie Fishing Team in 2012, soon after flying off to Texas to fish the 2nd Hobie Fishing Worlds. A year later and he was off again to fish in the Hobie Fishing Worlds 2013 in Australia. He has since fished several major tournaments including the Hobie Euro’s in France and Holland, the WPC in Holland, the Hobie Predator Open in Holland and the Shangzhong Open Kayak Fishing Touranment in China. He competes in as many events as he can in the UK, both Saltwater and Freshwater. David also organises the Hobie sponsored Swanage Classic, now in its 9th year.
David fishes from a Hobie Outback and Hobie Revolution 16.
“Having fished for 4 years on the Hobie Revolution 13, I made the decision that I needed a kayak specifically for my freshwater tournament fishing. I would love a ProAngler 14, but needed something a little easier to handle on my own off the water so decided on the Hobie Outback. I can stand up and fish when the need arises, it’s incredibly comfortable and there is plenty of room for all my gear; when you are fishing for 3 different species at a lure competition you need a lot of tackle. With the introduction of the Hobie Mirage 180 drive I have the perfect tournament machine.”
“Although my Hobie Outback is more than capable on the sea, fishing tournaments means I need to get to the marks quickly, speed is key. The Hobie Revolution 16 is just the job, very fast and seaworthy. There is a compromise with cockpit space over the Outback but with a bit of thought and adaption it’s a joy to fish from and boy does it handle it’s self well.”
“I’ve kitted both the kayaks out from the Hobie Accessory Catalogue. The catalogue gets bigger every year and it now has nearly everything that I need to customise my kayak the way I want it, ordering everything from one place is so much easier than waiting for items to arrive from the States, Europe and the UK.”
Ian ‘Dizzyfish’ Harris – Member of the UK Fishing Team since 2012 – Organiser of the London International.
Ian ‘Dizzyfish’ Harris
Ian, or “Dizzy” as he prefers to be known has been part of the Hobie Fishing team since 2012. He currently uses The Hobie Revolution 11 and a limited edition Hobie Mirage Outback. He describes himself as a bit of an all-rounder. He has competed in Hobie Kayak Fishing World championship finals in Texas, Australia, Holland and China where he finished 5th. Dizzy has also competed in many other kayak fishing competitions around the world including the World Predator Classic, finishing 2nd and 4th in the team and individual events, and also taking 2nd place in the European freshwater championships in 2016. His most cherished awards were winning the first Hobie Angler’s Choice award in Holland, and the WPC Sportsman award. Dizzy also runs the biggest UK kayak Fishing Facebook group, a kayak fishing website, and a successful kayak fishing YouTube channel. When he is not kayak fishing, he loves to write about kayak fishing in one of the many fishing magazines from around the world. For the last 3 years he has organised The London International kayak fishing festival. With over 12 countries each year, the London International is Europe’s biggest freshwater kayak fishing competition.
In 2018 Ian was made Captain of the European Hobie Team for the Hobie Worlds in Sweden. He talks about his post in our Q&A Session.
Follow ‘Dizzyfish’ at his YouTube Channel
The UK’s biggest Facebook kayak fishing Facebook group UK Kayak Fishing
Lee Garner
Lee Garner
Lee Garner has been fishing since he was 12 years old. Since 2014 Lee has been competing in Lure fishing competitions from the bank to kayak to ice! . Lee has enjoyed consistent results within these competitions, winning a number of competitions both from bank and kayak. Recently he came 4th in the 2017 Kayak World Predator Classics, in Holland, against some tough competition.
Lee attributes his fishing success to not only to his fishing ability, but to his freshwater favourite kayak “the Pro Angler 12”.
“The Hobie pro angler 12 has been key for my freshwater fishing. The stability, space, comfort and effortless peddle system, which allows me to cruise through weed and shallow water with just a change of peddle stroke. As a fishing platform, for me, this is the perfect vessel”.
Not only a sponsored angler for Hobie UK, but also Hobie Centre, Zman, St Croix, American Tackle Company and Navionics.
Mike Taylor
Mike Taylor
Hi I’m Mike from the North East of England’s, I have been fishing over 25 years fishing a verity of methods for various fish from dead baiting for Pike to fly fishing for trout. Living by the coast I have good access to some great areas along the North East coast.
I love fishing from the kayak as it gives you much more precision and manoeuvrability, getting you to places where other water crafts can not get to.
Elizabeth Nichol – UK Hobie Fishing Ambassadeur
Liz Nichol
I reluctantly tried shore fishing years ago, however never really got the fishing bug until I was introduced to Kayak fishing by my husband Phil who was keen to try it out.
Living near the Northumberland coast, the Sea Kayaking got me excited at first, paddling became my exercise of choice; then, in a “if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em “ moment, I agreed to try fishing in 2015 and became hooked.
My first kayak fishing comp brought me an admirable 7th position, closely followed by the Ladies Trophy in the Amble Bob White Memorial Comp and another 7th place out of 150+ anglers.
I then discovered fresh water fishing from a Kayak and my most memorable fish will always be my first pike caught on the River Ouse in York. Luring, catching, handling and returning such a beautiful creature was a moment of wonder.
I am now travelling more to kayak fish and learning more from a whole new group of anglers, many of whom are as passionate about fish welfare and behaviour as myself. Just being with fellow kayak anglers and the fun of the competition is the appeal for me in the many events I have since participated in.
Getting placed at the London International 2018 was a highlight. My perch was beaten only by 2 others, one of whom was the overall winner Lars Lundberg!
Seeing the world’s elite anglers on Hobie Kayaks was a game changer for me and after some great advice from them to keep the line in the water, I knew the best way to go was paddle free and keep my hands free for casting.
My Hobie had to be light and fast, that’s what I’m used to, and I have not been disappointed with my chosen Hobie Compass- it cuts through the surf on the sea and gives real stability with its wider back end. The Compass is remarkably manoeuvrable with the paddle as well as the pedals, now I get to give my legs a work out with the mirage drive pedals allowing me to hold my position while fishing and move stealthily and quickly without the inconvenience of a paddle. The H track allows me to fix my fish finder, other bells and whistles and move them at any time easily.
Fishing, exercising and seeing the world from a very comfortable seat….what could be better.
p.s. I let Phil have a Hobie Outback… so he can keep up.
Rachel Hingley – UK Hobie Fishing Ambassadeur
Rachel Hingley
When you have a partner with over 30yrs fishing experience, it’s inevitable you get hooked, but as someone who finds water terrifying and only learnt to swim at 30, you would think I’d be found anywhere but on a kayak!
I first picked up a rod in 2013, quickly finding that fishing can be frustrating, but learning different techniques and spending time in beautiful (although usually cold!) locations with the added bonus of regularly outfishing the voice of experience. A couple of years later a friend suggested we join him for a day on the water with his kayaks and suddenly I found we were buying kayaks, PFD’s and fishfinders as well as the usual fishing gear. I refused for a long time to even hold a rod on the kayak, entering competitions without fishing, just spending time on the water trying to increase my confidence but not really getting anywhere fast.
The 2018 London International Kayak Fishing Festival was a turning point for me. Only days prior I had, in very calm waters, caught my first Perch from the kayak. Three solid days of being on the water in London only added to my confidence but I got increasingly annoyed at Ian fishing while drifting, on the move or anchored up. In my paddle kayak I had to put away my rod every time I needed to get anywhere, while watching him peddle away in his Hobie Outback with his lure constantly in the water.
Within a month I’d decided on the Hobie Compass, lighter and more nimble than the Outback at the time with similar stability to the Pro Angler, I no longer need help to keep my kayak stable while I get on or off, the Mirage drive is easy to use even at the end of a 12 hour day in the Vantage seat and I can choose between stowing rods and gear in the back or utilising the H-Track even on the move.
Kayak fishing has opened up a new world of friends and challenges for me and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.