kite height

Tope

New member
Hi how do I get my kite`s to not fly so high or does it not matter, I have been testing a coupe of kites on local park and I had one out to 450 yards today but it went really high.

also I am having trouble trying to get small kites to fly at all, the wind was 7-10 mph, all they seam to do is twist and dive to the ground. I don't have any drogues on my kites, But I am using a hazard warning plastic tape which is about 3" wide and very light and I have 4 meters tied to the kite, any advice be much appreciated.

Cheers Tope
 

Psy

Sealiner
:)

Tope

I experimented with a Windsong kite, we used it lately during our sojourn at Mazeppa.

It too flew erratically with a sideways motion, flicking and diving.
We had cut the 10mtr/10mm tail rope shorter, but eventually added the cut section to total 10mtrs.
This eliminated the sideways action as well as no diving, kite flew straight as an arrow.

However small(750x750)the surface area of this model did not allow it to take a Bonito head wrapped with shark liver to the backline.
We struggled to keep the kite in the air trying to maintain the bait above the water.
We used a roller troller clip and skipped the bait out probably 1000mtrs.
The kite never really gained any height, due to bait weight, and proved unfavorable to take large baits outside.

The Mullers kite, which has a considerably larger surface area, flew much stronger and very high.

We never tried to load it with a water bottle, guessing a 500ml bottle or a 1 liter bottle ought to bring the kite lower to the sea.
This may be a method you can try to lower the kite.

The Mullers kite has extreme power and will lift most baits from the side.
The taxi system never operated very well,(with the wind we experienced) even twirling upon itself making a real mess of the wire leader in the process.
We therefore resorted to using the 'roller troller' clip, which worked very well and released upon demand.

We chased the clean water outside the brown river water off the island, looking for a Zam cruiser, but had no pickup.
But thats another story.....

::tight:


http://sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=94577&forum_id=82
 

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Tope

New member
Many thanks for your reply the kite I was testing yesterday is about 4ft x 3ft.

I like your bait set up I will have to get me some release clips, as my main aim is to send one baited hook out 5-600 yds.
 

Occie

Sealiner
Jinne that water looks good in the background PSY.
With the windsong kites you can adjust the height with the middle string.

Otherwise just adjust where you put the release clip with bigger baits as this will determine how high the kite flies.

Normally if the kite is flying eratically from side to side there isnt enough weight in the tail.
 

Tope

New member
I also just found out windsong kites will not post over seas, so I might have to either go for Caught in flight or pauls flexwing ?

Also where can I get the triangle release clip from as the one in Psys reply ?


Tope
 

Psy

Sealiner
Occie

Ja the water was reg that day,so with a last ditch attempt we decided to fly another large bait.
The westerly wind started to howl after the kite got airborne, I had to change to the Windsong, as the Mullers pulled to heavily on the rod.

Adjustment of the windsong....We found that the plastic adjuster would not hold, and had to fasten it with a piece of mono to the x spars.
After that, the bait as pictured was able to be skipped out, barley being lifted off the water.
The picture doesn't really do it justice, the bait was pretty large! :cool:, but managed with a slow release to get it gone clear of the brown water,+- 1000mtrs outside,in the direction of salt rock.

@ Tope...maybe I can help you with postage of the kite to the UK? Shout if needed.

The clip can be sought from Enigma at CDS Angling.
 

Tope

New member
Very kind of you Psy.

Just looked on http://cds-angling.co.za nothing came up with the clips unless this is the wrong place lol.
 

Occie

Sealiner
Yes my baits never actually lift above the water.
The only problem comes when the sea is big in wich case you need to scale down to lift the bait over the waves.
I only use the falcon now.Very stable.
 

Psy

Sealiner
Occie

The sea was running at +- 3~4mtrs that day, due to the prevailing overnight westerly.
We managed to skip the 1/2 rugby ball bait out....was a pain in the @$$

Give me some more info on the size you recommend as I note there are the two sizes of the Falcon(170x90 & 2.2x1.1) pls.
 

Steffen

Member
Many moons ago when Kite fishing was strong and the top clubs were Requin, Milan Deux, High Flyers and Zadoba we made use of the simple home built square kite using mainly 6mm dowl sticks and in moderate to strong winds could launch a 5 to 8 kg whole Hake 600 to 800 meters out at St'Lucia with as long as a 200m drop with no problems. In very strong winds I made a center cut in the middle leaving as little as a 15cm border to launch the same size bait. The kite was approx. 95cm square with a potato bag tail up to 15m depending on the wind strength. We did not make the kites smaller, we only reduced the contact area.
 

Occie

Sealiner
If I remember right I think mine is the smaller one. But it still pulls very hard and is very stable, plus you dont need a tail with it.
 

Enigma

Moderator
Let the kite out 80-100m then put in the Release clip.

(I only use the adjustable AFTCO clips as the can be used to drag a 3kg bait out through the surf without popping the bait loose)

Now clip your fishing rig onto the clip. This is done by means of a loop on the leader(tie on with insulation tape) It should be done at least 3m up the leader to keep the baited rig hanging way below the clip to prevent it wrapping up and around the kite line when you strike it loose.

The Best kite now and always for dropping baits is the single line square kite. It tacks fine and the lift adjustment is ample.

The Falcon is made for static line deployment for use with a bait ferry.

I have 35cmx35cm for 70km/h+ winds
65x65cm for 25-65km/h remember to carefully adjust your lift and tack to reduce pull for easy retrieving of the kite.
1mx1m for 10-25km/h

The best tail for a single line kite is a 5mm ski rope. 7m for small kites and 10m for the 1mx1m kite.

Spinning and tumbling kite is symptomatic of to light/to short a tail

Short thick tails pulls the kite down and square to the wind so no matter how much lift you try give for easy retrieval, it will always pull square to the wind and either break the kite, the line or just be a nightmare to retrieve.
 

Tope

New member
Thanks for the replys , I do have a a very short video on my phone, of the first attempt to get my kite out it was over grass I will see if I can get it on here.
 

Enigma

Moderator
Occie wrote:
Yes my baits never actually lift above the water.
The only problem comes when the sea is big in wich case you need to scale down to lift the bait over the waves.
I only use the falcon now.Very stable.

Or get an AFTCO Kite/Outrigger release clip, set it tighter and drag the bait out through the surf, is quite easy when you have a stronger wind.

Also make the bait longer and more streamline or if using a fish bait get it to swim like an fish ie head first and drag is minimal.
 

Occie

Sealiner
Why do you prefer the square kite to the falcon Craig? I find the falcon easier to launch and more stable than my windsong kites and we tacked it quite decently last trip.
 

Enigma

Moderator
I use my Falcon only to deploy the bait ferry with eds baits. It pulls to hard and lift deflection setting makes it unstable as soon as you reduce the pull to much.

Square kite pulls hard when tethered to the bait line as soon as you drop the bait it tilts forward and launches straight up into the sky being retrieved with little to no effort which is REALLY important when dropping 8-10 baits at a time.

I have deployed baits in 80km/H winds with the square kites tacked to 30 degrees and 45 degree lift as soon as the bait is dropped.

I don't want to spend the day fighting a kite, especially when the winds get up.
 
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