Review – Scotty Gear Head Track Adapter

I took delivery of two of Scotty’s Gear Head Track Adapters from Escape Watersports quite some time ago. I'd not really used them in anger until last month, hence I’d not really provided myself with an opportunity to write a fair review until recently.

Personally I’m a big fan of RAM accessories, my main rod holders being a pair of RAM tubes fitted either side of the seat on both of my kayaks. However, I really wanted a pair of rod holders mounted up front, facing out to the side, for trolling purposes. These would be required to position the rods at right angles to the kayak, providing maximum tip separation whilst keeping them in full view at all times.

I’d already decided on a pair of Scotty rod holders for this application. They locked solid and when fitted with a set of Scotty Slip Discs provided infinite adjustment. I raised them up using a pair of Scotty Vertical Extenders (No.254) to prevent the rod butts from fouling my knees whilst using Hobie’s Mirage Drive. The real issue was how best to affix them to my Hobie Outback.

Ok, I could have used a Scotty flush mount base, but where to mount them?. I’d already fitted several sections of YakAttack’s GearTrac to the kayak, ideally I wanted to mount all my accessories to this very strong and versatile track system.

Step forward Scotty’s Gear Head Track Adapter… so what exactly is it?. Quite simply it’s a turret that’s designed to accept a Scotty accessory the same way as say a Scotty flush mount would. However, Scotty have incorporated YakAttack’s T-bolt into the adapter which permits it to fit to YakAttack’s GearTrac and Mighty Mounts.

Fitting them to the track is a quick and simple affair. With the T-bolt partially unscrewed the adapter slides onto the track and is simply tightened down. The combination of the T-bolt and the rubber washer that forms part of the mount provides a very solid mount.

Accessories are attached to the adapter by twisting the unit and dropping a Scotty accessory into the mount, releasing it causes the accessory to be locked into the adapter. It’s really as simple as that. What is nice is that accessories can be removed and fitted as required whilst leaving the Adapter fitted to the GearTrac/Mighty Mount.

 

I recently enjoyed a few days fishing down in Cornwall where I had several opportunities to try out the Adapter as part of my trolling setup. I only took one rod holder setup afloat with me and kept it stored within the dry box until required. I kept the Scotty rod holder, vertical extender and Gear Head Track Adapter as one complete assembly. It was a simple case of removing the rod holder from the dry box and fitting it to the GearTrac as required. The operation was quick and simple, it taking only seconds to fit or remove.

With the vertical extender and rod holder fitted the whole setup was extremely solid. I’d wanted a solid mount, capable of withstanding aggressive hits from fish, without the rod holder being pulled out of position. The combination of the Scotty rod holder, the vertical extender and the Gear Head adapter mounted onto a length of GearTrac, had provided the rock solid mount that I’d wanted.

The T-bolt was particularly tight within the Adapter, though I expect that this will slacken off a little with use. The Gear Head Track Adapter can be purchased from Escape Watersports for under £15 which is very reasonable.

With regards to rod holders, I’ll be taking delivery of a pair of Zooka Tube rod holders from YakAttack sometime soon. Once I’ve had a good play with them and used them in anger I’ll publish a full review – watch this space.

First trip out!

My son has been asking for quite a long time for me to take him fishing. I can’t remember how old I was when I first went, five, perhaps six years old?. He’s turned six last month and has just returned from holiday. One of his first questions was when can we go fishing!. He already has a wetsuit and PFD and had joined me on the kayak for a play once before.

The weather was ok, though we launched a little later than I’d wanted due to the tide. It was a weekday evening and he couldn’t be too late for bed!. As expected he was massively enthusiastic and helped me pack the car, carrying each item individually, putting them in the boot in a haphazard manner. Once on scene he helped rig the kayak and we headed down to the slipway. With the kayak in the water he hopped into the tankwell of the Hobie Outback and made himself comfortable. I’d taken two rods rigged with mackerel feathers, one of them being a short Fladen ice fishing rod and reel for him.

I peddled out a few hundred yards, the kayak being extremely stable despite his 50lb weight moving about behind me. We were soon feathering away and disappointingly the mackerel weren’t there. After a drift on a few hundred yards I moved about in the hope of finding some fish. There was the odd small shoal showing on the fish finder from time to time, though I’m guessing they were sand eels due to the lack of takes.

As kids do, my son soon became bored as the huge bounty of mackerel that he’d expected had failed to materialise. I looked around a couple of times to find him staring at the water/kayak. I kept telling him to look around and enjoy the views, though he kept on looking down. A few moments later he gave me his rod and said he wasn’t feeling well… yup, he was seasick!. I have to give it to him, my boy can vomit with the best of them!. Once cleared out he started to fee better and the fishing resumed.

Gulls started to work the surface a couple of hundred yards away so we made a dash into the area and dropped out lines. There wasn’t a huge number of fish, though there was a handful hitting bait on the surface. I hooked up and passed the rod to my boy who proudly reeled in his first ever fish!

He was happy and sat there examining and prodding his catch all the way back to the slipway!. He was still feeling rather queasy and when asked if he wanted to kayak fish again the answer was a resounding NO!. I left it at that, though at 0700 the next morning he was jumping up and down and my bed asking when we could go again. I guess his bout of sea sickness had failed to dampen his enthusiasm. He left for school, all proud, clutching  a copy of the  above photograph… good times!