Hi all!

I do a fair bit of wetlay / vacbag stuff.  I have also encountered this problem.  Firstly the layer of resin, yeah it does that!  Its just beading on the release agent.  If its gelcoat you can do as mentioned and wait for it to thicken up a bit and it should spread OK.  If its resin and you're wanting to laminate straight away then its just how it is but don't be disheartened!

Secondly the bubbles in the surface.  Woven cloths wet out sooooo much easier than CSM in my experience and its easy to think its properly wet / consolidated.  This will give the little bubbles in the surface!  You really do need to work the resin through the cloth thoroughly in order to stop these bubbles.  This is key!  You may still get one or two on the cross over of the weave pattern (pinholes).  These are a PITA.  If you try to apply resin straight to it then you will get fish-eyes around the pin hole due to the change in surface tension.  I use a different method to fill them.

Pinholes- I use a highly thinned 2-pack lacquer and a brush to work the lacquer right into the pinholes. It takes a few coats but works.  Then spray it.  Dust on coats and let it tack in between until you get a full film and then lay down full coats.  If you film it straight away then you will get fish eyes again. 

Keep trying, you'll get there!