Kayak Surprise

[BrokenolMarine]

In the sea kayak pic, I am actually leaning the kayak toward the camera to show I have mastered my balance. But.. note that my paddle is positioned for a paddle brace strike to stop me from rolling and then a quick forward stroke to get moving forward and re-stabilize the yak. Gee, you'd think I might have rolled that kayak a dozen or so times.

[graywolf]

My oldest grandson and I fished from kayaks several years as he was growing up. I really liked it until the alligators got so bad. I don't like looking at them gators eyeball to eyeball. You got me thinking about it again, but I don't think I'm able to anymore.

[BrokenolMarine]

My oldest grandson and I fished from kayaks several years as he was growing up. I really liked it until the alligators got so bad. I don't like looking at them gators eyeball to eyeball. You got me thinking about it again, but I don't think I'm able to anymore.

Saltwater fishing was sometimes interesting when something BIG would hit the bait. I had my HOBIE turned sideways when something very large whacked a 1' long plastic I was trolling about a half mile offshore. Luckily, it broke the leader and I was off before I was every really on...

I have been hooked up to some good fish in the Salt, and gotten towed for a bit before landing the fish and then releasing them. (Nantucket Sleigh Ride.) Let the fish drag you a bit to tire themselves out. BUT, always keep a knife handy in case you need to cut loose. I have seen video of Shark encounters out away from shore with kayakers. Miss T and I never had one. We did play with the dolphins though. I have shared those pics before.

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[graywolf]

I enjoy looking at your pictures and listening to you, but nope, I ain't getting in that ocean in a kayak.

[graywolf]

You've got me thinking about kayak fishing again. Texted my son to make sure he still had one of my old kayaks, and he does. Main thing is I don't think my back and knees would let me enjoy the kayak like I used to. Plus after all the times fishing with Grandson, would I like fishing alone. Then there's still the alligators. I know a guy who loves fishing in the gulf. I'm afraid the current would take me out to sea and no one would ever see or hear from me again.

[BrokenolMarine]

You've got me thinking about kayak fishing again. Texted my son to make sure he still had one of my old kayaks, and he does. Main thing is I don't think my back and knees would let me enjoy the kayak like I used to. Plus after all the times fishing with Grandson, would I like fishing alone. Then there's still the alligators. I know a guy who loves fishing in the gulf. I'm afraid the current would take me out to sea and no one would ever see or hear from me again.

When we fished in the Salt water with current... we were prepared.

We carried Marine radios so we could call for help.
We had flags on the kayaks so we could be seen.
Pumps in case we sprung a leak.
We ran bright white lights at night marking the kayak.
We carried bright spotlights to shine on approaching boats that acted like they didn't see us.
We had pin flares to signal with.
If we were the subject of a search, we also had BRIGHT white chem lights. Tie one on a six foot piece of parachute cord and spin it overhead, or at an angle and suddenly you have a 12' circle of moving white light to attract attention.
Our kayaks, paddles and vests were marked with solas tape, spin the paddle it strobed with the faintest of light.
We carried food, water, and a change of clothing plus towels.
WE TRIED hard to insure we were prepared.

We were prepared for biting things as well.
Fish Billy or Glock...

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Preparing for night fishing for huge striper off Kiptopeke, note how well the kayaks show up with just the flash...
The huge striper, known as Kiptopeke Cows, show up at the concrete ships around November / December for a brief period on their way south based on a water temperature window. They can exceed 50". You fish for them with live eels. Note that before we attempted this... we were confident in our abilities, and we were DRESSED for the weather. We had Dry Suits, layers of clothing underneath to keep us warm, and waterproof hoods and gloves. We also had changes of clothes handy and had rented a small house on the island close by. If we rolled and for some reason needed it, a hot shower was a few minutes away. The way we were dressed we could roll, climb back on the kayak, and wipe our face and be back fishing, still dry inside the dry suit.

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This video is of Kayak Kevin Fishing for those Cows... He is an amazing guy and Tina and I knew him for years. He works with various conservation groups, tagging many of the fish species. Has fished in all conditions, all around the US and other areas most of us dream about. He lives to fish. His videos teach... This short clip will give you an idea what winter kayak fishing for the BIG ones is like....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWQ2IWGqCXY

[graywolf]

If I ever do want to try it, I think you would be my top choice to go with.

[BrokenolMarine]

If I ever do want to try it, I think you would be my top choice to go with.

Thank you... We used to be really good. Now we are old and tired.
WE still try and introduce new folks when we can. I ran into a young couple at the lake when I took my Granddaughter to fish from shore on Saturday. They were new to the area as well and we were chatting. I was talking about the kayak fishing sport and answering questions. They said they had been considering a Tandem Kayak. I laughed and told them we called those "Divorce Boats."

Heavy, start arguments over where you want to go, and invariably you end up trying to cast to the same spot, or hooking each other...
For the same money, you can almost get TWO kayaks and paddle together but separate.... We chatted off and on for about an hour, and I had explained the difference in hull designs and their effect on speed and stability. When they got ready to leave he came over and thanked me for taking the time to chat.

I told him if he wanted to try fishing from a kayak to email me and I'd take him out in one of our kayaks... then instead of talking about it, he could experience it. "How much would it cost me?" he asked. "Nothing... I'd have someone to fish with."


He looked stunned.

[BrokenolMarine]

NO... I don't make that offer to just anyone I meet...
... that would be very risky.

[clovishound]

Heavy, start arguments over where you want to go, and invariably you end up trying to cast to the same spot, or hooking each other...

Reminds me of diving the rivers for artifacts. Most of us dove the rivers "solo". No, we weren't out there by ourselves, we just didn't stick together when in the water. With limited visibility, currents, and other things to deal with, staying together was difficult, and you had to practically be on top of each other. Plus we were diving in relatively shallow water, so a quick trip to the surface was usually possible in any emergency. There were a few folks that I occasionally dove with that were uncomfortable with this, or were brand new to river diving that I would stick with during the dive. It could get to be difficult when both of us spotted something and tried to pick it up at the same time. Most of the newbies didn't spot things very well, and I would just wait until they passed it by and then I'd retrieve it and put it in my bag. With the exception of one guy, most of the time I was busy just trying to stick with them, and keep an eye on them.

[BrokenolMarine]

I enjoyed taking new folks to "Fish the Light Line" as we called fishing the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel near Virginia Beach. The spans of the bridge were brightly lit at night and cast shadows onto the water. We would launch from the parking lot at one end of the bridge and paddle about a mile around the end of the span and down the island to the bridge to fish the "Shadow Line" along the length of the span. The big fish would dart out from the bridge to hit the bait fish moving in and out of the light. Hold in the current and cast in and out of the light and you'd catch Striper, Bluefish, trout and much more. What I LOVED was the look on the newbies face when we turned the corner and they saw the bridge lit up like Christmas with the cars and the bridge lights.

One of the young guys I introduced to kayak fishing was a young firefighter. I sold him one of my used kayaks at a very good price. It was like new and he was thrilled. We drove from Richmond to VA beach hauling the kayaks on my trailer. We took our drinks, snacks, and meals with us. We were fishing plastic baits and lures, no live baits. The trip cost us gas for the car and tolls. The look of AWE on his face as we turned toward the bridge was priceless. I told him as we approached the actual bridge that he MIGHT actually see fish jump out of the water chasing bait fish. He looked doubtful. But, about the time I said, "No, Really, they Jum..." A big one slammed back into the water after leaping ... He nearly fell out of his kayak.

On his third cast he hooked up, and the fish were hot that night. We lost count about 40 fish in. We finally quit about 4 am and drove home.

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He told me the next weekend that his LT had hauled his boat down for the entire weekend and stayed in a motel, spent about $200 in fuel for the boat, bought meals out, and even splitting expenses with a few other LTs from the fire stations, the weekend cost him about $500. They caught about a dozen fish between them. (Powerboaters won't get right up to the bridge, can't scratch the sparkle paint... ) When my boy told the LT we caught 40 fish each from our "Tupperware Boats" in eight hours of fishing... he didn't believe him. Luckily he had pictures.

He spent a week washing fire trucks. He said it was a GREAT night and we went fishing together often. His LT never bought a kayak but several of the other firefighters did. We did catch a few good sized ones... I put this one in the kayak, but all mine were catch, photo, and release.

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Tina landed a nice one that towed her around for a few minutes before we took this shot then she released it.

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My boy kept a couple slot fish.

[BrokenolMarine]

Yes, it was winter, cold, and wet, but we were dressed for the weather. There were a lot of kayaks along the light line.

[BrokenolMarine]

Planning to try fishing this evening if the weather holds. NOT night fishing, but in the TOP fishing time slot late afternoon into the evening before dark. Spent some time getting the kayaks and trailer ready. The only thing I haven't done yet is pull the wheels and grease the axles, but this is a ten minute tow. Before the hour drive to Ardmore for Jean Neustadt Lake, I'll fully grease the trailer. I did pump all three tires to 32 psi, and insure there were no loose nuts, we washed and prepped the kayaks and ordered a new cover for my kayak. Never had a cover, but with the huge snake deciding to live in it... it was time.

Tina sold her commander cover design to Wilderness Systems years ago, and we supposed to get two free covers a year as needed. BUT, they discontinued the Commander a few years ago and no longer stock the covers... so she was going to make a cover for the longer kayak. When she went on line to order the material she saw one there for $89. Cheaper than the material. It fit, sorta. With my wider squared stern, it wanted to pop up. I sewed a pair of straps to reach the last factory hull strap, and had Tina sew them to the end of the cover. (I am learning to use my leather machine, but NOT that confident yet.) The straps pull the end of the cover down tight and hold it in place. NOW it fits great.

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Here is a view of the Yakima Trailer:

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In this shot the kayaks are (almost) ready to tow. All that is left is to pull the security strap from the wheels and frame of the kayak, (Yes, I am a bit paranoid, but thirty years in LE taught me folks WILL steal anything you don't secure,) and tighten the tie down straps over the kayaks. We don't store them with the straps transport tight. Don't want to deform the hull.

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If the weather doesn't change, I'll take some pics on the water and post a trip report....

[BrokenolMarine]

Before someone asks, those orange things hanging down from the kayak cover rear are Kayak Tails Tina made for years. They are dayglow orange cloth with a solas center. When we were heavy into the kayak fishing scene, she was always asked for them after she made them for us, and sold them for just a bit more than cost. $10 each plus postage. You can clip them to the back of the kayak when transporting on a trailer, in the bed of the pickup, or even on the roof rack of a low riding car. The air flow makes them spin and dance. The solas stripe strobes in the lights, any light. Streetlight, moonlight... whatever. She also had some in lime green.

Often folks would take them off the kayak and put them on the flag poles on the kayaks. We found people were putting them on UTVs, Bikes, Strollers... She also make custom flags from the same material.

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She once got a call from a kayak forum member who had driven to Florida for a tournament, who said he stopped for gas along the way and a guy pulled in beside him and got out and walked up to the kayak in the bed of his pick up and asked permission to look at the kayak tail. He said he had been following him for an hour on the interstate and wondering what the hell that thing was strobing on the back of the kayak. The guy ordered four more tails and was going to send that guy two.

[BrokenolMarine]

Quick trip report. Good news and bad... the kayaking went well. We got them rigged, launched and paddled out and started to fish.... and Mother Nature reared her head. First the wind started. The lake had breaking waves... Skies turned black and lightning flashed, thunder boomed and we Paddled Hard for the ramp and were soon off the lake and loading the kayaks.

But, I am able to paddle, cast, and enjoy the water. As I remembered the seats in the Bonefide kayak is extremely supportive and comfortable and I will be able to do this.... we'll try again tomorrow. We didn't even unhook the trailer...