Potomac Stand Up Paddle Fishing

Saturday morning dawn patrol of a different kind. Met up with a few other Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders for a SUP fishing session at Fletcher's Cove. There was tons of surface action, but whatever they were, they weren't taking flies. I stopped using my 8wt and picked up my Nissin Two-Way Fine Mode Seiryu rod - and the skunk went away - landed a small - small mouth bass! Fun time!

Carp Wrestling - NOT

The wind died down today and the temperature was just about right for paddling. We loaded up the truck and hit BeaverDam Reservoir. We had ambitions for catching carp - flyfishing, hand netting and in a cast net - but those suckers were no where to be found. We did see a Great Blue Heron and a bunch of what I believe to be baby carp (swam around in large schools - about a month after we saw the carp spawning). La paddled our Starboard Blend - I had the fishing crate up on the nose and it looked pretty fast in the water. After a couple of hours, we decided to pack it up - darn carp skunked us!!!!

First Downwinder on island

After running errands, cooking and even stopping into work for a bit, I packed up my windsurfing harness and biked to the Marina. I bumped into George (Gesner), Jasper, Bob (Merton) and a few of the regulars. I talked about the kiting conditions yesterday, how strong the wind was early this morning (too strong for kiting - my opinion; by this time it had backed off a hair) and was going to rent a board and sail to practice windsurfing (another race in two weeks).

That's when George asked if I had done downwinders on SUPs before. Of course I said 'yes' and then he asked if I wanted to go today. Of course I said 'yes!' He let me use his Starboard Blend (and it was as comfortable as mine back home).

We launched from the base of the POL Pier and started paddling out towards the wind line. This is actually near the place I saw those two Tigers - but that's old news.

The wind was strong enough to keep us around 4.5 mph average. We paddled exactly 3.0 miles. I got a peak speed of 9.3 mph on an early runner. From that point forward, the swells were too close together and a hair small to be able to ride for long. I did get a few more runners, but not many.

Checkout the color of the water and the clouds in the sky - pretty awesome!!!

From discussing SUPing on island with George, this sounds like it was one of the first (if not THE first) downwinder.

"Jack of All Trades" Board

Light winds today -

Instead of fighting it, I brought the 11'2" out.

So versatile - La paddled it and I was getting upwind with less than 5mph wind. I nailed a bunch of jibes too - bonus points!

It's good to have a board that can do a bunch of different things well.

Monday Water Time

1. Got the kids out of the house and onto the beach. They played with Godzilla(s) and Gamera and had a great time.

2. I had installed footstrap inserts on the 11'2" (and brought it out with the intentions on windsurfing - wanted to see if carrying the board with the strap and the rig was easier). The wind was dismal so I got a decent paddle in.

3. La tested out our new Medium Sun Shelter (Kelty).

Nice day!

Surf Expedition

Surfing trips are great experiences.

The anticipation of the journey and the waves to come make me feel like a kid going on a long awaited field trip.

This one is especially pivotal for me as it has been over a year since I have surfed legitimate waves - yes I did say ONE YEAR.

Sure there has been sailing, kiting, windsurfing and paddling - but that all was on flat water or open water swell - not the flowing energy of gravity waves rising up to defy the shoaling and having all the elements come together in that singular moment - yes I miss it.

We'll be back on Monday night - stay tuned for what waves we catch!

I'm bringing everything (except kites) - the Blend, paddles, the 5.8 rig, a surfing mat, a boogie board and fins. I will not be skunked!!!

There are no storms scheduled to push large surf in, but the blend can catch anything.

The place I learned to surf over 22 years ago is where we'll be for the weekend - hopefully after this sabbatical I won't look like I did 22 years ago.

Stay tuned...

Versatility

I am on a mission to make this board do everything.

Sailing - done.

Paddling flats - done.

Surfing - to do.

Surf Sailing - to do.

Fishing platform - to do (check pictures).

Trolling - to do, soon (check pictures).

Tandem with the kids - to do.

Tandem sailing with the kids - done.

Racing - to do (maybe soon).

Kite - to do.

Roundhouse Cutback (that doesn't take out my back) - to do (it's going to take a while).

I don't regret selling my 11'6" Naish - as a single fin and as thick as it was, it would not do what I wanted it to do. This 11'2" just feels better. Stay tuned for the anti-skunking efforts of this board.

First mod - install tie down points for VERSATILITY!!!