Fun Busy Saturday, Part 2

I mentioned I sold the Big Tuna - yup - that certainly was a quick turnaround. We bought it in October last year, used it fairly often, modified it and now it's got a new home. I enjoyed the boat immensely. I really enjoyed modifying it so it fished well. I didn't ever make a connection with the kayak sitdown style of paddling. I never have - in fact 99% of the pictures I have been in on the Big Tuna was of me standing up and using a SUP paddle. And this boat did that well too, but the lure of being able to have an Aguera Hooked SUP was too much. That and I realized the kids are big enough to paddle themselves around on SUPs. So I put the kayak up on Craigslist, www.paddling.net, and the Stand Up Zone - and after a week, Rob the new owner called and asked a bunch of questions. Done deal! Our garage has changed significantly since this time last year - lots of board purging - but after the Hooked SUP comes in, things should be stable for a while. So the next leg in our short trip - hit the surf!!! Here Marlon and Noe get comfortable in the water (high tide and windy - not ideal according to Marlon). More in a second...

Fun Busy Saturday, Part 1

I finalized a deal to sell our Amphibious Assault Craft - the Jackson Kayak Big Tuna - which meant we had to drive down to Virginia Beach today (oh no - twist my arm). We certainly made the most of it! I had loaded the truck last night (in the dark) and miraculously managed to get all the kayak pieces/parts, fishing gear and beach supplies (boogie boards, rollie, fins, tent, etc) - and we were able to get an early start. So stop number 1 - breakfast. This place had to be the best breakfast spot I've ever been too - the pictures speak for themselves - captive audience, clean hook set, awesome fish on and subsequent fight, kids each get a turn, and just as I was going to try and land the big one, the tippet breaks. The barb was pinched down so I figure the fly (pitiful attempt at a bread fly - but ravenously taken) will fall off quickly. I haven't landed one yet, but at this rate, I should be able to cross "carp" off the list of summer targets very shortly. We're eating breakfast at this spot again (and I'll bring a net and stronger tippet next time)!!!

Fishing and Paddling Friday at Beaverdam Reservoir Part 2

I learned something today - I prefer SUPs to kayaks. The wind kicked my arse - I didn't stand a chance without a rudder (and I didn't have one). We did get back in one piece and I cast the fly to the fish around the floating dock - I really got to thinking on the drive back: why did I get the kayak? I got it because I could take the kids out with me if La needed to do other things. I got it because it seemed to be very compatible with the local/region waterways. I got it because it was another way to enjoy the water and way something new. Don't get me wrong - I have enjoyed using the heck out of it, but after today's episode in the wind, I realized I am a way better SUP paddler than I will ever be a kayak paddler - so I will be putting the Big Tuna up for sale. We'll replace it with a couple of SUPs (one for the kids, one for me) for non-surf paddling. More to follow. Back to the pictures and today's outing - I ended up catching more bluegill at the dock. Eight ended up in the tank - and there were several more that took the hook. There were also other types of fish - smaller, more aggressive against the fly than the bluegills - that I couldn't hook - next time. When we got back to the house, I started on another project I've had in my head for a while - widening the board rack. I'll post more on this tomorrow.

SUPing around CARP Nasty!!!

After lunch, we loaded up the truck with La's SUP and the kayak and headed over to Fairfax Reservoir. We thought the lake was Beaverdam Creek, but when we asked some of the other people at the dock, they corrected us (nicely of course). As usual, the kids lounged out on their kayak chairs, La buzzed around on her SUP (very nice form now) and I got to paddle the kids and the food/drinks around (but I like doing that). I think I can really use a flats pole at place like this - in fact as we were dragging the drag chain going downwind I saw TONS of carp (I think they were spawning) and all I could see in my head was me flycasting to bonefish back on Diego Garcia... I think I have found my new favorite paddling spot!!! I left my 5wt in the truck, so I was casting with my Nissin Seiryu rod - I managed to hook one carp after a very long time and it broke off in the blink of an eye. That's fishing! Next time I'll bring the Starboard 11'2" decked out for fishing and those carp will be MINE!!! AHH - AHH - AHH - AHH - AHHHHHH!!!! We bumped into a guy shooting the carp with a bow and arrow - looked like tons of fun! I told him to go down a little bit further and he'd be shooting them in a "barrel". He said thanks and asked if I ate carp because he had 10 in the boat - I said thanks but I only eat saltwater fish. Noe then asked "Can he release the fish if he shoots them with an arrow?" and I said "No - they are dead at that point". Since we have been catching and releasing everything when we go fishing, the kids have come to think that happens all the time. Noe then said "I don't want to do that kind of fishing because then the fish are dead!". Lesson learned here - take notes because this is free - make the most of where you live and be a happy person. We have lived in some pretty cool places by the sea and have loved it - now we live inland, but you can find really cool things anywhere, just open your eyes and look!

Kayak Work on Columbus Day

So on this latest iteration of Columbus Day (I'm still not sure why we get the day off, but I'll take it), the final project I worked on was installing the bungee net holders on the sides of the rear cargo area. If you are looking to do the same (the kayak does not come with these mesh panels - order them from the Jackson Kayak website), use a 3/16" drill bit and get yourself a good rivet gun. There are four impressions on the inner lip of the compartment - find those and drill your holes. 10 holes and 10 rivets later and your done! Slippers, soda cans, small tackle boxes, mosquito repellent and other quick grab stuff now have a home.

Bow and Stern Anchors

3 pound grapple hook up front (deployed from the starboard beam, locked in at an appropriate length for the wind and depth, then shuttled up to the bow by the trolley - which is on the starboard side - storage issue for me, you can put it wherever you want), 2 foot drag chain out the stern (the boat is moulded with a chain channel and side handles sized to drop in a small Flexi dog leash). Can you say "two point mooring"? I can!

Better Blocks for the Anchor Trolley

So I didn't feel right about the last block I had used for the bow end of the trolley. I went to West Marine and grabbed a cheek block that gets screwed down. Using a 9/64 inch drill bit, #8 1" stainless steel screws, 1"x2" cuts of cutting board (for backing) and the new Harken block and fairlead, I now feel absolutely confident in the trolley. Now I just need the sun to come out so I can take this out on the water.

RAM Mounts on and Anchor Trolley for the Big Tuna

Here are a couple of pictures of the RAM mount balls in place. Pretty useful (nice tiedown point for the paddles during transport). Turns out with the fairleads on the kayak, you only need one of the 1/4" pulleys. I used a heavy duty carabiner for the accessory interface (where I'll lock in an anchor line, stake pole or drift chute). I placed the trolley on the starboard side since this side of the kayak is stored up when I have it in the garage (this will prevent the carabiner or the pulley from getting damaged or scraping the side of the kayak). If I haven't already said it - modifying kayaks is really cool -

Fully Loaded

We loaded up the truck and hit Annapolis yesterday. The Darby Extend-a-Bed worked fine - no rattling or shaking at all. I loaded La's SUP, the ULI (not inflated), the kayak and all the paddles, lifejackets and kayak accessories - I think I could have put on another SUP and some boogie boards.

RAM Rod Tubes and 1.5" Mounting Ball

If you check out the walk through video on Youtube for the 2013 Cuda (Jackson Kayaks) you'll see that they have placed #10 screw mounts in areas where you would want to attach accessories (like RAM rod tubes and GoPro cameras that use #10 screws through conventional GoPro mounts). Well - I checked on Jackson's website and they sell the 1.5" ball mounts and the 2008 model RAM Rod Tubes - and the inserts that support the high seat mounts on the Big Tuna also fit the 1.5" mounts. That means you can use these same tube/mount setup that comes on the 2013 models on your 2012 (but you are limited to where the seat holders would be). Next I'll start looking for the inserts (Lowes or Home Depot) and see if I can install them in other spots. Or I'll just save myself the trouble and install yakattack GT90s. We'll see what works better.

Drag Chain Instructions for the Big Tuna

It's on the Youtube video (Jackson Kayak's Big Tuna Walkthrough) but I couldn't find specific instructions on how to rig an anchor system. It was not hard to do - get yourself the Flexi size small CORD (not tape) dog leash, 2 feet of 3/8" chain, some duct tape and some 550 cord. Tape up the chain links - first using half-width strips of duct tape to tape up the middles of each link then overwrapping the chain twice. This will prevent the chain from piling up on itself and getting stuck in the rocks. Next, fish out the end of the cord from the connection point of the leash (where the ballistic loop meets the end of the cord looped in the plastic housing). Untie the knot in the cord - you could also cut the cord at the point it goes into the plastic connector, but I gave all the parts I didn't use intact to La for other projects and I wanted to keep as much of the 16' of cord that the leash has. Next take 60" of 550 cord (parachute cord) and tie it to the leash cord together - I used a hitch on the 550 and a bowline on the thinner leash cord - whatever you use, make sure it is low profile because it has to go smoothly through the anchor system fairleads. String the 550 through the fairleads, stuff the leash handle in the midship handle well with the buttons facing upward and the cord exiting towards the stern, then tie a bowline with the bitter end of the 550 cord around one end of the drag chain. There should be a little pigtail left in the 550 (the minimum distance from the end of the fairleads where the chain butts up to the leash well is 56" - you should have used 60" of 550 remember?). That's it! The major difference between what is in the Jackson video and what I did was the use of the 550 - I like to think of it as chaffing gear for the leash cord - they tied the leash directly to the anchor/drag chain and although my way may be overkill, I've seen a bunch of things at sea that make me think the way I do. Hopefully I kick this cold tomorrow so I can try this thing out!!!

Big Tuna On Ramp

I pulled the trigger. Unbeknownst to me, the kayak universe is much like the annual car market - at the end of the model year, the prices come down. Calling around and plying the internet, I found a pretty good deal (10% off, 2 free paddles, no sales tax) on Jackson Kayak's Big Tuna. I'll pick it up on Sunday (and maybe catch some surf at the same time). The unique abilities of this kayak is the main reason I am getting a kayak - I do not think of this as moving off in the direction of kayaking, but instead I am getting an incredibly versatile SUP. Poling is an option in shallow water; carrying both kids and fishing simultaneously is an option, paddling tons of gear to a picnic/camping site is an option (and entering kayak fishing tournaments is an option - heck - I do have a bunch of lures and rigs collecting dust, and my family does like sushi...). And it's camouflage! And yes - I will try to surf this thing - stay tuned

New Direction

So as I alluded to earlier, I've been thinking about a different way to get out on the waters that we are near to (lakes, the Potomac River, the Chesapeake Bay and other streams). I've been plying the web for tandem kayaks so I can take Marlon and/or Noe out on early morning weekend dawn patrols (to fish). I stumbled on the Jackson Big Tuna which on Youtube can be seen carrying two adults and two kids. We stopped into a Kayak store in Hampton and checked it out. I am trying my hardest not to breakout the credit card......