Demotion for the Twitchin' Reel

My reel with the twitchin' button was okay for my tube float, but it doesn't cast far enough to work well with my kayak. To land the lure on the edge of the bank, to avoid splashes, I have to be too close to the bank. So, I'm demoting it to be my jig rig, and putting my T-rig redhead craw on the white Quantum reel, which I don't think caught a fish in 2011, its first year. I really like the twitchin' feature, especially when using my paddle to reposition the yak during a retrieve. The button quickly takes up slack while stroking. We'll see how the white one does. Meanwhile, I'm still impressed with how far the U.S. Reel casts. With my sonar out, I haven't had a chance to test the line counter on the 10-bearing blue reel.

First fish of 2012 ...

My second trip out in my yak this winter didn't go as well as expected. My sonar unit didn't show depth, stuck at 0.00. (Sigh!) I'm not sure what the problem is, either. I fished Beaver Creek by the dam on March 11, a Sunday afternoon, but didn't have my newly obtained contour map with me, so I had to work off what I could remember, which wasn't much. I tried to go deep, but no bites, so I finally started beating the banks. And, as usual, I got a 2.5-pounder to bite on a Yamamoto red-head double-tail hula grub. Hit it in 3 feet of water, working timber along a shaded shoreline between the coves across from the boat dock that had sun earlier in the day. That kept me on that pattern all the way to the dam. The wind kicked up against me on the sunny side going back to the boat dock, and with the sonar out, I just stroked out. But at least I got my first fish of the year. But not on anything new I've learned or obtained in the off season.

Black-N-Blueman

As a reward for being a good husband, Ellen urged me to go fishing on a warn day recently. Perhaps it was to get me out of the house when two lady friends visited. I was slow in getting everything loaded, though, and was hefting the kayak into the SUV as the guests arrived. Maybe I should have put my new black and blue wet suit on at the lake, but I decided to do it right. Only when fully suited did I realize the poles still were in their rack. So I grabbed three, hoping to duck through the living room without being seen. I had to make a second trip to get the rest -- and was caught upon re-entering the house.

I darted through to get my other two rods, but on the way out was stopped by: "Who are you supposed to be?"
"Uh, I'm an old superhero, black-and-blue man, masquerading as a 'school' teacher who instructs young bass on what not to bite."
Ellen quickly came to my defense, saying: "He's going to fish from a kayak and that suit keeps him warm."
Of all the things the ladies could have asked, their next question puzzled me: "How many poles do you use?"
Five, I answered and didn't waste further time getting out the door.

I imagine the lady was thinking that five is four more than I needed, but I didn't want to take time to explain. I fish tough lakes that take every skill and trick for success. I often catch fish because I've had a rig handy with the right lure for the situation I've just witnessed. Had I re-tied, the opportunity would be lost. Short on time on the water, I don't have time to be changing lures. Besides various situations require different reels and rods.

Anyway, I felt sort of silly as Black-N-Blueman that day, but I'd rather be fishing regardless of what people think.

Doing the work on a rainy Saturday ...

Arranged a pulley system for my anchors that should work. Also fixed the wires and their clamps and made the fuse easier to handle. And added a cable and connecter for the stakeout pole. Also added a cleat to pulley system. Found out the netting isn't going to work, so I untied it all into two thin bungie cords and cut exact lengths to hold the crate, adding knots and hooks. Bent the metal bracket into a semicircle so it fits, but I'm still not sure how to rig a boom -- maybe use the mast hole for PVC, maybe telescoping?

ToDo list for next time ...

[ ] Use the attractants.
[ ] Spray UV on lures BEFORE.
[ ] Sub Twitchin' Bar reel OR
[ ] Clean Twitchin' Bar reel OR
[ ] Add leader to sub reel.
[ ] Test on cold morning.
[ ] Use large swim bait.
[ ] Use 4-blade spinnerbait.
[ ] Try out drift anchor if windy OR
[ ] Try out stake stick if not.
[ ] Dial in sonar settings
[ ] Locate creek channel

So far so good on yak upgrades

I've done several things to improve “Big Blue,” my customized Lifetime Calypso kayak, since last fall — actually since late summer when my hip went out.  And after a recent test run on Lake Shenandoah, so far so good:

> Wet suit was ideal!  Didn't take on water through the “socks,” when putting my legs over the side to reach gear.  It was a warm day, so I didn't use the new gloves or face coverings, but I should be comfortable on 42–degree mornings.  Scupper holes, paddle drips and wave spray were no bother.  

>  My new Eagle color sonar unit worked well, even in shallow water.  I wanted to locate the old creek channel, but it was windy and I had to focus instead on positioning, so I will try again as well as dial in the settings next time.  The transducer came loose while the yak was vertical, but I quickly found the putty and it wasn't a problem.  I apparently got a clean mount through the hull, too.  I do need to re-work the battery connectors, though.

> U.S. Reel was outstanding for casting distance, although it had a heavier-than-usual Clackin Rap.  “Jig and twig” was awkward at first, then okay.  Crawdad hangs up easily, so avoid any brush and use on non-punishing shoreline or deep.  Twitchin' Bar reel, however, doesn't cast as far as I need.  Perhaps sub it out for the Cabela or white reel?  Too windy to try out line counter — next time. 

> Cargo net should be the answer to fixing the crate and its contents.  I've got to figure out how to better attach it.

First biggun to get away ...

Tough going at Lake Shenandoah on Feb. 23, as expected — until a big splash off the far point around 2 p.m..  I was near the reeds at the time, and another jon boat got there first, made a couple casts and trolled toward the dam.  I moved out toward the center of the lake and cast a Clackin' Rap into the area.  Right off the lure hit something once, then twice.  I set the hook, and the U.S. Reel began to sing.  Then nothing, and I mistakenly thought the biggun had gotten off.  So I continued the retrieve and found the fish was still on.  It must have darted toward me.  I began the battle again not far from me, only to feel a “roll” maneuver under water as the brute actually did get off.  Sigh!  Made me think it was a Muskie.

That was the second non-winter incident, because surface feeding is unusual.  The other was when a silver/white streak darted after my Yamamoto craw as I burned it back to the yak after working it very slowly along brush coast.  Such isn't supposed to happen at this sluggish, energy-conserving time of year. 

Rigging my Yak

The best anglers, I'm told, write down their experiences to better remember what they've learned. So as I prepare for the 2012 season on the water, I'm not only recording my catches but my upgrades to my kayak. Next up for "Big Blue:"

> Pulley system for my anchors -- It's going to be windy this spring, and over the winter I got a drift anchor to my metal one. I've got the parts. I just need a warm day and the courage to drill.

> Stakeout pole -- Got a sturdy 6-foot plastic tomato stake with a point that should work. I'm going to apply a rubberizing spray and attach a cable.

> Camera mount -- Already rigged a base for the camera. Now I need some sort of a boom to put in place for time-lapse snaps. Perhaps bending a metal bracket for the sonar cable hole, then attaching PVC? It's got to store and easily be put in place.

> Infuse use -- Need to be better able to use my cell phone apps while on the water without endangering it. Float-able case is too cumbersome for calls, let alone marking GPS hot spots or distances or compass or fishing records, etc. Sandwich baggie is too flimsy.