2023 Kayak Thread

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Yeah been searching, sometimes that ends up in a purchase of an item that is just crap so thought I would ask here to see what people have used in the past, what was good and what wasn’t.

That is a gamble anytime buying something new. All you can do is research the product first and try your luck

[Demonical]

Pelican Catch 120 kayaks, wife's is the orange boat.

I use a Garmin 4DV on mine. Nice little depth finder.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

That is a gamble anytime buying something new. All you can do is research the product first and try your luck

Always good to hear from others what worked and didn’t.
Even then you could run into a bad batch of items....been there a few times

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Demonical

Pelican Catch 120 kayaks, wife's is the orange boat.

I use a Garmin 4DV on mine. Nice little depth finder.

Nice set ups.

I move my all season bundle fish finder onto the yak as does my wife but kinda like the set up you went with.

[Demonical]

Thanks Cat, I've got one of those Scotty arms that the transducer is mounted on.
In the bottom pic you can see I have that raised up.

I've got a few different spots where I will position the Garmin and I added a sunscreen to it (a black empty oil jug trimmed up, lol).

I really like the Garmin. I suppose they all have it but there's a bunch of options for different graphics colours for the display.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Demonical

Thanks Cat, I've got one of those Scotty arms that the transducer is mounted on.
In the bottom pic you can see I have that raised up.

I've got a few different spots where I will position the Garmin and I added a sunscreen to it (a black empty oil jug trimmed up, lol).

I really like the Garmin. I suppose they all have it but there's a bunch of options for different graphics colours for the display.

Thx for sharing, my wife got her own fish finder as I got tired of answering the typical questions of how deep are we and what are you seeing!
She still out fished me though, go figure!

Monday is go time for us just hope the weather is nice.


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[58thecat]

Well just got back from the start of Kayak season for me.
French bay was the destination and it did not disappoint.
At about the two hour mark I said once I hit 30 I will stop counting.
Three hours later and many more caught it was like a feeding frency and the Len Thompson no13 dimple series did not disappoint.
Fast retrieve in 2 fow and the yak got towed all over the place.
Largest was 34 inches.
What a great start to the season!


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[58thecat]

Even I had to eat!!!



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[HuyFishin]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Well just got back from the start of Kayak season for me.
French bay was the destination and it did not disappoint.
At about the two hour mark I said once I hit 30 I will stop counting.
Three hours later and many more caught it was like a feeding frency and the Len Thompson no13 dimple series did not disappoint.
Fast retrieve in 2 fow and the yak got towed all over the place.
Largest was 34 inches.
What a great start to the season!


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Well done!! I really need to get up there. photos are making me super jealous

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Even I had to eat!!!



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Clear water pike where you can see the strike has to be one of my favorites. Watching a big pike come in full speed without hesitation and smash your lure wakes up a guy in a hurry

Our new kayaks are sitting on a new trailer ready to go I am just waiting for evacuation to be lifted now

May have to invade your local lakes to beat the smoke this summer

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

Well done!! I really need to get up there. photos are making me super jealous

Great time is from opener for about a month or so then the back bays etc choke out with weeds and the pike/walleye head to the big water.


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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Clear water pike where you can see the strike has to be one of my favorites. Watching a big pike come in full speed without hesitation and smash your lure wakes up a guy in a hurry

Our new kayaks are sitting on a new trailer ready to go I am just waiting for evacuation to be lifted now

May have to invade your local lakes to beat the smoke this summer

Must be so hard having everything ready to go and waiting for these dam fires to stop, we need rain big time province wide.
Not just rain but a week long soaking then let our summer begin!
Look forward to seeing pics of your set up etc.


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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Must be so hard having everything ready to go and waiting for these dam fires to stop, we need rain big time province wide.
Not just rain but a week long soaking then let our summer begin!
Look forward to seeing pics of your set up etc.


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It is what it is nothing I can do about it

Will likely just give me the excuse to explore some new waters this year

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Clear water pike where you can see the strike has to be one of my favorites. Watching a big pike come in full speed without hesitation and smash your lure wakes up a guy in a hurry

Our new kayaks are sitting on a new trailer ready to go I am just waiting for evacuation to be lifted now

May have to invade your local lakes to beat the smoke this summer

I've found that pike in clear water can be pretty prone to following. Last night I made it out, water was super clear, pike were following real bad... Had a real giant with a big scar on his back follow in a couple times, but they knew darn well that hook wasnt getting away and figured they had all the time in the world to make up their mind. Eventually I downsized to a #3 Mepps and just started burning it in real fast, then they started committing better.

Never did get that big one, but did manage to get one around 38" and a couple slightly smaller.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I've found that pike in clear water can be pretty prone to following. Last night I made it out, water was super clear, pike were following real bad... Had a real giant with a big scar on his back follow in a couple times, but they knew darn well that hook wasnt getting away and figured they had all the time in the world to make up their mind. Eventually I downsized to a #3 Mepps and just started burning it in real fast, then they started committing better.

Never did get that big one, but did manage to get one around 38" and a couple slightly smaller.

As long as I can remember I have always preferred clear water even for really finicky species. I know a lot of guys prefer some stain or find clear water tougher but not me

Fast erratic retrieves with short pauses are often a good choice

Nothing wrong with a 38”

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I've found that pike in clear water can be pretty prone to following. Last night I made it out, water was super clear, pike were following real bad... Had a real giant with a big scar on his back follow in a couple times, but they knew darn well that hook wasnt getting away and figured they had all the time in the world to make up their mind. Eventually I downsized to a #3 Mepps and just started burning it in real fast, then they started committing better.

Never did get that big one, but did manage to get one around 38" and a couple slightly smaller.

I was lucky cuz yesterday and fishing in two feet of water give or take half a foot I would drift right over them or by them.
Started off with bigger presentations and they bolted but the Len Thompson no13 and the colours was the ticket as they committed big time.
There was a fella in the same bay as me in his kayak so about two hours I paddled over to find him only catching a few so I showed him the lure I was using and he managed a spoon close in colour and size.
In a short time he caught 24 and was so happy. I could hear him hooting and laughing getting towed around! I also told him to not go deep as they are laying in the shallow water post spawn.
Great times.


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[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I was lucky cuz yesterday and fishing in two feet of water give or take half a foot I would drift right over them or by them.
Started off with bigger presentations and they bolted but the Len Thompson no13 and the colours was the ticket as they committed big time.
There was a fella in the same bay as me in his kayak so about two hours I paddled over to find him only catching a few so I showed him the lure I was using and he managed a spoon close in colour and size.
In a short time he caught 24 and was so happy. I could hear him hooting and laughing getting towed around! I also told him to not go deep as they are laying in the shallow water post spawn.
Great times.


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Yeah, those are about the same conditions I'm fishing, shallow reef systems so that the depth vary's from about 4' troughs with bars rising to less than 1' in a very erratic fashion. That shallow, with a snaggy rock bottom, you are somewhat limited as to how much you can vary your retrieve. IMO, in that situation finding a lure with the right action and color to make the fish commit is pretty important, as you pointed out. IMO a little stain can make pike commit a bit better, but in many of the waters I fish its a very fine line.

This year I've been getting good results with a surf fishing plug, the Yo-Zurri Hydro Minnow. It casts a mile, and only dives about 1-2', being a saltwater plug its almost neutrally buoyant in fresh water. I typically dont like suspending plugs because there's no way to get them to run at any depth other than what they were designed to do, which is usually too deep. The Hydro Minnow doesnt dive deep enough to get into any trouble though, and I can work it basically any way the fish want over these shallow reefs. This afternoon I was picking up a fish on almost every cast for about 2 hours on that hook. The fish were hitting other lures too, but being able to react to a missed strike or a follower in whatever manner I liked was for sure a big advantage.

[58thecat]

Ok seen a fella the other day put his kayak on a cradle with wheels.....got me thinking if I ever ventured to a place that I had to wheel my yak to the launch.
Wouldn’t want to make many trips just rather load up and walk it down.
What yak carts have you folks invested in that simply work?
Would be more than likely looking at something that can travel over various terrains relatively easily.

[Demonical]

First picture is obviously with the large 20" wheels installed.
Second pic gives a pretty decent idea of how I built the cart.

If you see the post that sticks up, that fits perfectly into the scupper hole. I just grab the handle, that's the piece that is resting on the hammer, lift the kayak and slide the cart under until that post fits into the scupper hole.

I can wheel the kayak over very rough ground, very easily.

[Demonical]

A couple more pics to check out.
Obviously these are DIY... and I built 'His n Hers' carts.

[dutchman]

I made a similar one out of PVC I had kicking around the garage. These yellow wheels are 12" off an old lawn mower. Works great. All recycled material, cost nothing. Plus the top T's pull out so easy to store.
If you do make one, use the biggest wheels possible. Small diameter work ok until rough terrain, sand, etc.

[58thecat]

Great home built carts.
Like the idea of larger wheels just to cover all types of terrain.


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[Smoky buck]

New kayaks are home just need to get them set up for use

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

New kayaks are home just need to get them set up for use

Sounds like you're going to have a fun weekend, Smoky!

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Sounds like you're going to have a fun weekend, Smoky!

I have some catch up on things that got neglected do to evacuation first but might be able to sneak in a day on the water before going back to work

[58thecat]

I will put some back for you Smokey!

A wee bit breezy but 5 casts and 3 pike so far.

Gonna be a good day in the yak out on the water.


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[Smoky buck]

Well did a basic test of fit and function of things to star. Still need to deal with electronics

Here is a basic shop pic. Yes I need to clean up and organize my shop lol




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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I will put some back for you Smokey!

A wee bit breezy but 5 casts and 3 pike so far.

Gonna be a good day in the yak out on the water.


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It’s OK I will let you thin out the little guys before I get on the water

[58thecat]

5hrs in the yak hope my legs work on shore!

Lure took a beating today too.


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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Well did a basic test of fit and function of things to star. Still need to deal with electronics

Here is a basic shop pic. Yes I need to clean up and organize my shop lol




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Those are nice looking yaks!
Like the way you got a yak specific trailer.


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