Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 04:06:18 AM

Login with username, password and session length

Recent Topics

[March 28, 2024, 11:47:21 PM]

[March 28, 2024, 11:34:08 PM]

[March 28, 2024, 09:44:18 PM]

[March 28, 2024, 09:12:36 PM]

[March 28, 2024, 07:11:09 PM]

[March 28, 2024, 01:13:46 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 07:25:42 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 07:05:39 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 12:35:34 PM]

[March 27, 2024, 11:18:23 AM]

[March 26, 2024, 07:45:07 PM]

[March 26, 2024, 06:19:03 PM]

[March 26, 2024, 05:47:06 PM]

Support NCKA

Support the site by making a donation.

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Topics - Fish N' Chips

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 6
1
General Talk / My Sharkshield is working again! Thanks Lucky13!
« on: June 27, 2022, 08:29:29 PM »
Thanks to Lucky13s article and instructions!  My battery went out on the Sharkshield and the company wants a lot of money to swap units for just a bad battery. I was going to build a pack but lucked out and Lucky13 still had a pack he had built. 

My case is the earliest version of the Freedom so I had to
modify my case differently. I cut the plastic circuit board slot and had to trim the side supports narrower and all the way to the bottom of the case to allow the unit to slide back together. The battery is a bit larger and flexes the circuit board slightly.  No problem as it will have a bit more capacity than the old battery pack.

I turned it on and got a green light and it began to flash!   I went ahead and ran a thin bead of silicone around the seam just because. Likely overkill but it will add a bit more protection and is easy to remove if needed.




2
I went up to Headwaters Kayak today. Great shop, well stocked and friendly staff. They happened to have a couple Eddyline 14fb in stock.  I got to take out one for a demo and bought the demo! Lol.  I liked the yum yum yellow (I like high vis kayaks), and it was the only yellow they had in stock.

I found the new seat amazing.  Always liked my old clip in cloth seats fine but after sitting in one of these newer beach seats the kayak manufacturers are going to I am sold.  The kayak is very stable, much more than my Adventure and paddles smooth and fast.  It walks a bit on really hard paddling but thats to be expected.  The full length keel tracks very nice, even without a rudder.  I liked the room in the cockpit!  I could easily move around and sit cross legged, swing my legs over the side, get in and out of the kayak, and reach into the back.  I even stood up!  Then I got cocky and kneeled and spun to the rear well to show my wife something and fell out, lmao.  Luckily I was in 8” of water so just soaked my pride.

The weight is very nice!  50 lbs means much easier loading and toting around land, especially as I am still dealing with my shoulder surgery recovery.  I can lift it easily and its nothing to pull around on my cart. It will be great for long walks down the hills to the beaches or lakes.

I already did a simple rigging. I plan to keep this kayak very minimal.

It was not the “fishing” model but a couple flush mount rods holders fixed that.  I like the T rails and added another 4” rail to the back for some scotty gear head mounts and my flag/light.  I already have so many scotty items and rod holders I figure I would use what I had.

I had an extra transducer for my fishfinder.  The deep keel on this wont accept a foam water bath so went with some E6000 and glued the transducer in place.  I may have messed up as we are headed out tomorrow afternoon for a trial. I normally wait 24-48 hrs to let it cure, but its 112 right now so likely it will be well cured by tomorrow!  I set the transducer in the rear keel of the kayak so it’s out of the way in case I need to put rods in the hull for surf launching.

I used some bolts and slid them into the T rail and mounted a small extra ram plate I had.  Eventually I need to pick up some more T bolts.  Now I can use my same fishfinder and battery pack on either kayak.  Added in a gland nut for the fishfinder wires and glued/tightened the nut in place. 

I still need to figure out new clip locations for my game clips, rod leashes and fish finder leash. 

Rigging only took a few hours but was miserable in this heat.  I am excited to get it out for some fishing!   I still love my Hobie Adventure and it has its place for covering long distances and trolling, or fighting wind/current.  This is going to be for alot of salt fishing as well, crabbing, trout and bass fishing; but more of a simplistic kayak for easier trips when I have long walks, need a lighter boat, weedy ponds/lakes and just quick trips where I don’t feel like taking so much.  I am hopeful its a good addition to the fleet.  I admit it was fun paddling again!














Transducer glued and taped down for a cure, made a well for the glue out of tape.






3
General Talk / Plastic Welder and some preventive maintenance
« on: June 19, 2022, 07:33:55 PM »
My Hobie Adventure is going on 12+ years old and was in need of some work.  Lots of beach launching and landing in sand and rocks, loading and unloading and banging around in the garage.

I stopped by Harbor Freight today and grabbed one of their plastic welders and some plastic rods.  Not a bad little tool, I have just used a soldering iron in the past but this was better.  The triangular iron needs a little care not to make grooves but with a light and flat touch worked great.  Luckily I had enough scrap yellow plastic from mods I didn’t need the blue/black/gray and clear repair rods so kept the color intact.  I will order some yellow rods to have on hand.

I spent an hour filling in deep scratches, chips and gouges.  Some were quite a bit deeper than I had noticed and was glad to get them filled in and smoothed out.  Its amazing how easily plastic kayaks are to repair.

I also checked and fixed/adjusted rudder lines, tightened pedals, and lubed everything.  Replaced my spare rudder pins on the hatch lids to have plenty of spares.

The welding kit came with some plastic half round sheets as repair material.  I used some Goop and glued them onto the keel for a bit of a keel guard.  Loading my kayak, I have to pivot on the keel to push onto the roof rack.  This will keep the wear to a minimum.

She is ready for another 12 years!







4
General Talk / Lake Siskiyou trip June 16-18th
« on: June 15, 2022, 08:46:47 PM »
Loaded up and headed to Lake Siskiyou for a few days. Staying at the resort and have a small bag loaded for trout and bass.  Plan to do a bit of trolling, some bait soaking; and dragging some worms, ned rig and drop shot.

Been out of the kayak game for a while due to a shoulder surgery, so will be a good shake down cruise.  Working on more of a minimalist approach.

If anyone is on the lake I will be in a yellow Hobie Adventure!  Hopefully I will have something to report!  I see rain is predicted Feiday but am going out rain or shine!!!

Happy to report some of the loading tricks have paid off and finding the Hobie loadable again.   Had to use the J racks in order to clear the wife and daughters paddle boards.


5
It has been a long time away from kayak fishing for me.  I tore my shoulder more than two years ago at work, finally got surgery 7 months ago, and finally feel I am getting to the point of getting back to kayak fishing again.

I still have my 16’ Hobie Adventure.  I recently got a new truck to haul our trailer and am exploring the hauling options. I used to have a Tacoma and used a hullivator to get my Adventure on top.  Now my Ram 2500  is almost 2’ taller and flares out at the sides making the hullavator unusable.  With my shoulder I can not lift it that extra two feet onto the hullavator, and they hit the side of the truck. My Adventure is around 97lbs.

I am considering going back to a paddle yak to save weight and work on building my shoulder strength back up, although I am little torn going back to a paddle as I like the pedal for fishing.  Considered a revo 13 but still too heavy I fear, at least for now.

I have been looking at the Tarpon 140 and the Eddyline Caribbean 14.  About 68 lbs for the Tarpon and 50 for the Eddyline.  This would make loading so much easier, and a bit more manageable but still long enough for the salt.  Price is about $1000 difference between them. 

What are some thoughts and reviews on these?  Any other Hobbie owners go back to paddle?

Use will be lakes, ponds and lots of ocean.  I do a lot of rock fishing and crabbing.  Not a whole lot of salmon trolling. 

I did find I was able to get the Adventure loaded earlier today by sliding it up from the rear of the truck onto the racks and then flipping it over onto the rails, but its still heavy and awkward.  My shoulder is yelling at me for it, but at least I know I can do it if needed.  I would put it in the bed of the truck with my hitch extender, except I need to haul the camp trailer at times

I appreciate any input!
Thanks,
Matt

6
Craftsmen's Corner / Crawdads
« on: May 12, 2015, 04:15:38 PM »
I got my crawdad mold today.  It makes a 3.75 inch crawdad so should work well as a stand along or tipping a jig.  I should be able to do laminates with this mold by hand pouring one color, and injecting the next.  It makes a great looking bait.  It is known as the 702 craw and has swimming claws, so works good dragged on the bottom, hopped along or on a swim jig.  It may work well as a rockfish fly with the paddle claws too.  I am having fun making baits again.  I am just going through my plastisol too quickly!


7
General Talk / Back in Red Bluff
« on: August 03, 2014, 08:24:48 PM »
Just wanted to say hello and let everyone know I moved back to Red Bluff.  San Luis was a blast and I had a great time fishing there, but we had to move back to help out with the family due to some health issues.  I look forward to hooking back up with the North Valley Slayers and getting to the coast for some fishing and to beat this Red Bluff heat! 

I am heading to Shelter Cove this weekend for salmon and rockfish.  I also hope to get in an abalone dive or two.  I am hopeful the marine forcast improves, it is looking choppy right now.  We are taking my 14 ft bayrunner as my dad's health prevents him from kayaking right now, but maybe I will see some NCKA guys over there.

Glad to be back and look forward to fishing with everyone again!  I am hopeful to hit GMS next year!  See you all on the water!

Matt

8
General Fishing Tips / Swimbait for Salmon?
« on: August 03, 2014, 08:05:28 PM »
Lately the quality of anchovies and sardines have been poor and seem to fall apart too quickly.  I was making some swimbaits the other day for rockcod and was wondering if anyone uses rubber swimbaits trolling for Salmon?  I am wondering if a 4" basstrix style bait would work well replacing the real deal.  I made some in an anchovie color and some with a little blue glitter I was thinking of trying.

I am planning to soak these in some sardine or anchovie smelly jelly and rigging them on my barbless hooks just like an anchovie, putting them 3 ft or so behind a flasher.  These have a hook slot do should hold some scent.  I wonder if the paddle tail will make it look more lively and add to the strikes, or am I thinking too far out of the box, LOL.  The rubber baits are just easier to make and store in reality.

Anyone else try this?


9
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / My Halibut and Weedless Rigs
« on: September 19, 2013, 08:22:21 PM »
Here are a few of the new rigs I put together to try.  The first I am excited about.  I have been watching the use of umbrella rigs and really like the look and attraction of the lures.  They really look like a school of fish.  I do not want to have to release any rockfish I catch so I picked up one of the Yumbrella Double rigs.  I did a little modification by adding a willow leaf to the middle for a little more flash.  If this works out I will make a few of my own, using willow leafs and dummy lures, but only two hooks.  I think it will give a nice amount of attraction for a flat fish.  I am going to try 2-4oz bullet weights in front of it and rig the swim baits weedless to keep the weeds off.



These are my weedless "bass" rigs for the kelp.  A texas rigged worm, and my drop shot rig.  I will play around with switching between the basstrix style swimbaits, worms, grubs and tubes to see what works; I am sure they all will.  I like the 10" worm, it looks like an eel and runs nice through the water.  It will be great to work through the kelp lanes and pot holes.  I got some squid scent to spray on the lures so I do not have to tip them with squid as much.  I want to keep them as weedless as possible.  On the drop shot I used a trout snap swivel on the bottom for the weight.  My though is if the weight gets hung up, the snap swivel will straighten out saving my lures.





I also pulled out my bucktails that I used for Stripers, they are 1-2 oz heads.  I am hoping to use them on a seabass, a couple squids pinned on the back or with the white curly tail.



I also poured some new octopus lures.  I am going to try white and see if it gets bit more than the brown.



I love playing in the shop.  Preparing for fishing is almost as fun as fishing itself!  I Preparing for fishing is almost as fun as fishing itself!  I am going to give these all a run tomorrow and see how they work and what changes I want to make.

10
General Fishing Tips / Texas rigging worms for rock fish?
« on: September 13, 2013, 02:28:05 PM »
I grew up bass fishing and used to fish bass tourneys on Clear Lake, Shasta Lake and the Sacramento Delta.  I always loved tossing weedless rigged worms around structure and weed beds, and have done really well with it.  While tied up in the kelp the other day with the wind blowing, I thought worming would be a great way to cover more water and run through the kelp slots while tied up or dragging a worm along the bottom while drifting.

I just picked up some 10" purple curly tail worms, 6/0 off set worm hooks and some 1 ounce worm weights to give it a try.  I figured the worms would look like small eels.  I also have some 4" slotted swim shads that I poured, that can be rigged weedless with the same worm hooks. 

I may try tossing them with my longer 8' conventional rig, but a heavier spinning setup may be the way to go for casting distance.  Any one else use or try this along the coast?  I see the calico bass guys doing it down south.  The 1oz worm weight will limit my depth some, but I may try casting some larger 2oz and 3oz heads for deeper water and stronger current.  It may be good for halibut as well on the sand flats.

Thanks, just thinking out loud as the wind won't let me fish today.  :smt003

11
General Talk / Big Jim's Team Patch Found!
« on: July 04, 2013, 11:09:45 AM »
Hey Big Jim, I found a team patch just for you!  I can see you sporting this on your wetsuit! LOL  Team Honey Badger, operation "Slippery Eel"



And don't forget the BBQ apron!


12
General Talk / I caught a good one! A little Fish N Chips!
« on: June 07, 2013, 10:20:45 AM »
A great catch!  My boy Evan was born 06/03/2013 at 0845 hrs.  8lbs 12oz, 21 1/2" long.  Needless to say I am very excited.  Mom and baby are doing great.  I can not wait to get him on the water!




13
General Talk / Umm, new definition to LIVE bait fishing?
« on: May 29, 2013, 05:45:11 PM »
Now this guy is a true kayak angler.  Enjoy!

http://lifeonthebrazosriver.com/RattleSnakeBaitsBass.htm

14
Craftsmen's Corner / Dipping Hollow Body Baits
« on: May 29, 2013, 11:43:53 AM »
I have always wanted to learn to make hollow baits.  I figured I would make up a couple dipping irons and give it a try.  I made the irons out of an old hacksaw blade and my grinder.  I made a paddle tail around 2 1/4" long, and a carrot style bait.  The carrot bait I modeled off bass drop shot baits.  I have done really well along the Eureka jetty on this style using them like a rock cod fly, the blacks and blues love them.  A quantity over quality fish bait usually, but fun!

I really like the look of the stick baits.  I am going to experiment with different thicknesses and see what the rockfish like.  I am afraid too thin would get torn up quickly.  I like the google eyes on them and the last dip in clear plastic really makes them shine and protects the paint and eyes.  A few of these are great, a few are a bit thick but I am still learning.  Definitely some art involved in dipping them.  My first few were rough and got re-melted.

The little paddle tail swim baits move well, but are a bit small for rock fish.  I will probably use them for drop-shotting bass this winter.  They remind me of a sassy shad.  I will make some more irons and play with different sizes.

The hollow belly the iron forms really makes the baits flexible and helps them collapse on a bite.  I can not wait to see how they work as a rock cod fly.  It takes a lot more time to make these than my pour in molds, but it is fun.  No wonder they are so expensive in the shops.  I have some reflective tape I may try to mold into the body as well.  Dipping gives you a lot of options for the look and feel of the bait.


Ready for the Clear Coat


Just Dipped


The Baits and Irons, a little oil helps them slide right off


I like the Yellow Eyes


These need a little more finish work

15
General Talk / Book Recommendation
« on: May 25, 2013, 06:26:14 PM »
I was thinking about getting one of Captain Mark Wisch's books as I hear they are pretty good.  I was considering "Between Two and Twenty Fathoms" or "Into the Grey".  Has anyone read these books, and which would you consider better (I just want to get one for now).  I heard Into the Grey re-used quite a bit of information from the first book and added some updates, but wanted a real world review.

Also has anyone read Brandon Haywards "The Southern California Angler?"

Just looking for some new techniques and tips for targeting halibut and white sea bass, as well as bottom fish along the coast.  I figure with all the wind at least I could read about some fishing!

Thanks.

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 6
anything