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Topics - AlexB

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 11
1
General Talk / I joined the “Dark Side”
« on: October 21, 2021, 04:38:43 PM »
Like several avid kayak anglers before me, I’ve descended slowly into the “Dark Side”.

Paddle kayak to pedal kayak to Arima!!!

I’m so F*ing excited. Just can’t believe the boat I’ve been dreaming about for years is sitting in my driveway!

I will still fish from my Hobie, sometimes… I swear. ;)

See you all out there soon!

Cheers,

~Alex

2
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Dakota Lithium - BUYER BEWARE!
« on: July 22, 2020, 09:34:09 AM »
Just a heads up... If you're thinking about buying a battery or "Power Box" from Dakota Lithium, I suggest you reconsider. Their customer service is piss poor... I should have listened to another review that said the same thing, but I didn't. Live and learn...

I placed an order for a Power Box 10 back on June 11. UPS took almost 3 weeks to deliver the package, and during that time I sent several emails to Dakota asking them to please reach out to UPS for updates (UPS isn't taking calls from package recipients during the pandemic, but I assumed they would talk to the shipper). I kept getting BS one sentence replies from their "customer service" guy (Patrick Rose) basically saying he couldn't help me because he wasn't in the "shipping department". When I finally convinced him to ask the shipping department, they weren't helpful either.

When the product finally did arrive, I was not at all impressed. The box feels flimsy and I would be very surprised if it was waterproof. It's made from thin plastic with plastic hinges. The battery is just plopped in there with a couple loose pieces of foam around it. Basically the battery is just loose in there and flops against the wiring and electronics. The switches and binder posts look/feel cheap. And to top it off, one of the little rubber boots that's supposed to keep water out of the switches was not installed properly and clearly wasn't at all waterproof.

I contacted Dakota on 7/2 and let them know about the issue with the (not waterproof) switch. They said they would send me a replacement Power Box and a shipping label to return the old one.

Two weeks later I had not received any further emails or tracking info, so I emailed to ask what was up. Patrick said it was "on the ship list and leaving shortly". Here we are 20 days since he said he'd ship a replacement and it still hasn't happened. I've gotten 4 or 5 more replies from Patrick saying it will ship "shortly".

Long story short, I am now waiting on a refund and a return shipping label to send this POS back to Dakota.

Should have gone with my gut and just made my own "Power Box" from scratch using better materials...


3
Gearing Up and Rigging Up / Dakota Lithium Power Box 10... Thoughts?
« on: June 03, 2020, 08:10:50 AM »
What's up, guys.

Another SLA has bit the dust, and I'm thinking it might be time for me to step out of the dark ages of battery technology.

I keep seeing ads for Dakota Lithium, and I'm intrigued by the all-inclusive Power Box 10. It's obviously pricey, but I'm OK with that if it performs as advertised and holds up to the abuse of ocean kayaking.

So who's got one? What do you think of it?

Here are a couple of my concerns...

*How durable/effective are the rubber seals that keep moisture out of the USB and car charger ports? 

*Is it easy to keep the two post terminals on the exterior free of corrosion? (Can they be disassembled and deep cleaned if needed?)

*Have you ever noticed moisture or corrosion inside the box?

*If the Dakota Lithium battery were to fail, would a different 10 AH battery fit into the box?

I know there are other battery boxes out there (including the full range of DIY options) but I don't have time to tinker on a kayak project right now. That's why this all-inclusive box is appealing.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Cheers,

~Alex


4
What’s up, guys?

I had a few minutes to spare while listening in on a (mandatory but not at all relevant to me) work meeting, so I pulled together a couple tide charts in Excel, ran a couple simple calcs, and applied some conditional formatting.

The first tab gives “GO / No-Go” recommendations for SF Bay halibut fishing based on the magnitude of tide swings predicted for the Alameda Rockwall Area. Right now it’s set to give a “No-Go” call for a certain timeframe if the tide swing is over 4 ft (either outgoing or incoming). As we know, big swings equal big currents and murky water, neither of which are ideal for halibut fishing.

The second tab lists Bolinas tides. Aside from just listing high and low tides (helpful because salmon fishing tends to heat up around tide swings) it also gives a “GO / No-Go” for the Brighton launch based on the magnitude of the high tides. It’s current set to say “GO!” if the high tides are less than 4 ft magnitude - above that the Brighton launch/landing can be sketchy. (This only matters if a high tides lands at launch/landing time, and the the channel certainly might be an option on some “No-Go” days.)

Happy to email the Excel files to anyone who’s interested. Just shoot me a PM with your email address.

Now we just have to hope this COVID-19 wave will subside enough for Marin County beaches to open up....

Cheers,

~Alex





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5
General Talk / Anyone fished Lake Spaulding?
« on: August 24, 2019, 10:14:11 AM »
What’s up, guys?

I’m considering taking the fam (wife, baby, and pooch) up to a little rental cabin near Lake Spaulding for a few days. This would be a non-yak trip - probably bring our little 12 foot Gregor aluminum so the whole fam can get out on the water together.

Anyone have any experience boating or fishing out there? A quick Google search shows that the lake holds rainbows (stocked I assume?) and browns, and it seems trolling Rapalas is a good approach.

Also interested in learning about any other fishing opportunities near Emigrant Gap. (Bear River?)

Tips welcome!

Cheers,

~Alex


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6
General Talk / Sad day for salmon...
« on: August 10, 2019, 06:56:52 AM »
Ok... I know you all prefer not to get political on this site, but this news just hit WAY too close to home for me to keep my mouth shut.

Our current administration has ordered the EPA to remove protections for wild salmon in Bristol Bay, which essentially gives the Pebble Mine project a green light. The mine is opposed by Native tribes, commercial fishermen, anglers and hunters, conservationists, religious groups, restaurateurs and outdoor enthusiasts.

In my opinion (one I share with many other scientists and engineers like myself) this is a devastating mistake that will have permanent repercussions.

If you care about the future of the worlds salmon fisheries, and if you care about the natural world we will pass along to our children, I urge you to please give this some serious thought...

That is all.

Sincerely,

~Alex




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7
Recipes / Favorite leftovers?
« on: July 29, 2019, 12:18:16 PM »
What’s up, everyone?

I need to spend less $ buying lunches at work.

What are some of your favorite home made dinners that result in lots of tasty leftovers to eat for lunch?

(I’m not big on leftover seafood, but if you have a recipe that works I’m all ears!)


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8
Wanted To Buy / Got a steelhead rod or two you’d like to part with?
« on: February 12, 2019, 03:16:55 PM »
I’m in the market for two steelhead rods. One spinning rod to pair with my Shimano Symetre for float fishing. One casting rod to pair with a Shimano Curado for drift fishing.

Don’t have a whole lot of $$$ to drop, so I’m considering the used route...

Interested in the 8’0” to 9’0” range. No shorter.

Whatchu got?


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9
For Trade / Swap Curado 101b for 201 sized low profile?
« on: February 07, 2019, 11:19:34 AM »
What’s up, guys?

I have two Shimano Curado 101b reels from somewhere around 2005. You know, the old school green ones that never seem to quit. Both are about to be sent back to Shimano for a cleaning/service. They are in decent cosmetic shape for their age, and should be in tip top working order when they return.

Does anyone out there have a comparable left handed low profile reel in the 201 size they might be interested in trading for one of my 101b’s?

I only need one of these for bass fishing these days (along with my other reels...), but I could use a slightly larger model for steelhead fishing.

Any interest?



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10
General Talk / Any mountain bikers in the mix?
« on: October 21, 2018, 06:58:02 AM »
Just curious... It’s always fun to ride with new folks.


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11
General Fishing Tips / How to brine anchovies for salmon fishing
« on: July 18, 2018, 08:14:10 AM »
What’s up, guys?

Just thought I’d share how I brine my frozen tray anchovies for salmon fishing. Brining makes the baits much tougher, so each bait lasts longer and spins truer. It also makes them shinier and helps keep the scales intact.

Here’s my recipe:

- 0.5 gallon distilled water (or any water that’s free of chlorine/chloramine)

- 1.5 tsp Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing (available at Ace Hardware and probably other local stores, too)

- 1 cup kosher salt

- 3 TBSP powdered milk (non-fat / skim)

- Scents (optional - 1 tsp or so of oil or water from a jar of chopped garlic, water soluble bait scent, etc.)

Do this THE EVENING BEFORE you go fishing:

1) Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.

2) Pour into gallon-sized ziplock bag (double bag it...)

3) Add one or two trays of frozen anchovies (do NOT break apart the baits if they’re frozen together - you don’t want to damage their shiny scales)

4) Seal up the bag and put it in the fridge. (My wife appreciates it when I use a loaf pan in the fridge for “secondary containment” in case of any leakage or drips.)

5) GENTLY swish the baits around a time or two before crashing for the night.

Bring the whole bag of bait/brine with you on the water and keep it cold if possible. I just drop it into my kill bag with ice.

Give it a shot! I think you’ll like it. You can also use commercially available brines, of course, but they’re much more expensive.

Cheers,

~Alex






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12
General Fishing Tips / Lowrance Hook 5 GPS not functioning...
« on: July 02, 2018, 02:25:02 PM »
Hey everyone,

I fired up my Hook 5 yesterday (first time this season), and the GPS did not function properly... For whatever reason the unit seemed unable to get a lock on any satellites. The sonar worked fine.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Any suggestions?

I tried doing a hard reset (hold “Pages” button while turning unit on). Also tried restoring to defaults. Neither worked.

Could this be caused by outdated software? (I have never updated it... Never had the need to until now. Maybe.)

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Cheers,

~Alex


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13
General Fishing Tips / Line spooler / tensioner
« on: June 28, 2018, 10:25:24 AM »
After several decades of having my dad/mom/buddies/girlfriends and now wife hold spools of line on a pencil and trying to explain to them how to tension it properly  without burning their hands from the friction... I finally made a simple little tool for the job using some bits and pieces I had laying around the garage.

Works great! Just twist the nuts to apply the right amount of squeeze to the felt pads.




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14
What’s up, guys?

My wife and I (and the pooch!) are staying in Anchor Bay for a little 3-day “mini vacation”. We didn’t bring the kayaks, but we still want to go fishing!

Can anyone recommend a good spot to chase rockfish/cabbies/lings from shore? It would be awesome to bag a rockfish or two for dinner. :)

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

~Alex

15
General Fishing Tips / Russian Steel
« on: January 09, 2018, 06:56:08 AM »
Ha... I made a pun...

I recently read some surprisingly good reports of Russian River steelhead action in the Guerneville area and below. (Big fish, too!) The river has been low and clear, and quite a few steelhead have been found staging in deeper holes.

Then this big rain storm hit... I expect the river will get “blown out”, and might stay that way for a bit. I also expect that it will spread out the fish and push them further upriver (also hopefully more will enter the system!).

That brings up a few questions that I hope one of our local steely exerts might be able to answer.

- How long does the Russian usually take to return to fishable conditions after a big rain event like this?

- Can you recommend any good “high water” spots for plunking or other murky water techniques?

- What flow rate (CFM) do you look for to signal good fishing conditions, and at which gauging station?

- Any other tips that might help me hook up with some Russian steel?

I am hoping the river might drop sufficiently by this weekend, but that’s probably optimistic. I might head up there anyway.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

~Alex

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