After our "incident" at Cayucos where my buddy almost had to do the long swim home; I am done with scupper carts. So I modified mine, what do you think?

Before:


After:








Spent about $8 on supplies and it is pretty sturdy.
What do you think?

Link to my blog post here: http://theimpracticalfishermen.blogspot.com/2013/03/kayak-scupper-cart-modification.html

You might have seen on my blog I caught a bunch of bull frogs last weekend? http://theimpracticalfishermen.blogspot.com/2012/05/other-white-meat.html
Since I had no stove with my kitchen being in the middle of renovation I had to figure out another method of cooking them up.

Ribbit
I decided to smoke them in my electric smoker. I pulled the legs out of their lemon saltwater bath to dry and salted them with Kosher salt to help them dry out a bit to take to the smoke while I loaded the chip tray with some soaked apple wood chips.

Ready to go
I smoked them at about 225f and checked up on them every 30 minutes or so. After about 2 hours the meat looked like it had shrunk a bit and pulled away from the bone. I made a glaze out of Sweet Baby Rays, Chipotle pepper sauce from the can and some honey. I gave them a good dose to caramelize, I tasted one and it was not too dry so I brought them in to rest. After 10 minutes resting under some tin foil I sauced them with the rest of the glaze.

BBQ Smoked Chipotle Frogs Legs done
 My buddy and Marine loved them and my neighbor who grew up eating fried legs said they were better than most the frogs legs he had ever had. They lacked any swampy, muddy or fishy taste people talk about, the taste was chicken wings but the texture was more consistent than chicken wings, as they are white meat and not dark.

If you like frogs legs I recommend you try smoking them, and if you have never had frogs legs I urge you to try them.

Thanks for reading,
Dan

I took a long overdue trip out on the King river today, I invited my buddy Jim and his son James out with me. I loaded my canoe and the kayak in the back of the pick up truck and met up with them at 7am.

The two fit better than I thought
 I got there first and started unloading, for those who don't know cows out number people, I heard 3 to 1 but you can never trust hearsay like that.
 
I named this guy Burger
 I could not wait to try out my new StankX Heros, the color looked amazing. They were a little bigger than I thought they would be but I figured that would just mean I had a chance at some bigger fish.
 
First Bass caught on a hero
 it did not take too long to get a strike, I cast just over a branch and had a topwater hit when I pulled it over. I missed that fish but it was a good sign, a few casts later I got my first one. 

Smaller bass caught on a Hero
 I kept working it slowly along the bottom, we talked to a couple of guys in a bass boat that said they got one on a white spinnerbait but nothing else. I switched to a 1/4oz black flipping jig and caught a little guy off a boat ramp.

4 Pound LMB
 I kept working the shore, I saw the line shoot towards deeper water and set the hook. This fish was a little nicer and weighed in a little over 4lbs. I knew I was on to something, the lighter jig with a shortened Hero was the key.
 
Average King River Largemouth Bass
I missed 2 and caught my 4th, 5th and 6th fish on the same Hero, I had to flip it upside down and rehook it but it was still working I got Jim and James rigged up with jigs, they had a few hits but could not get the fish to the boat. I got to say I could not ask fro better fishing partners, they were happy to get any action, I hope next trip does them better in the fish department.

Jim and his son James paddling in the Kings River
 I couldn't ask for anything more, I was out with 2 great people, I caught 6 decent fish in a few hours and I had some great pictures. I felt great, I wanted my guests to catch something though. I slowed down and kept working an area that is hot and cold at times right off another boat ramp, I cast to the left hand corner and felt a massive strike. I reeled down and my kayak started moving quick. He shot to the left of me 10 feet and swam under my boat pulling drag, the nose of my kayak crashed into shore. I turned him around again and saw the jig was hooked in her tounge at the back of her mouth and lipped her. It was over. I held the fish under water while I let myself calm down. My heart was beating fast, I held the fish up for my friends, the guy on shore and the two guys in the bass boat that somehow creeped up behind me.

7lb Largemouth Bass
 I took a few shots and let her go, she splashed some water in my face and seemed no worse for the wear. I got 2 more bites after that, blew the hook set both times but that didn't matter. I wanted to get my guests on some fish but the weather did not cooperate, the wind picked up making it hard to dead stick the jig, after a while of being blown around we gave up. We packed up and called it a day, I went home and had lunch with my wife.

Jim, James it was great getting out with you two and I can't wait to do it again.

Thanks for reading,
Dan

Here for you smart phone users. I wanted to get out on Saturday, that day felt right. I had obligations so I went out for a few hours Sunday.
I wanted to get out for some evening/night fishing and get out closer to where I wanted to fish so I had to find a new spot to put in. I drove past my usual spot and turned onto a dirt ranch road and soon found the river on my right. As i was driving i spotted someone in a yellow kayak headed the way I was driving towards where I wanted to put it. I drove to the weir, the banks were really steep and the two spots that seemed to have decent access had people standing there. I turned around and found a spot I could slip down. I knew I would launching this way so my gear was all together and it took no time to get ready.

 I figured I should fan cast a little before I launch and stir up the whole area. I grabbed my Abu Garcia reel with the Warrior Buzzbait and let it rip, I buzzed it past a clump of reeds and a Bass blew up at it. I went to set the hook and the line gave, my drag was set way loose. I reeled the slack and tried to thumb to spool to set fish and it was gone.A real bummer but I was excited I got a topwater hit finally, I knew the past 3 warm days would open them up to more aggressive feeding. I cast the buzzbait a few more times with no luck. So I grabbed my other setup and threw a jig at the clump I missed that last fish and hooked a feisty little guy.

 I launched and set off towards the other kayaker, working the shore. The water was about 6 inches lower than the last trip and surprisingly clear in the sheltered areas. The wind was pretty steady out of the north blowing me into the rocky bank. I kept switching between the jig and buzzbait hoping to get some topwater action. But it was just not happening. I picked up a few more fish, one the same size as the first and this guy who was a little larger and scrappier. 

 I met up with the other kayaker it turned out to be Cccoyote from Central Coast Kayak Fishing, he sent me a PM saying he would be out but I didn't get it. He had a Ocean Kayak Tetra Ultra Pro 4.3 I couldn't help but drool over. We talked fishing, it was nice to fish with another angler. I caught a few more on the jig and gave him one to use. i had one that hit like a Mack truck and stole my grub and had another that missed my buzzbait. The sun started to set and Cccoyote had to get back so we parted ways. I turned back towards the weir and picked up a few more on the jig.   

Gotta add a sunset picture, especially due to the purple sunset.

I fished an hour or so after dark only caught 2, I tried to get a picture of myself with one but I just couldn't seem to keep my eyes open, so I let the poor guy go on his way.

 I decided to turn in, I got back to my launching site and realized it was not as good as I thought it was. There were little thorny seed things all over the ground, I didn't realize this until I went to pull my self up the bank and my hands were covered in them. My neighbor said they are called "Goat Heads" I think Satan Berries is a more appropriate term. Even my tires were coated in them. To top that off there were a few dozen large Wolf spiders running around and one managed to bite me on the inside of the wrist. It is dangerous out there.

Look at he thorn sticking out of that guy, I pulled it out of my tire.
Cccoyote it was great fishing with you, hope to do it again. 

Hit the river around 3:30, a bright sunny day with a slight breeze that was not enough to keep me from sweating. The water was pretty muddy and almost a foot higher than the last time I was out on the river. I had the worms I poured this morning, The grubs I always use and some Stank X grubs in Salt N Peppa I wanted to try out. Monday is my favorite day to go fishing, less people out and the ones I do run into seem to have more respect for other anglers than the weekend crowd.

Lost a few fish in my usual spots as I started plucking down the shore, the risen water changes how the fish use small amount of cover the river has.

 The first guy was a scrappy average sized fish, he looked pretty healthy.

 I caught 3 or 4 more smaller bass and lost 2 or 3 before hooking this guy, he had some kind of worm growing out of him. One was actually sticking out of a sore on his belly. I let it go with out toughing any of them...

 I worked my way past where I usually go, the best spots seemed to be rock/gravel areas next to trees or grass on the shelf next to the drop off into the main channel.

 I kept working down the shore looking for that pattern, I had a spot I lost 3 in a row. I would cast into the reeds and my line would swim at me before I could react, I decided to really swing on the next, I hooked this guy and sent him over my kayak. When I unhooked him I noticed his mouth was full of 3 inch long crayfish, just like my jig.

 The sun went down as I got to the weir, I saw a ton of little fish feeding on the surface but nothing would take my buzz bait or popper. I fished them more because I wanted the fish to hit top water but they were not playing fair. I caught 3 more small guys as the sun set and it went dark. I headed back casting at only the best spots. I cast towards a reed bed and never felt it hit the bottom. After 4 good runs this beauty was in my kayak.

 Weighed in at 6.86lbs on the Rapala digital scale, I could not believe my luck. This is the biggest bass I have ever caught, a few years ago I caught one close but this is by far the biggest.

 Got a few photos

 And let her go. It was getting cold, I did not bring a jacket and was a little lost. It took a while to get through the maze that is the river over here and get everything loaded in the truck. I had a great night out before the big girl, she just topped it off.

Thought some of you would like this.

I want to buy 2 Scotty rocket launchers. I don't need the bases just what is in the picture below,

Thanks
Dan

Hello everyone my name is Dan, I just moved to California this past November from Illinois. I am a Navy Vet fresh out of the service, my wife is still Active Duty. I have been a kayak/canoe fishermen for about 3 years and try to get out as much as I can. I was stationed in Great Lakes Illinois where I have some experience trolling for Salmon, though I spend most of my time fishing for Bass. I am glad to have found my way to this forum, it has been a dream to hit the ocean for Halibut and Ling cod.

I am looking for kayak buddies in the Central Valley Area, it is getting lonely paddling by myself. Shoot me a PM if you would wouldn't mind me tagging along. I have had good luck on the Kings but have been skunked at Pine Flat and Lake Success.

I have been working on a fishing blog since October, check it out if you got a chance. If you got one, let me know and I'll add you to my blog roll.

Thanks for reading
Dan