The new hull is better than my last one.  1st my pedal drive clicks in smoothly and stays put.  My other kayak it would pop itself out like it was possessed.  2nd, the new one floats straight.  My old one canted to the left side. I would have to move my butt to the right side of the seat to get it to run level.  I think my old one was warped from the get go.    Whatever. 


The bass were FIRED up.  Pics later.  Just happy with the better hull.  If it cracks again, I’m plastic welding it. 

I went to the sportsman's Expo last weekend. 

I finally laid eyes on one of those 14', Seadoo fishing jet skies.  really cool looking and according to the pitchman, they are very difficult to flip over.   my friends tell me they are popular in Florida.

have you guys seen them out in the Pacific?  I built retaining walls along Hwy-1 in normal for months.  (sorry for the 1-way traffic control, for you guys heading north of Jenner);  and I have never seen a jet ski blast past me way out in the sea.  I've pulled out binoculars and seen some of you kayakers!!

I don't mind pedaling at all.  I can go 3mph for a very long time. 

let me back up:  I fish 100% fresh water and pretty much only for Largemouth Bass.  I have gone 4 years with leg-power.  I'm fine with it.  but there are some more distant waters I want to get to this year.  well, I can get there eventually, but the push home can get exhausting. 

I figured I will try a motor.  I went for the Newport Vessel NK180, coupled with a Dakota Lithium 24v 60aH battery.  the battery fits inside my blackpak easily.  the back of a Hobie Outback is very rigid.  the mount doesn't move at all.   I think I will only use the motor on lakes like Clearlake and Berryessa.  last year my friend almost wiped me out on a Berryessa marathon where I had to keep up with him and his motored kayak..with my legs.  I did 4mph for way too long.   he was eating jerky and sipping coffee...I was mouth breathing. 

small lakes and the Delta, I will stay human powered.  I tend to hunt the skinny waters in the Delta anyways. 

pics later.

i just got back from the Amazon Rain forest!!

i wonder if they are staying in Sonoma County?

and they are offering 25% off on some kayaks.  wow..good time to buy a Hobie.

my last two trips have been pretty good.  hard to find fish, but the ones  i found have been GREAT FIGHTERS and very repectable fish.

i took the challenge and fished the friday before the July 4th holiday weekend.  to say boat traffic was epic was an understatement.  i fished the CA Delta.  got there early at the crack of dawn.  i wanted to launch at one place, but the marina manager waved me off.  she said there is a local yacht parade in the channel, and everyone is showing up for it.  i passed and went elsewhere.

in the morning it was tranquil.  as the sun went up, boat traffic slowly ramped up.  it was subtle.  then NOON.  WOW.  i saw it all.  giant yachts towing a wake boat, towing a rubber dingy!  (how rich are these folks?).  there was a penis size contest between two guys in cigarette style boats.  they passed us RACING!  girls in tiny bikinis pretending to enjoy it, holding onto big floppy hats on their heads.  Bass boats were like mosquitos. 

we tried to "Surf" a big yacht wake, but i sucked at it.  my buddy that surfed did better.   at about 12:30 we felt unsafe and saw a break in traffic and crossed the channel to fish the marina and shallow water beyond.  silver lining?  i now have a better understanding of the stabilty of a kayak in a boat wake.  it isnt as dire as i imagined.  loose at the hips, and it felt pretty stable. 

Saturday, i hope to get to the spot the manager waved me off.  IF i ever i buy a boat, i will be considerate to the kayakers.  haha..i feel them, and understand. 

you think most boaters just dont know?  i quickly realized you dont want to be right up against the bank when a wake comes.  it's downright violent there. 

something mental about being on the water, surrounded by water.  i never feel thirsty.  just me.

i almost have to remember and force myself to drink.  i also keep a quality thermos in my truck full of ice water.  it is nice to drink a frigid water at the end of the day, on the commute home.  on the kayak, i have adapted a bladder system.  it is the insulated Camelback bag i use to take on backpack hunting trips.  i can just reach back grab the hose and take a big gulp of icy water.  the insulation is sucky,, by the end of the day all the ice cubes are melted but the water is still on the cool side.

and.  i have quit drinking coffee on the commute to fish.  as a largemouth bass fisherman primarily, the first morning "yank" of my bait wakes me up 100% anyways.  i dont seem to need the coffee.  i drink a nalgene bottle of water on the drive in. 

i had heat exhaustion once after fishing and i had to pull over in the truck to not pass out.  it was weird.  took about one hours of sipping water to feel well enough to drive.  i probably wasnt gonna pass out, but i got this weird dizzy sensation.