I don't think they are fished much this time of year - likely they are deep due to the temperatures.

I see plenty of anglers after them in April and May, but there were no boats in the likely spots yesterday, and I think it's simply the wrong time of year for a "cold water" fish.

Not expert my any stretch of the imagination, but I'd opt for the inexpensive route. Tim Rajeff's ECHO rods are sturdy and reliable and are often available on eBAY for much less than retail. You have to be patient, or opt for "last year's model" to get bigger savings - but considering this is likely to go overboard ... it is prudent NOT to invest squillions on this purchase.

The length of spey and switch rods means you'll want to rig it on shore, or rig and assemble in pieces while afloat. This can be treacherous if you don't have a line through all the guides, as you can inadvertantly drop a piece over the side when fingers are cold or a tramp steamer is about to ram your port quarter ...

Likewise on the reel. Don't spend heavy for something you might sink.

Water Temperature 55 degrees

I went out Friday hoping the Fishing Gods were in good humor, and the stripers were unwary ..

Fished from about 730AM till the high tide (930AM), then fished an additional four hours of the outgoing tide. Stuck a single fish at the height of the tide, around 9AM, but it came off after a short fight. I figure he would have been in the 16" - 20" range - nothing monstrous. It took a "baby bluegill" style streamer that I have been fiddling with as a potential dual threat for the more numerous largemouth bass.

Wind picked up between 10AM and Noon, switched to a spinning rod and chartreuse Rat-L-Trap, and hooked three additional fish. One keeper about 5 lbs, and two shakers - in the 17" range.

Summary, fishing was slow and the fish were solitary and not in great numbers. No other anglers in the area other than the bait fishermen that frequent the area connecting to the river proper. I assume the fish are elsewhere ...

This was the first experience with my kayak where I saw myself a navigational hazard versus the traditional "predatory" angler.

The fog in the delta was so thick that visibility was about 35 yards, so wisdom won out over bravado and I stayed on the south side and fished the rock rip rap that lines that side of the area. A lot of parked trucks and the entrance road stuffed with bank fishermen suggests the fish are in the area, but the fog bank tempered my enthusiasm - and I stayed out of the traffic lanes.

I managed one 16" fish up near the launch area - and caught an enormous Pikeminnow further down on the same streamer. I was fishing the traditional "baitfish" colored 6" bucktail (white belly, peacock top, flashabou center), and added lead eyes and lots of flash to counter the off colored water.

Once again I figured the water color was the driving force in the result - as I only had about 15" of visibility on that side. Tules and weeds filter the water better, but I had neither on my side of the impoundment.

Fished two hours of the incoming and two hours of the outgoing, which yielded only the two grabs mentioned above. The fog is a real obstacle, so if you venture into it make sure you have your lights and whistles ready (or stay near the bank like us wimps!)

You wont have any issues with fly fishing and kayaks other than running line management and paddles.

Sit on top kayaks make the human akin to a sail, so whatever prevalent breeze you're in will move you around just enough to make you watchful for being blown towards the fish (and the fly line puddling up as you float over it), or being blown away from the fish and inducing a bit of drag on the fly as a result.

River fishing adds the current motion to the mix which moves you and the fly into things or away from things and makes you have to adjust your casts or float to match conditions.

A paddle is also a pain as it's your sole means of locomotion, and you have to set it down to cast the fly and fish it effectively. I opted for a pedal kayak solely on this issue, as I only have to worry about wind drift, and residual pedal power and dont have to drop the paddle and pick up the rod, drop the rod and grab the paddle, drop the paddle and ... (you get the picture).

To move in response to wind, current, or impending obstacle requires the paddle - which means you have to set the rod down. You should make sure both your paddle and rod have a leash because the constant putting down/picking up is eventually going to spill one or the other over the side.

I use a large landing net as a running line management tool. Put the net perpindicular to the boat so the basket is hanging over the side and strip your excess line into it. This way the line is not underfoot or snarled up under the paddle, or other in-boat object - and will follow the drifting boat without paying out all over the river.

River fishing is more complex than pond or flat water fishing, so don't try to do too much too soon. Start with lakes or the delta and figure out how to move and cast, mend and manage line, then move to a river setting.

In summary, pedal kayaks eliminate the paddle and leave BOTH hands free to fish - that's huge for a fly fisherman.

After 17 years of blissful matrimony, it's now time to retaliate ..

"New Dress? I thought so, as it makes your backside look enormous .."

Think Détente - the response should be equal and measured.

On a different post he mentioned $2500 for the lot.
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