Last day fishing my kayak, and last day fishing period for a while.....

So since I pretty much have the kayaks sold, I figured one last trip in them for good luck for the next person, I decided to invite my friend out to fish Mildred Island yesterday evening. We get there around 5:30 for about an hour and a half left to fish. Beautiful weather, no wind. Looks like its gonna be good. I ended up with 4 bass and 1 striper, nothing of any size, but easy fish all on jerkbaits. My friend didn't get one fish, but it was his first time at Mildred and his first time in a kayak. So heres where the story gets crappy. I get almost to Lathrop and I remember! OMFG I left my pole and tackle bag on the levee. I turn around and head back as fast as I can legally go. When I get there, what do I see? NOTHING, everything is gone, a brand new pole and reel spooled with 20# Power Pro braid with a brand new $9 jerkbait tied on. Plus my new $40 Shimano tackle bag with well over $300 worth of tackle in it. So now all I have is my Shimano Baitcaster and a pile of lures I am trying to sell that I dont use. So I am done fishing for a while, I cannot afford to buy new tackle, thats why I am selling my kayaks so I can get back on my feet.

Sorry for the long report, but I needed to vent a little, I have never done this, and I am so upset about it!

Well here is some pictures of when the day was actually decent!

That sucks, but don't you think selling your kayak is a little drastic?  I've caught countless bass and catfish on a $25 Zebco combo...  Heck, I'll loan one to you.  Tackle too.  Nothing fancy, but it'll get you fishing again.

I was selling the kayaks before this happened, I am tight on money plus I am going to be upgrading to a bigger kayak here this spring

Sorry to hear about the poor luck.  Even with that, you didn't get skunked and you have some good pictures for memories later. 

I'm sorry also about your luck, if you want to call it that. This summer I managed to leave a bag full of gear at the dock at Clear Lake State Park. Oh Sh#$! I race back and it's all there. Great relief. Still, this last saturday I yaked the mouth of the Eel River and left my wading shoes, ($100 worth), to dry on a log. When I remembered I was too far home to go back. Another pair is on order. You do what you have to do.

Major bummer Jeffrm20.
Well, gear comes & gear goes. Over the years I've left game clips, tackle, dry bags, and even a tent once, at different take out spots. Never could retrieve any of it. I'm quite detail oriented now when I pack up, and I always check in the rear view when I pull away.
Eric B is right though. Although it hurts now, once you get the new boat you can begin again with inexpensive tackle, and eventually you'll be back with the fancy stuff. The experience of kayak fishing is just as fantastic with a $20 wal-mart combo as it is with a trevala/avet combo. The main thing is to use what ya got & get out paddling.
Post pics when you get the new boat!

Great reminder to all of us not to let our guard down when packing up at the car.  The gear aint secure until its rinsed and dried in the backyard.  Like my CO said in Vietnam:

"Police up all your crap, and don't leave nuthin for the VC..."  (actually it was Willem Dafoe's character from Platoon)

Major bummer Jeffrm20.
Well, gear comes & gear goes. Over the years I've left game clips, tackle, dry bags, and even a tent once, at different take out spots. Never could retrieve any of it. I'm quite detail oriented now when I pack up, and I always check in the rear view when I pull away.

Jeffrm20,

I know the sickening feeling. I left behind my tackle box at Vieira's Resort in Aug. You'd think some good Samaritan would have turned it in. No such luck.

When I was 10, we were driving from Chicago to San Diego, somewhere in New Mexico we stop for gas, fill up and leave. Two hours later we realize that we have left my Grandmother back at the gas station... no  one took her. Better rate of return on grannies than fishing tackle.

somewhere in New Mexico we stop for gas, fill up and leave. Two hours later we realize that we have left my Grandmother back at the gas station...

That kind of sounds like National Lampoon's Vacation.  Oh wait, in the movie, they forget that the dog is tied to the tailgate and drive off.  I think the grandmother passed away in the car and it took them awhile to figure that out as well.  Close but not quite.

Brian

We were going across country in 1963.  Stopped at a gas station in Hannibal Missouri for cokes and bathrooms.  When I came out the car was gone.  My dad and four of my brothers had taken off.  I was about 10yrs old.

I just sat down and drank my coke  (remember the curvy 8oz bottles?)

In about 20 minutes they came back for me.

I kept a good front up, but inside, I was pretty scared.

Maybe that's where I get my separation anxiety from, and why it's hard for me to practice catch and release?

Allen

Allen, maybe the separation anxiety is from not being able to get those curved groove bottles anymore or that you have to pay a lot more than ten cents a bottle now.

I know Modesto is a long way - but I'll be making a few trips to the Forbay for Stripers or maybe even explore Los Banos pretty soon. Keep an eye on the hook-up section and if you see me post and you wanna meet up, I can bring an extra kayak for ya. I have enough tackle to share as well.

Hojo.  yeah.  a coke and a comic book was 20 cents.