Islander 11/11 - 11/13 Yellow Fever

Paul -

Next time I will bring a mesh bag to put my PFD, seat, plano box and dive equipment in instead of the large tupperware container. That way we could pile them up easier and keep the deck cleaner. I think putting the seat and PFD in the hull might also work and would be more ideal but would add a small amount of time to the rigging and un-rigging process. One of the things to think about is the speed of rigging and unrigging since this really slows down the launch and landing process. We normally aren't under time pressure to rig our yaks but on the Islander, speed is really an issue. A couple of times I was one of the last boats in the line at the end of the day and wished I had brought a couple of beers with me because I was waiting a long time. I am thinking 4 rigs (20# live bait, 30# jig, 40# dropper loop & trolling, 15# calico) is all I need.

Scott

I think the less you have to dig out of your kayak while it is still on deck the better.
I kept the stuff in the hull that I could pull out once I got on the water.
I definitely want to be wearing my PFD while I get on the kayak. I took a dump due to bad timing while trying to get on the yak. Glad I was wearin gmy PFD. I definitely want my seat on the yak before I get on too.
My tackle bag stayed in the hull. So did my gaff, fish Finder, knife, gloves and pliers.
I set them up on the yak once I was out.
I took 4 rods with me the first day. Then only three after that. I am sure I could get by with just 2. One to yo-yo and one to flyline. With a heavy top shot of 40# fluro and a decent snap swivel I could prob use one rod to cover flyline, yo-yo and dropper loop if I had these three rigs set up and ready to go. it doesn't take that much time to switch them out.

am sure I could get by with just 2. One to yo-yo and one to flyline.

For YT...absolutely.  You might want to bring at least one lighter rod for calicos/halibut.  There is pretty good butt fishing there.  We caught 2 or 3 nice ones in one day last trip and no one was really even targeting them.

Slowmo here- I used a ginormas mesh dive bag for my wet suit and pfd and the stuff that was bulky and could get wet on deck. For setups I had a pen boat combo with 6 to 1 ratio using 15# mono, a uglystick tiger light with a penn jigmaster 500 with 25# line, and a penn tunastick in case we ended up trolling from the boat. The first day my dad(rocketman) convinced me to use  my lighter setup and onlybring the one pole to make fishing simple. I thought, why not, On my first drop with a salas 6x jr b/w I hooked into YT at 70 ft in 150ft of water. So then I am sssssssstuck fighting the YT with 15# line!!! In the end I was able to land the hog and have him picked up by shane. On the third day I hooked up with another YT with approximatly the same water conditions using the 25# line. Unffortunatly I lost him when he broke my line as i was about to gaff him. How ROOKIE.
I would like to thank everyone on the boat for a good time and accepting me as a young adult and not a kid.
I would also like to thank okuma for the raffle and the new Baidarka rod that I won.

Hey Walker~
You're a MAN in my book!

Absolutely awesome report, my stomach is growling. How much $ for the trip??

Absolutely awesome report, my stomach is growling. How much $ for the trip??

It was $705 for the boat; all meals and bait included. A GREAT deal.
I don't want to say how much it cost me in all the extra gear I purchased for the trip.

I would like to thank everyone on the boat for a good time and accepting me as a young adult and not a kid.

 Your a class act "Kid" ,

 No, just kidding about the " Kid " Really appreciated your presence on the boat and glad you had the success you

  had, Excellent Job

 It's over now, You are Officially Consummed By the Madness

I don't want to say how much it cost me in all the extra gear I purchased for the trip.

 Amen brother, Amen...

  Got to keep fresh flowers in the House for a while

Walker - you rock!! You really schooled us the first day. If there is room next year (I doubt) I will bring my son and you can hang with him and show him how to do it. Maybe You and my son against me and your dad for a MBF. 

scott

There's definitely improvement to be realized in getting the yaks off and on the boats. The biggest gains come from having as many on the deck getting rigged as possible. That should be nothing less than 4 (1 on either side of the stern, the other two up beside the house), but it only works if people are standing by ready to set up their kayaks.

For me, hooking up the electronics is the most time consuming part of rigging. Clipping on a seat takes only a few moments.

But there's no one right way to do this stuff - all our boats are rigged to our individual tastes. Each individual should use the system that works for best for him or her. Bottom line - the only responsibility to your fellow tripmates is to get your kayak out of the way ASAP so it isn't slowing down the process.

Just watch, by next year the group will have this down.

I definitely want to be wearing my PFD while I get on the kayak.

I couldn't agree more on the PFD. Getting on and off isn't terribly difficult, but mishaps do occur. Better safe...

For me, hooking up the electronics is the most time consuming part of rigging. Clipping on a seat takes only a few moments.

PAL -

I left my FF attached but folded down then closed and buckled the sonar shield over the top. I did this on the water which was pretty easy. This trip really changed my opinion about the Trident compared to my P15, although I will continue to use my P15 for NCAL saltwater. On the Islander, the Trident had many advantages such as stability and storage options.

Scott

So much good information here! I was so busy trying to keep it all together myself I missed out on seeing what others where doing. Much learned for sure. I must say the Trident looks like a great boat for this type of thing. With the FF storage and large deck hatch it seemed like a great way to keep things on the boat while launching/landing.

On my last trip I was a bit of a mess and had to have many things passed back and forth on departure and landing. This time I brought a small soft sided cooler/tote, it worked great. I put tackle, food, drinks and any other loose items in the tote. I would get on my yak and have them pass me paddle, rods, Hobie Mirage Drive and my tote bag. I would then peddle off put everything where it belonged and fill my bait tank before coming back for bait. I always feel bad for how heavy the boats are for the guys, we all need to do our best to make them as light as possible each time they come on and off the boat.

Please keep the good info flowing, it really helps all involved. I like what PAL was saying about getting a process in place for rigging and departure, it would save a ton of time.

Quote from: PAL on November 17, 2007, 07:23:55 PM

For me, hooking up the electronics is the most time consuming part of rigging. Clipping on a seat takes only a few moments.

PAL -

I left my FF attached but folded down then closed and buckled the sonar shield over the top. I did this on the water which was pretty easy. This trip really changed my opinion about the Trident compared to my P15, although I will continue to use my P15 for NCAL saltwater. On the Islander, the Trident had many advantages such as stability and storage options.

Scott

Ah, but I'm talking about hooking up the batteries. One under the hatch, the other for the bait tank. Seems like it should only take a moment...

I also fished a Trident on this trip. As a package it is quite a platform. The sonar shield concept is fantastic; the boat pulls a load and then some, and its plenty roomy and comfortable for those long sessions. I put 5 heavy hoop nets on the bow - the Trident shrugged them off. Recommended for everything but true go the distance marathon paddles. 

My electronics were a breeze. I use the 10AA rechargeable set up.
I kept my Shimano tackle bag in the front hatch. I could easily pull my FF from the Scotty mount and place it in the tackle bag.  I could just as easily pull it out and put it back into the mount. Below are some pics.

Nice fishing guys.  Weather looked great, and that boat is freakin sweet. 

Jim