Big Break Tues 11/18

Exploratory trip out of Big Break Marina, seemingly secure parking & easy putin, but $10 entry fee.

Followed the incoming onthe shallow weedy nearside points for nada. Crossed over to the far side at Dutch Slough, on the outgoing I saw something suspicious on the SI, paddled over and realized from the 2D that I was sitting on fish in 18' of water. Next cast, 15sec countdown, a nice schoolie striper. I think I made a mistake in not backing off when landing/releasing as I could see the marks rise up underneath me in response to the commotion. After he went back, the marks dispersed and vanished, end of game.

The SI was useful to find weed edges in the shallow expanses, I think I could also distinguish been different types of weeds (egeria, hyacinth, tules). Seeing fish in the weeds would take a lot of practice, if at all possible.

Shirtsleeve weather and calm. Segmented path looks about 6 miles; with zig-zagging GPS reported 12.

Am I the only one who doesn't know what a "SI" is?

SI is a mystery to me too.

SI is a mystery to me too.

SI was a mystery to me too until I did a google search. I believe it is the satellite imaging (chartplotting) feature.

Thanks for the report mikechin. I was out there on Wednesday in the wind and chop and got skunked. I paddled about half as far as you did according to the image you posted.

Ray

Maybe he is talking about one of those side scanning sonar units.  Those things look pretty freakin sweet, but cost more than my yak! 

Side imaging unit most likely.  It gives a 3-d view underwater.

From Bass Pro: Hummingbird 1197c SI

With exclusive High-Definition Side Imaging®. A 180° view of the bottom, you can see picture-like images on a massive 10.4'' color display with pristine, 600V x 800H pixel clarity. Includes DualBeam PLUS™ for traditional "2D" downlooking sonar and GPS+WAAS and Chartplotting with Navionics Platinum compatibility.
NVB models feature Navionics® Gold and Hotmaps™ preloaded and a built-in shock-resistant Internal Memory.


A penny short of $3000.

Nice work on lacating the fish mikechin, no matter how much you paid for it!   

Have fun out there.

HobieBlue

Sorry guys, SI is the side-imaging view, 2D is the conventional downward looking cone view. I stole the jargon from the yahoo website

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sideimaging/photos/album/0/list (have to be signedup yahoo member)

I have some pics in my gallery, they're not as good as the ones in the Humminbird ads.

I didn't get the cadillac 1197, I got the yugo 797. Still $$ tho. I won't be upgrading my 15yr old boat or 30yr old Medalists anytime soon, for sure.

It's awful, I spend my fishing time cruising around trying to see stuff on the SI. If I thought that leaving the rods home would help me see more fish, I probably would (just kidding, I think).

mikechin

That is funny Mike!  I get a pretty crappy profile on my Cuda in the delta, it must be nice to have some tools to help sort out the mess.  One day I will bite the bullet and upgrade.

Did the guy at Big Break know you only had a yak.  Last time I went out he only charged me $5.

Thanks for the Trac-Pic&'Port.....i'd get so excited on myself, if i'd witnessed such an account...at least you got to set some steel into something.
$5 for me a "few" yrs. back there too.

The lady in the shop told me $10 for ALL boats. I didn't try to talk her down from that by saying kayaks in the past had been let in for $5, maybe I should have.

I think I have launched more at the break than anywhere else in the delta.  It used to be 5 for yaks for the last 2 years.  I have noticed a couple changes with the new owners that took over this year.  They don't recognize a difference between cartoppers and trailers, and nobody is in the office until 6:00.  There used to be an older dude in a golf cart who would open the gate at the wee hours for you.  I launch elsewhere now when I want to get on the water early.   

Xsquid,

Is you launch spot a public spot?

Big Break was only charging $5 earlier this year but raised the price to $10 about 2 - 3 months ago.  The guy who collects the $10 is the same guy who used to charge me $5.  Sometimes you have to wait for the guy to open the office if you get there at 6:00.  Are there any launch sites on the Delta for $5.00?

Sure...pull up to any levee with some bank fisherman sitting there and pay him a fiver to watch your car.  Most of them are good honest folks.