Dress Rehersal

Inspired by Abking's river post me and Juan decided to see if an overnight yak drift, something we have always talked about, was really feasible.  With some intel from family in Chico, we hit the road for quick a practice run.

I packed a TON of crap into my little T-11.  I continue to love this yak.  It swallowed a tent, sleeping bag, thermarest, clothes, cooking crap, soft ice chest, and tackle.  It was full...



Pad pod???



Juan was also loaded down...



Lots of tiny rainbows around...



There were some big enough for dinner....



Getting things ready...



Fire-roasted trout and corn...oh hell yeah!!!



EVERYTHING goes better with good wine...



Once the light dimmed we hit the water for dessert.  

Juan really loved his!





He really started to "pig out"...



After a good nights rest of freezing my sissy island ass off it was time for breakfast.  The tower of power brought goodness to my am...



Coffee and oatmeal with river chilled half and half.  This yak camping is growing on me...



These little guys waved good by on the way down river...



The whole overnight experience was a gas.  This opens up a whole new range of water for us.  With steelhead and salmon on the horizon, its time to get ready...also time to get a new hapa-compliant sleeping bag!!!

That's pure!!!

 Blake

Great camping and fishing at night!  Looks like a perfect rehearsal.  Love to tack along for a night fishing trip.  Thanks for the report and pictures Sean.

Bravo! Well performed.    Other than getting cold  I don't know camping could get any better than that.

Wow... that is so saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Freddie

What a perfect rehearsal Sean. Thanks for sharing.

Jedmo

  Nicely done, thanks for sharing the adventure, looks like good zin too!  What did you catch the stripers on at night?

Awesome Sean!

In my head I had always thought waters north of 80 were closed at night but I checked the regs and its only true for trout and salmon. Stripers are fair game at night!

-Brian G

Looked like a fun time. Staying over night adds a whole new demension to the experience. Also opens new waters less accessable. Good stuff.

WOW!!!

Absolutely amazing!!!!

Sincerely,

Jim

The upper Sac? That looks like a real cool trip you guys. Thats a beautiful bass Juan. Sean, ever since your steelie seminar last year I have been wanting an 11. Then Patrick gets one. These are one sic little boat and light for cliffdwellers.

What did you catch the stripers on at night?

Lures.  Master Juan got his best walking the dog in the dark.  The sound was incredible amongst the silence. 

The upper Sac?

  Never heard of it? 

Wow. That's way freakin cool. I've been considering what the next yak would be and that trident looks that much sweeter now as well.

Besides being a fun as hell adventure it was also a learning experience. I've always talked about doing an overnight on a river in a yak, but it was always that...talk. Thanks to Sean for getting me to try it. Also many thanks to Sean for packing the cooking gear. That's the one set of items I still haven't figured out how to pack along. I felt packed to the gills!
The night fishing is incredible! Your senses switch gears, you hear everything and see pretty good without the headlamp. I only used the lamp to land fish. One fish came on a weightless drifted Zoom, the other on a slow dog-walked topwater. Both were very exciting in the dark!

great report guys!
ill be in the garage today and ill try loading up the miniX for an overnighter
inspiring