A Lesson Learned; I Think.

While fishing a live bait in a spot that hasn't been producing well for me recently, I got into a large striper that kicked my ass, almost flipped the yak twice, pretty close.

It was 7:30 in the morning; I paddled out with one bait and a couple of boxes of lures. I was cutting lines on a "grid" to make sure that I was covering the water. On the second or third line on the axes, the reel went off. I said outloud, surprised, but calm, "I got a fish." I pinned the spool to load the rod and set the circle.

Typically, to this point in my limited yak experience, the stripers take me on short rides. However, as soon as the hook found a home, this fish took off for 5 feet in one direction, darted off for 5 feet in another, spun on dime, took off for another 5 feet and shot off under the yak. It had weight that I hadn't felt in a long time: 32" being my biggest this year. But that was from shore, so I wasn't sure. After a couple more minutes, I muscled the fish to the surface; I'd hardly moved in the yak. The striper was easily 36 inches, probably closer to 40 inches. It shot under the yak. The yak tilted fast and hard. I threw my body backward to settle everything.

After a few more minutes, I demanded that the fish come up; it wasn't belly up. I took a deep breath and a few muscles twitced and the fish dove down and under again, creating the same near flip. I'd said, "I got a fish." Shoot; although, I was the hunter and my pray had taken my bait, that fish was kicking my ass. "Twice you'd given him a split second of slack, during the nearl roll over "rocking." And, you'd muscled him really hard," I told my self after the circle parted with the striper's mouth. Excuses!!! Right or wrong, that fish worked me from the start to the finish.

Lesson learned; I think: Had that been pre-dawn low light or post sunset low light, I wouldn't have been able to see the cue that the striper was about to dive. I'd of reacted a second later, and I'm pretty sure I'd of been swimming. I need to get one of those fishing vests/life vests and secure my stuff. Having a stubborn case of, "I'm comfortable fishing for stripers, so yak fishing for 'em, doesn't worry me," is a stupid thing. But, I have a notoriously short memory and frequently live in the "red" when it comes to a "fear: full or empty." So, I'll probably have to go swimming first. God it's hard being so stupid.

I need to get one of those fishing vests/life vests and secure my stuff. Having a stubborn case of, "I'm comfortable fishing for stripers, so yak fishing for 'em, doesn't worry me," is a stupid thing. But, I have a notoriously short memory and frequently live in the "red" when it comes to a "fear: full or empty." So, I'll probably have to go swimming first. God it's hard being so stupid.

You said it.  Going on the water without a PFD is STUPID.  On many waters (e.g., American River) it's also illegal.

I need to get one of those fishing vests/life vests

Get a decent one with pockets and you will be more likely to wear it.

Yes, it is; I know, so is rock climbing without a rope and leaving the deck far below, but I sure liked doing it for a very long time. Just the fact that I'm thinking about it as a potential danger, gives me hope that a new kind/level of 'Fear' finally Mapquested me.

Yea; if it's a good/practical fishing vest, not just another combersome layer, I'll wear it. I realize that I must sound really stupid here -I'm doing a good job, I know- so let me clarify and make my tackle box appear even lighter: If I ever went into the ocean or deep into the bay or way out into a lake or into a river, I'd wear a pfd, or I wouldn't go,,,period. I'm trying to get to the place where I fear not wearing, no matter what, but I don't have a great history with that. Next winter, when water temps drop, it will also be a different story. Hopefully I'll have found one by then and it won't be an issue. Recognizing how that striper, under slightly different conditions, could have created a much shorter fishing experience, gives me hope. 

I made a deal with the devil ... er ... my wife and told her I'd never go out without a PFD.

And basically what it boils down to now is that I have 2 little girls at home that deserve to have a daddy.

 I realize that I must sound really stupid here

Yes you do.  However, I think many of us have gone out once or twice sans PFD.  My solution was to buy a comfortable PFD that had enough pockets to hold my camera, phone, hooks, etc.  I haven't gone kayaking without my PFD for 2 years now, and I think I would feel naked without it.

Bottom line.. before you buy anything else (kayak fishing related), buy a frigging comfortable PFD with pockets.

I have a free PFD for you. Im sick of people calling you stupid. PM me for a hook up. 

"Bottom line.. before you buy anything else (kayak fishing related), buy a frigging comfortable PFD with pockets."


Yep!!!!

I have a free PFD for you. Im sick of people calling you stupid. 

You're a good guy Craig.  Whatcha got for a someone whose wife frequently calls him an a-hole? 

I have a free PFD for you. Im sick of people calling you stupid. 

You're a good guy Craig.  Whatcha got for a someone whose wife frequently calls him an a-hole? 

Now that's funny!!!!!

I have a free PFD for you. Im sick of people calling you stupid. 

You're a good guy Craig.  Whatcha got for a someone whose wife frequently calls him an a-hole? 

   I could use some of that remedy....    !

I have a free PFD for you. Im sick of people calling you stupid. 

You're a good guy Craig.  Whatcha got for a someone whose wife frequently calls him an a-hole? 

Lifetime supply of PreparationH. It makes it hurt less.

Somethng like: The truth hurts! I don't always agree: Stupid? Me? So often, it's stupid. Problem is: Basic behavioralism: Not enough consequences, which caused a negative outcome, which would have motivated me not to be stupid/do stupid things. Worst? Too many: "That was a really stupid idea, but it sure did pan out."

Thanks ravensblack, but I have access to a pfd. I'm okay with 'stupid.' The "pain" of not landing that striper, only lasted until the realization of the value of the lesson that it delivered. Further, and I think amazingly,,,that striper was the only thing that could have had such a powerful influence. Stripers work in mysterious ways.

The more time that I spend fishing from a yak, the more I appreciate the "blind spots" it has. The benefits of being out on the open water were so shiny, I was initially too overwhelmed to see blind spots. Simply said: From shore, the direction of analysis is, "In front of you, stupid." The world that I've now entered is frequently 360 degrees. From shore, as long as I'm not drinking to 'blackout,' I remember moving. My fishing world is stable. Not so in the yak. I've already seen myself miss potential lanes because I'd drifted off my line or missed it while dealing with something.
From shore, my reality or philosophy about a particular fishing topic is influenced by my shore fishing. So, shore fishing thinking influences shore fishing thoughts/questions. Not so in the yak. My shore fishing concepts that don't play so well in the yak don't openly come out and say, "You're thinking like a guy trapped on shore." Great new world. I plan on being around to get a little smarter.

not stupid.  careless.
I've been on the water in un-powered small craft my whole life, I wear MY PFD about 90% of the time, the other 10% is only when its HOT, calm and close to the launch on still water.  Its a conscious decision...

what you may need more than a PFD is simply more time on the water, time where fishing is #2 to paddling.  You are absolutely correct, the kayak fishing world is much more complex than the shore fishing world, 360 may not describe it adequately.  In order to be a truly good kayak fisherman, your comfort and control of the boat NEEDS to become second nature, in my opinion this comes from lots and lots of time in the saddle in many, many types of water.  To be safe out there (especially after dark), experience is the best teacher and you have a better chance of living through it if you wear a PFD....

Jim

Thanks, and please know that I'm listening.

Jim,,, Wha? "...time where fishing is #2 to paddling." As of yet, that makes no sense."