Just a little Q/A regarding Kayak-related stuff

Hi,

I'm just asking some questions so I can get a wide range of answers and see what's normal for you guys. All of the questions, unless otherwise indicated, is based on your average fishing trip.

1) How many hours do you spend on the water?

2) If you have a way to measure it, how fast do you typically paddle (you can answer pedal if you want to indicate that as well) upwind and downwind. Both on average, and when you're hustling. And what model kayak do you have?

3) How many trips do you catch fish (regardless of #) vs leaving without catching anything? Feel free to indicate based on location (i.e. River, Lake, Ocean).

May have more later, but just curious. For me, my answers are:

1) Usually from 6am to 2pm, weather/conditions permitting.

2) 2.75 mph upwind, 3.25 mph downwind on average.     Hustling, 3.25 upwind, 4 downwind. Predator 13

3) I seem to catch fish only once per 5 trips, but I only fish at Lake Del Valle and Shadow Cliffs. I am pretty sure I'm doing something wrong!

1 Definitely weather permitting, usually 7AM-1PM.

2 Dunno I never pay attention. The last time I've seen on the FF was 2-2.3 M/HR something like that.

3 Depends on species. I usually catch something most of the time, unless the species I am targeting are one of those hit or miss (Salmon).

I fish 2-3 days a week.
On regular day trips I will spend8-12 hours on my kayak. Usually no shore breaks. Short days about and winter time 3-8. Adam and I fished 11hours on Fri at Capitola.

I paddle about 3-3.5 into an average wind of less than 12-15. Downwind an easy 4-4.5. I can paddle an easy 4 mph without breaking a sweat for an hour non stop.  My kayak tops out for me at 6.2 unloaded and about 5.2 loaded for bear. My average paddle speed just cruising is 3.5-4. I paddle a 2013 Tarpon 160 and its not my fastest boat.

I have been skunked one time all year, about 40 trips so far this year.

1)  As many as I am able to.  An ideal trip would be daybreak until mid afternoon.  A quick trip could be 3 hours of driving for a one hour window OTW.

2)  I mostly troll for salmon on the ocean in my X-Factor and cover 2 MPH average.  If I want to hit it hard to chase a bite I can cover ground for an hour straight, and then when I stop to make sure Rob's going to be OK, I can go another couple hours.   

Seriously though, any of us who do miles on the ocean should be able to paddle at 60-70% for hours and 80-90% for a good 30 minutes at least - it's part of the game.

3)  If you count rockfish and lingcod that bite my salmon troll, I catch fish quite often.     There are so many factors in fishing, and when you become a person who loves to get the paddle in no matter whether it's long or short, good fishing day or bad, you don't worry as much about that.  But the truth is I'd love to catch a limit of salmon every time I try. 

Good luck.   

Do you guys feel it's easier to catch fish in the ocean when compared to fishing for bass/trout at locations like Del Valle and Shadow Cliffs?

I mean I enjoy my day out in the water no matter what - I'm trying to get a sense of whether I have unrealistic expectations of results at locations like those two that I've been at.

I do better on the Ocean.

Funny Eric!

Do you guys feel it's easier to catch fish in the ocean when compared to fishing for bass/trout at locations like Del Valle and Shadow Cliffs?

I mean I enjoy my day out in the water no matter what - I'm trying to get a sense of whether I have unrealistic expectations of results at locations like those two that I've been at.

Ocean definitely! Specially rockfish, when fishing for rockfish some folks uses the word meat hunt. Freshwater is different to much pressure on the fish population.

1) I usually fish from 7-3 in the ocean. Longer in freshwater. But my time is usually limited due to family obligations etc.
2) I don't keep track of my speed, paddling or pedaling. I only have 3 speeds...slow-trolling, regular speed, and busting ass. Only time I'll mind my speed is when trolling (for salmon in the ocean, trout in lakes, or stripers in lakes/rivers). Hobie Revo and OK Ultra 4.7.
3) I have been skunked a few times in the last 8yrs, but only while fishing freshwater lakes (like Del Valle! or Don Pedro or San Antonio). Average number in ocean is probably 25/day and average number in freshwater is probably 6/day. Rockfish are stupid and easy to catch.

1. kind of depends on weather, but generally in the ocean I'll figure on an average of 6 hours of paddle and fish time.
2. I prefer drift fishing, so my speed is usually dictated by the wind or current. Average paddling speed? No clue, but faster than some, slower than most hobies.
3. I sort of figure I'll be skunked on any given trip, even rockfishing. That way I am pleasantly surprised when I catch fish. Out of 20 trips last year I was skunked on 2 of them. so 10%.

I average 6 hours on the water

I average 3kts

I catch less fish than anyone i know..

Just curious, why you asking?

I average 6 hours on the water

I average 3kts

I catch less fish than anyone i know..

Just curious, why you asking?

No specific reason, I have been doing most of my fishing and kayaking by myself. Most of the hookups seem to be pretty far from me, and/or in the ocean which I'm not prepared for yet. So I was wondering if most people's trips are similar to mine. In part I kind of wondered if I'd be able to keep up on most of these hookups if I chose to go.

And the other part was I was wondering if not catching fish in the places I go is normal. Now that I have a FF,  it feels like there are hardly any fish in Del Valle. I can buy that it's overfished, but I wondered if that really was the case or if I was jumping to the wrong conclusion based on lack of knowledge.

I've caught most fish without seeing them on the FF. I'm sure most of us never see most of what we catch on the FF. if you don't see them it does not mean they are not there. Just out of range for your beam.  Skunks can happen anywhere.

I'm guessing you're trout fishing at Shadowcliff and Del Valle?  I can tell you that both places can be tough a lot of the time.  I've had 4 trips to Shadow and 1 trip to Del Valle trolling for trout this year and I was skunked all 5 trips.      Its most likely not just you so don't worry.

Just try some other bodies of water if Shadowcliff and Del Valle aren't keeping you entertained.   Good luck.

I'm pretty happy there for no other reason than I have a yearly pass to launch for free, and Del Valle is a 30 minute drive, Shadow Cliffs is a 10 minute drive. For now I am learning new things on every outing on how to rig my kayak better, and I'm still figuring out the best way to leash/float things, and so on. Once I get things set the way I want, I'll venture out to better fishing areas. Glad to know it's not just me having trouble with those places though!

I'm doing bass, mostly. But I've been trying for trout as well. No bites! I'd just like to improve my angling skills, but that's hard to do if nothing is biting, and you don't know if it's you or the lake. I caught just the one Bass a few months ago, haha.