Kayak

Well i am offically back into kayak fishing.

the ole lady says I am starting to put on too many pounds.  It also doesnt hurt that the price of gas is $3.50/gallon

So i picked up a used wilderness system Ride 135. Pretty well outfitted for fishing already. am only going to add an anchor.

Spring Rains have the turbidity high...

Which means i will probably be fishing Lanier this weekend, pulling blue backs for stripers.

I was in Cartersville today for work and stopped by Cohutta Fishing Co.

Andy Bowen seems like a nice guy and owns the place. Says hes getting 6 more Jackson Coosa's in a few weeks.  He has two left.


I bought a couple of Bass flies while i was in there. One may be a striper fly, but i doubt i will bring it Saturday unless i see a convincing report that they are busting the surface.

Paddle Came in today

Ordered the Bending Branches Angler Paddle 240cm.  This should be good for the coosa althouhg i read to go with 250cm but could not find that size.

came in a long box, looks pretty good and not damaged,  now i just need the boat

Structure Scan

I have seen the 22" LCD screens out on the lake. Does this seem to be worth it? Can we finally distinguish between a tree and a school of fish?

These Lowrance and Humminbird units seem to be almost a must have.  Cannot wait to review one....

Bill Lewis Rat L Trap

How about the Bill Lewis Rat L Trap

http://www.rat-l-trap.com/

 I feel this is one of the best all around bass lures out there. I have been using this since I was a kid.  Just throw it out and retrieve how ever you like. Covers lots of water in unknown areas.


One of the best strategies i have found is to throw this until you catch one. Then work that area with a worm or jig/pig until you catch 2 more.

Random Fish from the past

Lanier Cat while striper fishing

Good bream out on Clarks hill while bass fishing (did catch bass this day)

Nice Brownie on a midge at my secret spot at white water

A pre bed bream on the sluice

Techs: A good dog

I was about to buy a nice new Jackson Coosa Kayak.  Until my Golden ate one of my new flies that i got shipped to the house from Caylors Custom Flies (http://www.caylorcustomflies.com/). A trip to the emergency vet later ($1400) I did not buy that kayak just quite yet. The dog is fine and you can see why he was at least half worth it from the pics.  He's got a lot of fishing left in him.

Hilton Head: Palmetto Dunes Lagoon 2.12.11

We fished with Capt. Trent Malphrus (http://www.palmettolagooncharters.com/) and landed a couple in half days work.  The water was super cold and the fish were starting to roam a bit as the sun hit.

Palmetto Dunes Lagoon may be one of the best kept secrets in fishing.  Trent manages the stocking program here and stocks a number of red fish per year.  The population thrives and 20 lbs is not uncommon. The lagoon is electric only and is perfect for kayaks.  It is very wind protected which allows for not too many bad days fishing.   

For 8 years a tarpon population grew to around 35-40lbs a fish.  Two cold winters killed them off. 

                                          Black Drum on a Berkley Gulp Shrimp Imitation

                                          Red Fish on the Berkley Gulp Shrimp

                                         Views of the Lagoon

Not sure who these cats are but this is the result of some of Trent's work on the Lagoon (taken from his website)

 RIP Tarpon

 Typical toad

White Water 2.27.2011

Got out for half a day with the boys.  The fish appeared to be in moving water not in the pools.

Could not beat a Caylors Custom Whooly Bugger.  I should have switched to black and maybe would have landed more fish.

Crayfish patters absolutely kill it on the DH.  I was with a spin fishermen who fished for 2 hours with a small crayfish imitation and landed 4 (2 browns and 2 bows)

The Boat

Carolina Skiff J16