Gone Crazy..... BassCrazy365

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of hanging out with the founders of the BassCrazy365.net, Chad Brock and Zach Bailiff. Before I get started let us go back in time to the Boat, Sport and Travel show, this was the first time I got to witness the Crazy in BassCrazy. While working the Wildcat Creek Outfitter booth while they were interviewing fellow WCO team member Jameson Olsen about kayak fishing and whatnot they decided to take the Jackson Big Rig for a spin in the pool putting the 500lbs weight capacity to its limit by putting them along with their camera man on said kayak. Now I sat there watching 3 grown men act like children I knew I liked these guys before I met them. They were my kind of people. They looked at fishing the way everyone should a fun fueled roller coaster with a no line to wait in. So after that day I have talked with them several times through Facebook and got to know them a lot more. Laughing at the transition of a big boat angler to the kayak angler the two are going through. The battling of boat control, the ever madding dilemma of gear vs space you don't have to fight in a bigger boat, the game of inches vs pounds (by far this best, don't think they will get the hang of that one). Anyway Wednesday I receive a  message from Chad asking if I want to go fishing over Memorial day weekend. I obviously do cause it's fishing and I don't pass that up, told him I would check with the wife and get back to him. Check with my lovely, beautiful, super understanding wife. She gives me the OK for Saturday. I get back with Chad we work out the details, Yellowwood Lake at 6 a.m.

6 a.m. Saturday rolls around I'm waiting at the ramp to Yellowwood. Now I have not ever fished Yellowwood. My first impressions were this looks like a nice little lake, ~110 acres, electric motor only and surrounding by beautiful Yellowwood State Forest. I also did my research and from what I found it is not known for big bass, but big panfish. Even though the bass are known to be small they said there are a few hidden gems in there. So Chad and Zach roll up, we make the typical 6 a.m. greeting and talk fishing. Now I told them I wouldn't bring this up but it was to funny not to. They both showed up in not only matching kayaks but also matching shirts and these weren't like team jersey's but actual matching shirts. So we had a good chuckle over the his and her kayaks then it was down to business. I started off throwing a frog through what I thought would have been amazing frog water. Shoreline lined with grass in about 2 foot of water. After about 30 min with only one missed strike to show for it I switched tactics. Started throwing a weightless stick worm through the grass after a tip from another yakker, Joe Gentry, that also met up with us for the fun. I immediately hooked up with a small fish, then another. While chatting with Joe about the most recent IKA event on Hurshtown he set the hook in one of those hidden gems. A nice, fat, healthy 5 lbs bass.  After some pictures she was released. After several more small fish a "meeting of minds" if you will and use that term loosely happened in the middle of the lake at the bewilderment of on lookers. We sat and discussed the growing trends in yak angling, what events we would like to see (still trying to get somebody to host a One Bait Challenge) and just all around fishing stuff. We finished up our pow wow and it was back to more fishing. Several more small fish and several more small fish I finally found a gem. I caught a nice 2 lbs bass. Not the 5 lbs monster Joe caught but a nice change of pace from the several small fish we were catching. More time past, more small fish were caught, then towards the very end of the day I caught a fish the lake is known for, a monster hybrid bluegill. It put up quite a tussle. After some pictures I released her to grow even bigger. As we loaded up back at the ramp, we swapped fish stories of the day and threw out ideas for our next BassCrazy adventure. As I pulled away from the ramp and headed home I knew I had found some new friends, friends that going to take their kayak fishing to the extreme like I have been doing since I started. I look forward for the next time the crew and I fish. Until next time. Tight Lines.

New season, New reason

I know it has been a long time since the last post. Well I've been crazy busy in between the last couple of outings so far, an epic trip down to Louisiana (story below), The season kick starter Indiana Kayak Anglers tournament on Hurshtown Reservoir which I secured a solid 4th place finished and a very uneventful trip to scout out some new water (stay tuned for that trip).

Back in November/Decemberish my good old buddy Tom calls me up and asks if I down for the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic again. I tell him I'll need to check with my amazing, terrific, beautiful loving wife since I missed not only Mother's Day, but also her birthday because of it. She being the awesome wife she is said "NO!!!! But if you want to go a trip you get 1 week it just can't be that weekend." Fair enough, relayed info to Tom and it was on to Google to see where to go. Keyed in "top kayak fishing destinations" and you get a couple of lists from YakAngler magazine. I noticed between the list there was 1 place that kept showing up in the top 5 if not the #1 spot. Grand Isle, Louisiana. Did another search and found that there was a reason for its placings. GI is crazy kayak friendly. You can literally launch everywhere! There is marsh as far as the eye can see on one side of the island and the Gulf on the other. Talked it over with Tom and it was settled, Grand Isle are the end of March.

Departure day came quickly. Tom, Lester (friend of Tom's) and I loaded up in his RV and were off. The 2 day trek down was fun, 3 guys swapping fishing stories, dirty jokes, etc. Finally arriving we were giddy as school girls to get on the water and wet some lines. We quickly readied the RV for our stay and we were off. We didn't need to drive far for water that looked fishy. The three of us launched into that brackish tea stained water that is the Mississippi Delta. Quickly we realized why this was the #1 kayak fishing destination, FISH EVERYWHERE!!! Tom and Lester hooked up quickly with a couple fish, I on the other hand, not so much. I struggled to land my first redfish. With the light fading and still no fish I spotted a small cut in the marsh where some mullet were going crazy. I ninja my kayak into the cut and notice why they were going crazy. There were several reds pushing them up to the back of this cut. I launch a my new Arashi Wake Bait into the fray. I reel in the bait with the anticipation of a violent strike. As is gets closer and closer visions of a screaming drags and bent rods are a flurry in my mind. Then......NOTHING! I launch the bait several more times into school with the same result. Finally on my last last cast before its too dark to find our way back I get the violent strike I was waiting for. The drag screamed, the rod bent. It was not the biggest fish of the trip, but it was the greatest catch of the trip. It was my first ever redfish. After years of watching tv and Youtube videos I finally realized why these are sought after fish. I was hooked.

The next morning came with a revisit to the spot before with the same stellar results. Being adventurous and being there is thousands of acres of marsh we picked a different local for the evening. As we slowly drifted along, blind casting we pass some high voltage power line towers. I think "Hey, that looks like there might be hanging out near the pillions." I pitch my swim bait in between two of them with real no thought that there might actually be a fish there. Not paying to much attention as I'm retrieving came the thunder. A strike that nearly ripped my brand new Denali Kovert from my hand into the drink. Quickly regaining my composer I began the battle. After about 5 min or so the fish surrendered, a beautiful 28" red. The biggest redfish of the trip. Day 3 morning came, back to the honey hole. This time TAILERS! Everywhere we looked we saw tails in the air from rooting fish. This what you see on tv, guys sight casting to fish. The three of us had a blast casting to these fish. The take was visual and aggressive. Pitch a Gulp! shrimp ~2ft or less in front of them, a couple little hops and BOOM! Fish on. We fished the morning tide with several hook ups, a few misses and couple of heart breaks. The evening tide came around and so did a trip back to spot #2. This time I had a new plan, beat the big red from the day before. I picked up some frozen mullet for bait. I told Tom and Lester to go off and do their thing I was gonna fish a deep channel. They went off, I dropped a bait and drifted slowly with current. With the rod in my holder I drifted off into the daze that is the beauty of the marsh. Suddenly the rod snaps sideways and I snap to. Grabbing the rod with the feeling of nothing on the end my heart sinks. I reel what I think is possibly an empty hook. As I get the bait close to my kayak, it skips across the surface when about 5' from the kayak emerges a grey fin. I immediately pull the bait from the water in utter shock and awe, trying to figure out what that was. Dolphin, shark, no clue. I snapped myself back into reality and drop my bait back into the water. The line goes tight as soon as it hits the bottom then just as fast goes limp. I reel it it, I've been clipped. So now knowing I'm dealing with a shark I grab a steel leader tie it on and drop another bait. I drift for about 15 seconds, line goes tight, drags starts screaming, FISH ON! A rush of excitement comes over me as I have just caught a shark from my kayak, no sooner I realize that I realize I JUST CAUGHT A SHARK FROM MY KAYAK! CRAP! So here I am, alone, with a shark on my line. The tug of war begins with give and take of line from reel. I finally just say F It! Crank the drag down and let him take him take me for a nice little ride. ~10 minutes pass with no give in either opponent. I'm trying to call for help via my phone with no avail, to which about that time Tom and Lester round the corner only to seem we with a bent rod and look of help on my face. "Big red!" Lester yells out to which I reply "SHARK!" They realize my predicament, paddle over snap some photos and release a nice 4' blacktip. By far the greatest highlight of the trip for me and with most likely be my all time favorite catches. The final day came with the only skunk day of the trip. As we headed home plans for next years trip down to Grand Isle play out in our minds.

Until next time. Tight Lines

Dedication or Stupidity

Dedication and stupidity two words that are synonymous amongst fisherman and depending on who you talk to and to what context you will get either one of those words as a response.

This past Saturday I put the statement to the test. For I and the ragtag group of fisherman I call friends call the events that transpired dedication, most of you probably reading this will think otherwise but I’ll let you be the judge. It started for me anyway as a harmless text message the Friday before from good friend Kyle Hammond. “I think we’re planning on fishing for trout and walleye in the morning if you would care to join us.” Simple, nice, short invite, now before you go oh that’s a simple answer Kyle lives in Ft. Wayne, a good 2 hour drive for this central native. But, be dedicated I accepted and we ironed out the details, I loaded the truck and hooked up the kayak trailer and I was ready for the sound of the alarm. My alarm went off way too soon, 4:30 came quick, got dress in my layers ready to battle the elements of the day hoped in the truck and I was off. As I rode along IN-69 jamming to the free 3 weeks of Sirus radio I got to thinking, am I dedicated or stupid? I’m driving 2 hours north to meet up with Kyle and Mike to drive even farther to get to a lake I have never fished, let alone heard of, in rather less than favorable conditions. NAH! I’m just a dedicated kayak angler. The miles droned on and soon my journey came to its end, meet up with Mike at Kyle’s house we hashed out the plan, well they hashed out the plan, I was just along for the ride at this point. We loaded up and another 1.5 hour trek towards the Michigan boarder to our lake of choice, Clear Lake. The plan was simple troll for walleye and trout. So we unloaded our kayaks, as I set mine on the ramp it got the bright idea to launch itself. Kyle and I literally watched my kayak slide down the icy ramp into the water and float out of reach. It was quite funny to see my boat just drifting 20 yards off shore with no pilot. No fear though Mike “Toboggan Run” Densel was on the job as he hopped into his Hobie and rode it all the way down the ramp into the water much like the Log Flume rides at amusement parks. By far one of the most epic things I have seen while kayak fishing. Kudos Mike, much kudos. Having my kayak retrieved we set out across the lake with cranks and flies in tow hoping for the tall tell rod been of fish on. Time passed with not even a nibble, Kyle said he had just got word of a hot trout bite on another lake. Mike and I agreed this lake was a bust so let’s move. We trolled back to the ramp loaded up and were off to lake #2. We arrived at lake #2 where Kyle’s intel man was waiting, we unloaded and were off again. After a short paddle under a low bridge we were on the main lake. This lake had way more chop than the last, I still feel like I’m bobbing up and down.  I dropped my 2 crankbaits into the water, paddled a short distance and BOOM! Rod bent, fish on. After a short, acrobatic fight I had landed a beautiful trout. This was my first trout ever out of the kayak which was nice, because one more fish off the list. I trolled awhile longer with no other fish to show. I left my comrades on the water as I had to head home and my drive wasn’t a short one. I pulled into my driveway a couple hours later pondering that age old question, was I stupid or dedicated just to catch 1 fish? You decided. Until next time, tight lines.

Enjoy this short video of the one fish I caught.

http://youtu.be/uru6p_utgEw 

A cold day is better than no day.

I get told a lot by my family and non-angling friends that I'm crazy for fishing as much as I do and even more so when I do it when its close to 40° or colder. Which I get, I am crazy for fishing in a kayak in cold weather, even more so when it's in a SOT and only inches out of the water. But, I endure the frigid winds and water for that next bite no matter how hard it might be to achieve.

My alarm sounded which followed by a look at my weather app, today's high a sweltering 48° with a low in low 30's. Yep going to be one of those why am I getting out of my toasty bed kinda days. Well I roll out of bed throw on my thermal base layers, wool socks, jeans, hoodie and my heavy coat, out the door I go. As I'm loading up for the days journey I'm scrapping frost of not only my car windows but my kayak, all the while thinking why did I get out of bed? I arrive at the launch point, fashionably late due to a rather low rear tire, Tom had been patiently waiting for my arrival. We quickly ready the kayaks and where in the water. We had only traveled a short distance from the launch and made a handful of casts before I drew first blood. I had pitched to this sunken log, picked up the slack line before I realized my line was moving the opposite direction it had started. I quickly set the hook and landed a respectable spotted bass to which was released to see another day. As the fish swam off I was on a slight high of excitement in knowing this was not going to be a skunk day. Always good to the stink out early I like to say. We continued a ways a bit up stream before fish #2. I had made a blind cast towards some rip rap, slowly dragging my bait back, then suddenly my bait got increasingly heavier until the tall tale rod bend of fish on. A very nice and healthy 3# Indiana smallmouth. After the obligatory photo shoot the fish was released. We had traveled further upstream before I scored not only fish #3, but by far my biggest smallmouth out of my kayak or at all this year. Tom had stopped by a bridge for a bio break, so I was blind casting/diking around a small chatterbait I had tied on at the start for giggles with no real intention of actually catching anything on it. Boy, was I wrong. Upon my second cast about 3/4 through the retrieve, to what seemed like slow motion, the leviathan arouse from his deep water hiding place and engulfed my bait. With the water be as cold as it was the fight was short, but spectacular. As I netted this beautiful creature I was awestruck by its size. After removing the hook I snagged a quick weight which sealed the deal on my assumptions. Coming in at 4# she was indeed my largest smallmouth of the season. I snapped a few quick pics to immortalize the event in time I released her. Tom and I paddled a little further upstream until we hit a impassable riffle, which I picked up one more fish, but in no comparison in size to the previous. we started to float back towards our cars, casting along the way until the wind that was pushing up back up stream became to much to handle. As I loaded up the car for probably the last time of the season I reflected on this past season. I have not only made a lifetime of new memories, but some new lifelong friends. I signed on as prostaff for WCO. I was able to competed in several tournaments both local and afar, scored a first place in one. I have tons of new water that I would have never dreamed about fishing or tried. I crossed off a few new species off my bucket list and tried a myriad of new fishing techniques and tricks to try to score that fish that's bigger than everyone else's. So when people tell me I'm crazy for fishing in weather like this I just laugh to myself, because I'm not crazy I'm just creating memories. Until next time. Tight Lines. -Kyle P.

    

The dragon and the dragon slayer.

I loaded up my trusty steed with my largest of swords post night so I may make a hasty departure in the earlier morn. Having a restless night having dreamed of going toe to toe with the beast of legends and lore. As the dawn broke I arose to the sound of the crow, dawned my armor, mounted my steed and was off to the land the dragons. My journey to the land to north was long but pleasant, for my electric Baird was filling the air with rock of old. As I near my destination I stopped in the local market to pick up some daggers to add in my quest. Chatted with the local shopkeeper who was amused to hear I was going into battle upon the mule I had in tow behind my steed. I assured him that I was up for a challenge that only the noblest of knights take on. Shortly upon leaving the market I arrived at my battle grounds. I, being only a squire, enlisted the help of a local crusader. We geared up, mounted our stallions and went into battle.

Now if only if my story could be great enough to have stood toe to toe with Lancelot, King Arthur and the Round Table. Unfortunately this story is far from glamorous and exciting. As stated above I headed north in hopes of muskie, the fish of a thousand casts. I met up with Mike Densel at a local northern lake. Having never chased this elusive fish I was glad I had Mike there, helped past the endless drone of cast, retrieve, figure eight, repeat. We threw just about everything we had and covered almost every inch of the lake only to come up empty handed, not even one follower, one of the many fun qualities of the muskie. Even though I still have yet to put a check mark next to this on my "Fish to Catch Out of My Kayak" list I had a good time with a new fishing friend. I'm sure I will be going back to land of dragons in the future. But as for now this young squire, sore from burning baits that resemble boat anchors with the size to match, I am just going to dream and prepare for my next chance to go into battle. Until next time. Tight Lines. -Kyle P.

      

Gotta have at least one bad day or two, or three...

I know it has been a while since I have documented some of my kayak fishing adventures. Well it is hard to write about the bad days. They just aren't fun to read about no fish or one fish. But that's fishing.
Well like I said I have been in a rather low slump this past month or so. Between family functions, cleaning out the garage, playing dad, ect. I just haven't been on the water as much as I would like, especially coming off a win on one tournament and missing 5th place by 1/4" in another. The last 3 times I've been out fishing have just plain SUCKED! Now before all you bass guys go talking about the changes in the weather and blah, blah, blah. I know that all plays. But I've been fishing what I know, The River! I understand river smallmouths like they are my own children. I know to slow way down on presentation, I know to down size, I know to look for slower water cause its warmer, I know all the things I should know about this time of year. It's just for some odd reason the fishing gods have not been nice to me these past few trips.
Now having said all that above. Yesterday was a slightly decent day. Just like I have started so many stories in the past with "met up with Tom to do a little fishing" this day is no different. We decided to fish a stretch of White River I had never fished before, but I was not scared and I love new water so bring it. We met at the at the take out which I have started many a float in my past years, loaded up Tom's car top and head up river. We put in at another familiar spot from my years. Again I know I'm talking about how I know these two points, which is true, but I have never floated from one to the other. Anyway, we launched in the cool morning sun, we drifted not far from the put in when I decided I need to change up a bait. I figured while I was swapping out a bait on one rod I'll throw out another, so grabbing said other rod I made a short cast just to get it away from the boat and stuck it in the rod holder. I went about my ways rummaging through my many latch cases and plastics bags trying to decided what to throw when I felt a slight tick. Now I didn't pay much mind to this thinking it was just a submerged stick or something else that's common in the river that I bumped into. Well I finally picked a bait, got it tied on and made ready to fire out a cast as soon as I reeled in the one I had out. I plucked the rod from its nest and began to reel in the slack when suddenly the slack started to tighten and the plastic worm on the felt a lot heavier than when I threw it out which only means 2 things 1, I've got snagged or 2, FISH ON! Thankfully it was the latter. The fish began to just slowly pull drag, there was no runs, no acrobatics, really no fight. As I play this fish out I'm constantly wondering what is this fish, it's not fight like a smallie, the are bulldogs with acrobatic flair, it's not a catfish or I would be going for a sleigh ride around the river, I know maybe it's a walleye, they don't fight but rather just give up the moment they've been hooked. So as I get the fish closer it shows it's self in a grandiose manner with a beautiful leap out of the water which confirmed 2 things, this fish is a smallmouth and a toad of one. Well I got it landed and was amazed at the chunkiness of this fish. I have caught several large smallies on the river and they all look the same, long and slender, but this one was short and thick. A beautiful fish. As I remove the hook from the fish I'm thinking, yes the fishing gods have smiled upon me and graced me with what is going to be a great day of fishing. WRONG! I quickly found out my camera battery was dead and I forgot to hit record on the GoPro, so I had no photo or video proof of this beautiful fish. But, lucky for me I have a Tom, who was snapping photos like a mad man as I was unhooking the fish, so I grabbed a few candid photo ops before releasing her to catch another day. The rest of the day went on pretty uneventful. Both Tom and I threw about every lure and plastic we owned only to a couple more fish for the effort. So as I sit here and type looking at the extended forecast counting down the days I have left to fish out of my kayak before old man winter puts his icy grips on the water, I ask the fishing gods to bless me with just one last great day before I have to hung up the kayak for an ice auger.
As always, Tight Lines everyone. -Kyle P.

A day with my Mistress...

Oh my mistress. She is beautiful, she is tranquil, she is warm, she is cold, she is curvy, she is angry, she is up, she is down, she is peaceful, she is raging. For my mistress, she is the river and on this day she was the greatest she has been.
Now before I start I was on more of creek than an river, but who's counting. For those of you that know I am a true river rat when it comes to fishing. If it is a flowing body of water, I wanna be on it. I love a peaceful float, enjoying the ever changing scenery and wildlife you just can't get on a lake. I love having to plan the day based on rainfall, flow rate and clarity. I just love the river. Well today was a river day and what a day it was.
The started off like some many this year. Met up with Tom, then it was off to virgin waters. For me anyways. After a short jaunt we landed on the shores of the beautiful Sugar Creek. Surprisingly with the recent rain we had it was not up but maybe a foot, it did however stain the water a touch. This really played to our advantage as Sugar is normally crystal clear. Today was also the day I figured I would try a new technique I have been milling over for awhile now, the Mojo Rig, think finesse Carolina rig with only a hook and a split shot.
Shortly after we set off from the put in I got the skunk out of the boat with two fish back to back. As we progressed to our destination the Mojo Rig seemed to be the right choice. Having caught many, many small to decent smallmouth I still hadn't snagged the big ones that lurk in the holes and shadows of rocks, well that time was coming. I floated by some textbook structure, cast, thump, FISH ON! Finally, the fish I have been waiting for not only since I started the day, but all summer. She ended up being a very nice 2lbs fish. After the photo op a quick revive, she was off unharmed to be caught again only a little wiser.
The continued with both Tom and I scoring fish after fish, Tom with his spinnerbait and I with the Mojo. While floating by some nice rock lined banks, Tom throws his spinnerbait which was quickly and violently hit. The hit being so quick Tom didn't even have time for a hook set before the fish dropped it. I quickly fired my bait in the area of the miss only to feel the thump followed by my line screaming off in another direction. I slammed home the hook set for another Sugar Creek toad and a stellar assist. The day continued and ended with too many fish to name or photo.
Once again my mistress was kind to me and showed me a great day on her. Tight Lines -Kyle