Rolling a Prowler Trident 15, Bow Rudders & General Sit-on-Top Mayham

I was hoping to use our new HD video camera and get some beautiful scenery as backdrop for this weeks post. As it worked out, the kayak gremlins were in full effect.

I met Shawn Altman at the shop and we made plans to paddle out of the marina on the NE side of Tomahawk Island into the Columbia River. Mount Hood was glowing. The fresh snow reflected rare November sunshine. It would have made for a perfect backdrop to get footage of the Prowler Trident 15 getting put through the paces.

That would have been so awesome, except I left the micro SD adapter at home. The brand new HD video camera was useless. Being reasonable people we decided to adapt, and use the Olympus Stylus 850sw and test the video mode.

I don't think I got the setting quite right, but for a point and shoot camera, it's pretty darn good. Here is that bow rudder we were chatting about on North West Kayak Anglers

I didn't quite get the 180 on that shot. I was able to get it to turn more than 180 on several occasions, but the camera man was this guy:

Yeah I'm talking about you Saltman!

Here is a cleaner rendition of the bow rudder in a closed cockpit kayak.

I feel that the closed deck gives you greater control for edging the kayak, which translates to performance, higher secondary stability, and rollability. I do need more practice in the sit-on-top. I'll get on that and let you know how it feels after a month or two.

So needless to say, with Saltman working the camera, I did not get the beautiful mountain backdrop, or any good video of the low brace turn (which I think is easier to get a 180 than the bow rudder with a wide boat), or a solid shot of a 180 with the bow rudder.

Up until this point, I was confident I could roll anything, anywhere, with ease and grace. Although I did manage to roll the Prowler Trident 15, I have to admit it was challenging.

Earlier, when we were leaving the shop to take the boats to the launch, I realized I forgot my thigh straps, and grabbed some off the wall. The show must go on!

I noticed the metal clasps on these thigh straps were smaller than the big beefy ones on mine. This would turn out to be a fatal flaw. The clasp was to small to fit on a standard pad-eye. I hooked it on without being able to close the clasp, and hoped for the best.

On my first attempt to roll the Prowler, and a sit-on-top for that matter, the clasp on the right thigh strap snapped. I guess I should have expected it. I took it as an opportunity to show how to self rescue on a sit-on-top kayak:

If you listen carefully, you will here me say, "It seems like it would be pretty easy to roll though." I would say that, having the busted thigh strap to blame for my botched roll.

I used the lanyard that connects my knife to my PFD to tie the thigh strap through to the pad eye on the kayak.


All systems go!

I dump over and POP! The left thigh strap brakes. Needless to say we are notifying the manufacturer of this problem with that particular model thigh strap, and I'm sure they'll go back to the bigger, better clasp like I have on my set.

I tied off the left thigh strap, and set to roll the Prowler. It was much more slow to roll than any boat I have ever rolled. The slowness of the roll threw off my timing. I was used to throwing my torso around lazily, and gracefully rocking the boat back upright with a flick of the blade and my hip.

Not on this bad boy. I'm not sure if it was the fact I had never rolled a sit-on-top kayak, or the shape of the deck and hull, or the fact that I've been sitting on my lazy duff for the last month and a half because of a stupid pinkie injury, but I found it extremely difficult to get it upright.

I gave up on my normal sweeping roll and my c to c, and decided to try an extended roll. I thought that roll would make rolling anything easy as pie, but it was still challenging. I'm sure with a bit more practice rolling the sit-on-top, it will get easier.

This clip is by no means instructional. There are a number of things I did to make this boat roll that aren't proper, like my head coming up first, and the extended paddle position. That particular rolling technique puts allot of pressure on your shoulder, and can lead to injury. Usually I don't lay back on the deck either. I ended up doing a sort of extended storm roll to get it up. Kind of a kooky way to roll a kayak, but whatever it takes right?

I'm thinking of trying to trade the Prowler for the Scupper Pro, from Ocean Kayak. It seems to be a bit thinner in the hip, and holds the hull lines of a traditional kayak.

Maybe I'll try and keep the Prowler and just add the Scupper Pro to the fleet!
By any means, I think the Scupper Pro would be a bit sportier, easier to roll, and more fun to play with in the surf.

I sure do like float lounging on the Prowler though. It's the only kayak I've ever made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on while at sea. And there's something nice about that, especially thinking about fishing for 1000 pound winter sturgeon in the next few weeks.

Like I said before, I need an Armada of kayaks. I also need the girlfriends approval. (Doh!)

This is really the best way to flip a 180 in a sit-on-top kayak:

I thought I would give stand up paddling a try:


All said and done, it was pretty fun messing around with the Prowler. Although the rolls were a little ugly, I still rolled, and I guess when it comes down to it, that's all that really matters. It was a little humbling at the very least.

After the challenge of rolling that particular kayak, I would have to say, that if I capsized for some reason, it would be much easier to just ditch and climb back on. I guess that's the beauty of the sit-on-top.....Just climb back on! There are a few circumstances where rolling might be necessary, like if there were a chance of the boat being sucked away from you, but I can't think of very many other than that.


Until next week,

-Jason

PS- Does this back up my bull enough to keep me from wearing the "Ass-Hat"? Or does it make it more likely?

TRIP REPORT: Kayak Fishing the Nestucca River on the Oregon Coast

There's been some anticipation for this trip report, and I'll say right off the bat that we didn't get the sit-on-top kayak out into the action like originally planned.

If you read my last post, you will see that the weather report called for winds of 20-25 mph, instead of the 35-40mph we found on Tuesday. This was supposed to be a fun day after all.

I came down to the coast on Monday, with Paul & Kate from Alder Creek, and my girlfriend Shay. We were set to meet several other co-workers from the shop at the pub in Pacific City for our annual company party.

A few people surfed kayaks by the pub, another group paddled down to the mouth to hang out on the beach and possibly surf sea kayaks.


I decided to troll down to the mouth with Dave Slover, owner of Alder Creek.


Neither of us had fished this river before, and having been away from fishing the coast for the last month, I wasn't really sure if salmon would still be moving through the lower section, or if there had already been enough rain to push all the fish up river.

I did find several sea lions around me all day. It seems that what salmon do move through that section of the Nestucca are coming through at small tidal windows, probably the last two hours before high tide. The fish here are not going to be hanging out very long in the lower tidal section, but moving up river fast to avoid those sea lions.

It appeared timing was everything on the Nestucca, and my timing was off. We were floating down toward the mouth on a strong ebb. When we got within three-quarters of a mile of the mouth, the current was running at about 3 knots.

A small tidal race provided an opportunity for an experiment; I ferried my boat onto one of the small waves, facing into the current. I was able to hold my position on the little wave with my spinner twitching behind me at just the right speed. Without paddling against the current or using an anchor, I could hold my position in 3 knots of current and troll.

I started thinking about the possibility of a big king salmon slamming my spinner while I was riding a wave on a tidal race in 3+ knots of current, with a strong flow pushing straight out to sea, through the 8ft breakers.

I quickly realized this was not a realistic way to catch a salmon. It seemed about as ridiculous as trying to kill a bear with a knife. It's something you should probably only attempt if you have to, and I'm not that hungry....yet.

I reeled in the spinner, pulled out of the free ride and pointed the bow toward the mouth. It was time to see the action at the jaws of the river. I made it down quick.


I would estimate the current at around 5 knots at the jaws. The big break was pretty far out to sea from the river mouth, and I saw a way to sneak over to the beach, just barely crossing the bar. If my ferry angles were good, I'd slingshot back over to the beach where the rest of the group was hanging out.

I hit it fairly well, and managed to avoid pounding surf as I paddled hard over to the beach.

I saw all the boats, but apparently they too had decided that it just wouldn't be fun to play outside the break, and took a walk on the beach instead.

I trolled back up the river to no avail. It made me miss the Nehalem. I did not know this river well enough to productively fish it. I didn't see a single salmon rolling, or any other fisherman. That's a pretty good indicator that I'm not on the fish.

I decided to try another experiment. I call it; The fish's perspective/under-water camera test:





I trolled back to the launch without a single strike. I was ok with that, my expectations were low for catching salmon this time. My real hope was getting some footage of me and my friends surfing the prowler on 10 to 14 ft. waves. Not to mention the fact there was a party to be had that night.

Bold plans were laid by all that evening. There were calls for getting up at 6:30 to hit the surf.

When we woke we found sideways rain, 40mph winds, un-surfable waves, and a general apathy for all things action. We headed to the beach with boats on the car to asses the conditions close up.


These weren't the 14 ft clean green waves you hope for, they were white vertical walls of pummeling fury. When they broke, the foam & spray ripped off through the air in the sever winds.

This didn't look like the fun day of filming surf kayaking with my friends I had hoped for. We decided to head back to the house and finish off that keg.


We all agreed to give it another go when the chances of trouble were minimal, rather than probable. Whenever it does go down, the footage will be sweet. I will keep you updated as we narrow another date for the coast.

I'll get some footage of the Prowler out in the big surf here in the next few weeks. I'll also be fishing for sturgeon from a kayak this month....something I've always wanted to do.

Until next week,

Jason

UPDATE: Kayak Fishing the Oregon Coast

I have decided to post midweek, because next weeks post will be a little late. We are headed to the Oregon coast to kayak fish a few miles of the lower Nestucca River estuary, down to the mouth where it meets the Pacific Ocean.

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Weather reports are typical for this time of year. Monday we'll see a high temp of 52, with partly cloudy skies, and winds out of the southeast at 15 mph. Ocean swell at Nestucca is predicted to be 8ft, with a period of 9-15 seconds. This sounds like a pretty good opportunity to get the Prowler Trident out into the surf.

I've been looking forward to getting some pictures and video of someone absolutely rocking the Prowler in some rough water. I'm going to pass the boat around to my friends at Alder Creek, and take pictures of the Prowler being put through the paces in 8 ft surf. Keep an eye out in next weeks post.

I'm hoping to get out into the surf and play a little bit, but I'm not sure if the hand is quite ready. I will however, be trolling Nestucca bay, trying to catch king and silver salmon. As for what I'm using, I'm sticking with my old faithful; a spinner on a 4ft leader, tied behind a banana weight, of various size.

This is a pretty cheap, easy, and effective way to catch salmon from a kayak. There are prettier ways to do it, but it works for me. I'm going to give plugs a try this time also. It will depend on what the current is doing, and how the tides are moving. I'll need to anchor up if I'm going to run plugs, and if the current is ripping through, that might not be the safest or smartest thing to do. I'll make that call when I assess the conditions.

Here is a link with tips on rigging & techniques for catching salmon in tidewater & estuaries. I rig things a little bit differently, but what they show is pretty standard and will work just fine. The lures they are using are almost identical to what I'm using.

The conditions get worse, or better, on Tuesday depending on how you look at it. If you are a fair weather paddler or angler, Tuesday is not the day for you. If it's action you seek; Behold
Tuesday!

Swell is predicted to be around 14 ft, with a period of 8 to 13 seconds. Winds will be out of the South at 25mph, and rain is likely. With a high temp of 52, this may not seam ideal for most people, but it will be nasty with 14 ft waves and high winds....exactly what I've been wanting to get pictures and video of the Prowler Trident getting rocked in.

This will be the day I get Dave White and Paul Kuthe, from the sea kayak movie "Pacific Horizons" to prove a point; It's not the boat. People always say they can't do this or that in a particular type of kayak, especially a big sit-on-top like the Prowler. Next weeks post will prove that theory incorrect.

It's going to be sweet. I can't wait to post the pics.

-Jason

KAYAK FISHING: Tips On Rigging & Outfitting a Kayak for Fishing

I've been getting allot of questions lately about the best ways to rig a kayak for fishing, as well as people looking for information on what kind of tackle to use.

In this post, I'm giving you my best tips for rigging your kayak, be it sit-on-top, or closed cockpit kayak, for fishing. I don't claim to have everything completely worked out, but six long, hard, often frustrating years of kayak fishing have provided me with a little in-site into what works and what does not. I'm also providing links to several on-line fishing resources to help you guys narrow down those long and confusing trips to the tackle shop.

OUTFITTING YOUR KAYAK FOR FISHING: Sit-on-Top Kayaks

I've said before in past posts, the key to outfitting your kayak for fishing is to keep it as simple as possible. Kayak fishing is hard enough with the bare necessities. You'll soon find that a rod, net, knife, pliers, and a few small tackle boxes are more than enough to keep from dropping in the drink. Go out a few times with just enough, and decide from there what you really need.

I fish out of an Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 15 angler, and I've pretty much kept it unmodified.
As there are no bulkheads, I've added float bags in the bow and stern to keep her from filling with water and sinking.

If I'm fishing the river & doing anything other than trolling, I'll take a 3 pound claw anchor. The Prowler has a cleat on the left side of the seating area to stop it, and I'll run the line under a bungee on the stern.

I've also added thigh straps, which allow me to edge the kayak for more effective turning, as well as control it in the surf, and the ability to roll the kayak. Without thigh straps, you are just sitting on a log. They really make a sit-on-top a "kayak" rather than a float platform.

The Prowler Trident Angler comes with two flush mounted rod holders behind the seat. These work great for trolling, you just have to keep an eye on that rod tip for strikes. When I move into steelhead fishing, I'll be running plugs downstream in front of me as I back paddle, so I'm thinking of adding a Scotty rod holder just in front of the sonar shield.

I keep a net handy, secured to the back deck under bungee at two points. I've tried keeping it in one of the flush-mount rod holders, but it sticks up high, catches wind, gets in the way of my line if I have to fight a fish that way, and is generally a pain. I also secure the net with a Scotty paddle leash to the deck rigging. Trust me; When you have a net in one hand, and the rod in the other with a 50 pound king on the end of it, chaos will ensue. Securing your net and/or rod to the kayak is a good idea.

However you decide to outfit your kayak for fishing, make sure that you can perform all the necessary movements without hitting something. Where ever you mount that rod holder, make sure it's not in the way of your paddle stroke!

Forward stroke is clear:


Right side clear for bow rudders, sweeps, draws, stern rudders, and braces:


Notice how the rod interferes with the stern rudder position on my left side. This should be an indicator to not store items here while landing in the surf, or paddling in confused seas. In reality, the deck should be free of all items while launching or landing in the surf. Everything kept in the boat should be secured.



The Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 15 angler has the "Rod Pod", which, while allowing you to store your rods in the boat, isn't sealed that great and can lead to allot of water inside the kayak, hence the addition of float bags.

Being able to access rod, net, and tackle while keeping it clear of your paddle strokes is challenging, and takes a little bit of trial and error to make it right for you.


Netting the fish is always the hardest part. Just try to stay calm and take your time. It's funny, my heart wasn't pounding very hard when I netted this massive lawn fish:


OUTFITTING YOUR KAYAK FOR FISHING: Sea Kayaks

Fishing from a sea kayak is what it's all about. It's why the boats were invented in the first place. Hunting whale, walrus, seal, and other critters from a kayak goes back thousands of years, but for now, lets focus on salmon and ocean bottom fish in 2008.

Fishing from a sea kayak is as easy as tying off a hand line with 100 feet of fishing line, weight, and lure to your deck rigging, and pulling it behind you while your touring. When you get to your destination, you see what you've got.

If fishing is your main pursuit, you'll want to use a rod, and mount a rod holder. I couldn't bring myself to drill holes in my sweet NDK explorer, so I bought a "Johnny Bar", and modified it by sawing off several inches on either side. Shortening the width of the bar means I won't bang my paddle on it every time I take a stroke. It's also important to note that I've secure the bar far enough forward to clear my stroke, but it's still with in reach.


The Johnny Bar attaches to the deck rigging with cam straps, and a Scotty spinning rod holder is bolted to the bar. This is a nice, solid, no drill rod holder.

It's important to note; With the johnny bar in it's current position, I would not be able to execute a standard sweep, or C to C roll on my strong side. I've thought quite a bit about how to resolve this by repositioning the rod holder, and I've decided that it's in the best position for fishing. If I do ever get pulled over by a monster fish, or rogue wave, I'll have to recover by sculling up on either side, or utilizing a back deck roll to stay clear of the rod and rod holder.

There is a real risk of getting tangled up in an anchor line, or your fishing line if you get dumped. If you find the line around your neck, just stay calm, blow bubbles, and attempt to untangle or cut yourself free before trying to roll. (remember that dive knife tethered to your PFD?)

I have to say, I've never been dumped by a fish, and except for playing in the surf, I've never capsized on accident. Learning proper technique and practicing it means the difference between lots of swimming and lots of fun.

I keep the net on the back deck, secured under bungee, and with a Scotty paddle leash.



As for tackle and tools, I keep a dive knife and a pair of needle nose pliers on my PFD, and I keep two small Plano tackle boxes, a hook & leader keeper, and some line in a small bag either in my day hatch, or in the rod pod on the sit-on-top.

KAYAK FISHING RESOURCES:

Needless to say, there are tons of choices at the tackle shop. Knowing what works best and how to rig it can be challenging. I've learned allot from talking to other fisherman, mining the web, and reading books and magazines. Below are some of the most informative resources.

Salmon University is an amazing site with all the information you need to know to catch salmon, steelhead, & trout.

Piscatorial Pursuits has a wealth of info on fishing for salmon and steelhead

Steelheader.net is one of my all time favorites for tips on catching steelies.

Moldy Chum is a a favorite blog of mine, with a unique perspective on all things fishing.

Fish Sniffer is another great resource for tips and techniques for various species of fish.

Northwest Kayak Anglers is a great resource for kayak specific fishing techniques.

ifish.net is one of my favorite fishing blogs with a ton of useful information and links for the Pacific Northwest.

Another great resource is your local tackle shop. I've learned more from being friendly, and not shy about picking the locals brains for tips and info. I pretty much ask every person I see on the water with a rod within 10 ft of them if they've caught anything, where they were, what time, and what they were using. More often than not people are happy to share information.

As far as what I'm using, I've recently changed my ways. I used to fish roe and shrimp in various incarnations, but to be honest, I'm sick of bait. It's messy, stinky, expensive, and most of the time, the friggin sculpin rob you blind.

I've been trolling spinners, tied four to five feet behind a 3/4 or 1 oz banana weight, with 12 pound maxima as a mainline, and a 10 pound fluorocarbon leader, with pretty good results. I'm sure I'll use bait again, but right now, it seems unnecessary. I'll be using flies and plugs for steelhead this year, nixing bait altogether.

NEXT WEEK:

I'm headed to the Nestucca estuary on the Oregon coast next Monday and Tuesday, to kayak fish for salmon with a few friends from Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe. That will be almost 4 weeks since I injured my hand, and boy am I ready to get back out there.

I've never fished the Nestucca, but It's a beautiful spot, and I'm sure it will be a good time. Check back next week for a full trip report, some great surf and rough water pics with the Alder Creek gang, and hopefully a few pics of big, fat, king salmon.

-Jason