Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Back in Action

After a ridiculously busy spring, I'm happy to report that I will be back to regular weekly posts starting today. Finals are finished, which was a serious expenditure in time and energy, but I did well and will not be taking classes this summer! My little brother got married in Colorado, and I was the best man. At any rate it was an excuse to spend a week in the Rockies. Even though we were busy with wedding chores most of the time, my Step Dad and I managed to get away for a couple hours and catch a couple of pike at Vellacito Reservoir in SW Colorado. I will post a report with pictures on that at a later date.

While I was in Colorado, my new kayak arrived; The Scupper Pro by Ocean Kayak. I have to say, I usually don't get to excited about sit-on-tops, but this boat is sweet. It's much more performance oriented than your usual sit-on-top. I added a few things like two flush-mount-rod-holders, a Scotty bait-caster deck-mount rod-holder up front, reflective perimeter line, deck mounted bilge pump holder, valley day hatch, neoprene foam seating, and I'm in the process of putting pool noodles into the gunwales, and a four inch foam bulkhead to separate the bow hatch from the rest of the boat. When I'm done with the Scupper Pro, it will be the most sea & surf worthy rotomolded sit-on-top that I have ever seen anyway. Although the bulkead will be awesome, the downside is that I will have to measure the entire cross section of the kayak with calipers, transfer that to a cardboard stencil, then cut it out of a foam block. It will be challenging, and I will give a full report with pics......as soon as I find my camera charger!

Coming up in early July, Saltman and I will be guiding a four day San Juan Islands sea kayak camping trip, and I fully intend to make use of the new hand lines. I can't wait for this trip. I look forward to the San Juan's every year. Last year I did not get the opportunity for any fishing, and I have been eagerly anticipating my return to the Juan's since then. I intend to be fully geared this time, I'm even mulling over the idea of towing my new Scupper Pro behind my sea kayak, just so I can have it in the off moments to wet a quick line. We'll see though, it's allot of trouble to do.

There is allot going on, and some good saltwater kayak fishing and outfitting tips coming your way throughout July!

Until next week,

Jason