Winter Breather

Ahhhh.....

Finals are finished, and I have a few weeks without school to relax. I'm going to lay low in December and recoup from an action packed year.

It has been freakishly cold and snowy in Portland, and in the entire Pacific Northwest for that matter. The frigid temps and dangerous driving conditions are providing little to no motivation for me to get out on the water and chase early winter steelhead.

On the other hand, there is only so much hibernation I can take before I start to get a little stir crazy and bust out no mater what the weather is.

I haven't been wasting all my time though. I've been busy researching and planning for kayak fishing for spring salmon on the Columbia. Spring king salmon are the fattest little pigs of the lot, and just about the only fish I don't release (except maybe a chrome-bright fall chinook).

With the Columbia river at my doorstep, I should be able to get out before work on a regular basis. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to fishing hard in March.

I do plan on kayak fishing for steelhead as much as possible this winter, but the crazy weather might limit my opportunities to get out. We'll just have to see.

SURFING SEA KAYAKS

A few of my friends (Dave White, Paul Kuthe, Richard Davis, & Nick Jacobs) went to Ocean Side on the Oregon Coast a couple of weeks ago to surf sea kayaks, and managed to snap some really great photographs.

Paul recently bought a digital SLR camera which is awesome, but his talent as an action photographer, the beautiful boats & scenery, and some skilled boating really make it all work. Here is one shot of Dave White ripping it up, taken by Paul Kuthe, as seen on Paul's blog: Boat with Paul http://www.paulkuthe.blogspot.com



Check out Paul's blog for a complete trip report, and some incredible sea kayak surf shots.

Until next time,

Jason

The Deeper Side of Kayaking: Overcoming Fear

I have not been able to get on the water this week, due to the fact that I'm waist deep calculus, zoology, and technical writing. The bright side to all this is that, somehow, I convinced my technical writing professor to let me write my term paper on "How to Fish for Salmon from a Kayak". Notice I said "fish" instead of "catch". I had to leave myself an out you know.

I am planning on getting out on the Multnomah Channel early this coming Sunday with some of the guys from Northwest Kayak Anglers to fish for sturgeon from a kayak. I look forward to meeting these guys, and learning a thing or two about sturgeon fishing from a kayak. I will give a complete trip report with pics shortly there after.

THE DEEPER SIDE OF KAYAKING: Overcoming Fear

While having lunch with some of my kayaking friends a few days ago, we somehow got off on the topic of fear. Fear is an emotion we all have to deal with at some point. Through out my development as a kayaker, I've certainly had times where I was afraid.

Looking back at my BCU 3 Star Sea evaluation, I was suffering from sever test anxiety. The ocean conditions were bigger than the remit for the evaluation, and bigger than I had ever been in before. I had shown mastery in mild to moderate conditions, but would I be able to perform at the same level in rough seas?

I really did not know what to expect. My mind raced that sleepless night before the evaluation, and I thoroughly freaked myself out.

The next morning I woke early, exhausted from an anxiety filled night. My stomach was in knots and I felt physically ill. This only added to my worries of being able to safely handle the conditions.

We met our assessor at the parking lot at the beach. After a brief introduction, we walked North of the North jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River to assess conditions. We were going to be crossing the Columbia River bar. There have been so many shipwrecks there, the place has earned the moniker "Graveyard of the Pacific".


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Needless to say, with that thought rattling around in my head, I looked out at the pounding surf, and puked three times right there on the beach.

I had a serious battle raging in my head; "Am I crazy? Is this stupid? Do I have the skills and the capacity to handle this?"

Self doubt filled my mind. I tried to take a step back and rationally evaluate my fear. I thought; "Am I afraid because this is stupid and dangerous, or am I afraid because I don't know what to expect?"

I analyzed the situation; There were two 5 star paddlers there doing the assessment, who had thousands of hours kayaking in much bigger conditions than these, one of which is a close friend and co-worker. I also knew the abilities of two others in my group well. On top of all that, I reminded myself that I was physically strong, reasonably intelligent, and a fairly skilled kayaker.

I realized at that moment that it was not danger that was causing my fear and anxiety, but rather, the fear of the unknown.

I decided that not challenging myself because I did not know what to expect was not a worthy excuse. I boated hard that day and had a blast out in the big water around the Columbia River bar, and easily passed the BCU 3 star sea certification.

Granted, my eyes were as big as grapefruits, and my adrenaline was pumping, but I had overcome my fear and anxiety. The next day when I looked in the mirror, I noticed I had several white hairs in my beard, and it took two days for the adrenaline buzz to wear off.

Earlier on the day of our evaluation, another kayaker in our group was overcome by his fear upon seeing the waves exploding at the end of the jetty. He quit and had to be escorted back to the launch. I myself had entertained those same thoughts, but I had decided that if my friends could do it, so could I. For some reason, at that moment "The only thing we have to fear, is fear it's self." made sense. I had heard that a million times, but it never really sank in until that moment. It became my silent mantra for the day.

I felt awful for this guy. I thought about how every day this guy is going to think about the time he decided to challenge himself, was overcome with fear, and gave up. I thought about how that experience would trickle through the other aspects of his life, and the negative consequences it would have.

It made me very sad for him, but some how, it made me more determined to face the challenge. I refused to let myself be that guy and walk away with feelings of self doubt and disappointment.

When we hauled out on the beach at the end of the day, I was filled with exuberance. I felt that I could handle any situation. Not just kayaking, but in life.

For me, that is the reason I challenge myself. I feel that having new experience and constantly learning are the keys to a fulfilling life, and sometimes, new things are scary.

Overcoming fear builds self confidence, and translates into every other aspect of your life. But it's important to clearly evaluate the difference between confidence and stupidity.

If you take a step back and assess a situation, usually it's easy to tell when you are hesitant because you are afraid of the unknown, or you are hesitant because entering the situation, or attempting an action is stupid.

I had trained extensively for the conditions present at the mouth of the Columbia, and spent years developing my technical skill in a kayak. I felt that the amount of danger present had been effectively managed. I never felt it was "dangerous" or "stupid".

Had that been my first time in a kayak on the ocean, it would have qualified as stupid and dangerous.

For me, the key to overcoming fear is having confidence in yourself. I'm not talking about being cocky, because that qualifies as stupid. But, knowing yourself, and having past experiences to look back on where you have over come a challenge, is the self confidence I am referring to.

It's kind of a catch 22, because you need to overcome a challenge to gain self confidence, and you need self confidence to overcome a challenge. My advice is to start small, and gradually increase the level of the challenge. By the time you get to the big stuff, you have a plethora of experiences to draw upon and overcome your fear.

I try and remember that fear and worry are not based on reality. They are based on memories of the past, that have been shaped in our heads over time to the point that they represent emotions more than history, and projections of future events, based on our memories. Neither of which represent the only thing that is real; The present moment.

In essence, fear and worry are emotions created by our imagination, and are not real.

So chew on that until next week,

-Jason

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

KAYAK FISHING.....And Other Stuff

I'm going to lighten the load a little this week. I just received word from the doctor that it's going to be four to six weeks before my hand will be ready for action. This means I will most likely only get one more shot at fall salmon, sometime around Thanksgiving, before moving onto winter steelhead, and hopefully a few runs at catching sturgeon from a kayak with Brian Steves from North West Kayak Anglers.

Kayak fishing for sturgeon is something I've always wanted to do, especially since I found out from Brian there are good holes less than one mile from my house. These fish get very, very big. Sturgeon can weigh upwards of 1000 pounds, and grow 10 feet or larger over 100 years.

Most of the hogs have been fished out, or died due to pollution & loss of habitat. Don't get me wrong, there are still some 3-400 pounders in the Columbia & Willamette around Portland...but I digress.

I will admit, having to take a step back every now and then is a good thing. Sometimes, apparently, some of us have to be forced to do so. There is a saying among anglers, boaters, and any person into outdoor sports that enjoys the privilege of having a better half. The "Girlfriend Approval Factor", or GAF for short is a term widely used to describe the level of approval, and/or extremety of punnishment one incrues from participating in any given sporting-activity, with or without your signifgant other.

I knew my GAF levels were running extremely low. I've been doing almost nothing recreationaly but kayaking and fishing for going on six years now, and dragging my girlfriend along for most of it. Granted, she enjoys boating, fishing, and the outdoors almost as much as I do, but she also does it because I love it so much. Who do you think takes all the pictures of me?

Since I've been off the water for a couple of weeks now, I've been forced to look at other things for entertainment. The weather in Portland has been magnificent. It's been quite a wonderful indian summer, with temperatures in the 60's and 70's, and loads of sunshine. The fall colors are peaking, and Shay and I walked over to Cathedral Park to test out the new camera, the Stylus 850SW from Olympus.

Here are a few pictures, from beautiful St. Johns and Cathedral park in Portland.
all photos copyright 2008 Jason Self/Shay Bickley






Needless to say, that walk in the park worked wonders for the relationship, but it also happens that there are two dock launches, and a nice, flat sand beach launch, with parking less than 100 ft. away. Just perfect for launching kayaks for sturgeon fishing.

I've also been digging through the photo archives, looking back on all the fun times had while kayak fishing. Here are a few of my old time favorites:








Some one recently asked me what it was that I liked so much about kayak fishing. It's hard to summarize why I love kayak fishing, so I thought long and hard about it.

The end result is that, I really just enjoy being out there...Anyone who hunts, fishes, chases waves, etc. knows that it's really just about being out there.... walking through the forest before dawn in the fall, watching the sun rise on the river in winter, and the sun set over the breakers on the ocean on a warm summer day. Kayak fishing to me is really about enjoying the beauty of nature, reflection, and having fun.

Slamming a 45 pound king salmon from a kayak ain't bad either.

-Jason

PS: We'll get back to the serious stuff next week with a post on self and assisted re-entry techniques.

KAYAKING SAFETY: Safety Gear

Since I am off the water for a while due to injury, I thought this would be a good time to talk about kayaking safety. They say that 95% of kayaking accidents happen between the car and the water. Well I admit, I am now a part of that statistic.

While tying boats on a trailer, my left hand was pulling down on the rope as my right was pushing two boats together to get them nice and tight. My right hand slipped and I ran my fingers into the coming of one of the boats. This was the result:

I have to admit, I used to think the pinkie was an expendable digit; The biggest slacker of all the fingers. What I've come to realize is that pinkie is a VITAL member of the team. He's the helper, the assister, and deeply connected to the others.

Anyways, the doc snapped it back into place and splinted it up. In a few days I'm going to try to move it again, and hey, I got to use my new camera!

This got me thinking; What if this had happened while I was on the water by myself? What if I had done something worse, like dislocated a shoulder, or broke my entire hand or arm?

As a professional sea kayak guide and instructor, I have trained extensively to help others, but rarely do you think about how we would help ourselves if disaster struck.

The obvious response to an immobilizing injury while solo kayaking is to call for help. I am lucky enough to paddle where the coast guard is everywhere. A VHF marine radio set to emergency channel 16 has a pretty good chance of getting through to the coast guard, or other mariners in the area. A cell phone is also handy, and can be used to call friends, emergency services, etc.

A dislocated pinkie does not qualify for coast guard rescue. I probably would have called a friend on a cell phone and asked them to meet me at the nearest take out, and painfully paddled in to meet them.

The most important thing is to STAY CALM, clearly assess the situation, formulate a plan, and TAKE ACTION! Someone has to take charge of the situation, and it might be you, even if you are the one injured. Freaking out and panicking only clouds your judgment, and causes you to make irrational and/or illogical decisions. Adrenaline=good. Panic=bad.

KAYAK SAFETY GEAR: Emergency Kit

Let's talk about the basic safety kit. This may seem like overkill, until you have an accident. I always tell my students; "Do you plan on getting in a car wreck every time you put your seat belt on?" These are things I ALWAYS have in my boat, even if I'm paddling on a flat water lake:

Cell Phone: Fully charged with spare battery. Kept in a dry box, inside a dry bag, in my day hatch, or other easily accessible, but secure location.

VHF Marine Radio: Absolutely necessary for kayaking in any marine environment. Kept close at hand for communication between a group of separated paddlers, contacting the coast guard or other mariners close by, and for obtaining current weather and ocean conditions.

How to use a VHF: A call of pan-pan means there is an emergency on board kayak, boat, aircraft, or other vehicle but that, for the time being at least, there is no immediate danger to any one's life or to the vessel itself. This is referred to as a state of urgency. This is distinct from a call of mayday, which means that there is imminent danger to life or to the continued viability of the vessel itself. Thus 'pan-pan' will inform potential rescuers (including emergency services and other craft in the area) that a safety problem exists whereas 'mayday' will call upon them to drop all other activities and immediately instigate a rescue attempt.

A mayday situation is one in which a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. Examples of "grave and imminent danger" in which a mayday call would be appropriate include sinking, drowning, broken back...basically potential death.

Mayday calls can be made on any frequency, and when a mayday call is made no other radio traffic is permitted except to assist in the emergency. A mayday call may only be made when life or craft is in imminent danger of death or destruction.

Although a mayday call will be understood regardless of the radio frequency on which it is broadcast, first-line response organizations monitor designated channels: Marine VHF radio channel 16 (156.8 MHz). A mayday call is roughly equivalent of a Morse code SOS, or a telephone call to the emergency services.

When they receive a mayday call the coastguard may launch life boats and helicopters to assist the ship that is in trouble. Other ships that are nearby may divert course to assist the vessel broadcasting the Mayday.

Making a hoax mayday call is a criminal act in many countries because of the danger to the rescuers' lives that a search and rescue operation can create, as well as the very high costs of such rescue efforts. For example, making a false distress call in the U.S. is a federal crime carrying sanctions of up to six years imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000.

The coastguard can be contacted in situations that are not emergencies (out of fuel, etc.) by calling 'Coastguard, Coastguard, Coastguard, this is (name of vessel)', on VHF channel 16. In many countries special training and a license are required to use a mobile radio transmitter legally, although anyone may legally use one to summon help in a real emergency.

The recommended distress call format includes the word MAYDAY spoken three times (repeated twice), followed by the vessel's name or call sign, such as; "Kayak Vessel Explorer", also spoken three times, then MAYDAY and the name or call sign again. Vital information, including the position, nature of the emergency, assistance required and the number of people in the group, should follow. A typical message might be:

"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is Kayak Vessel Explorer, Kayak Vessel Explorer, Kayak Vessel Explorer. MAYDAY, Kayak Vessel Explorer. Position 54 25 North 016 33 West. My kayak is damaged and sinking. I require immediate assistance. I am by myself. OVER."

If a Mayday call cannot be sent because a radio is not available a variety of other distress signals and calls for help can be used. A Mayday can be sent on behalf of one vessel by another, using a convention called a Mayday Relay.

Click here to watch the coast guard rescue kayakers in distress.
Note: They don't save your boat.

Emergency Contacts/Action Plan: Names and numbers of emergency services specific to the area you are paddling. Laminate & keep with cell phone in a dry box, inside a dry bag.

Do you know where the nearest hospital, or coast guard station is and how to get there? Where are your emergency take outs along your intended route? Could you easily describe your location if the situation should arise?

Charts, Maps, & GPS: Having charts, maps, compass and/or a GPS on board, and knowing how to read and use them is vital.

Signaling Devices: Hand held smoke and aerial/parachute flares, dye markers, fire starter, signal mirror, whistle, LED light on my PFD, reflective tape on my dry suit, PFD, paddle, and kayak.

First Aid Kit: In a dry bag, inside a hatch. Don't skimp on this one. Buy a deluxe medical kit. Go through every item, and supplement for your personal needs. On a recent San Juan Island trip, I was stung inside my mouth by a yellow jacket. Crazy, I know. I dug through my deluxe med kit only to find that there was no antihistamine of any kind. I have since added many items to my kit to cover every situation I could think of.

Emergency Shelter: Storm cag, tarp, space blanket, sleeping bag: Some things to get you and others out of the elements and retain body heat. These items are available at most outdoory stores, such as REI, etc.

Extra Warm & Dry Clothes: Hypothermia is always a risk in the Pacific Northwest. I carry a spare fleece full body suit, long underwear, splash pants & top, gloves, and warm hats, inside a dry bag in a hatch.

Hot Drink: Taking tea bags and a thermos filled with hot water is always a good idea. A hypothermic person can "cuddle" with the hot bottle for warmth or have a hot drink. Caffeine can help stimulate the body. I will also take a stove, like the MSR pocket rocket, and fuel, on extended trips. A stove comes in handy for making hot food and drink in a pinch.

Sugary Snacks: Always lifts the spirits, give a quick boost of energy, or help a diabetic reaction. Remember when you were a kid and scraped your knee? Didn't a sweet treat from Mom always make it better? Who doesn't like chocolate?

KAYAK SAFETY GEAR: Personal Safety Items

Personal Floatation Device (PFD): A PFD is one of the most important items for safety. If you find yourself in the drink, it will float you with no effort from you. PFDs should be worn at all times, and are required by law in most states.

Paddle Float: Can be used to stabilize a kayak for re-entry, or a disabled paddlers boat for towing, and many other things. Should be secured to the deck or behind the seat. Must be accessible without opening a hatch while you are out of the kayak.

Bilge Pump: Necessary to drain a flooded kayak while still in the cockpit. Should be easily accessible.

Helmet: A helmet should be worn at all times in white water, and in moderate to big surf in and around rocky areas.

Tow Line: I prefer a waist mounted, quick release tow belt such as the one by Northwater.

Throw Bag: Nice to be able to throw someone a line if they get sucked away!

Dive Knife: There are lots of good dive knives on the market. Gerber makes some of my favorites. Make sure it is secured to your PFD so you can get to it in a pinch, say, if your tow line gets wrapped around your neck. If you are as clumsy as me, make sure you get one with a rounded tip, rather than a point.

Spare Paddle: A spare paddle should be kept on the deck securely. Make sure you can access & utilize while you are in the cockpit. You don't necessarily need a $400 carbon fiber paddle for your spare, but you don't want the cheapest one you can find either. Ask yourself; would I want to paddle with this thing in harsh conditions all day? If the answer is no, get a spare you are comfortable with. You'll thank yourself when you actually have to use it.

TIP: I like to keep my spare paddle & bilge pump on the front deck. In almost every situation, you want to try and keep the back deck of the kayak free of gear. The reason being that most re-entry techniques require the swimmer to belly up on the back deck in order to get back in the cockpit. The last thing you want if you've been bucked from the boat is to get your PFD hung up on all the junk on your back deck. KEEP IT CLEAR! Make sure what ever items you've chosen to keep on deck are secure. Punching out through surf, a wave breaking over the deck, or even a capsize will quickly send your gear sinking/sailing away. I call this a "yard sale".

VIDEO: Yard Sale: This guy needs to take a lesson. He is clearly out of his skill set. He's even holding the paddle upside down.

VIDEO: More wipe-outs from my kayak fishing brethren.

VIDEO: Finally a successful surf landing!

KAYAKING SAFETY GEAR: Clothing


You've probably heard the saying; "Dress for the swim, not the paddle." Well, it's true. It's important to assess conditions to determine proper kayaking attire. Here in Oregon, on the ocean I wear neoprene booties, wool socks, fleece bottoms & a fleece top under a Kokatat Gore-Tex dry suit pretty much year round. The sea water here rarely gets above 58 degrees, and a prolonged swim in water that cold can be debilitating. I generally believe it's better to be to warm than to cold, as it's pretty easy to cool off. Just roll your kayak and you're instantly cooler.

Wetsuits are another option for cold water. I don't find them as comfortable as a dry suit, but they are much more affordable, and can be layered with a neoprene top & splash gear to provide more warmth.

Dry tops & bibs/pants are OK, and will get you through most situations pretty dry. If you find yourself in the water for prolonged periods of time, they are likely to let some water in.

I usually don't wear gloves, but I always have a pair handy just in case.

KAYAK SAFETY GEAR: Summary

The key with your safety gear is to err on the side of caution. Don't get lazy or complacent, thinking that you won't need this stuff. It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

It's also important to learn how to properly use these items. If you don't know how to use a paddle-float, flare, VHF, or find your position on a chart, take the time to learn now. There are plenty of resources available for instruction. Having all the gear in the world wont do you a bit of good if you don't know how to properly use it.

Take a CPR/First Aid class & stay current. Get familiar with your kit and where things are. Take rescue classes and practice with your paddling partners. Anyone who sits in a kayak has a responsibility to themselves, and our emergency services to understand and practice these scenarios.

Most importantly; Never put yourself in a situation above your experience level. Always train for it and work your way up to it. While you are developing your skill and understanding of the ocean, paddle with a more experienced partner.

Next week I will talk about self, and assisted rescue/re-entry techniques. Knowing how to get yourself and others back in their kayak is fundamental for all paddlers. I'm headed back to the Oregon Coast next weekend for another run at fishing for salmon from a kayak. There isn't much time left before the salmon are done, and I start white water kayak fishing for steelhead!

-Jason

TRIP REPORT: Nehalem Bay Salmon

This last trip to the coast was quite a disappointment as far as fishing. There were no fish in the bay at all. I did not talk to any anglers who landed fish. It's hard to believe after all the action last weekend.

I trolled the bay by kayak with my step-father on Sunday evening, and did not even see a roller. I decided to try again the next morning, thinking more salmon would enter the bay overnight, and on the next tide series.

I was wrong. I drove up river about 12 miles, and scouted for rollers the whole way down to the bay, and saw nothing. I hope this means a big push of silvers & king salmon are coming soon.

Although the kayak fishing was disappointing, the kayaking was not. I saw two other kayak anglers; a first for me. I've never seen another person kayak fishing that wasn't with me already. It's nice to know your not the only one!

I also discovered the Wheeler Lodge in Wheeler, OR on Nehalem Bay. Great prices, nice accommodations, and a launch 10 ft from your room on Nehalem Bay. They also let you use their recreational kayaks free when you book a room....pretty sweet deal. Check out http:\\wheeleronthebay.com They have some excellent specials running this fall.

I'm feeling pretty guilty about not having photos for you, so I'm digging into the archives over the next couple of days, and adding more pictures to the photo section at the bottom of the page.

I have to get crackin' on school for the next few weeks, so it will be a bit until I can get back to salmon fishing from a kayak. I will keep up with weekly posts, with information tips, techniques, and gear reviews.

-Jason

TRIP REPORT: Oregon Coast Salmon Fishing

Three days on the coast kayak fishing for salmon.....What a dream.

Three days on the coast kayak fishing for salmon without a camera....What a drag.

I launched my new boat, an Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 15, on the Nehalem river on Sunday morning. Amanda, who took the 3 star sea assessment with me, and Jeff Wong, who I guided kayak tours with a couple of years back met me at the put in.

We paddled down stream about a mile and ran into the fish. There were a few dark silvers rolling, and every now and then, a big, bright king would jump. We fished hard for a few hours before calling it a day. Nothing seemed to entice a strike. I had a feeling the fish would be off the bite with the 80 degree temps and sunshine. We decided to head into town for a nice meal, and save our strength for the next day.

The next morning, I crawled out of my tent at 5am, and scrambled over the dunes to check out the swell. If the fishing was no good, hopefully the surfing would be. I looked out over a completely flat sea. No swell. No surf. Usually I can't surf because the swell is to big and the period to short. A flat sea is quite a rarity in the Pacific Northwest.

I decided to head back to the river to try for more salmon. I paddled 6 or 7 miles down river and found no fish. Not even cutthroat. It was depressing. I talked to a few locals at the marina in town, who told me it was slow, but kings & cohos were taken in the bay that day.

The following morning I launched at the Nehalem boat ramp into the bay. Coho were everywhere, and a few trollers were hooking up with 30 pound kings. I knew this was going to be good.

I paddled along the pilings in the bay between Nehalem and Wheeler with a rainbow spinner on a 5 ft. leader, and a 1 ounce banana weight tied inline, and immediately hooked up with a coho. He managed to wrap my line around a stump after a brief battle, and I lost him.

I trolled for a couple more hours, and had 7 or 8 solid strikes that I missed, a few blown hookups, and managed to boat 3 nice native coho, around 10-12 pounds, which I released.... and that I have no pictures of!

I've definitely got it dialed now, the new boat makes fishing allot less work. I'm heading back this Sunday and Monday, with my camera, and will post fish pics as soon as I return.

It's on!

-Jason