YakAttack Boomstick Review

Arguably, there is no better way to share a fishing story than through video.  The hits, the sleigh rides,  the facial expressions, everything you love about the sport can be shared through amazing resolution nowadays.  In my constant pursuit of fun footage, I've had the opportunity to use the Boomstick by YakAttack and as usual with their products, I was not disappointed.  In fact, I was actually kind of giddy with all the different angles the Broomstick helped achieve with ease.

It's GoPro ready.  It's 43".  It floats.  And it's super easy to change the angle and pivot.  A quick release button allows the user to remove the pole from the base with one hand and the multiple articulation points allows for virtually any vantage point whether it's mounted or in your hands. 

Floats with Hero3+ with GoPro extended battery without the Floaty Back Door.

I used a RAM Post and Spline base on a Gear Trac for the attachment point to the kayak (Predator 13 in this case).  The Boomstick also fits well in flush mount rod holders.

Quick Release Button

"Plunger" release pin and pivot point

Another pivot point

When your buddy is hooked up next to you, or something cool is happening in the water below, getting that camera out of the base quickly is crucial.  

The 43" length enables a good height to capture a wide view. 

If you love getting those cool angles to share your days on the water, you're gonna want the Boomstick.  It's definitely my go-to.  Paired with the Panfish Portrait toward the bow of the boat, I feel like I have all the bases covered.  

Cool angle with the Boomstick 

On top of all that, the customer service is second to none at YakAttack.  They stick to their values, make quality products and are committed to making sure it's all MADE IN THE USA.

Ocean Kayak Trident 13 Review

In case you haven't read through this site and just stumbled upon this review, I want to make this clear; I fish out of a kayak, A LOT.  However, when you kayak fish, you're just as much a paddler as you are a fisherman.  With that said, my main go-to kayak is the Ocean Kayak Trident 13.

There is no perfect kayak.  If you want speed you're going to sacrifice stability.  If you want great stability, the kayak is going to be wide and slow.  There's no way around physics.  But the Trident 13 finds the perfect balance.  The tri-hull design keeps the kayak tracking super straight and increases the stability immensely.  Here's a little more about the tri-hull design from their website:

"What sets Ocean Kayak sit-on-top kayaks apart is our performance hulls. Many of our hulls were designed by a former Olympic coach who is highly regarded in the paddling community. Some of our hulls feature the Tri-Form hull design which has a distinct keel that runs the entire length of the hull with sponson-like shoulders on either side that make up the majority of the hulls’ beam. This Tri-Form hull design enhances stability as the boat eases through the water. The long center keel area encourages boats to track straight when paddling and coasting. The wider "shoulder" areas of the hull ride high at the surface of the water without compromising speed under moderate paddling conditions. These areas provide significant secondary stability, and result in a very user friendly kayak design. Now adding volume to the bow and adding some rocker gives us a lot of maneuverability, and great surf, rough water performance. In addition, Ocean Kayak hulls derive their stiffness from compound curves rather than sharp lines. These curves have fewer stress points, which makes them less likely to crack than other kayak designs, even under impact."

As they mentioned, the bow of the Trident is designed to punch through surf and take on waves.  Going along with the rough water scenario, the rod pod is crucial.  You can store all your mission-essential expensive equipment without fear of losing it if (more like when) you turtle in the surf.  If you like using electronics when you fish, the sonar shield comes in handy to tuck the unit away when you need to and easily bring it back when when the time is right.  The tankwell is plenty big enough for crates, coolers, small children, whatever.

The Trident does differ from many of the new kayaks coming out in that it sits lower to the water.  In rough conditions, I find this to be extremely beneficial.  The center of gravity is lower and it also keeps you less susceptible to becoming a sail.  Your body as well as the side walls of the kayak can catch wind causing you to either move in the wrong direction or slow you down tremendously.

The one thing that can be improved is the seat.  It's not terrible, but with the number of hours I put in it, I upgraded to a Surf To Summit GTS Pro.  They have made improvements since my model (2012) so you might have to check the new ones out. 

I've taken my Trident 13 to nearly every type of water imaginable besides raging white water and have to say, it excels in offshore, near shore, inshore and anywhere you're trying to cover distance.  I highly recommend it.  For info on rigging the Trident and other tips click here.

Photo credit: Joe Underwood

Kokatat Bahia Tour Review

The Kokatat Bahia Tour has been my main kayak fishing PFD (personal floatation device) for over a year now and can honestly say, I love it.  I'm one of those guys that almost never takes off their life jacket when on the water.  I keep a lot of tools on it and quite frankly, I just like having it on. 


Comfort is paramount since I spend a lot of time on the water and the Bahia is exactly that; super comfortable.  The foam panels are articulated to fit around you instead of being big bulky chunks.  It features a mesh back to let air flow and the back foam is designed to fit well against high back seats which are the norm in modern fishing kayaks.  

The adjustable shoulder straps are padded with neoprene for ultimate comfort and the multiple side straps will get you that perfect custom fit.

Also, there is a clip at the bottom where the zipper starts so when it's really hot out, I might unzip to really cool off, but the clip makes sure the life jacket isn't flopping around.

For gear stashing, there are two zippered pockets that stretch out as well as an extra electronics pocket for VHF radios, GPS units, phones, etc.  The flap above that features a window if you want to keep your fishing license there, but I keep mine in my wallet in a drybox, so that is utilized for other purposes.  There's a spot behind that pocket for pliers or other tools as well.  For a full post on the specific gear I have on my Bahia, click here.

For safety, they have SOLAS reflective tape on the back and front and of course the PFD is CG certified.

If you're in the market for a kayak fishing life jacket, seriously, you're gonna love this one.

As with everything made by Kokatat, the quality is superb so I know it will last me a very long time.  Also, they are a fantastic company with strong commitment to US manufacturing as well as to the environment. 

My buddy Richie Bekolay over at Hook, Line, & Sinker has a great review of the Kokatat Destination Collection of Paddling clothes from a kayak fisherman's perspective.  Check it out.

Olympus Tough TG2 Review

I have gone through a few different point and shoot cameras for kayak fishing.  Some have been pretty good, and some just eh.  The one that was pretty good was the Olympus Tough 8010.  I liked it but eventually the salt got to it.  So I decided to invest in another Olympus with the caveat that I needed to do a better job of rinsing the salt off more often and thoroughly.

I absolutely love my TG-2.  Without getting into all the super technical stuff, let me share what I think are some excellent features.

Obviously, the whole waterproof/shockproof thing is important for kayak fishing.  It's nice having full confidence that it can get bumped, dunked, and slimed with zero repercussion.  I did however add a float to the strap since it doesn't float.  

In comparison to my previous point and shoots, the TG-2 has a super fast start up time.  When you're on the water or in nature in general, sometimes that moment that you're trying to capture goes by very quickly.  So when I turned on my TG-2 and it was ready to go immediately, I was impressed.   It also has high speed sequential shooting up to 60 frames per second.

Shot on the TG2 by Joe Underwood

 
The picture quality is pretty good.  I'm not gonna lie, my Nikon DSLR is better in this department but the TG-2 definitely holds it's own. It also has really good 1080p full HD video and the 4 different underwater scene modes are pretty cool for those release shots, too.
 
The feature I like best is the amazing super macro setting.

There are several add-ons that I haven't used but might in the future.  The telephoto converter lens extends the optical zoom range and the wide-angle fisheye lens stretches the view (which could be really cool underwater). 

Overall, it's an excellent camera for kayak fishing and I highly recommend it. 

TackleWebs Review

Every once in a while, I get a need for an extra pocket or two on my kayak.  I usually like to keep it simple, but there are times when I just need to bring along a few extra things or simply want easier access to certain items.  That's where TackleWebs came into play for me.  

I attached a 12"x10" TackleWebs behind my seat with the bungees and a 10"x12" under my front hatch with hook-n-loop adhesive strips.  

The one behind my seat is perfect for quick easy camera access (waterproof camera), maybe a few snacks or just about anything you don't want tumbling around in your tank well or under the deck.  It's come in handy for my tagging kit many times along with my beef jerky.  It's also great for holding trash like wrappers, discarded line, etc.  I attached it to my Surf to Summit GTS Pro seat by passing the included bungee through the snap buckles so it's easy to remove if desired.

The one under the front hatch is for items that I want to keep out of the way.  On any given trip, there several things in my rod pod, so keeping things like extra rope, a first aid kit, bilge sponges, and other things out of the way but available is great.

After several months of usage, I'm happy with the quality of the products and highly recommend them.

Check out their website for more info.

Werner. Paddle of Choice.

For a while, I didn't realize how much I loved my paddle.  I knew it was a big step up from my previous one, and I really liked it, but never felt like I needed to write about it.  Until one day, an opportunity came along, which sparked a long chain of events that really got me thinking.  I was fickle at first, perhaps a little wishy-washy, but I can honestly say now, that I know I made the right choice... Werner.

I quickly learned the importance of a quality paddle when I started putting in extensive hours and numerous miles on the water.  My starter paddle got the job done for me at first, but an upgrade became unavoidable as time went on.  After doing some homework, I purchased a Werner Camano and promptly became enamored with it.  Not only because I thought it was very pretty, but it made my time on the water more enjoyable.  My paddle strokes seemed smoother, easier, and more efficient.  I have a low angle paddling style for the most part so the Camano blade shape was just right.

My search for the right paddle was over and I went on to spend the next two years thoroughly enjoying my Werner.  With catching fish being of higher priority than taking the best care of my paddle, I admit that in the heat of doing battle with some gnarly fish, the paddle was banged around occasionally.  I used it to push off various structures including some barnacle encrusted pilings, but it has still held up strong and sexy as ever.  Yeah, that's right, I called my paddle sexy.

My decision stood unquestioned, until I got a message from a very highly respected kayak angler.  He wanted to know if I had a paddle sponsor and if not, I was welcome to join the company he was sponsored by.  Until that moment, I had not thought about paddle sponsors.  I didn't really care at first, but that message was a catalyst.  The thought of sharing a sponsorship with some of the people I really look up to in the sport became exciting.  Extensive research, testing of potential new paddles, phone calls looking for advice, all had me torn.

I sent Werner a message, but they could not reciprocate the same deal that the other company was willing to give me.  Even with a good word put in by Cory Routh, they could only offer a partial regional team member status with a chance to become full team member later on.  The other company was willing to give me full sponsorship immediately with two brand new paddles of my choice for free every year.  For most, that is an easy choice.  And to make it even easier, my research yielded a few paddles by the other company that had very similar attributes as my Camano.  And the cherry on top was the that a few good friends of mine owned those exact paddles and were willing to let me borrow and test them for a while. They were all in the same price range, weighed about the same, and felt very similar to the Camano.  And to tell you the truth, after testing them, there was really nothing wrong with those paddles.  So this really should be a no brainer.

But the thing is, every time I picked up a different paddle, I wanted it to be my Werner.  Whether it was small details that I couldn't pick out or some big design thing that I'm totally missing, I don't know.  I just knew that if I went with the other company, I'd always be wishing that I was still paddling that Werner.  And even though free would be great, it really comes down to my enjoyment on the water.  That's what it's all about.

I'm sure those friends of mine who offered me the sponsorship and also let me borrow their paddles know that I mean no disrespect by turning it down.  But I also thank those of you who gave me great advice, like "stay true to yourself" and "go with the one you believe in". 

My recap of 2011, as well as the rest of my blog will attest to how much time I've spent on the water with this paddle. From ponds, rivers, inlets and the Chesapeake Bay to mother-shipping 40 miles out in the Gulf stream, I have no doubt that it made each trip a little sweeter.  I am proud to say that I'm a paddler just as much as I am a fisherman and I love my Werner.  Those who I helped sway over the years towards getting one will attest their undying affection for their paddle and have no regrets.


I'm sure we would all agree... we can point out all the bells and whistles and rant about quality materials, workmanship, surface area, swing weights and paddle weights, various specifications, blah, blah blah...  but in the end, we love it because it just feels right.  It feels good.

Yak Catch Fish Bag - Gear Review

As a conservation minded angler, I now release the vast majority of the keepable fish I catch.  But sometimes I target a species that isn't being overfished nor in serious decline.  Plus, there's always something special about harvesting food for yourself and/or your family (as long it's done responsibly).

For a while I just put the fish I caught on a stringer and tied it off to the side of the kayak.  But on the long trips with strong current, the stringer full of keeper size fish became a drag, literally.  The kayak was slowed down considerably when I was paddling or it was pulled by the current quicker than I'd like when I was trying to stay over certain structure.  So I'd have to haul the stringer over the gunwale often to relieve the drag for a bit then put it back in the water.  It was annoying and tiresome to say the least.  Also, if you catch something you plan on keeping early in the trip, that might mean you're going to drag that fish around for another 5-6 hours.  I've done it.  It sucked.  For the shorter trips in places with less current, the stringer didn't bother me.  Or if it was already very cold, I could just put the fish in the kayak hatch.  But in the heat of the summer, you might as well be baking the fish if it wasn't in the water or on ice.  

Kayak Kevin's buddy Lee Williams suggested the idea of a fish bag that we could put inside the yak and I started searching the internet.  I met another guy out at the CBBT who was utilizing it and he like it a lot.  So, I went ahead and tested out the Yak Catch Fish Bag in medium from HOOK1 for myself.

I like the crate organization system made by Precision Pak, so I figured this fish bag would be just as well thought out.  I think for most kayaks, it would be easy to strap to the top with the attached clips.  The guy I met out on the water put his inside the front hatch and just scooted forward to access it.  If you have a kayak with a rod pod, you can access it easily through there. 

There is a removable PVC liner bag for easy cleaning.  The insulated bag is made with durable 600D polyester PU, lined with 300D PVC and fully padded with 2mm PE foam.  Honestly, I have no idea what that means.  I just copied that from their website.  But what I can tell you is that a small bag of ice will last at least 5-6 hours in mid 80 degree temps.  A little will melt, but the fish will definitely keep cold.  I'm thinking of investing in several of the re-freezable gel packs as well.  Also, you can keep frozen bottles of water in the bag to help keep things cool and as they thaw slowly, it will be refreshing.  

For those that want to strap it to the top, there are bungee cords and other tool storage slots.  Also there is a long centered waterproof zipper for easy access.  Plus, it's got a carrying handle and shoulder strap so you can easily transport it from your vehicle to your kayak.  There are two other sizes (small and large), but the medium fits inside the Ocean Kayak Trident 13 well.  I can still stow my rods toward the rear of the the kayak and there is still plenty of room for other things.  During the Catching for Kids Tournament I was able to fit two 12" spadefish, two 15.5" togs and one 22.25" tog so the bag can definitely hold plenty of fish.  I probably could have fit a flounder or two in there as well.  I lost a lot of ice that day because it was extremely hot and we were out there for nearly 11hrs.  But the fish were still cool when I got to shore.

Over all, I'm very happy with the product and anytime I plan on keeping fish in warm weather, I'm bringing it with me. 

If you're interested, visit Hook1's website and checkout the Yak Catch Fish Bag by Precision Pak. Use code ANGLINGADDICT for 10% off!!!