YakAttack - CVA HOW Tourney

A little ways off a two lane country road, near the YakAttack and Appomattox River Company's hometown of Farmville, we got together for some kayak bass fishin', pig pickin', camp fire shenanigans, and of course help out the Central Virginia Chapter of Heroes on the Water.

Captain's meeting - 59 registered anglers and many volunteers there to help

The camaraderie at this event was second to none.  With the absence of strong egos and drama, everyone was there for the same reason.  There was no shortage of smiles, jokes, and simple good times with the spirit of competition.  There was also no shortage of amazing food.  Luther Cifers of YakAttack, along with his family provided ribs and ribeyes after the Captain's meeting on Friday and a full pig was pulled on Saturday after the awards ceremony.  The spread they put out was simply amazing and definitely worth more than the entry fee alone. Throw in two huge tables covered in generously donated raffle items and the knowledge that all the proceeds go to help HOW, it's a win-win for everyone.

After helping to unload all the kayaks for the vets, who were expected a few hours later, I launched to an amazing sunrise.

Left:  Phillip Ruckart and son.    Right:  Chuck Wrenn

Doug Gibson

The Jersey Boys

As the morning progressed the wind picked up, making things very challenging.  I was able to scrounge up one little 11" largemouth, before the air horn let me know that the vets were almost at the launch.  Upon meeting up with the other volunteers, I was relieved to know that I was not the only one having a tough time with the fish.  We all switched gears and went into guide mode as the vets got off the van.  

Tina Shank making sure the vet is comfortable and safe  

I paired up with Jerry, who had done this once before and was eager to get on the water.  I didn't ask him, but for someone who uses a walker and obviously has limited mobility while on land, it had to feel pretty darn good to be just like everyone else in a kayak and have that sense of freedom on the water.

Although we didn't catch anything, I know he had a good time...  flirting with Tina, joking around, yelling at his buddies on the water... he wanted to go right back out after lunch!


At the awards ceremony Jim Shank said something that I couldn't help nodding my head to.  We know that the vets get something out of going out on the water. That's why this program exists.  But the volunteers also get something.  Knowing that we're helping and giving back is quite the reward.  


When the veteran gets off the water and thanks you for spending that time with them, it makes you want to keep doing it.  

A big thank you to everyone who made this possible... Tina and Jim Shank, the YakAttack family, all the sponsors and people who donated, and everyone that came out to support the event.  Congrats to all the winners of the tournament.  I had an absolutely amazing time.  It was great to meet new people, put faces to some names, and catch up with good friends.

Unpleasantries and a Switcharoo

I got out on the Eastern Shore for about 6 hours or so.  After finding a nice stretch of clear water, as luck would have it, the sun got covered up.  Needless to say, sight casting was a no-go.  And without crabs, trolling was my only option.
 
The higher than predicted winds, made for a wet and bumpy paddle, but I stuck with it and hooked up 9 times!  Unfortunately, they were all cownose rays.  My dislike of the nuisances are right up there with deer on the side of the road. 

I saw a few big sharks, one dead sea turtle, one bright orange sea turtle (live), a boater hooked up to what looked like (and acted like) a big spinner shark, and on the way back in I got stuck on the flat at low tide.  Dragging the kayak to deeper water is unpleasant to say the least.

Next weekend, I'll be switching things up and trying my luck for bass and other sweetwater species.  May 18-19 is the 5th Annual YakAttack Tournament for Heroes on the Water (Central VA chapter) in Farmille, VA.  If you're in the area (or not) and want to come check it out, I hear the food is incredible (Luther roasts a whole pig and several chickens), the people are super friendly, there are lots of great raffle items, and it's all for a great cause!  There's a place to camp out, have a few drinks, and talk fishing by the fire.  So come on out, it's going to be fun!

Click for more info

Decisions, Decisions.

I rubbed the sleepy crumbs from my eyes as the first rays of light streaked the sky.  I was there when the gate opened and not long after I was ready to launch.  Just as I was about to push off, Matt Anderson pulls up to the ramp.  Decision one... I resisted the urge to launch ahead and waited for him to get things ready.  A short while later, we both get on the water, but after a mere 50 ft of paddling, Justin Mayer showed up.  Apparently my phone calls the day before helped make his decision to join me.  Not that he needs much convincing.  He had pretty decent luck earlier in the week (a couple 37" stripers and a 42" red).  As we waited for him, Tripp Seed shows up.

I should have just launched when I was ready.

It's a good thing I like fishing with those guys because I definitely wouldn't have waited otherwise.  I had a pretty good idea of where the fish should be and after the long paddle, trolling all the way, Justin hooks up first.  Just before the hook up, we both decided to veer to the right as the other guys went left.  Good choice... strong headshakes lead to a crazy fast sleigh ride.  My next decision was critical.  Do I cast or do I film?  I just made a new monopod that extends to 6 ft and wanted to test it out, so filming it was.  Tripp casted and quickly hooked up.  After a few minutes, I couldn't take it anymore and put the camera down. Unfortunately, the school was gone.  Tripp's fish came off and Justin landed a real behemoth.

49" BULL RED

Congrats, Justin. 

That was it.  All day... 12+ hours on the water.... almost 25 miles of paddling...

At least I got some good footage.  

But you know darn well it won't be long before I'm back on the hunt.

Catchin' Fishies with Her Royal Goobness

I took a break from my personal conquests to water the fishing seeds within my lil' stinker dinkers kiddos.  My 3 and 1/2 year old was hoping for a ride in daddy's boat, but didn't stay disappointed for long when I found her princess rod.  After promising her a trip in the kayak when it warms up, we were off to the local pond.

While I tried to keep Miles (18 months) from jumping into the water (no fear what so ever), Natalie patiently watched her bobber.  She asked the fishies nicely to come get her worm and it wasn't long before squeals of delight scared away the ducks.

Natalie's first fish of 2012

All giddy and silly...  

touching the fish...  laughing...

She's a total goob...  

But then again, I can only think of one person she could have gotten it from.

Eastern Shore Search Continues...

In the glitter, sometimes the water plays tricks on you.  Shapes and colors seem to appear then disappear in the blink of an eye.  It's almost like you want it so bad that your mind thinks it's there for a split second.  But when you finally, and actually, see that big red drum, it's unmistakable.

Unfortunately, the water clarity has been terrible lately and conditions have been tough.  I got out on my birthday for 6 hours and despite good reports from Ric Burnley and Kevin earlier in the week, I got the skunk.  My next excursion came 5 days later on the 20th.  After meeting Kevin, Lee, Shante and Damien at the launch, I was hoping for one of those crazy epic days.  But visibility was still minimal so trolling became the name of the game.  My 6" paddle tail was first to get a hit.

I knew fairly quickly after the first few seconds into the fight that it wasn't the big red I had come for.

Not that I'm complaining about a 40" striper.

Lee got the next striper at 43".  Damien was next up but the fish spit the hook early in the fight.  Lee came up with one more after that measuring around 33".

 Check Kevin's site for pictures.

We met a few familiar faces and after a while without a hook up, took a break on an exposed shoal.

From left to right: Chuck Wrenn, Kevin, Shante, Lee Damien, Wayne Bradby, and Mo Todd. 

Shante found a cool little butterfly ray in a few inches of water.

After the ray got to deeper water that concluded the action for that day.  I ended up being the last to leave...  after spending nearly 12 hours on the water, still craving that bull ride.

The next morning, I rolled up to the launch to find Matt Anderson getting ready to pursue the same target so we joined forces.

Clear blue morning quickly changed to navigation testing fog.  

We ended with the skunk.

But the search will continue...

Easter Sunday Bull Ridin'

We waited anxiously.  More than a few phone calls exchanged theories on moon cycles, water temps, past seasons, weather windows, family commitments and of course the unforgiving work schedule.  By the time I got my stars lined up, Kayak Kevin and Jay Brooks had already clocked in a couple days earlier in the week and both had a notch on their belt to show for it.

My turn.

Kevin was waiting for me when I pulled up to the launch and as I got things ready, he quickly "branded" my kayak.  Holes were drilled, rivets got popped and before I knew it, I had one of his big DVD quality cameras attached to my bow.   I couldn't help but feel like it was part of a gang initiation :) I'm totally in!




Yeah, I know.  I'm a dork.  Anyway, we searched all around the Eastern Shore.  The channels, the shoals, the flats, they all came up empty.  5 hours passed quickly and as the wind grew bothersome, the sun also neared the horizon.  The last segment of the well calculated route had us near a drop off so we anchored up on the incoming tide.  I threw out two carolina rigged whole crabs; one on a big conventional reel and the other on a big spinning set up.  Normally I don't use my spinning rod for chunking bait, but I really wanted to double my chances.  Not too long after, the loop I put in the line-clip of my spinning reel gets pulled out and my 50lb braid is flying off my spool.  I close the bail and hold on tight.

After a few exhilarating runs coupled with the tell-tale headshakes, I released the anchor and quickly found myself on a bull red drawn sleigh ride with a nice sunset backdrop.






The 43"er is a welcome start to the red drum season.  The cherry on top is that it was the first big fish I tagged for the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program.  

Kevin wasn't able to hook up but was happy none the less that I got on the board.  I'm sure he'll be out there as soon as weather and work allow.  Best of luck to him and whoever else decides to venture out in search of that infamous bullride. 

RVA Stripers

It definitely seems like all the local migrations are happening earlier this year. 
The warm water temps are expediting the process and I, like most fishermen, am not complaining.  The magic of this time of year is more than welcome as many of the popular sport fishing species enter our local waters and get our juices flowing.

Reports of bluefish, puppy drum, flounder, speckled trout, and stripers pepper the local forums.  Togs are also readily available, but remember the closed season starts on April 16th this year.  A few regulations have changed for some of the species, so check out this site if you're not up to date.

The local rivers are also experiencing peak spring populations of anadromous species.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to paddle out on the James River after work.  Making my first paddle strokes a mere 5 minutes from home was also a warm welcome.  Richmond, VA (RVA) boasts a great venue to take in this special time of year.  Near the I-95 bridge, the hickory shad action was on fire from the first cast at 7pm until I decided to scoot down river around 7:45.  I was hooking up on almost every cast.  If I let my orange and green shad fly sink near the bottom, the white perch were all over it.  After keeping a couple of each for bait, I drifted down and set up two fish finder rigs just above a good size hole.  The little catfish up to 28"were incessant, but every once in a while, I'd hook up a 26"-28"striper.

I was hoping for either a big bertha kitty or a striper that was bigger than "schoolie" size.  It wasn't long and my wish was granted in the form a 38" clicker-squealing heifer.

Various striper lures should work well over the next couple of weeks, including topwater poppers near the fall line rocks. 

 If I don't find myself looking for other highly anticipated saltwater species, I'll be back on the river chasing RVA kitties n stripers.  Hope you get out to your favorite spring fishing destination soon.