Werner TV (Selecting Your Paddle)

It's always a little weird watching and hearing myself, but here's the latest episode of Werner TV about selecting the paddle that's right for you.

Hues and Saturation

I was on the water from sun up to sun down, hoping every moment in between that my quest for VA Saltwater Expert Angler status would come to an end with one last specie citation.  King Neptune graced me with a myriad of other species, but my trophy tautog still remains at large.

Photo Credit:  Jetski Brian

Keeping my frustrations at bay, I got to enjoy the many colors and shapes the CBBT had to offer.

Bergall aka Cunner from the wrasse family (same family as tautog)

I had several 12" Black Sea Bass and one right at 12.5" (keeper size).

Three puppy drum paid me a visit after falling for my tog intended fiddler crabs.

Oystertoad

Pigfish aka grunt

I tallied about 15 togs, most of them in the 15"-16" range with two going 17".   Chunks of blue crab and live fiddler crabs were the baits of the day.

 

Jetski Brian on his tricked out ride 

also did very good on vacuum packed frozen fiddlers.

 

At the end of the day, 

as the sun smeared breathtaking hues across the mirror calm bay, 

it was hard not to give thanks just for the opportunity to be there.

I soaked it all in...

...hoping my next adventure isn't too far off.

By the way, I saw decent numbers of light line stripers on the way in near the small boat channel.  I caught two in the lower-mid 20"range using a 1/4oz jighead and 3" white Gulp swimming mullet before calling it a (long) day.

Werner TV (Kayak Fish Magazine Promo)

Buy any Hooked Series Werner Paddle and receive a free subscription to Kayak Fish Magazine.

Cold Weather Gear for Kayak Fishing

After the large number of requests, I was thinking of doing a post on cold weather gear.  But then Kayak Kevin put out a great video that made my life a little easier.  Here's what he uses, which I've adopted most of. 

I also utilize a full drysuit made by Kokatat in the coldest of months.  

And I prefer boots over sandals. 

Here's another video that tests the outerwear.

Werner TV (Hooked on Kayak Fishing)

This is the first of 6 weekly videos that Werner Paddles is coming out with specifically for kayak anglers.  For more info on what I believe are the best paddles out there, check out their newly designed website and other Werner TV videos.

Recent Critters

After hearing from a friend that near trophy sized spot were being caught at Rudee, I made the 2 hour trip down to Virginia Beach.  I found decent numbers on the incoming tide, with the biggest going 10.5".   They were all short of the 13" or 1 pound citation requirement.  Also included in the mix were pinfish, pigfish, baby croaker, sand perch, small puffers, oystertoads, baby black seabass, 2 speckled trout (15" and 18"), a 6" black drum, and a 13" sheepshead.  Just about every species likes bloodworms. 

Pinfish

If only it had been a tournament for most species in a day.

Baby Gag Grouper from a previous trip

Baby Cuttlefish from a previous trip

Puffer

Side note:  I also caught an 18" speckled trout while trolling a 1/4oz jighead / 3" white grub on the way out to the entrance of the inlet.

Watershed Ocoee and Tote Drybag Review

My search for a quality drybag started when I bought a nice digital SLR to take out on the water.  The scrutinizing investigation took me through the world of waterproof housings, pelican/otter type hard cases, and various other drybag options.  I needed it to be strong, durable, easy to access, as well as provide proper padding for the camera and lenses.  To make things harder, I also needed it to be small enough to fit in my Trident 13's rod pod hatch. 

Previous experiences with cheap drybags left bad impressions as seams started leaking and exposure to UV had my confidence waning.  Water proof camera housings were out of my budget and most cases that fit a 300mm lens didn't fit in the rod pod hatch.

After recommendations from professional on-the-water camera guys like Will Richardson of Heliconia Press (camera man for The Kayak Fishing Show with Jim Sammons) and Cory Routh (guide and photographer), I checked out Watershed.  I could tell immediately that these were a step above the drybags I was used to...  A big step.

The seams are welded shut using some crazy high tech radio frequency stuff so they never come undone.  The materials are top notch with layers of polyurethane film to hold up to years of abrasion, UV exposure, extreme temps, you name it.  The unique closure system is water/air tight, but also easy to get into.  The duffel style bags make loading and unloading a breeze and it all fit right in my rod pod hatch.  On top of all that, they're made here in the U.S. so you can feel good about supporting one of us.

The Ocoee is perfect for DSLR cameras while the larger Tote is great for a change of clothes, perhaps a towel or two, or just about anything you need to keep dry. 

If you're in the market for a drybag and don't want to have to buy another one ever, or worse yet, ruin an expensive piece of equipment, this is it.  

I honestly believe that Watershed makes the best drybags

you will ever own.

Please visit their website for more info.