CAT | Why I didn't Go
January 2009 is the first month in a very long time that I did not get out on the water.
Either weather, work, illness, exhaustion got in the way, been real busy with a couple of projects at work, one of the bigger ones is finishing up, and I wont be on the road as much.
The good news is that since I had to drive last Sunday, I took the scenic route, and I have a couple more launches on the eastern shore to add.
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Kayak Fishing On Rudee Inlet
1 Comment | Posted by paul in Fishing, Kayaking, Why I didn't Go
The Holiday, weather, and work travel plans conspired against me this weekend, and I was not able to get out on the water. I only had about 2 and a half hours of free time today, and I knew I couldn’t get out on the water and clear before the weather came in. I don’t like to be the only thing on the water holding an 8 foot lightning rod. So instead of hitting the water I hit the road on the bike, I can get 10+ miles ridden, in less time then I can get the boat to water.
I have talked to quite a few kayak fishermen in the past, and have watched a few in passing on the water, but nothing hammered home, how effective it is to fish from a kayak as watching this guy fishing in Rudee Inlet today.
I only watched this guy for couple of minutes, but this was pretty much what he was doing the entire time, and not with just one fish. I think had 3 hookups in about 2 minutes, but as far as I could tell the fish were all undersize Halibut, which were released. Regardless of the outcome of 2 minutes fishing and having to release 3 fish, I am sure there were a few keepers in the boat when he headed home.
For more information on Kayak fishing in the Hampton Roads area, go over to the Pirates Of Lynnhaven for more information, or you can visit the TKAA.
Pretty much had to lay low this weekend…
I had plans to get out on Sunday, but I think the smoke from the Dismal Swamp fire got the better of me. Allergies kicked my butt last night, and usually make it through things like that with just a couple of sneezes, I think it is just the longevity of the smoke that’s getting to me.
Well I had lots of plans for trips this weekend, Lake Drummond, Northwest River, or out to the Nottoway River. I knew all week that Saturday was a maybe, potential trip to the North for business, but that got moved, the weather was an issue as well, had to take care of some stuff for/with my daughter.
Then I was looking at Sunday, wide open, or so I thought, but a check Friday evening, shows that my son has a 5th Grade picnic, and those things are important, or so you’d think. I thought I would get up early and do a quick trip out of Horn Point, at a minimum, a quick loop around North Bay, but I hit the snooze a couple times to many, and rolled out of bed late, because I stayed up late.
Then to top it off, the picnic was a complete bust, and he would have rather been somewhere else.
So now I think I need to do a weekday trip, but I have that freaking trip to the North staring at me, trying to ruin my week.
I really did have my heart in it today, I really planned on getting out today BUT…So earlier in the week I went over to Wild River Outfitters to finish of the new Thule Xsporter, I got the Malone SeaWing. looking at it at the store, it looks like it will fit, and the box says will fit “Most Factory Oval Cross Rails” factory being the operative word here, because it will not fit the cross bars on the Thule Xsporter. Back to the Thule Website, looking for the closest dealer who carries Thule water sports rack, and I pull up Appomattox River Company. I give them a call and talk to Vic, and yes they carry the full line of Thule racks, so I jump into the truck and return the Malone to Wild River, and head over the bridge and through the tunnel to Appomattox River Company I go. Needless to say the have everything I need and then some, this is a KAYAK store. They have the part I need, and we make sure it fits, everything looks good. Since the Necky Elaho really didn’t turn out to be the right fit for me, I am still kind of looking for a replacement/upgrade for the Tsunami, I really want more waterline. I ask about the Tsunami 170, the have one on special, and as I am thinking about it, Vic starts talking to me about the P&H Capella 173, and I sit in it, and I think I found my new boat. I am not sure about the whole fiber glass thing, but I think this is the boat…
After Saturdays blow fest, gusts to 56 MPH, and even though the initial forecast was only calling for single digit winds, but when I woke actuals were already in the upper teens. I really need to figure out what my issue is with wind keeping me on the shore, I guess I just don’t enjoy fighting it.
Well I think I am just going to have to do some kind of banzai thing one of these days, and get it out of my system. I guess it could be all the other issues in my head, I haven’t been quite right in the head since November, and those who know me, know why.
So to add some color here’s a picture of Nick and Bailey looking at the Northwest River…
And here is Bailey being Bailey…
The wind on the weekends has been a real major pain lately, calm during the week, and then 20+ on the weekends.
I ran an errand this morning, and was planning on hitting the water, but when I went over a drainage ditch, and saw whitecaps, I pretty much knew the plans were going to change.
Well the wind is supposed to lighten up in the afternoon tomorrow, maybe a quicky down Ashville Bridge Creek is in order… I just realized that February was one of those rare times I missed a trip on Ashville Bridge Creek…
Blustery Day in Hampton Roads.
Two primary factors kept me off the water this weekend, 1 was pure laziness, in that I was not going to put the old rack back on my truck when my new rack is on the way and should be here Tuesday (I also had a bunch of little things going on, on Saturday).
Number 2 would be that the wind on Sunday at 7 AM was already blowing a constant 20+ and gusting to 25+ and building with gusts to 50+ in some areas.
This is how things looked on the Elisabeth River at the Jordan Bridge around 11AM..
And this is how things looked on the James River on the Ferry around 4 PM…
Even though I wasn’t able to get out on the water, Nick and I got out and scouted some new launches, that will be added to kayakvb.com in the next couple of days…
Well October came and went with only one trip on the water. All the stars once again aligned against me to keep me off the water, work weather and a cold did to me.
This is getting more then frustrating for me.
The first 2 weekends of November were lost due to an unexpected trip to San Diego…
I really hope that things change soon…
Well everything has pretty much conspired against me from getting on the water this month….
- Changed jobs after 20 years
- Nick started in a bowling league Saturday mornings
- NFL season started, takes Sunday afternoons out of the picture (Chargers are not looking good)
- Sick one weekend
- Going to Kings Dominion
Hopefully I will get on the water again before the end of the month, I haven’t even had the kayak rack on my truck for over 2 weeks.
