The Hatch

One of the best features on my kayak are the 3 middle hatches that make up the casting deck.

The middle hatch gives me the ability to have everything I need close at hand. This middle hatch can also be used as a livewell for live bait (Although I can't remember the last time I used bait)

As you know, I approach my gear with a basic school of thought. I only carry a medium fly box, a water tight box for my phone, keys, and camera, a GPS, a few soft plastic jerk bait bags, a box for hooks, swivels, and weights, a multi-tool, and a pair of scissors.

This basic approach allows me to worry about less stuff and be able to concentrate on finding fish.

Happy Fathers Day

Sunday Morning... Nag Champa burning....French press coffee....the delicate sounds of a Porcupine Tree and Pink Floyd play list....Lacy snoring gently.

Even though I don't have any human children, I like to be the best dad I can be to Lacy.

We went to her doctor yesterday for her annual check up and shots and was given a clean bill of health. She's in much better shape than she was last year. She weighed in at 57.2 lbs where last year, she was 68 lbs. Instead of her laying around by the pool, I've been running her around.

Today, I'll be getting my gear in order, changing the backing on the 12 weight from 20 lb gel spun to 30 lb Power Pro since those silver beasts made short work of it last time, repairing the kayak where the seat cleat was pulled clean out.

New Look Backcast

Do what do you think of the new color scheme and logo? Do you hate it? Do you love it? Is it just ok?

Well, Kyle Perkins (@kyleindenver)from Compleat Thought and his team of designers worked round the clock, meeting the demands of yours truly, to come up with a logo for this here blog. Do I think it's as cool as some of the other logo's out there? No. I think it's cooler. Now, I can slap that logo on everything....t-shirts, hats, stickers, DVD's, CD-ROM's.....or nothing at all. BTW, Before you get perturbed at this egotistical rant, I'm just kidding.

In other news, I picked up the kayak yesterday and let me tell you, it's even nicer than I thought it would be. One movie quote that won't find it's way in here would be "We're gonna need a bigger boat." This kayak is a true battlewagon that would be at home on Battleship Row. After wrestling it off of the car, up the stairs and into my apartment (scaring Lacy in the process)I found it to be too big for where I had planned to store it. After much playing with my new toy, I found that it will fit ALL of my camping and fishing gear at the same time with room to spare. I'm glad that I didn't opt for the Stealth 14, which is 2 feet longer. I think it's safe to say that one of those canoe rollers is certainly a must have. Now I just need to find and install a fly rod holder.

If you're looking at kayaks, give Malibu Kayaks a look.

Tomorrow is the maiden voyage. Will be hitting the nice grass flats around Fred Howard Park with my buddy Keith.

Hot Products and Kayak D-Day

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you're sure to know that when I like a product, I blather about it incessantly until you're tired of hearing about it. I did this with the Teva's...the William Joseph Stripping Basket...and the always popular Kelty Kestrel bag. Brown Lures also comes to mind as a product that I like.

I'm sure it'll be the same with Malibu Kayaks

As you know, I'll be picking up my kayak tomorrow, (which is a Malibu Stealth 12) making 3/25/2010 essentially Kayak D-Day. Can you tell that I'm excited about it? Can ya? Really?

Now...lets get something straight here. I don't work for Malibu. I'm just passing along the info to you if you're interested in getting a kayak for fishing...which is what Malibu Kayaks are made for...fishing and diving.

I looked at a lot of other fishing kayaks, all of them cost less than the Stealth. There are some nice boats, but the Stealth 12 had all of the features that I was looking for, like a center/close at hand livewell storage bin, large gator hatch, lots of storage space to be able to take it kayak camping, rod holders and the whole bit. Being 33 inches wide offers quite a bit of stability without being so wide that you can't get anywhere in it.

As you know, I embrace simplicity when it comes to gear. The only things I need to add to it would be a crate and a few fly rod holders. There are extra things that you can attach to it...pretty much everything under the sun.... such as a sail, poling platform, outriggers, dashboard mounts for electronics and rudder foot pedals. I don't need any of that stuff, but it's nice to be able to have those options.

Having a kayak gives me the freedom to fish just about anywhere, and I can launch it from just about anywhere as well. Can also fit my camping gear into it....