09/30 Willamette fishing in the evening...

[bsteves]

Spot.. I just sent you a PM about this.. but I'll repost it here as well..

The ride is good.  I also have that new paddle so I don't know which is providing the most improvement... the longer faster boat or the lighter ergonomic paddle.

The rod pod is great, I didn't use it but I like the thought about being able to store rods with ease.  The sonar sheild... meh.. I don't have my fish finder installed yet so I really can't tell. I think with the proper Humminbird fish finder (one with the specific transducer designed for the scupper hole mount) it could be really good.

Polepole linked to a new online kayak fishing magazine called kayakfishingtales or something. In there Howard McKim shows a few upgrades he made to his trident using bungee cord.  I may consider a few of those improvements.


My kayak came with a rudder which frankly I don't need.  I've paddled too long without one I guess.  It might be nice for long paddles on flat water (thoughtless tracking), but it seemed pretty useless in the current.

The one thing I have noticed is that it's freakin' heavy.  I guess I'm so used to my Caper and Navigator which are both in the 40-45 lb range and the Trident with all the hatches and rudder is closer to 65-70 lbs.  I may need to get a real rack for my truck.

Brian

[please_send_rescue]

Your new ride looked pretty sweet..

with all the hatches and rudder is closer to 65-70 lbs.  I may need to get a real rack for my truck.

After a half day of paddling, it's always fun to lift a heavy boat up by yourself!

The other night at Clackamette there was a group of people just watching me as I carried my beast of a kayak on my shoulder up the ramp and then staggered to the forester.  Army duffel bag with my paddle, net, ect, fishing pole in one hand, yak on the other shoulder...I know they were just waiting for me to drop it, forgot to dump out the water, lol.  Had one of those "oh shit" moments as I struggled to lift it all the way up to the rack..

[polepole]

The one thing I have noticed is that it's freakin' heavy.  I guess I'm so used to my Caper and Navigator which are both in the 40-45 lb range and the Trident with all the hatches and rudder is closer to 65-70 lbs.  I may need to get a real rack for my truck.

One man's heavy is another man's light.  I found the T13 to be light ... compared to the T15 I normally lug around.

-Allen

[bsteves]

Oh I know it's actually not that heavy compared to other kayaks out there.  I'm just so used to my little kayaks.

[polepole]

Oh I know it's actually not that heavy compared to other kayaks out there.  I'm just so used to my little kayaks.

You didn't get a T11?

-Allen

[bsteves]

You didn't get a T11?

-Allen

Nope, I guess I'm not fully vested or something yet.  Maybe next year I guess.

[polepole]

You didn't get a T11?

-Allen

Nope, I guess I'm not fully vested or something yet.  Maybe next year I guess.

That's all right.  I didn't get a rudder.  Although I don't use one, I'm really thinking it is the right thing to do for downrigger trolling.

-Allen