Greetings from another noobie

Greetings all, I am new to kayak fishing, but not to fishing, and I live on the WA coast south of Westport.
First off, I've been lurking here a while, and I think this is an awesome site and everyone seems to have a great attitude here. Lots of good info being shared. Kudos to all of you!

Ok, now that I got the shmoosing out of the way I just got my "yak"  and took it on its maiden voyage last Sunday here on the Elk River estuary. Had a fun time. Not a true yak, but one of those hybrids, a "Native 12."  Paddled really nicely, with nothing to compare it to in my recent memory, even though I chose a slow color...olive.  I haven't paddled a double blade since the mid 80's, and I've been sticking to protected backwaters, rivers and lakes mainly. (I'd been using a Sportspal aluminum squanoe, which recently developed hull cancer from galvanic corrosion after 6 years use in the estuaries and Sound, and is now destined to become a planter). I needed a new car-topper for fly fishing small waters, so I got the U-12. I love it so far.

I launched nearly two hours after high tide, with the wind at my back about 8-10mph and gusting a little higher, a light rain falling, poking around a bit,  covering about 4.5 miles, eventually up to the head of tidewater on Andrews Creek, and came back out late against the wind (now gusting a little higher) and the flood tide. I had been advised to get a light paddle, so I opted for the Werner "Camano" in amber. Very nice! I think I can thank this light paddle for making the trip out more enjoyable...bit of a workout for an old guy out of shape for this, but the paddle was like a feather, the ride was comfortable and the hull moved nicely through the water!
Saw a family of 5 otters, and the estuary was teeming with life as always.

Only downside is now I have a new addiction! Oops! (slap myself on the forehead here) I mean, a good healthy addiction like this is an upside!
I'm already caving in to the realization that I'm going to have to get a longer, more seaworthy, SOT for fishing bigger water.

I like to fly fish, but I also use conventional gear for salmon, steelhead, lings, rockfish, surf perch, etc.
I love tossing flies for the searun cutthroat in late summer and fall here, and of course, I release my wild little friends.
I'll kill and grill the lings, rockfish, salmon and hatchery steel, though, and love to fish for nearly anything.

I think I've come to the right place here. Looks like I can find some great advice here and maybe meet some new friends.

Welcome to "the Cure" CHM! Although by the sounds of it you got it bad.. a new yak and already thinking of growing the fleet for larger waters? Now you know you're in the right place. 

Sounds like you got some nice waters out there. That paddle is awesome and my personal choice as well. Don't forget your cam on the next trip and look forward to the reports.

Z

#%^&*()  Damn you Z!  You beat me to the "Welcome to the Cure" statement! $#*^)(*

That aside, Welcome CHM!  I, like you, find the attitude of the members here to be a draw.  It's a good group of people.

-Mark-

#%^&*()  Damn you Z!  You beat me to the "Welcome to the Cure" statement! $#*^)(*

That aside, Welcome CHM!  I, like you, find the attitude of the members here to be a draw.  It's a good group of people.

-Mark-

yeah!
 and ya aint so bad yerself Spot!!!

Welcome to the neighborhood. I like your, especially down around Willapa. Had a funny experience with a friend, out at Long Island, years ago.

I like the conehead muddlers with tan bunny fur; killer for the Lahontans in Omak Lake.

Long Island is on my short list of places to explore. Will need a few days there, just for starters.
 The long list is part wish list, as there's an awful lot of water near by, and i get drawn back time and again to the spots with the better fishing, for some strange reason. Also, I'm lucky if I make it over two bridges any more before I launch a craft, but I try to get out of my backyard once in a while. I might have to cross several today to get to a lake that isn't too windy, if I go at all. Gnarly out here today.

The CH Muddler, BH Muddler, Rolled Muddler, Marabou Muddler, original Muddler...all great cutthroat patterns in their many variations. Sculpins and sticklebacks are everywhere here. Tan is very good, also Olive, Brown, or whatever matches the color of the local sculpins.
I tie up some Reversed Spiders that the searun cutties can't resist. Usually size 6 for my 6wt rod. I'll tie 'em in #8 for my 4wt rod. The smaller rezzies like 'em too. Different colors work, but I have my favorite variations. The Reversed Spider has incredible action that the cutties can't refuse, until they learn the hard way. Then they become less gullible.
Action in the tidal creeks picks up here late July and runs thru Sept. and then they head upstream with the first good rains. Any of you fly guys want to hook up and go, let me know.
I don't like to see people fishing C&R waters with bait, but barbless spinners and lures are OK with me, too.