Mondays aren't really so bad if you get a new kayak.

It's true...a new kayak really can cure a bad case of the Mondays. The only topper would be landing a fat Chinook to season the new boat with mojo. I took a friend and newbie member Justinskywest out to try for some salmon love. I let him use my Outback and I rocked my new Revo13.
The boat cuts through the water like a hot knife through butta'. It's a dream compared to the Outback. I was so giddy with excitement. It was interesting to see how much better the Revo feels compared to the Outback. I know I made the right choice in this purchase.
We trolled up the Marshfield channel and ran into Evan. On the way back down Evan got into a nice fish and after some technical difficulties (that I will let him pipe in with) he landed the fish.
Evan headed out to tend to his fish and Justin and I continued on our quest for salmon.
I had this feeling that I probably wasn't going to catch anything. I really didn't mind. I have two fatties from the weekend that I need to smoke or freeze. Mo fish no problems, right?
I really wanted justin to get into a fish. I was telling him we would get him a fish this week for sure.  On our way back toward the launch I told him that or choice in 'recycled' herring might have been our downfall. It wasn't long after uttering those words that my rod gets slammed! Fish on!
I pulled my rudder up and kicked my pedals forward to prevent the fish from breaking off. I turned around to grab my net and the fish takes a sudden mad dash. My hearts sinks because I know what that means.
Seal...
Mother f@ck...
At first I tried to horse the fish in. It turns toward me and heads under the boat. I wasn't sure there was a seal until I saw the bastard dart under my boat. The seal grabs my fish as it passes underneath and I feel the seal take off. I thumb the spool to try and break off. I really wanted my flasher. I was certain that the 50# leader would save it and the 25# mooching leader would break free. NOPE. Go figure...that bastard got my fish and my flasher. All I could do was laugh. It sucks to lose a fish to a seal but they have to eat too, I suppose.
After losing that battle I packed up and told Justin to make one more pass on the way back to launch. He didn't get a fish but it's only a matter of time. It was nice to get the adrenaline pumping and I'm in love with the Revo. It's everything I need and more!

Very nice, Ling Ling--good report and nice boat.
T2

You are going to have to let me try that thing out. Are those red fins?

Here is my fish from the day. Not a monster, but a nice fish. If you look at my rod in the picture, you will see the "technical difficulties" Chris was referring to.



I had my rod pointed straight up while trying to net the fish, and the fish dove straight down, breaking the upper half of my rod in half. With the shortened rod, my leader was too long and I was unable to reach the fish with my net. Holding the rod pointed away from me, and holding the end of the net handle, the fish was still about 2 feet from the net. The fish made another run and when i reeled back in, I gave it one last pull to give it some momentum. My line went slack and I scooped the fish as it swam towards my kayak. Of course there were fish jumping everywhere while i pedaled back to my truck with a broken rod. Thanks Justin for taking the picture.

Evan, you can use it today if you want. I don't think I'm fishing today anyway. Just let me know. And yes, those are the red turbo fins. Waxer's didn't have anything else. Brian should have sailing rudders in today, too.

Sounds like a great day Ling, fish or no fish..  Nice fish Merz!!!

I'm  huge outback fan but I have to admit I have been eyeing up the adventure or revo for the longer haul trips.  I'm interested to here your take on it after a few more outings. 

Then I think back to labor day weekend limit of 6 cohos or some of my larger halibut and think to myself, where the hell would I put that on a narrower boat?  Lol.  Might have to start towing the mini-x around as a supply and fish barge!!!!

I read somewhere that down in Aussy land the sharks are getting inquisitive about the new red turbo fins.
Maybe they think its a bleeding prey?   

 

Sounds like a great day Ling, fish or no fish..  Nice fish Merz!!!

I'm  huge outback fan but I have to admit I have been eyeing up the adventure or revo for the longer haul trips.  I'm interested to here your take on it after a few more outings. 

Then I think back to labor day weekend limit of 6 cohos or some of my larger halibut and think to myself, where the hell would I put that on a narrower boat?  Lol.  Might have to start towing the mini-x around as a supply and fish barge!!!!

It was a great day! It would have been better if my buddy got a fish. I forgot to mention... Rod leashes are far superior to rod floats! The seal ripped the rod right out of my hands! Had it not been leashed in I would have lost more than a $15 flasher!
I love my Outback...but the speed of the Revo is amazing to me. My best explanation of the difference in the two boats is to compare pedaling an Outback with turbo fins vs no turbo fins. It's at least that much faster.
I agree the space for fish is lacking...but I won't ever need a fish barge like you crazy/lucky Alaskan folk! I can only dream of slaying silvers like you do in that recent video. That video is so pornographic!!

I read somewhere that down in Aussy land the sharks are getting inquisitive about the new red turbo fins.
Maybe they think its a bleeding prey?   

I'll try to forget you said that...

Whatever, red fins make them go faster.

Sounds like a great day Ling, fish or no fish..  Nice fish Merz!!!

I'm  huge outback fan but I have to admit I have been eyeing up the adventure or revo for the longer haul trips.  I'm interested to here your take on it after a few more outings. 

Then I think back to labor day weekend limit of 6 cohos or some of my larger halibut and think to myself, where the hell would I put that on a narrower boat?  Lol.  Might have to start towing the mini-x around as a supply and fish barge!!!!

It was a great day! It would have been better if my buddy got a fish. I forgot to mention... Rod leashes are far superior to rod floats! The seal ripped the rod right out of my hands! Had it not been leashed in I would have lost more than a $15 flasher!
I love my Outback...but the speed of the Revo is amazing to me. My best explanation of the difference in the two boats is to compare pedaling an Outback with turbo fins vs no turbo fins. It's at least that much faster.
I agree the space for fish is lacking...but I won't ever need a fish barge like you crazy/lucky Alaskan folk! I can only dream of slaying silvers like you do in that recent video. That video is so pornographic!!

Having watched your progress on the board, your statement I highlighted is simply not true.  You will hammer them if you keep at it!  Especially cohos.  I'd say my 5 largest cohos and at least half of my "insanely good fishing" days for cohos  and kings (not size but numbers for kings) for that matter came in 4 years time living in Ocean Shores, WA.   Ok, they were from a powerboat, but many of those outings were within kayak range.

Keep dreaming...the dream coming to reality is probably not very far off in your future.  And if you ever get too frustrated, and that goes for anyone on this board, I have an extra outback and extra mini-x.  C'mon up!!!!!  Can't guarantee fish, even here in Alaska, but properly planned, and a little luck with weather, and we will get you on fish!  So far, bar none, every person i have had the pleasure to meet and fish with on this board has been AWESOME! 

I agree with Kardinal, after seeing how close to the beach we were hammering cohos and chinooks in June this year, I'm definitely heading out there with the kayak next year.  We were able to keep 1 coho on day 1 and had to release 7+ wild coho with probably 4 or so lost (uncle had some crappy rods, but he upgraded for next year!) and on Day 2 we were able to keep 5 (3 nooks and 2 coho) releasing several wild coho and losing 5-6 that day, including one really big chinook that came off within sight - this one really upset me as it was lost on my uncle's "lucky" rig.  It was so lucky that the hooks were a bit rusty and actually broke from that pig pulling away.

Whatever, red fins make them go faster.

And everyone knows red kayaks are faster than the other colors. Once i get some red fins on my red outback, it will be faster than Chris's new Revo.

Nice new boat Chris! nice fishie Evan, bummer about the rod but at least you got the fish..

You were like a wizard waving your broken wand at that salmon Merz . You were like Harry Potter. Lol.

It was unfortunate that you broke your rod but nicely done anyhow.

The seal incident was pretty exciting to see so close. He was chasing that salmon,weaving between our yaks. I felt helpless watching Chris coming to the realization that there would be no pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. Talk about tight lines. When that seal latched on he went straight to the bottom in a hurry.

I'm ready to get back out there and rip some lips. Thought about it all day while I was at work right on the bank of the bay, just a few yards away from boats hooking up left and right. The cold weather and rain really got things going.

Nice kayak.  Now you have to decide which kayak to use each time.