New to the Board

Just wanted to say hello, and am looking forward to using and sharing tips on kayak fishing with everyone.  I am very new to kayaking, I just purchased a  new native manta ray this year.  I've been out on lakes, but would like to get out on the sound with it to fish for salmon.  So far I'm comfortable with the stability of the vessel, but a bit worried about getting caught off-guard (while fishing) by a large wake etc... in the sound.  Also, curious about the stability issues of fighting and landing a large thrashing salmon in a sit on top kayak?  If anyone has any tips and/or advice that might ease those concerns - they would be welcomed!

Thanks for having me and I hope to soon post some fish pictures.

Cheers,
Jason

Welcome Hooknose,

You're doing the right thing by paddling around first. Zeelander will know more about what to expect in the sound.  As for stability issues.. I wish I could catch a salmon large enough to tip me over.  I think you'll find your Manta Ray well suited for fishing (even salmon).

Brian

Welcome to "The Cure" HN. Good to have another Wa yakfisher on board. Take it slow and build your confidence up before getting on the sound. It took me a while before I felt like I could handle a lot of situations out there. A big salmon on board is not an easy task so something you'll have to work up to. 'Til then, knock 'em dead on the lakes.

Z

Welcome Hook,

You have happened on a great site!  Lots of great people and info here! 

Randi

Welcome!

I wouldn't worry too much about salmon tipping you.  With an assist from GreenButtSkunked, I manged to stay upright with a 40ish inch sturgeon this spring.  Just get comfortable with the boat for now... wakes will go from scary to fun!

Thanks for the nice welcome!   

I'm comfortable with getting dunked-  I realize the reality of spending time in the water.  However, as a fisherman first - is it odd or "unprepared" to rather not get dunked?  This is all I was driving at.  Being concerned is a foothold towards being prepared and I take my safety very seriously.

As is I'll be dressing with breathable waders (with chest belt)/ wading boots, waterproof upper shell and pfd over that, so even with a dunking I should stay reasonably dry. 

As for fighting and landing that big salmon, I agree it will be a fun experience, I was wondering if there was a method of netting and bringing aboard larger fish that keeps everything steady so as to not lose fish, net, rods, paddle etc...

Cheers,
Jason

Might consider going with some Hodgeman zip up neoprene booties, or some cheap watershoes (oversize so they fit over the waders) instead of the boots.  Boots are big and clumsy, and will affect your agility when in the boat.

Might consider going with some Hodgeman zip up neoprene booties, or some cheap watershoes (oversize so they fit over the waders) instead of the boots.  Boots are big and clumsy, and will affect your agility when in the boat.

you got that right..i was finally able to find a set of over sized water shoes to wear over my neo's when paddling.. the simms wading boots[ size 15] i had were way to clumsy for what we do..kept me off balance, i couldnt get my feet to prperly into the footwells, and were uncomfortable too..changed all that just by going to a different shoe..nice added bonus is the water shoes are self draining, much faster than the wading boots are

jason,welcome to our great little community of yakfishers..we keep growing on a weekly basis, definitely a good thing[ wondering if our NWKA stickers prominently displayed on eveything is helping via advertising, but that is a diffrent subject line] this site is full of good, caring people willing to help and pass on what they've learned.

 lots of us paddle in the same type gear you mention.. as polepole and many others said earlier, accumulate the gear over a period of years, but for sure dress for immersion, not just air temp

Well, I made my first puget sound fishing trip last night.  All in all I consider it successful.  Things started out great at @80 degrees with a slight breeze out of the south.  With 30 minutes the wind was up to 10-15mph switching to the SW, and kicking up 1-2 FT chop (grrrr...)  I fight the good fight and maintain a troll into the wind for about 1 mile.  Then turn around and let the wind do some pushing.  The wind is getting progressively heavier, but I'm having no problems at all with stability - just tough keeping a line using a large diver off the side.  I was trolling a coyote spoon with 8" flasher behind a large deep six diver with 80' of line out.  about 5 minutes after turning my back to the wind my rod buries!  Heavy headshakes make it tough to get the rod out of the holder, I'm thinking this is a good fish!  Fight the fish, which makes a couple of nice runs, then I get it up to the side -  A BIG shark- over 4 footer!  I was able to make the release successfully with the shark thrashing and slapping the side of the yak making a major ruckus.  So, even though it was dissappointing that it wasn't a chinook, I now have confidence in my ability to land large fish in the kayak (in heavy wind nonetheless!).  After winds got heavier and waves reached upwards of 3ft I hit the beach and relaxed.  Beautiful evening aside from the wind.

Anyone have a favorite website to get accurate and detailed wind forecasts?

Cheers,
Jason

Good job on your first trip on the sound. Must have been exciting releasing that shark!! any pics, that would be cool.

I use thess sites for forecasts generally:

http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/

Fight the fish, which makes a couple of nice runs, then I get it up to the side -  A BIG shark- over 4 footer!  I was able to make the release successfully with the shark thrashing and slapping the side of the yak making a major ruckus. 

Jason

Good Job!  Sounds like you should do just fine landing a big salmon. 

Sounds like you had a very enjoyable time HookNose.

Welcome to the board.

Welcome HN!  Where do you live/put in to fish??? 

  The doggies have been especially thick around Point Defiance.  We hooked one this AM on trolling gear, flasher/hoochie.  A real PITA, the big hen dogfish are spawning now and the sealions can't eat them all....

Thanks all.   It was fun and a good "testing of limits", as in - I don't want to try to fish in 3+ ft wind waves.  
No pictures of the shark - aka - I need to get myself a waterproof camera...  I also could have gotten some nice shots of a playful young seal that considered me a playmate for a good hour - well then I realized my herring was juicing out through the rear scuppers...  tossed em' out to get him off my tail.
Next time out I'm hoping for little to no wind and some fish catching of the salmonid variety!

kallitype:  I live in the tacoma area, but last night I put in over on the key peninsula.  The doggy I hooked was on a coyote spoon trolled 40-50 ft deep over 80+ ft of water.  I've caught plenty dogs on the bottom mooching herring, but I think that is only the second one i've hooked trolling gear - and by far the biggest ever. 

Hooknose---I'm on Vashon, let's get together sometime at the little launch south of the Slagpile, sometimes a good bite there on the beginning of the flood.  If that little launch still exists!!