wind lesson learned in quest for halibut

Zee is too polite to say it but get a Hobie!


Guess i need to start saving pennies!

Glad you made it in ok SS! That did not sound like fun at all.

But that really is a nice trailer! 

More importantly though, what a nice simple trailer!   

I hate kayaking in wind, it just takes the fun out of it for me. 

When i was paddling full steam the gps said .3 mph. Funny thing is that when i stopped paddling my speed increased to 6 mph. The other way.

Zee is too polite to say it but get a Hobie!

  Actually, the real answer is don't go out and play in those conditions. But if you do, that Mirage drive is the Lickity Split (especially for the "less than teen-aged" physique)
I've been in very similar conditions pedaling and I was shocked that my gps said I was going 4 mph straight into the teeth of a good 20 mph wind and with no more than normal effort (and I am NOWHERE near "teen-aged" physique)
Probably has something to do with maintaining a less wind resistant form and not waving around those little sails on each end of the stick. 

OR, just learn how to paddle properly. I know plenty of 80YO ladies that can handle 20kt wind with no problem. That's the beauty of kayaking. It's a finesse sport, not a muscle sport. If you muscle it, you get tired. More muscle means you get tired less quickly, but technique will trump muscle any day. I'm 34, have separated and dislocated both shoulders and torn both rotators. I'm no spring chicken and definitely don't have a teenagers physique.....I've just learned to rely on technique, especially when I'm tired or battling conditions.

Not knocking pedal drives, but short of having to buy a new boat, that's what I recommend.

Yes, it's probably best to avoid those 20kt days, BUT sometimes you are already there when they come, and being able to deal with it will save on the CG helicopter bill.

Think about this- What is going to provide more power and less fatigue; paddling with my shoulders and arms, or engaging my entire body by rotating the torso to pull the paddle through the water, and pushing on the foot pegs on the side I'm pulling the blade on?

I'd be hard pressed to lift a 60# boat over my head just using my shoulders, but I don't have a problem picking up a 60 pound boat using my whole body including legs and core. It's all about distributing the effort over your entire body rather than just your tiny little T-rex arms.

A 12 YO girl can paddle just as fast as a 22yo college football player.

The little sails on the end of the stick are easily subdued by feathering the blade.

You'd be shocked to see your kayak moving at 4kts in 20kt wind if you would utilize proper technique rather than muscling through it. Barring spinal chord fusion and other major disabilities of course

Glad to hear you made it out of that safely!

http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=119&siteID=1633&Isection=Forecast+Graphs

This is the closest station I could find to your area at iwindsurf.com, hope it helps if you haven't found if already. I have found it to be a very reliable website. If the forecast is over 10 mph for the time I'd like to go out, I don't even consider going out. It just wouldn't be worth the drive and the time spent messing with gear.

You'd be shocked to see your kayak moving at 4kts in 20kt wind if you would utilize proper technique rather than muscling through it. Barring spinal chord fusion and other major disabilities of course

You do bring up good points Jason, however, it is very difficult to fish from a kayak in high winds. If it gets to the point where you're trying to jig with 6 oz. of weight and your line is almost at 45 degrees, that doesn't give you a chance to hold a position over your favorite fishing hole. And if you are lucky enough to hook up with a big fish, by the time you're done stowing it, you've traveled a good ways since you hooked up. So you now have to get back to the spot you want to fish.
You can still troll I guess, but I'm a jigging fan myself.   

Dang this is a gnarly Spring, weatherwise. Too much cold wind and rain, lately, even for April. This is the 3rd or 4th worst April that i can recall here on the WA coast in the last 20 years.
The good news is that the surf is finally coming down for a while by the end of the week. Don't know about the wind, but relentless big surf was bumming me out. I think there were more 20 foot plus days this year than I can ever remember. I'd like to see it stay under 5 or 6 feet until the end of Oct. Won't happen, but I can dream.

Glad to hear you made it out of that safely!

http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=119&siteID=1633&Isection=Forecast+Graphs

This is the closest station I could find to your area at iwindsurf.com, hope it helps if you haven't found if already. I have found it to be a very reliable website. If the forecast is over 10 mph for the time I'd like to go out, I don't even consider going out. It just wouldn't be worth the drive and the time spent messing with gear.

You'd be shocked to see your kayak moving at 4kts in 20kt wind if you would utilize proper technique rather than muscling through it. Barring spinal chord fusion and other major disabilities of course

You do bring up good points Jason, however, it is very difficult to fish from a kayak in high winds. If it gets to the point where you're trying to jig with 6 oz. of weight and your line is almost at 45 degrees, that doesn't give you a chance to hold a position over your favorite fishing hole. And if you are lucky enough to hook up with a big fish, by the time you're done stowing it, you've traveled a good ways since you hooked up. So you now have to get back to the spot you want to fish.
You can still troll I guess, but I'm a jigging fan myself.  

Difficult but not impossible. Why not just get a PB if you don't want the challenge of kayak fishing? That's why I use the handline for jigging. I can paddle and hold my position and hold the line at the same time. My paddling motion is essentially jigging.

It's challenging in any boat to hold position in 20kt winds. Those aren't my conditions of choice. The information I provided is more about paddling in general, and will help anyone who finds themselves in winds a little over their heads. At the very least it will lower the odds of your wife pulling the plug on your yakfishing fun, and potentially avoid having to pay for CG rescue.

Difficult but not impossible. Why not just get a PB if you don't want the challenge of kayak fishing?

Yeah, maybe I should. Guess I just can't hang. 

Yeah, I'd just quit now before you learn what else you don't know....

I just hate to see things given up on because you might have to learn something and it's challenging. I can teach a 12yo kid everything I know in 2 hours. A 60 yo man stuck in his ways and more concerned with ego than learning may never learn.

i can't even think of a reason why someone would argue AGAINST proper technique other than being stubborn because you don't like being the one without answers.

I'm just offering up what I know to be true to help when I see situations where these things are the solution. Don't take my advice, I don't care. I'm trying to help not cause an argument.

hey nanook, i appreciate the advice. in fact after your posts i think my wife and i will take a intro paddling class over here on the peninsula. I am sure that it will make a difference. I believe you 100% about paddling technique and my technique right now is probably worth a couple of laughs on youtube but not much more. I am new at this so am learning as i go. the bug to catch fish got ahead of the instruction. So anyway thanks for the help. If you were closer i'd sign up for one of your classes. doug in sequim

I just hate to see things given up on because you might have to learn something and it's challenging. I can teach a 12yo kid everything I know in 2 hours. A 60 yo man stuck in his ways and more concerned with ego than learning may never learn.

i can't even think of a reason why someone would argue AGAINST proper technique other than being stubborn because you don't like being the one without answers.

I'm just offering up what I know to be true to help when I see situations where these things are the solution. Don't take my advice, I don't care. I'm trying to help not cause an argument.

Hey Jason, you're doing it again.   

no matter how you slice and dice and your paddle technique...20kt winds is nothing to take lightly in a kayak...i dont want to be reading about you and what a nice guy you were in the local newspaper 

every year someone dies out there

Difficult but not impossible. Why not just get a PB if you don't want the challenge of kayak fishing?

Yeah, maybe I should. Guess I just can't hang. 

HORSE HOCKEY! You too can roll with the Big Dogs! Just enroll in Jason "Nanook of the Northwest's" weekly paddle clinics and in just 4-14 years you'll be ready to rock the Corryvreckan tides with the best of them! 

Actually, I don't know anybody who couldn't benefit from a good paddle lesson. Can you go through your entire kayak fishing career without one and still have a good time? Absolutely! Most yakfishers never take a lesson. But the benefit of one hour of good hands-on and critique is worth waaay more than a lightweight paddle.

Yeah, I'd just quit now before you learn what else you don't know....

Isn't that a line from the "New Zoo Review" theme song?



No, now that I think of it, it was "we'll have FUN learning what we don't know"

I forgot how hot Emmy Jo looked in those boots.  She could have used a paddle lesson too.