Yaking With Yuki

Yuki and I planned a day at New Melones Reservoir. They planted both Glory Hole and Tuttletown this week and we figured our chances were good for a fish or two.

Yuki sent an email the other day and said "Should he bring the Kayaks". Having never kayaked, I said "Sure". This morning I sent him an email and said "Weather guessers said winds at 20 with gusts to 30 or 40. You decide if you want to Yak or just shore fish".

We Yaked. It was fine at the beginning. Winds were pretty calm and no chop on the water. In the picture of Yuki below is the place (to the left of the high and dry launch ramp) where we usually shore fish at Tuttletown.   

Yuki

The area we are in is a big "cove" if you will. I crossed to the other side trawling a pink Kastmaster. Once on the other side I rigged up my fly rod with a Thin Mint and worked around the shore.

As the day progressed, the wind did pick up. In fact it got quite breezy. Breezy enough that it took three times longer to get back than it did to go across. Around 11:00 we decided to call it and I trawled a F-9 Rapala in firetiger all the way back.

Yuki said he had one on, but used a long distance release to leave it for another day. So long of a distance, that he didn't know what size the fish was. He said he hooked up on a Thomas Buoyant Lake Lure with a green Power Worm.   

Yours truely

So here's my take on Kayaking. First, it's pretty cool to sit in and keep your butt out of the water, especially since the water is still cold. Yuki, on the other hand had a lower profile yak and he ended up with a wet butt. Second, unless it's summer, you need boots to get into the yak. Note to self: Next time  bring your hip waders. Third, getting out after even two hours of fishing is another whole learned experience. Once I managed to get out of the thing, I was wet from my knees down, both legs. Note to self: If you forget the waders next time, it's your own damn fault.

The kayak I was using was an Ascend FS10. The yellow color was nice so I didn't get lost on the lake. It sits higher in the water and was better able to manage the waves, once the wind got to hurricane force, than the blue one Yuki was in. Kayaks are also so much more aerodynamic than a float tube. Anyone want to by the Float Tube Cumberland? I think I'm going to upgrade to a kayak.

Oh yeh, no fish. Not even a bite. Maybe next time the conditions will be better. Could be the fish might bite too.

Mark