Becoming discouraged.. need a mentor! - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Jonesyak · 07-29-2012, 09:52 AM

Thank for all the advice and encouragement! Perfect advice Jim thank you.
Had a great day on the water yesterday. Cought lots of bait fish and my first yellow bite. Next week I will try again.

When putting a small FF on a yak, do you have to cut holes for the transducer? I have a decent spot to mount the monitor, just not sure where to go after that. And my 6v batt is in a soft pack behind my seat, not sure how that will play in.

jorluivil · 07-29-2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesyak

Thank for all the advice and encouragement! Perfect advice Jim thank you.
Had a great day on the water yesterday. Cought lots of bait fish and my first yellow bite. Next week I will try again.

When putting a small FF on a yak, do you have to cut holes for the transducer? I have a decent spot to mount the monitor, just not sure where to go after that. And my 6v batt is in a soft pack behind my seat, not sure how that will play in.

Check the Share Your Innovations thread and check out the way others are mounting their transducers. I know there's guys out there that have cut holes in their kayak for the transducer, this is the one type of install where you measure 10 times and cut once.

icelogger · 07-30-2012, 12:02 AM

I appreciate the info as well. I've kayak fished 6 times and been skunked 4 times. What keeps me going is trying a new technique each time out. Tomorrow I will try and catch bait for the first time.

Good luck.

cowboybill · 08-06-2012, 04:51 PM

Hey, I can appreciate your pain. One of the guides is definitely a great idea.

I have been doing this for less than 3 years...

First Year I got spoiled. I slammed the YTs for a beginner. I even doubled once! I got a little cocky(time on da wata wtf!?!?)...

2nd year was very dry. While my bay fishing somewhat improved, my LJ trips were not productive (I caught some threshers, calico, misc rock fish but no YT or WSB).

Went on a 1-1/2 day boat at the end of the year and limited out on YT, got a Dorado, and won the $ pool (yahoo free trip!). That did help my confidence.

In my third year, I am learning that fishing is part art, luck and feel, mixed with science and patience. When I try too hard, get frustrated, or discouraged it doesn't work... If I dont care at all it doesnt work either!?!
There isnt an exact "what to do", but there is lots of general what to do and not do

Keep at it, keep a positive attitude (you could be working or ???)

I have been skunked, but seen some amazing cool stuff while gettn good exercise!

You gotta have a fish finder, even a cheap one! Just knowing your depth is invaluable! Trust me those guides use depth a lot!

Best wishes!

Cowboybill

Jonesyak · 08-06-2012, 05:36 PM

Thank you cowboybill! Any chance you were on the water 8/3? Watched a guy on a red revo fight a big thresher for a while... (saw your red revo in your avatar pic)

Kayaking, and kayak fishing truly is an addiction. I am happy that I was able to get an old Hobie to beat the initial learning curve a little... however now that I am trying to get on the water at least once, if not twice a week I have decided to upgrade my yak.

I think the one of the best pieces of advice everyone has to offer is get a FF. Even if you’re not targeting under water structure, or even fish themselves, knowing your depth is simply invaluable...

I started with a hobie mirage classic, and outfitter a custom bait tank and rod holders. Now that I am comfortable spending 6+ hours in the water, launching and landing with full gear, I have decided to upgrade to a outback or PA (pending funds =)

As far as hiring one of the pros, no matter how badly I want to, I know that once I finally do get my tail, that I will be much happier knowing I did it on my own =)

Tight lines everyone!!

cowboybill · 08-20-2012, 06:38 AM

Naw.... wasnt me. I have a Tarpon 160... and I paddle!

Actually just picked up a hobie.. and am gettin it rigged.

One side note... My Wilderness Tarpon hull feels way better built than my hobie hull!

I almost always wear a cowboy hat out there so if you see me say howdy!

My new rig is a Sand colored Revolution 13...

cowboybill

Dirty Curti · 08-20-2012, 09:53 AM

Great thread and a lot of contribution from many. Jonesyak has asked all of the questions that are in my head as well. I've fished from cattle boats for years and it just feels different on the Kayak. No body is chumming for you, there isn't a captain putting you on a marked spot, no bait readily available. You are on your own in the elements.

My son and I hit LJ for the first time yesterday. Perfect weather, water conditions, made bait but couldn't find the fish. You start wondering if your techniques are wrong, if you're in the wrong place. I saw plenty of other yaks around but nobody was catching anything yesterday. I did see birds working outside a couple of times but I wasn't willing to paddle out there just yet. I think next time I will because several boats stayed in that are most of the time.

We will be putting our time on the water for sure but any and all advice from the experienced is grateful.

07-29-2012, 09:52 AM	#1
Jonesyak Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 45	Thank for all the advice and encouragement! Perfect advice Jim thank you. Had a great day on the water yesterday. Cought lots of bait fish and my first yellow bite. Next week I will try again. When putting a small FF on a yak, do you have to cut holes for the transducer? I have a decent spot to mount the monitor, just not sure where to go after that. And my 6v batt is in a soft pack behind my seat, not sure how that will play in. __________________

08-06-2012, 04:51 PM	#4
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	never give up... Hey, I can appreciate your pain. One of the guides is definitely a great idea. I have been doing this for less than 3 years... First Year I got spoiled. I slammed the YTs for a beginner. I even doubled once! I got a little cocky(time on da wata wtf!?!?)... 2nd year was very dry. While my bay fishing somewhat improved, my LJ trips were not productive (I caught some threshers, calico, misc rock fish but no YT or WSB). Went on a 1-1/2 day boat at the end of the year and limited out on YT, got a Dorado, and won the $ pool (yahoo free trip!). That did help my confidence. In my third year, I am learning that fishing is part art, luck and feel, mixed with science and patience. When I try too hard, get frustrated, or discouraged it doesn't work... If I dont care at all it doesnt work either!?! There isnt an exact "what to do", but there is lots of general what to do and not do Keep at it, keep a positive attitude (you could be working or ???) I have been skunked, but seen some amazing cool stuff while gettn good exercise! You gotta have a fish finder, even a cheap one! Just knowing your depth is invaluable! Trust me those guides use depth a lot! Best wishes! Cowboybill

08-06-2012, 05:36 PM	#5
Jonesyak Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 45	Thank you cowboybill! Any chance you were on the water 8/3? Watched a guy on a red revo fight a big thresher for a while... (saw your red revo in your avatar pic) Kayaking, and kayak fishing truly is an addiction. I am happy that I was able to get an old Hobie to beat the initial learning curve a little... however now that I am trying to get on the water at least once, if not twice a week I have decided to upgrade my yak. I think the one of the best pieces of advice everyone has to offer is get a FF. Even if you’re not targeting under water structure, or even fish themselves, knowing your depth is simply invaluable... I started with a hobie mirage classic, and outfitter a custom bait tank and rod holders. Now that I am comfortable spending 6+ hours in the water, launching and landing with full gear, I have decided to upgrade to a outback or PA (pending funds =) As far as hiring one of the pros, no matter how badly I want to, I know that once I finally do get my tail, that I will be much happier knowing I did it on my own =) Tight lines everyone!! __________________

08-20-2012, 06:38 AM	#6
cowboybill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, CA Posts: 103	comeback. Naw.... wasnt me. I have a Tarpon 160... and I paddle! Actually just picked up a hobie.. and am gettin it rigged. One side note... My Wilderness Tarpon hull feels way better built than my hobie hull! I almost always wear a cowboy hat out there so if you see me say howdy! My new rig is a Sand colored Revolution 13... cowboybill

08-20-2012, 09:53 AM	#7
Dirty Curti Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 419	Great thread and a lot of contribution from many. Jonesyak has asked all of the questions that are in my head as well. I've fished from cattle boats for years and it just feels different on the Kayak. No body is chumming for you, there isn't a captain putting you on a marked spot, no bait readily available. You are on your own in the elements. My son and I hit LJ for the first time yesterday. Perfect weather, water conditions, made bait but couldn't find the fish. You start wondering if your techniques are wrong, if you're in the wrong place. I saw plenty of other yaks around but nobody was catching anything yesterday. I did see birds working outside a couple of times but I wasn't willing to paddle out there just yet. I think next time I will because several boats stayed in that are most of the time. We will be putting our time on the water for sure but any and all advice from the experienced is grateful. __________________

07-30-2012, 12:02 AM	#3
icelogger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: All over the country Posts: 109	I appreciate the info as well. I've kayak fished 6 times and been skunked 4 times. What keeps me going is trying a new technique each time out. Tomorrow I will try and catch bait for the first time. Good luck.