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Kayaking

New boats from Jackson Kayak

August 15, 2012
Kayak Fishing, Kayaking, Video
1 Comment

Now is the time of year that all the big outdoor companies are releasing their new products to look for in 2013, Jackson Kayak included. Shows like iCAST, OR, and IFTD are the epicenters of this activity and for those that won’t be in attendance all we can do is wait for the info to trickle down. Fortunately JK has put out a video to satisfy our appetites which highlights their new boats and a few are sure to interest kayak fishermen. Check it out:

If they weren’t already, the folks at JK are up to their eyeballs in kayak fishing. With a new SIK and a new SUP specifically catered to fishermen, plus the arrival of the Cuda 12, they have shown that they are taking the kayak fishing contingent serious. Flying under the radar is the Cruise, which is basically a bare bones Cuda for less, a real sleeper in my opinion. Be sure to check out the JK website for more information on all the new boats, especially this page: http://jacksonkayak.com/newin2013/

I can already tell that a Cuda 12 is in store for me. 11-13′ boats are right up my alley, especially if I can stand in them, there is no better size for river and marsh fishing, which just happens to be what I like to do.

UPDATE: Isaac Miller has done an outstanding job of previewing the 2013 kayak fishing lineup from Jackson, much better than I could have, check it out here: http://yakfish.isaac-online.com/jackson-kayaks-2013-preview/

Dawgknots kayak paddle belt

June 4, 2012
Gear Review, Kayak Fishing, Kayaking, Retail, Rigging
3 Comments

Back in March I got an email from Drew Gregory about trying out a paddle clip belt from Tory Bell at Dawgknots similar to one I had made up for myself. Of course I jumped on the invitation, I was curious to see how it compared to my own, hopefully it was an improvement.

Why does one need a paddle clip belt? The two main reasons I have are stealth and convenience. Often times I am fishing shallow water with spooky fish, any abnormal vibration will send a fish fleeing. A paddle clip belt allows me to attach the belt to myself and I don’t risk making noise when I place it down on the boat. It also makes it convenient to switch from paddle to rod, I don’t have to reach down as far, allowing me to keep my eyes on any spotted fish, so I can make a cast without guessing where the fish is.

The belt, in my mind, is now a necessary item I take with me kayak fishing, especially when I plan to stand and fish. Mine is a little uncomfortable, especially with the prototype rod holder I put on it. I’ve had a chance to use the Dawgknots belt a few times now, in fact I’ve got it on in this video, you can hardly tell it is there except of course when you see a horizontal paddle:

I think the belt is a definite upgrade to my design. Tory uses a lightweight backing plate behind the actual paddle clip that makes it much more comfortable to wear. It also clips together and cinches tight, meaning it should fit any sized person, I actually had to cut off some excess nylon. My old design only allowed for the use of one belt hole because the other belt holes were occupied by the zipties to secure the paddle clip. It is a lot cooler looking too with the braided paracord, like you find on survival bracelets. So in a pinch you could cut it up and use the paracord.

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The belt is not found on the Dawgknots site yet, I think Tory is still getting everything finalized. If you’re looking to get one soon, you might try shooting him an email, which you can find on his website. All the belts are handmade, very high quality. Of course he has other products as well that you may be interested, check them out at Dawgknots. Tory is a great guy to deal with, you won’t be disappointed.

UPDATE: Looks like Dawgknots is no more.

Pimp my Rack

April 20, 2012
Kayaking, Retail, Rigging
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I’ve been out of town all week for work and haven’t had much time to update the blog. Flew back to Baton Rouge this morning and got a chance to upgrade the rack on the my truck with some Yakima products I purchased last week while picking up my Coosa at Pack & Paddle. I got the railgrabs and a boatloader. My crossbars had previously been held up by U-bolts I bought at the local hardware store. They worked great, never slipped, but the exposed screws would scratch my kayaks. I suppose I could have remedied that with some plasti-dip, but I figured I should just go ahead and do it right, hence the railgrab purchase. The boatloader should hopefully solve my issue with loading the Cuda by myself when coming off the water. It is just an extension bar I can rest the front of the kayak on, then load the back on top the rack, basically giving me another set of hands. I like to load my boats upside down on the crossbars, without any saddles or other accessories. The paddle stager on both the Cuda and the Coosa fit the Yakima crossbars perfectly, so the boat sits pretty nicely directly on the crossbars.

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After: