Looking for a stable relationship

[brian22]

This weekend at PAC, I took a chance while poling through the grasses and stood up on my ice chest - man I could SEE the reds down in the water and I had a good time poling and fishing this way, though there was a little bit of shakiness at first getting up there!

Issues:

No way to really drop the paddle and grab my rod efficiently while up there - I did it, but it was shaky and I had my hands full up there all the time

Ice chest is a little too far forward just behind the seat, and unstable as it was just sitting on the deck, not strapped down or anything.


Solutions:

Moving the ice chest back and bungeeing it makes for a MUCH more stable platform - Initially I had it all the way back on the fantail trying to fanagle a good bungee scenario, but it resulted in the ice chest shooting forward like a cork and me falling straight down like a Texas jig. Landed on the hip, glad these bones still have a bit of bounce to em!


In it's current location, I'm stable, far enough back to pole effectively, and easily reach rods in the 2 port/stbd rod holders. In addition, I'm going to buy/make a pushpole that will serve double-duty as a scupper-hole anchor as well. When I find fish, I can put the pole through the rear scupper holes (anchoring the boat and freeing my hands), grab a pole, and light em up.


I usually refuse to spend more than $15 on sunglasses, but now see that I will need some good ones. Suggestions? I'm looking at the Wiley X's and Costas.

Before PAC, I'd never seen reds tailing before or even their shadows - to me, that was extremely exciting. Next stop - fly fishing! Looks like there is plenty of room to put the line on the rear deck between the seat (removed in pics for cleaning) and the chest, or even on the fantail. Whaddya'll think?

[Shankapotomus]

I would be nervous about the bungees. I would try to find a way to rig some nylon straps.

[Where Y'ak?]

You will eventually get wet! I'm a firm believer in getting high!!! I have a rear poling platform on my powerboat. I also have a 6'step ladder on the front. There's nothing like poling through the ponds hunting reds. You will never forget the sight of a red in crystal clear water opening its mouth and gills and inhaling your bait! That's my biggest drawback of yak fishing ---the low line of visibility.

Believe me, I've thought hard about how to rig a polling platform on my Outback. I just don't see a feasible way that will keep me in the yak. I may eventually invest in one of the standup kits that come with the outriggers. Perhaps the PA is stable enough that you don't need outriggers, but you will eventually fall off of that small ice chest. Been there done that and from a much bigger platform.

Get good glasses and open up a whole new world.

[valvguy1]

I'm a firm believer in getting high!!!

HUH??? Can you say that here?

[Cobia 1]

I have discoivered a couple of truisims since I have been kayaking:
1 Your butt will usually follow your nose, especially if the nose extends past the outside of the hull
2 Weight definitely affects the center of gravity on a kayak, once seated it is VERY stable
3 Fat grey haired old men need to sit down and be still
Just some basics, wish I could stand up in the yak, it is hard enough on land! Good luck to you'll!

[MDR]

Hmmm. That is a tough vote. No to keeping it means we think you will get wet. Yes might be vote believing that you won't, but many will vote yes because they think you will indeed get a wet arse and they want to see it happen. Not that we take pleasure in the yak related misfortunes of others of course.

[Crow]

I suggest making sure you have a flotation device of some sort on your rods so when you fall in they will at least float so you can retrive them. :hide:

[brian22]

Hmmm. That is a tough vote. No to keeping it means we think you will get wet. Yes might be vote believing that you won't, but many will vote yes because they think you will indeed get a wet arse and they want to see it happen. Not that we take pleasure in the yak related misfortunes of others of course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

[all_in]

Like WYK, I have a poling platform on my flat boat because, to my mind, there is nothing like sight casting reds. I fell out of my first 2 kayaks standing up to fish reds - it tends to scare the fish a little, and it has ruined otherwise pleasant afternoons (I'm just glad rev doesn't own a water-proof camera). But my current boats, an outback and a OK Prowler Trident 15, I stand up all the time and catch plenty of fish - often my cast are inside of 12'.

While it is true that the higher you are the father off you will see them, I have found that in a kayak this is less important because they don't spook nearly as far away as they do in my flats boat. So, You probably don't need the ice chest... but if you use it 1) let us know how it works out and 2) make sure your fishing buddies have a camera. Just sayin'.

[Yak-a-Lou]

I did something similar years ago in a wide, 14' pirogue but I built a wood top for the ice chest to make it stronger.

Used about six 3/4" x 3/4" strips of wood beneath a 3/8" piece of plywood. Added thin strips to the top of the platform but didn't join them at the corners so water would drain off easily. The thin strips on top were just a reminder for my toes that the end was near. I tied the chest to four pad eyes that I installed on the gunwales of the pirogue. Used a trucker's hitch to tie it off. Worked fine.

Many is the time I've stood up and scared redfish that were a mere ten feet or so from my kayak. Standing helps you see but it helps you BE seen too.

[MDR]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

Absolutely. Hey, I was a cop for 20 years what do you expect? Funniest job on the planet.

[brian22]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

Absolutely. Hey, I was a cop for 20 years what do you expect? Funniest job on the planet.

Did the same thing when I was in the military.... we'd go out of our way to bring misery to our fellow shipmates.... but those are another stories! None of which, of course, can be re-enacted, repeated, or even alluded to on this forum.

[all_in]

Shouldn't we be able to vote for both "keep it" AND "You are gonna get soaked"?

[Branch_Office]

Shouldn't we be able to vote for both "keep it" AND "You are gonna get soaked"?

Yes and also I wanna know when and where so I can be there with camera....

[Musicdoc]

Yeah, Go ahead and put the platform up. That'll take some of the heat off Cobia.

[Branch_Office]

I think he might even help with either the labor or the cost ....just saying!

[Cobia 1]

The Aquatic Director's position is always open for the taking! But this idea may fall into the high board division, don't forget points for form!

[brian22]

Hmmm, this seems like it's getting serious... maybe I should take up yoga so I will be in perfect zen with the iglooyak chi.... But where to learn, where to learn? Buddhaman, where are you? OOOHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[Domo]

think you may need to get one of these, watch the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZrl_mLRSxY

[Branch_Office]

That is exactly what he needs right there!