Kayak Koz

I'm torn right now between the Malone EcoLight Single Kayak Trailer and the Right On Multi-Sport Trailer. With the Right On I would add some PVC bunks and save a bunch of money. But the tail lights on the Right On are not made to be backed into the water, so I'd probably want to upgrade those. Decisions, decisions...

For me, the Whopper Plopper is the ultimate hit or miss bait. At first it was great. I remember one day there was a 60 minute window where I caught a bass on every single cast fishing a small lagoon. It was nuts. But by the end of the year I rarely caught anything on them. I don't fish it that often anymore, but it's been years since I caught anything on one of them.

I'm thinking about the Right On Multi-Sport trailer (about $900 for the trailer and the crossbar padding) or the Malone EcoLight 1-Boat Kayak Trailer Package (about $1400). Since I have a heavy kayak, I like the rail bunks on the Malone. But I could also craft some out of PVC for the Right On. I'm still debating. Then it's a good thing I purchased a Bronco Sport!

I don't know. I'll have to look at that tomorrow. Right now, one thing that I'm looking at The Yakima Timberline cross rails, the Yakima Big Catch rack, and the Yakima Showboat 66 loading rack. All combined, that's another $1,100. I'm also looking at a Right On trailer with some padding sleeves for just under $900. That's probably going to be the better option since it will be easier to load and unload. And since I have a C-Tug cart I can even load and unload in the parking lot instead of tying up the boat ramp.

Unlike some people, I'm not one to buy cars very often and when I buy a car I like to buy them new. My last two cars were a 2001 Volvo S60 and then a 2013 Genesis Coupe (which I actually bought in the spring of 2012). But I've been itching for something new for about a year now, and today I finally pulled the trigger on a new Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend. I splurged a bit with the tow package, convenience package, and the Ford 360 Assist+. It also has the moonroof even though I didn't want it. But I couldn't find one in the color I wanted (Cactus Gray) with only the other three options. One of the best parts is now I will be able to transport my kayak and I won't be locked to launching at my hotel. I think I'll try car topping it first instead of buying a trailer because I'm thinking of buying a used boat in the spring. The dealer where I bought it was 90 minutes from home, so I got to put some time in it today. So far, so good. Part of me misses the power and handling of my Genesis, but it is a bit quieter and has a lot more bells and whistles. I'm sure I made the right choice.

In my experience it depends upon the body of water.

So I'm finally ready to pull the trigger and buy a Ford Bronco Sport but I only want in in one color (Cactus Gray) and it must have the tow package, convenience package, and the 360 Assist+. So I find two cars that match at the same dealership, but they are tagged as currently in use Demos and won't be available for purchase until August and they won't sell me one of them. I don't understand? So you don't want my $40k? Why not? I'm ready to buy RIGHT NOW. I don't get it.

Head lamp.

Happy Father's Day to all! Today my son and I went out and no, we didn't go fishing. Despite his elbow injury he wanted to go to the ballpark. He has strict limits set by the doctor on throwing, but he was up for fielding some ground balls and taking a little batting practice. And tonight we feast - baby back ribs! This was a very good day indeed.

Since most the time I' fishing on my kayak, heat can become a factor, but not in the way you might think. It's when I get back to shore after a day of pedaling that all of a sudden it hits me. Then I have to pull 160 pounds of kayak and gear up a steep, twist concrete path to stow my kayak back in my hotel. That part sends me into heat stroke or close to it. Between the heat and the pontoon boats and jet skis on our narrow lake I prefer night and early morning fishing this time of year.

Now that school is out we're back to having our Fishing with the GM events at our hotel and today's event was a success. We had about 8 kids and a few adults join us for the morning. My son, Matt, also helped out. We get there a bit early and I take a few casts with my gear hoping to get my bass fix in before the festivities start but I drew blanks. Then we set up the spincast rods and drop a few lines in to see if the bluegill are schooling anywhere. We use tiny #1 hooks along with redworms and nightcrawlers to increase the odds of catching something. At first I was a bit worried because neither Matt nor myself got a bite around the docks where we normally find them. But we moved down the bank and hit the jackpot as the kids arrived. It was fast and furious baiting hooks for two hours as the kids kept catching fish after fish. For the kids brave enough to handle the fish we show them how to gently release the fish without causing injury or additional trauma. These sessions normally last an hour but the kids wanted to keep going so we fished over two hours. At the end we do a group photo and kids get a certificate of achievement. Missile Baits is the sponsor for this event and I provide all the parents with promo codes for discounts on their gear. As some of you know, I fish MLF Phoenix and Toyota Series events (I'm also doing a few Bassmaster Opens later this year) and I was wearing my tournament jersey for this event (my hotel is my primary sponsor and it's on the jersey) and as we were packing up more adults guests were coming down to the lake and asked about what we were doing. I handed out more promo codes and one of the ladies asked to take a selfie with me. My first fan! Anyway, it was a great day with all of the kids catching multiple fish. We'll do it again next week.

Whether gated communities or not, most are governed by HOA's. While technically there is a 10 foot easement around most lagoons, property owners still control access. You won't be able to fish any of the golf courses. Look at Google Earth for shopping centers and then look for stormwater ponds around them. For example, find Station 300 in Bluffton. Look at the big parking lot on the west side of that plaza and you will see accessible lagoons. Find Cinemark in Bluffton. There is a big parking lot to the southwest of that building and off that parking lot is a lagoon in what looks like the woods but there is a path that traverses one side. The big gators usually leave you alone, but they will camp out in the water in front of you to let you know that you are trespassing on their turf. Just move to another lagoon because they will probably follow you in the smaller lagoons. Smaller gators are a nuisance because the have no fear. They will attack your baits and whatever you catch. If you hear the chirps of baby gators, get out of there. Mama will be around and in a protective mood. Never fish in a position where you don't have quick egress from the water (i.e. heavily wooded areas). When you're tying on a new bait or unbuttoning a fish never turn your back to the water. It's definitely a bit scary around them for the first few times, but you get used to it. But it is important to keep scanning your surrounding while you fish and never become complacent. If I still lived there I'd take you around to some of the gated communities where I had access as well as the ones I mentioned.

For spinning gear I have a Falcon Lowrider 6' 9" ML. The model is the LFS-69ML and they list it as a drop shot rod. My casting rod is sitting with half a dozen rods in my office. I'll find out what it is tomorrow and provide you with the answer. Most of my rods are MH Shimano Exprides and I bought a heavy Shimano Intenza that is a decent rod. But I do really like my Falcon rods as well. I wasn't sure at first, but the more I use them the more I like them.

We use the Midland LXT's in my hotel. They're inexpensive and they work just fine. I've never had the issue with my radio, but my associates keep losing the belt clips. We use them heavily and have to buy new rechargeable battery packs for them once a year. I think they are a great value for the price.

South Carolina is out. My interest has waned. Fire Kingston.

The SC Lowcountry is one of the best bass fishing areas in the country. There are literally thousands of stormwater lagoons from Charleston down to Hilton Head and Bluffton. If you're not catching 4 and 5 pounders all the time you might want to take up knitting! Gators can be a pain. I've been stalked, chased, and surprised by gators when bank fishing. The main thing is that you need to check in the water and along the bank before you walk to the edge of the bank. Then keep your head on a swivel and scan the area while fishing. You also want to keep a knife or scissors on you in the odd chance a gator grabs your fish as you reel it in. Topwaters are gator magnets. I fished them all of the time, but keep an eye out. One of your best bets is fishing residential communities. Not all are gated, private communities. You can drive to Sea Pines in Hilton Head and pay for a pass to get in. Your best bet is to bring a bike (or rent one in Sea Pines) and bike from lagoon to lagoon. Don't skip the small lagoons, either. These stormwater ponds are interconnected and the bass will travel. Check Google maps and look at the lagoons behind Target in Bluffton, SC. It can be hard to find access points, but very few people fish there and they are loaded with bass. I brought a machete and cut an opening years ago. Stick in the wooded areas and not the grassy areas. You don't want to come upon a gator in heavy grass. The wooded areas are on the opposite side of the target parking lot. Sgt. Jasper Park in Okatie is OK as well, but make the long bike/hike down to the primitive camping area. You can kayak there as well. Personally, I would be more scared encountering a gator while in a kayak than on the banks. You won't be fishing in one spot on teh banks, especially in area with multiple lagoons. I would cover miles walking, biking, or driving from lagoon to lagoon. Look through my old posts about fishing in the SC Lowcountry and dealing with gators. I don't live there anymore and I really miss fishing there.

I have DC's, MGL's, and K's in my Curado arsenal and I like all of them. I have no issue with the weight of the DC. Maybe you should work out more? ? I thumb my DC like any other baitcaster just out of habit. But where I really like my DC is when I'm out kayak fishing in the middle of the night. Most of us that have been fishing for a long time find it intuitive when to thumb the spool, but at night in the pitch black it's easy to get disoriented so I it can be beneficial to use a DC reel so you lessen the chance of a giant bird's nest in the darkness.

I fish drop shots and ned rigs on a medium light Falcon rod and a Curado MGL reel with no problem. This year on my MH and H baitcasters I've thrown a lot of Carolina Rigs with an 8" lizard or a Man Bear Pig.

You might scare some fish, while others will attack with a reaction bite.

There's a huge difference between a general pediatrics doctor and a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon that specializes in baseball players and especially pitchers. IT's not just reading MRI's and X-rays to see current injuries or subtle items that may lead to bigger problems. He also analyzes pitching mechanics, workload, rest habits, workout habits, nutrition, and more. After that and whatever fix is called for there is a progressive PT, workout, and throwing program. The pediatric doctors misdiagnosed his issues as tendonitis and tennis elbow, told him to rest for 3 weeks, then throw again. He also got a cortisone shot that atrophied his muscles (his current doctor was shocked at how much atrophy there was). The two pediatric doctors that misdiagnosed what was going on cost him his entire season. Even worse, depending upon the final diagnosis (if it is nerve damage) at a minimum it will cost him his winter ramp up period and at most he will lose his senior season in HS. That means no colleges and no MLB draft. He'll have to regroup and go to JUCO for a year or two (depending upon rehab time) to prove he's capable of pitching and can handle the workload. The good news is he can soft toss and swing a bat with no pain. The bad news is he experiences bouts of numbness in his fingers and forearm. He dropped a plate the other day when he lost feeling.

I love to fish braid on my baitcasters, usually 30lb - 40lb for most applications and 50lb-60lb for weedy conditions. For years I fished straight braid with good results. Stained water or clear water, it didn't matter. But since I moved to Georgia in both my home lake and the other lakes I fish I have not caught as much as I used to catch. So for the past month I have been fishing braid with an 8-12 foot flouro leader, wither 10lbs or 15lbs and my catch rate has gone up. My hypothesis is that because of the fishing pressure in these lakes that some fish might be line shy. In the past I never gave the line shy theory much credence, but anecdotal evidence this past month makes me think there might be something to it.

Chuck. Crank. Catch. Repeat. They are a great tool when you need to cover water, especially from the bank because you can cast them a mile.

I'm trying to imagine an 11 pound bluegill...

UPDATE Matt saw the specialist today and it's mostly good news. The best news is that there is no UCL tear. He does have indications of stress on the UCL, but nothing out of the ordinary for a pitcher. His medial pain is still excruciating with certain motions and that did place some limits on today's exam. We're waiting on a date for nerve testing, but EMG testing is on 7/3. IN the meantime he has both PT and pain remediation therapy. Interestingly enough, the doctor said he can lift weights as long as he can tolerate the pain and he's on a return to throwing program. He won't be able to pitch for a few months, but he will be able to throw and hit. He's not out of the woods until he gets the neuro and EMG testing and the pain decreases. But the doctor said surgery is highly unlikely at this time. MY son is relieved. Heck, we got home at 7:30 tonight and he wanted to go outside and soft toss.

I actually have someone who knows him that offered to contact him for me. But I actually think he's more of a figurehead now at the Andrews Institute. Plus, the Andrews Institute is an additional 3 hour drive than where we are going. I was also connected to the head baseball coaches at the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston, but both of those leads didn't pan out because Matt is only 17 and was referred to pediatrics again. It took an entire afternoon of calling I don't know how many people, then I essentially resorted to begging the Riverdogs doctor.