Crow Horse

I like this Rx. Prescription strength, correct?

Although not directed to me, I would say that once is too many times....😀

Lots of great advice given. One item I'd add to the list is to get or make a hand paddle. It makes positioning or repositioning the yak more convenient than using your paddle. This cannot be overstated. Part of the preparation is knowing how your yak behaves in all conditions and how you need to respond to mitigate the negative conditions (primarily wind). With practice it will become second nature.

This is what I'm afraid of.... I'll usually go fishing in less than ideal conditions. Now, I'll scrub a trip if the conditions will exacerbate the thumb/wrist pain. I ordered one. I'll see if it helps. Thanks for the suggestion.

No numbness at all. Just pain and swelling at the base of the thumb.

How do you deal with tendonitis or De Quervain's tenosynovitis? "De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Swelling and thickening of the tendon sheath make it hard to move the thumb or grip objects." I believe I'm dealing with this now and it really impairs paddling, fishing, and virtually anything else that requires gripping and or lifting. I'm currently wearing a brace/splint which does help to a degree. Other than a visit to my orthopedist, I was curious to see if anyone else has suffered from this and how it affected all aspects of their fishing? Having to paddle against strong winds was a real killer for me and now I'd seriously consider scrubbing a trip if the winds are strong. Being that I'm niot a doctor, maybe it's just early onset rigor mortis.....😃

Here's what I've done so far. I'll be on the water tomorrow and I'll see if there's any improvement. At face value everything seems to be in order I'm grasping at straws. I replaced the rod with the same model (never been used). I had replaced the tip top on the rod I was using several years ago with a tip top that had a ring significantly smaller than the original. It was the only one I could find to fit the blank. Admittedly, this is a long shot and I'll carefully inspect the the tip top and post photos if possible. The line roller functions properly and I've tied on a new 20-30' mono leader. I can't rule out the possibility that this might be user issue (casting technique) and not a hardware problem. I'm not dismissing anything at this point. I keep coming back to this although I don't believe my lure is helicoptering but rather spinning on it's long axis (like a drill bit). When I lift the lure out of the water after a retrieve the lure will spin a great deal. I'll wait till it stops spinning and then make another cast.

I did check the line roller. It's tough to see if it's really turning so I marked it with a sharpie and it's turning unfettered.

I think you're onto something. My line twist issue seems to correlate with the time I began using jerkbaits almost exclusively. It could very well be that the lures are spinning in the cast. I have a carryover habit from my surf fishing days to launch my lures into the next area code. That could compound the airborne spinning of the lures if that is indeed the root cause. As stated, I never reel against the drag.

I've been fighting line twist for the past 2 seasons to no avail. I'm using a 3000 spinner with 10# 832 with a 20-30 foot 10# mono leader. I can clearly see that the braid is getting twisted but the braid tolerates it really well. The mono on the other hand isn't so forgiving. After 4 or 5 hours of constant casting, if any tension is released on the mono it will twist up on itself really badly. I use a KastKing Kalibrate to spool my line according to the directions. Every trip out I replace the mono leader and use an FG knot for the connection to braid. The line roller spins freely and I never try to reel when a fish is taking drag. If it matters, I primarily fish jerkbaits and sometimes crank baits. I always close the bail manually. Any ideas as to what's causing the twist?

Another element of concern for those fishing in a yak, getting a bass who's still has her afterburners lit presents a real safety concern for me. A last minute launch that splashes down in my lap is a real hazard that I've had some close calls with, especially with toothy pickerel. Sharp teeth and treble hooks have no business being anywhere near my lower chassis. Either way, having a fish dance in my lap flailing treble hooks around is nothing I want to experience. I try to "boat" them so they are controllable for their safety as well as mine.

Do you surf them in trying to break speed record ..... OR.... Do you play them until they are tired and ready to give it up? I play them and enjoy the fight. I use relatively light line (10# braid with a long 10# mono leader). I let them take their runs if they feel so inclined and wear themselves out. I just try to control the chaos and try to keep them from making any jumps. If it makes a difference, I fish with crushed barbs, for their benefit and my safety.

I'm a zero zero minus one (00-1). One rod, fish jerk baits almost exclusively and sometimes topwater.

Heck, I'm old and tired.....😄

Sweet! I paid $200 for the OT Vapor 12XT although the former owner rode it hard and put it away wet. With a lot of TLC it was brought back to life and I could not be happier. I'm really thankful I found this old girl.

Your analysis of the 3 is a good example of having "the best" isn't necessarily the best choice for one's individual needs. 😀 I have an old (15 years old) Vapor 12XT and it checks all the boxes for me. It's slow but stable for what it is and it's a sit in which most folks don't prefer. It works for me and it does it well. Best of all is that it didn't break the bank.

3rd trip out and all is working better than I expected. Here's a short video on the access trail.

Perfect!!!!!!! We always seem to be chasing something and don't stop for a moment (or more) to savor what we have. We look towards a conceptual destination and miss the entire journey. Live in the moment with gratitude.

Thanks to everyone who "weighed" in. I thought about the question of weight and what it really means to me a great deal since I posted the question. I suppose I'll never know her true weight and at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter. For me it's not a numbers game. I like to push myself to do better and better. That's not a bad thing when tempered properly. What really matters is the experience of hooking into her, her wild runs, acrobatics and deep dives. She fought valiantly and I was extremely fortunate to have been drawn into connection with her. It was the experience that should be savored and that shouldn't get lost in a numbers game. She won't have a weight attached to her. Instead, she'll be added to my "Big Girls Club" that is burned into my memory. Enrollment is open for the club and I hope to recruit more members this season.

To get a better estimate of the length, I rotated the bass and located it under my arm. Although my arm isn't fully extended out from my body, it's close. The bass's tail extends beyond my armpit, but with a fudge factor, it's at least 24" long. Precision guesswork at it's finest.

It is beautiful. I got married there. What makes it extra special is that I have the place to myself virtually all of the time.

Yes, she gave me a great fight and she kept surprising me with some unexpected runs. I'm not using terribly light gear. A Vendetta 7' medium/fast rod, 3000 size spinner with 10# braid. 10# 25' mono leader. A Megabass Flap Slap seduced her.

I don't know if this will be any help, but have a go at it. https://youtu.be/MZYKRwyI9LE

Anybody want to take a stab at guessing her weight? For reference, from my wrist to armpit is 24"s. She put up a great fight with some strong runs. It only took me about 6 1/2 hours to find her. (I'm terrible at approximating weight)

Psychology Suggests People Who Pick Up Litter Without Being Asked Practice Quiet Responsibility That Shapes How They Treat Strangers And The PlanetYou Notice What Others Walk PastYou Treat Shared Spaces Like HomeYou Move Fast When Something Feels OffYou Handle Mild Discomfort Without DramaYou Keep Your Standards When Nobody WatchesYou Feel Responsible Without Feeling SuperiorYou Imagine the Next Person’s DayYou Let One Good Choice Spark AnotherMore can be found here: https://cottonwoodpsychology.com/blog/psychology-suggests-people-who-pick-up-litter-without-being-asked-practice-quiet-responsibility-that-shapes-how-they-treat-strangers-and-the-planet/ Personality traits of those who do litter: People who litter typically exhibit traits like low conscientiousness, external locus of control, and high impulsivity. They often justify their actions through entitlement—expecting others to clean up after them—and a mindset of diffusion of responsibility, believing shared public spaces are "not their problem". [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Psychological and behavioral studies outline the core traits that drive improper waste disposal: [1] Low Conscientiousness & Empathy: A reduced capacity to consider the long-term community or environmental impacts of their actions. External Locus of Control: The belief that outcomes are up to fate or other people rather than their own direct responsibility. They often rationalize that because the area "is already messy," their one wrapper won't make a difference. Entitlement & Narcissism: The belief that public spaces exist for their personal convenience and that janitors or maintenance staff exist to pick up their slack. Impulsivity & Need for Convenience: Prioritizing instant gratification. If a trash can isn't immediately at arm's reach, they will drop an item to avoid the temporary, minor inconvenience of carrying it.