Paddlesport 2011

What a busy month March has been. Last weekend I attended The Jersey Paddler's Paddlesport 2011. I joined Mike Hooks, Woody Callaway, and Kelly Fisher of Legacy Paddlesports in the Native Watercraft booth. This event is one of the largest Paddlesports consumer shoes on the east coast. Kayak fishing was very well represented.

 Rigged Kayak Fishing boats were everywhere, the event program even featured a kayak angler on the cover.

Several Kayak fishing experts were there, here is John Oast, Joey Cambria, and the legendary Kayak Kevin.

Drew Gregory was also on hand to talk about their new kayak, the Coosa.

The place was madness, and alot of anglers became kayak anglers this weekend. It was a great event and I look foward to next year. Now its about time to start fishing, but first catch us at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival April 16-17th. Tight Lines!

Great press from Canoecopia 2011.

Check this out....way cool. Pat Durkin column: Kayak fishing offers cheap trip | wisconsinoutdoorfun.com | Wisconsin Outdoor Fun Wisconsin Hunting, Fishing, Camping| Wisconsin Hiking, Biking, ATV

Canoecopia 2011

Had the opportunity to join Rutabaga's "Canoecopia" as a guest speaker and to work in the Native Watercraft booth. This was a great event that hosted hundreds of vendors and thousands of consumers. It was nonstop and I believe over 50 Native Watercraft left the building with their happy owners.



I had a great crowd for both of my talks, they were very interested and asked lots of questions.
They even laughed at my jokes!

Canoecopia was a great event and I hope to return. Headed to The Jersey Paddler's "Paddlesport" next week, see you there!

Let the Shows begin.

This past weekend we attended our second of several fishing/paddling shows. The Central Carolina Boat and Fishing Expo, in Greensboro, is near my home town so we take the opportunity to visit with my Dad, and our fellow kayak anglers in NC. The North Carolina Kayak Fishing Association (http://www.nckfa.com/) was there in force, Jerry Dilsaver and Mark Patterson were waving the kayak fishing banner along with us. Get Outdoors (www.shopgetoutdoors.com) also had a killer showing of Wilderness System and Native Watercraft fishing kayaks. In all a great event with plans to have kayak fishing specific areas and speakers in 2012. Next stop is Rutabaga's "Canoecopia" in Madison (March 11-13), WI and Jersey Paddlers "Paddlesport" in Somerset NJ (March 25-27). Ill have more on these in the next few weeks. Stay Tuned!

Fall Fishing off to good start.

Fall bite is upon Us

    The change in weather is always a welcome sight for fishing here in Tidewater. This is the time for the fish to fatten up for the winter ahead. I started my weekend fishing trips early on Thursday night. Four of us including myself planned our first striper trip of the year to the HRBT.We made an after work launch at 7 which played out to be the wrong time. To kill time while the tide turned we visited with other kayak anglers we ran into on the water. Including a visit from our local on the water police officers! Wow!! I can honestly say in all my years on the water that is the first time I have ever been checked by the Man.The worst part was he asked to see every safety item but not our fishing license. Asked if we had them but did not ask to see them. I wanted to show them off I have spent $55.00 on license and wanted to show them off. Well we moved on, the tide changed and still no fish. About 11:30 we decided to pull the plug and wouldn't you know it the fish turned on. Several schoolie stripers and even a Grey Trout kept me busy. Was a good way to finish a slow night on the water. Off the water at 1am and home to bed....

  I kept the fishing trend going by heading to Rudee Inlet with my friend William Ragulsky. William was entered in a local fishing tournament this weekend so I tagged along but kept my distance and fished for Trout this day.I made a plan and I stuck with it and that was to fish only one style of bait and make it work. That would be the Killa Squilla form Marsh Works. I worked the ledges and drop offs with the incoming tide. I had a lot of trout and all color variations worked on the Squilla that I tried. I love the on the water R&D part of my job...

 One more try on Sunday. Same plan as Saturday. Except I threw only one color and used the same retrieve and technique from the previous day. The bite was alot slower but I increased my species. Actual managed an Inshore slam. A couple of flounder one nice Redfish and that Trout I was hoping for, a keeper. A real nice 22inch Speckle Trout! Took my glory pictures with my first big trout of this fall and let him swim away. All in all fall is starting to look very promising.

Fishing with Heroes

Had the honor of kayak fishing with 18 warriors from Project Healing Waters and the Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment. This trip was organized as part of the 6th Annual TKAA Charity Kayak Fishing Tournament. Each year the Heores On the Water or HOW, organizes volunteers and equipment to take these deserving indiviuals out for a day of kayak fishing.

We had both fly and conventional anglers and every one took to kayak fishing like it was second nature. For the rest of the day we were all kayak anglers.

Some took to the open water solo, while others found a spot with their brothers and enjoyed the day. These Marines found the hot spot of the day.

This particular Marine caught his first kayak fish today, and others even caught their first fish ever..on the kayak. I believe they might be hooked.

I take pride in being able to "give back" to these deserving indiviuals by sharing my passion. In one way or another I believe we are doing in a day, what it takes the government much longer to do. HOW continues to grow and chapters are organizing nationwide. If you want to volunteer or contribute to the Heroes on the Water, please check out their website at http://www.heroesonthewater.org

Lynnhaven Scouting trip.

Got an early start to scout out some spots in Lynnhaven Inlet. I was joined by Mark Lozier, Jay Kocan , and IFA competitor Scott Inge from Raleigh, NC.

Paddling into the sunrise.

Scott starts the morning with a nice sleighride.

He nets a nice redfish after a quick but hearty fight.

The fish ends up being a nice 28-inch multi spotted redfish. It hit a redfish magic spinnerbait.

It was not a gangbuster day but things seem to be picking up, we even managed a few trout this morning. We have lots of slots open for fall give us a call to get in on the action.