Fishing (or surfing) report 4/9 western shore mid bay

[CHOC]

Launched at 4pm with a steady 10 mph wind coming from the east right before high tide. The plan was to troll for stripers. Within 10 minutes of being on the water the wind kicked up to what felt like 20mph+ with white caps all around and waves over my head. I'm stubborn and it was a nice day so I decided to power through it. After a mile or so of paddling, I caught an 18" and a 19" a few minutes later. I had to keep one eye on the fish and the other on the waves to make sure I didn't get capsized.

All in all, I had to earn those fish. I feel like I accomplished more with those two than some much bigger fish that I've caught.

[EMSer]

Congrats on avoiding the skunk and earning those fish!

[yakscientist]

Fished out of ft smallwood and it was much the same story. Though add about 10mph to the wind speed haha, but 1 more fish. Nothing big, 1 12" and 2 18s. Like you said, very hard earned fish. The wind changed direction too so we (myself hobiematt and silasvirus) always were going against the wind.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

[ronaultmtd]

Yep- Fish Weather is my friend...winds there are pretty accurate (except for Piney Point, that seems to have its own peculiar geological features)...and I have been "Stubborn" and said "the heck with it..I am here" and just gone anyway...usually regretted those poor decisions on my part...thankfully, the Outback is a strong, seaworthy boat that can take a beating...I know the hull design gets its share of critics for hull slap but you can't deny its toughness in big water...nowadays (ain't retirement great?) I am a lot more selective about the winds I choose to launch in...still get caught out on the water every now and then when the wind gets up, but I don't launch into a stiff wind...just too uncomfortable to fight breakers and following seas trying to keep the bow quartering into the waves to prevent broaching...not criticizing anyone...this is just me...

[yakscientist]

Yep- Fish Weather is my friend...winds there are pretty accurate (except for Piney Point, that seems to have its own peculiar geological features)...and I have been "Stubborn" and said "the heck with it..I am here" and just gone anyway...usually regretted those poor decisions on my part...thankfully, the Outback is a strong, seaworthy boat that can take a beating...I know the hull design gets its share of critics for hull slap but you can't deny its toughness in big water...nowadays (ain't retirement great?) I am a lot more selective about the winds I choose to launch in...still get caught out on the water every now and then when the wind gets up, but I don't launch into a stiff wind...just too uncomfortable to fight breakers and following seas trying to keep the bow quartering into the waves to prevent broaching...not criticizing anyone...this is just me...

Yeah I've said this before, but in general, that's when I feel that pedal boats have the biggest advantage, in the wind. It's just much easier to maintain a trolling speed in them, even when going into the wind, versus a paddle boat, in my experience at least. One of many advantages I suppose, but I still managed to catch a few yesterday despite the wind, sometimes that's not the case. Either way, it was an exhausting day.

[Mark]

Yeah I've said this before, but in general, that's when I feel that pedal boats have the biggest advantage, in the wind. It's just much easier to maintain a trolling speed in them, even when going into the wind, versus a paddle boat, in my experience at least...

I would suggest that pedal kayaks are also better when fishing the shorelines of ponds and creeks in windy conditions. It is darned near impossible to hold a shoreline position in a paddle boat while facing even a light wind -- unless you want to anchor which I rarely do. With a pedal boat you can make slight adjustments with your rudder and also provide a little forward thrust with your pedals to keep your boat on a specific course into a light wind.

That said, I prefer my paddle boat in small waters for a variety of other reasons: simplicity, access to tight quarters, weight, stealth, etc. Also when I get to a small water site, I will actually paddle into the wind for a good distance in order to position myself to work a shoreline with the wind at my back on the return trip. That way I can get wind-aided drift through my target area.

So, we often think of pedal kayaks for trolling on this forum and they are outstanding for that. But they have application for finesse fishing to structure also, especially on windy days.

[Slobber Bob]

Well earned fish! And you didn't end up in the drink or hook yourself - that's a plus!

[CHOC]

Well there's a reason pedal kayaks cost so much, right?

[CHOC]

Well earned fish! And you didn't end up in the drink or hook yourself - that's a plus!

Zing!