NNice Father's Day Swim

[ronaultmtd]

I decided to fish the upper Mattawoman Creek this morning- I had never launched from 225 bridge- it is not your average launch site- slick bank and splash- head first into 10 foot deep water at 6 am- nice swim- kayak is still on dry land but I am not- definately woke me up- and I now know the waterproof case for my I-Phone 4s is waterproof...anyway I took my OK Prowler and it is a good thing- the upper creek is shallow, narrow and has logs, tangles- my Hobie would have been fine- just wouldn't be able to use the mirage drive in 90 percent of the creek...didn't get skunked- caught bluegills and bass- went 0 for 6 on snakeheads today- couldn't get a solid hookup on the frogs- had some really big snakeheads hit- just couldn't keep a hookup-

I have been spoiled with the Mirage drive- forgot how much exercise you get paddling ten miles-

[daddyg]

Sorry about your bad luck but at least you got to make a day of it. HAPPY FATHERSDAY

[tufnik]

Well, if you're going to swim, you should have practiced self rescue on an upside yak.....lol..... You had a fishin' Father's Day , while I stayed home cleaning stuff , and relaxing too.

[ronaultmtd]

All in all it was fine...explored new terrority- had some big fish hit- got to take a swim- water wasn't too cold- and drove my new ride...not a bad Father's Day

[chex]

OMG, glad you're ok Ron. Glad you caught some fish too

[new2yaks11]

Ron,

I'm glad you're ok. At least you caught some fish after getting wet. Last time I fished mattawoman I launched there and really didn't like it. When I was paddling up to launch to exit a young guy and his girlfriend were about to launch. He told her to get in her yak and he attempted to push her down launch. She made it about 2 feet before toppling to the left and into the water. Now mnd you, I was out from launch waiting to exit. As soon as young lady surfaced, she begn panicking as if she were drowning. She was wearing her Pfd but she didn't realize it at that moment. She kept yelling to her boyfriend, hel me. I paddled over to the bank to see howi could help. Her boyfriend managed to help pull her up the bank. After she calmed down, I steadied her yak while it was in the water and her boyfriend helped her get in. They told me it was their first time out, I wished them luck, suggested to boyfriend he might insider wearin his Pfd that he stashed behind his seat as he also nearly fell in trin to shove off.

Accidents happen so quickly.

[ronaultmtd]

I was wearing my PDF but didn't inflate it- The slick mud sent me down the bank like greased lightening- splash- I had just set the front kayak carrying handle down from pulling it down from the parking lot- feet went one way- my butt went another- I used the wooden launch structure to pull myself up and out of the water- I was wet and cold but I dried out pretty quick- thanks to quick drying nylon clothes- the creek is pretty up there- shallow, gravel bars, some deep holes, some fallen trees- only a kayak can get through there to the lower portion of the creek-

[mepps3]

That portion of the creek is still very tidal. So if you launch at high tide, you can go downstream without needing to drag over any shallow areas. at low tide there are a couple of super shallow spots. Yes, that launch is tricky. Much easier for sit on tops. I have a sit-inside and I am 6'2". So kinda clumsy leaning over on the mud to steady the kayak and then jump in. I use that step on the launch that is in the water and get into my kayak from there.