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How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
#12250510
05/18/17 12:01 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
I've had my Jackson Big Rig for 18 months.
First few trips I was a mess.
Got about 60 trips behind me now. Have taken waves into the cockpit over and over on Falcon. Dodged glitter boats on Roberts. Paddled 15 miles in a day on Lewisville. Beat a snake off the yak on lake X. Fished with 200 yaks in a tourney on the Trinity and nearly swamped on Texoma when the anchor snagged right when the rollers started out of the blue a mile out.
Am I experienced yet? Or 15 more years of this to earn my stripes? Haha
Loving every minute of it.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12250546
05/18/17 12:26 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120
Brad R
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,120 |
Averaging 3+ trips per month is a great stat!
This puts you near the top of our little waterlogged cohort!
Share some more stats: largest fish, species caught, most fish, coldest day on the water, hottest, windiest.
If your stats are as impressive as the others you have posted, we'll make a effigy of you and carry it as totems on our yaks!
Ha! Good job sinking your teeth into a new sport!
Brad
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12250576
05/18/17 12:45 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
You know Brad I've not caught a pig from the yak yet.
In the 18 months I have caught an 8.5 lmb but from my Bass Hunter. Biggest yak bass was only about 6. Biggest numbers day was Texoma had 50+ but lots of sandies.
Have lmb, smallie, striper, spots, channel, blue, hybrid, crappie, gasper goo and of course sandies and a few brim. Also a duck, snake and turtle.
I'm pretty sure I deserve a totem pole lol.
What an exciting and fun way to fish. Have not been out in almost 4 weeks and it's driving me insane LOL
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12250581
05/18/17 12:48 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
OP
Jr Deputy Dan
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OP
Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
Temp wise I've had guides freeze up and been out in over 100 degrees many times.
Wind? Falcon with gusts to 35 is no fun. On the DAM! I would paddle and Dodge for five minutes to make 10 feet of progress. Cockpit flooded over and over.
PFD was buckled on EXTRA tight.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12250605
05/18/17 12:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 504
RBDavis3591
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 504 |
There is a fine difference between being an "experienced" kayaker versus a "dead" kayaker. The important thing to realize is what the limitations of both your kayak and you yourself are before getting on the water.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12251069
05/18/17 04:28 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22,509
lconn4
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22,509 |
You're not experienced until: You have fallen asleep while paddling Slept overnight on your kayak Forgotten to bring your paddle Have kayak blown off of rack while loading and take out car antennae (twice) Have kayak blown off of rack and take out driver side mirror Have had to tie a bottle of coke to tie down straps to keep straps from blowing back over in windy conditions Forgotten to tie down kayak and have it launch from j rack at 60 miles an hour Load up everything and leave without remembering you didn't load your kayak Run over your paddle Thrown kayak to ground from above your head to keep from getting screwed into the sand when wind takes over Thrown kayak to ground when you feel your back tweak when getting screwed into the ground when wind takes over Paddled as hard as you could and losing ground in wind or current Been hit in the shin by kayak when throwing it to the ground to escape neck or back injury When you have hit a solid object (sea wall, bridge column) at night at full speed Permanent callouses in V between thumb and index finger and on outside of feet from foot pegs and that's just for starters.
Last edited by lconn4; 05/18/17 04:49 AM.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12251116
05/18/17 10:05 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,735
christian myrick
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,735 |
Ive been paddling almost 35 years now. Caught plenty of fish over 50 lbs. Paddled many 150 mile trips, many 20+ mile days, been caught in countless storms...even caught next to a water spout in florida, paddled in many conditions that i probably shouldnt have, cold, hot,,,etc. The term experienced is relative to what you would consider normal and how deep you want to get into kayak fishing. For me, i cant live without this sport. It keeps me sane. I think if you can handle what gets thrown at you by mother nature you are experienced. Keep up the good work, keep safe and enjoy.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12251175
05/18/17 11:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220
Jimbo
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220 |
Someone mentioned earlier. It's when you've paddled enough to know what you can and cannot do, and the cannot do's you don't do anymore!
Just one more cast!
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12251189
05/18/17 12:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,294
RealBigReel
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,294 |
If you have done it, you are an expert. If you have done it for money you are a professional.
RealBigReel I don't go too fast but I go pretty far.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: lconn4]
#12251212
05/18/17 12:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,339
BKT
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,339 |
You're not experienced until: You have fallen asleep while paddling Slept overnight on your kayak Forgotten to bring your paddle Have kayak blown off of rack while loading and take out car antennae (twice) Have kayak blown off of rack and take out driver side mirror Have had to tie a bottle of coke to tie down straps to keep straps from blowing back over in windy conditions Forgotten to tie down kayak and have it launch from j rack at 60 miles an hour Load up everything and leave without remembering you didn't load your kayak Run over your paddle Thrown kayak to ground from above your head to keep from getting screwed into the sand when wind takes over Thrown kayak to ground when you feel your back tweak when getting screwed into the ground when wind takes over Paddled as hard as you could and losing ground in wind or current Been hit in the shin by kayak when throwing it to the ground to escape neck or back injury When you have hit a solid object (sea wall, bridge column) at night at full speed Permanent callouses in V between thumb and index finger and on outside of feet from foot pegs and that's just for starters. Hot Dogs!!! I'm closer than what I thought.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12252989
05/19/17 01:25 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,937
Fish ZoMbiE
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,937 |
Like a Boss! "Now what part of this lake shall I fish today?"
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12254734
05/20/17 06:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220
Jimbo
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220 |
Zombie's picture reminds me of a setup I saw the other day.
A couple guys unloaded two of those walmart kayaks and placed them side by side about 24" apart and then placed a metal frame with a plywood deck onto the the kayaks and bolted them down. They loaded their gear, which seemed like a lot and the guy on the rear had a paddle fashioned on a long pole of pvc that he worked side to side while standing to propel the kayak forward....Kind of a back and forth fish tail motion. It worked pretty good. A third world trolling motor.
Last edited by Jimbo; 05/20/17 07:07 PM.
Just one more cast!
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12261289
05/24/17 09:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,490
Shaun Russell
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,490 |
Depends on the definition of experienced. I've been doing this for some time now, I've learned a lot. Sometimes from my own experiences, sometimes from mentors that helped me when I started. Learn from others mistakes and their success and it will come sooner. And keep that PFD on!
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: Dan90210 ☮]
#12261721
05/25/17 02:00 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22,509
lconn4
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 22,509 |
I don't think you ever stop learning about new ways to screw things up.
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Re: How long until you're an "experienced" yakker?
[Re: lconn4]
#12261781
05/25/17 02:31 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,490
Shaun Russell
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,490 |
I don't think you ever stop learning about new ways to screw things up. Ha,ha,ha... Amen!
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19
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