Here's the ecstasy part: I picked up my Commander 140 this week that I won over on KBF.... It's red. It's beautiful. It's AWESOME!A hearty round of thanks go out to Courtney at Wildy, Aris and the folks at Mariner, and most of all Chad Hoover and KBF for putting the challenges on! Also gotta thank my measuring stick. The 16.99 plus the 40.00 entry fee for the tourney really was worth the investment! Got some great pics of it at Mariner Sails and then some even better ones at home in the front yard with my daughter and the inflatable Santa mock sight fishing in it. All day at work I'm chomping at the bit to take it out for its maiden voyage on White Rock, which I live about 3 blocks from. As luck would have it, I'm able to slip out a little early today and I'm launching at about 4 pm. It was everything I thought it would be. I'm standing, pitching jigs, sitting on the captain's perch, stretching my legs, all within a few minutes of getting it wet. Wow, very different experience than the Manta 12. It was really just a 'getting to know you' type trip, so I only brought the jig and crankbait rod with a few baits. 30 minutes pass where I'm really able to get a feel for this thing. It's definitely harder to turn than the MR, but more than makes up for it in comfort, tracking, speed, space and stability. This thing is one sweet machine. I'm able to stand and fan cast over this whole little cove I'm in. I think that's what immediately impressed the most. When you're up with the higher vantage, you really end up covering so much more water. And this boat holds point so well. There was a decent little 11-12 mph wind rolling through and I found my self fishing, not constantly making adjustments like I have to in the MR.

In other words, I'm on cloud nine chunking and winding my favorite perch squarebill along some reeds. Not really expecting much because well, it's White Rock after all. I've caught a few fish just over 20 inches there through the years, mostly from the bank, but it took literally decades to pattern where the bigger ones hang out, and it's only in march/april during the spawn that I've had any luck catching anything over the 3 pound mark. Then, I feel the sweet nervous resistance we all crave so, and the drag starts peeling! After a short fight, STANDING UP, I lip an 18 1/4 and bring it over the gunnels. Not necessarily a great fish lengthwise, but this is the FATTEST FOOTBALL I HAVE EVER CAUGHT! Normally I don't weigh fish under 20 inches, but this thing was so stout I busted out the rapala digital. It came in at 5.89. My first fish from the Commander. Standing. Pushing six pounds. From White Rock. For reference, here's a 4.9 chunk I caught at Mill Creek (which we all know is a big fish lake) last year.

About the same length, but the one I caught this evening put it to shame in terms of 'chunkitude'! I'm giddy of course, and after taking the requisite pics from several different angles and releasing it, I sit down on the perch to savor the moment.

Now for the agony part. As I lean back to grab some Gatorade out of the cavernous tank well, my camera slips out of the pocket of my jacket and into 8 feet of water. :evil: Always meant to attach a float to the ole Pentax WS90. Wow do I wish I had. It really was a nice fish, particularly for White Rock, and my first from the Commander no less! Now all I've got is a fish tale! I tried to dredge with a jig with a treble hook attached, but the sun was soon gone and it was no use... :roll:

Oh well, it's hard to wallow in agony for too long when you're sitting in a brand new Commander 140 that you won! I'll get over it, I guess. Still hurts a little though, if only for the other pics on that camera I was gonna use for this post....

Here's some pics I got yesterday on the iphone. The other ones were much better.




Thanks again Chad and KBF!

Bad luck on the camera, good luck on the kayak though.

do the commanders have scuppers or is it more like a canoe?

It's really just a small canoe/hybrid. No scuppers. I won't be taking it into the surf. I'll still use the manta for stuff that requires it. Stretching your legs and standing up and sitting on the perch with your knees bent sure is nice on the old man joints though.

Sorry about the camera, but congrats on winning the Commander.

Dude your killing me. Taking one out this week asking with the new Ride.

HAHA...sorry about the camera and congrats on the new boat! I hope they call me this week saying my new WS Ride 135 shipped.

Tom, i'm glad that your long awaited Commander 140 finally arrived and was almost immediately slimed. Sorry that I missed seeing your excitement on Monday when you picked her up. Many happy hours of rising and family fun to you!

Tom when you called me and told me you camera took a swim I couldn't help but feel for the high and lows you were feeling. It's a great looking kayak. You certainly earned it with the great bass you have been catching. So what camera are you going to be replacing it with?

Awesome to win a new ride. CONGRATS!!!
Lost my camera when the battery hatch opened up in my crate. The salt instantly ruined it. You gunna try again to recover? Thanks for sharing your experience & congrats again

Congrats on the new boat! Sorry to hear about your camera. Still a good story even without the pics for proof!

Winning the new boat upset the balance of the force. Losing the camera restored the balance. All is well for now.

Nice boat and nice fish. Good things happen to good folks.

As a guy who loves fisheries managment I was in awe of the girth of the fish you pictured only to read this fish was 20% thinner than the one you caught. To put both of these fish in perspective a healthy 18" fish should weigh 3.2 lbs and an 18.5" fish should weigh 3.5 lbs. Your Mill Creek fish is 140% of relative weight and the White Rock Lake fish is 175% of relative weight. Even if the fish has some egg development (which it surely did) that is as fat as any fish I have ever heard of. I have only found a few places where fish are 150% or greater in relative weights? That fish is gorging herself before the winter. GREAT CATCH!!!!!