So today was frustrating and rewarding all in one. First time with the new lowrance. Took me a while to get used to it but once I got it going was NICE. Hit my first crappie spot up on the north end and nothing. Decided I needed the exercise and went across the lake. Watched two people get stuck on the sandbar ...kinda funny hearing the guy say "I didn't expect to get such a workout today". It's times like those I am glad I have a yak and not in a huge bass boat. Anyway used my drift sock also for the first time. Worked out awesome. Was focusing on blacks and identifying structure and noticed the back end of the d-10 seemed to be getting a lot of water in the compartment. I was sitting on top of my self inflatable (I know should have been wearing it). Anyway I hear boom...it scared the heck out of me. Thought my kayak was going to sink for a second then realized all the wind had gotten a lot of water in the bottom of the boat and my life jacket went off. Good to know it works. Anyway I also broke a rod tip today...grrrrr. But I was patient and ended up catching a black and gettting into some whites in 2 foot of water. Crazy. The day had a lot of hiccups but I hung in and finally got on some fish. Learning the wind in a kayak is kind of an art but it's getting better. Can't wait to get back out! If anyone needs a partner on em or worth let me know. And I guess I should say I was in shallow water when my flotation went off...I figured someone would probably want to lecture me on why it wasn't around my neck. Safety first I know.

Oh yea just wanted to add I used some heavy duty velcro for the lowrance instead of mounting it just to get on the lake today. Think I might keep the velcro idea worked out nice. I also used a 12 volt battery for house lighting and home alarms from home depot. It can be recharged on a phone charger and was about 26 dollars. Just thought this might be helpful info. Everything can be purchased at home depot cheap...no need for this top dollar kayak stuff in my opinion.

Good info on the 12V at Home Depot. Be sure to wear your PFD out there.

^^^ THIS

You're lucky you didn't run across a GW. You would have had a nice ticket to show off. See, a inflatable PFD is a Class 4 device and for it to be considered your required PFD it MUST BE WORN. Just having it in the boat doesn't count like a regular PFD.

And 12V deer feeder batteries are only $21 at Academy, btw.

piranhaconda... you got a pm.

sitting on the pfd when it went off! that had to get the heart pumping. lol just think though with all the kinks you got out on this trip thats one less for the next trips, hopefully.

we do learn from our mistakes. let me know when u are ready again to go out. Maybe can I can get away.

You were sitting on your inflatable? That sounds comfortable.

Talk about a whoopee cushion!

Plus +1 on the inflatable PFD.. I wear it at all times because it doesn't get in the way like all the others do and it fills the PFD requirement only if you have it on..

Velcro on sonar works well till summer time

cool, I was hoping some of you would find the humor in that story. It was quite a day. I am learning a lot though and just feel fortunate to be on the lake. My last boat was stolen about 6 or 7 years ago but whoever got it probably didn't like the big hole in the transom.... Good to know about the life jacket stuff. I sit on a regular one for cushion and had the inflatable stuffed behind my seat. I will be wearing it from now on... safer....and plus I don't want to spend another 20 bucks on a cartridge...

more stories to come I'm sure. Crazy situations tend to follow me around for some reason.