2011 Yakhopper Kayak Fishing Series, Caples Lake Trout

Drove up to Caples Lake on Saturday then crashed at the Rock Star lodge. Got up, turned in my waiver and proceeded to troll a night crawler on a spinner, behind a dodger. After a few hours of fishing with out a bite, or hearing of someone else getting fish, I began to loose hope. I found a spot that looked pretty fishy, so I trolled through there and managed to finally mark a few fishes, when I got hit. I was so excited I horsed the roughly 8in Brook Trout to my kayak, and while trying to land it, broke my leader. I proceeded to scream at the top of my lungs, as I watched it swim away with my spinner-bait in its mouth. Now upset, I trolled through there again with no bites. As I was leaving, defeated to find another spot, I talked to the guy who won first and told him what happened. He sat there and caught his winning fish. It was tough fishing, of the 50 anglers only 7 caught fish. And I missed the only one I caught.

--Ryan

Albion Open 2011

Thursday evening after I got off work, Ryan and I drove up to Albion, arriving around 1am Friday morning. The office was obviously closed, so our buddy Gabe let us crash at his site. The down side was, because we arrived so late, we slept in the car … in the cold … without any type of blanket/sleeping bag. Friday around 5am Gabe started knocking on our windows asking if we would like to join him on a Charter boat, another friend had set up. I kindly declined, as I was exhausted and freezing, but alas Ryan had agreed to go. 

On his way out with the boys, he did grab me a sleeping bag, so I could sleep a little more comfortably. Once I woke up, I was eager to begin setting up for the tournament, so while Ryan was away, I managed to get our campsite, put the tent up, take Ryan's kayak off the car, and get his kayak rigged (being only 4'11 getting his 13'' kayak off the car was a major accomplishment for me). Ryan returned to camp late in the day, with a limit of rock fish! Thanks to his great skill we had a great dinner of fish tacos!

On Saturday we awoke early, so Ryan could finish getting set up for the tournament. After I saw him on his way, thankfully I went back to sleep (notice the pattern .. I love sleep). When I finally rolled out of my sleeping bag, I was full of concern for Ryan. 'Did he catch a fish?', 'did he flip his yak in the ocean?' I kept asking everyone I saw with a radio, if they had heard from him, but no one had. I spent most my day waiting on the beach to see him paddling in.
Finally, just an hour before weigh in, we hear from Ryan. He caught limits with an additional SALMON!!! Ryan's rock fish got him 2^nd place in the event! We went to bed early that night, so we could head home in the morning and take care of all that fish. Overall it was a great event and couldn't get much better.

--Kat

2011 Yakhopper Kayak Fishing Series, ARW Halibut

Drove to San Francisco Saturday morning, I wanted to get some pre-fishing in, but there was too much chop in the water and a howling wind. Instead, we checked into our hotel, courtesy of an awesome friends discount. And explored the pier and Fort Mason, plus a little pier fishing with only bait steeling crabs at the end of my line. Early Sunday we went back across the bay bridge, picked up some shiners and went to the Alameda rock wall, we turned in our waivers and went on the hunt for some Halibut. We hit some nice spots, that are usually productive, with no bites, except when Kat caught a Bat Ray. I had a fun time watching and keeping up with her sleigh ride before we snapped a photo and cut the line. With so much freshwater in the delta, it is pushing the salt back and keeping the Halibut from Alameda. Only 3 were caught during this tournament. Though we got skunked, we had a great time.

--Ryan

2011 Yakhopper Kayak Fishing Series, Clear Lake Bass

Drove up to Clear Lake Saturday, got there around dinner time. Did not have a chance to pre-fish, but we got some good intel on what to use... something I did not bring. So off to find a tackle store that was still open. I managed to grab what I needed for the morning. Kat and I got a late launch for the tournament I managed to catch 2 Largemouth the biggest being 19.75in. We got back and forgot to weigh in. It would not have mattered though as the smallest of the top three was 21in. Kat and I won some hourly giveaways before heading home. For our first kayak fishing tournament it was a blast.

--Ryan