Hello from Texas.

[greyloon]

I've visited here before when just getting into kayak fishing. I've owned float tubes since the early 70's, using them to fish for bass, bluegill (bream down here), and other fish. My kayaks include an Old Town Loon 138 and a Necky Sky 9.6' sit inside. I also have a Mohawk canoe, 17 footer that sits forlorn under my back deck. I'm retired, so money doesn't and money doesn't grow on trees around here, so my main kayak was chosen as much because it was inexpensive used, as well as stable and roomy, as anything.

I fish from sit inside kayaks and must say I love mine, especially the Loon. But, hope to buy a sit on top within the next two years. At this time, I'm looking at the Hobie Quest. Would love the Outback with the Mirage peddle system, but, even used, those are a bit too pricey for me.

Most of the time, I fish for catfish, blues and channels. My home is only 2 miles from the lake and that, as well as white bass and crappie are the best catch on Lake Houston. Thought the Gulf of Mexico is only 70 miles away and the bay fishing for redfish and speckled trout can be awesome, I've not fished the salt in a long time. May start doing it again, even bought a saltwater stamp this year.

I've enjoyed visiting your site, especially because you guys use a few kayaks not commonly used in Texas. Don't expect to visit out your way anytime soon, but hope to learn from you guys.

[Robert]

Greyloon,
Welcome aboard! Greetings from Northern San Diego County in Southern California. Let me be the first to say you have great taste in kayaks!
I too own a Loon 138. I love that kayak! I mainly bought it for fishing in freshwater lakes, but I fish with it in San Diego Bay for saltwater bass from time to time. Like you said, it is a very roomy stable kayak. It sounds like you have some great fishing down your way. The freshwater fishing around my area is kind of iffy. I have spent many days on the water only to catch 1 largemouth bass or get a big skunk job. That's why I almost fish saltwater
exclusively now. It is quite common to go out in San Diego Bay and catch
40-50+ fish in a couple of hours. On all of the freshwater lakes around my area they charge you for a day use permit and a launch fee. It works out to
about $12 everytime you go. No charge in San Diego Bay or La Jolla Shores.
I am a big fan of striper fishing. Do you get a chance to fish for stripers in your area?

Robert

[greyloon]

Lake Livingston and the Trinity River below the lake has good striper fishing. Unfortunately, on the lake, its open water fishing and fishing deep. I've considered trying below the dam. The only boat ramps, though, are one that charges $6 launch and entry fee or the public ramp 9 miles downsteam below a busy highway and of doubtful security for the vehicle. As I have a cart, I've considered taking a look at the campground across from the one with the ramps. It has access, but no ramp. Bit steep, so will have to look at the feasibility, but only a $1.50 entry fee.

The area is only 40+ miles from my home, so its close. The fishing for stripers, hybrids, and blue catfish can be intense. The only other problem is the usual, power boaters who see a fish on and crowd in. At least the jet skis aren't there. As I've had the Loon only since March...great deal on it...and only now am getting it rigged for the way I fish, I've mainly concentrated on the lake by my home.

The Loon and Dirigo cousins are the unsung great fishing kayaks of the sit inside world. Sit on top guys brag about getting in and out in shallow water, but that's no problem with the Loon. Its one sit inside I see no problems with in the shallow Texas bays. In a big wind, the white caps get rough, but the Loon can take it.

[Robert]

Greyloon,
Thanks for the striper info! I try to hit Lake Mead near Las Vegas every May. My fishing buddy takes his boat, so we pretty much fish out of it.
Lake Mead is so big that it would be hard to be successful there fishing with just a kayak. You need a boat to locate the stripers. Their location changes every year we go. They might be right outside the marina one hundred yards away from where we dock the boat or they could be up to 15 miles up or down the lake from where you are at. Once you locate them it is game on!
Last time we mother shipped my kayak over to the cove where the stripers
were hanging out. I limited out in about an hour and a half in my kayak! They weren't real big. The biggest was around 4lbs, but it was a hell of a lot of fun!
We were lucky that trip. We found the fish about 3 miles from the dock. We catch the vast majority of them trolling frozen anchovies. We rig the anchovies the way salmon fishermen do. When you troll the anchovy does this slow "death spiral". It drives the stripers nuts! When we go it is late spring and you don't see very many stripers up on the surface crashing
on the shad. When I do I fire a Rattletrap or a Krockadile spoon at them.
Striper fishing is addicting. Once you get into a wide open bite and start catching a fish a cast, there is no hope for you! You are hooked!


Robert

[greyloon]

Shad's the preferred bait in Texas. With a cast net, its easy to get all you need, but they are difficult boogers to keep alive. Some of the boat buys install what is essentially an ICU unit for them. Oxygen is pumped into the live well. In a kayak , it almost impossibe to keep them alive, especially during the summer months. The preferred method for fishing stripers by most here seems to be lures. The Pet spoon in various sizes has been a standby, but Luhr Jensen was bought out by Rapala and Papala has discontinued the Pet. The problem in fishing for stripers is the damn white bass If the bait or lure isn't big, they'll get it and all you can do is catch them and keep/eat the legal sized ones so they don't do it again.