12/2/16 Yak Report

[ikMOON]

Not much to report, one swirled on bait and nothing to show for it.  

Put in at Hardy just after sunrise, and fished until last light.  Cold, windy, water temp 50 at ramp, 54 later in the day.  Bait was tough.  All that I saw today was too deep for me, and that was on the sonar, not much flipping going on.  Did manage a couple singles (6" or so) in the back of a cut along with a 4lb LMB and a little crappie, until I hung the bottom and tore my net up pretty good.  I'll have some sewing to do after that one.  I was given enough bait to fill my tank mid morning, much appreciated, so I worked my way around the same areas that produced last week, pulling two boards... but nothing happening.  Did mark some fish down 20-25' a few times, but couldn't interest them.  On the pull back to the truck I got another greenfish, this time on a hook, but not much of a consolation.  

Did have a chance to try out the Bay Roc cheeseburger and fries... hit the spot. 

Looking forward to reading about the tourney.

[irons]

That's the way it's been lately. I bought me a new net for the deeper shad. It's a super pro 6' 1/2 mesh 1.5 lbs per foot. We'll see.

[Yam]

I have come to really enjoy the peace of sewing nets. I taught myself how to do it right my using the correct knots and loops. If you haven't already become proficient at sewing, I recommend watching some YouTube videos. However, stay away from the fast fix videos. Find ones with guys who seem like they chew Xanax like gum.

Get yourself a net shuttle, a guage and some 20 lb mono. The knot I use is a half hitch followed by a half hitch with a twist. The second knot is needed because mono will slip otherwise. Additionally, the Ted Dahlem book, "How to Make and Mend Cast Nets" is required reading. If you get really good at it, giant holes and tears don't take long to fix and replacing braille lines become second nature.

[ikMOON]

Dec 5, 2016 9:02:58 GMT -5 Yam said:

I have come to really enjoy the peace of sewing nets. I taught myself how to do it right my using the correct knots and loops. If you haven't already become proficient at sewing, I recommend watching some YouTube videos. However, stay away from the fast fix videos. Find ones with guys who seem like they chew Xanax like gum.

Get yourself a net shuttle, a guage and some 20 lb mono. The knot I use is a half hitch followed by a half hitch with a twist. The second knot is needed because mono will slip otherwise. Additionally, the Ted Dahlem book, "How to Make and Mend Cast Nets" is required reading. If you get really good at it, giant holes and tears don't take long to fix and replacing braille lines become second nature.

Upon you're recommendation I've signed up for the course.  Found a few Xanax gum chewing fellas on youtube, and the book and a shuttle assortment are on their way to the house.  Still hunting around for a gauge set.  
 
My net is in bad shape as it is.  It's 10 years old or more, and is worn out from sun bathing on the beach.  All of it's use has been in salt water, and since I fish mostly artificials inshore and live bait offshore over sandy bottoms it's lasted a long time... until I took up freshwater live baiting.  I've got a Tim Wade net on my Christmas list, but thought it best to use the one I've got through my learning curve.

So far I've only managed the 6 footer off the kayak.  On the beach thats always been plenty.  Mullet swim the surface and I snatch the menhaden I need.  Now however, I must adapt to a new environment.  Though it may be overly ambitious I'd like to work up to an 8 footer.  I've had to relearn how to throw off my other arm since having shoulder surgery to fix a torn labrum a couple years ago.  That has made me more mindful of my limitations,  but I'm still not throwing it the right way, or in other words, an efficient way.   I'm convinced it can be done though.  All in good time.

Thanks for the intel.  Always appreciate the help!  I'm starting to understand what you've said about the bait hunt being as addictive as the rest of the process.   At times it is definitely the greater challenge.   

[Yam]

Dec 6, 2016 12:56:14 GMT -5 ikMOON said:

Dec 5, 2016 9:02:58 GMT -5 Yam said:

I have come to really enjoy the peace of sewing nets. I taught myself how to do it right my using the correct knots and loops. If you haven't already become proficient at sewing, I recommend watching some YouTube videos. However, stay away from the fast fix videos. Find ones with guys who seem like they chew Xanax like gum.

Get yourself a net shuttle, a guage and some 20 lb mono. The knot I use is a half hitch followed by a half hitch with a twist. The second knot is needed because mono will slip otherwise. Additionally, the Ted Dahlem book, "How to Make and Mend Cast Nets" is required reading. If you get really good at it, giant holes and tears don't take long to fix and replacing braille lines become second nature.

Upon you're recommendation I've signed up for the course.  Found a few Xanax gum chewing fellas on youtube, and the book and a shuttle assortment are on their way to the house.  Still hunting around for a gauge set.  
 
My net is in bad shape as it is.  It's 10 years old or more, and is worn out from sun bathing on the beach.  All of it's use has been in salt water, and since I fish mostly artificials inshore and live bait offshore over sandy bottoms it's lasted a long time... until I took up freshwater live baiting.  I've got a Tim Wade net on my Christmas list, but thought it best to use the one I've got through my learning curve.

So far I've only managed the 6 footer off the kayak.  On the beach thats always been plenty.  Mullet swim the surface and I snatch the menhaden I need.  Now however, I must adapt to a new environment.  Though it may be overly ambitious I'd like to work up to an 8 footer.  I've had to relearn how to throw off my other arm since having shoulder surgery to fix a torn labrum a couple years ago.  That has made me more mindful of my limitations,  but I'm still not throwing it the right way, or in other words, an efficient way.   I'm convinced it can be done though.  All in good time.

Thanks for the intel.  Always appreciate the help!  I'm starting to understand what you've said about the bait hunt being as addictive as the rest of the process.   At times it is definitely the greater challenge.   

In terms of the guage, I just make them by cutting a ruler (Or something equivalent) to size. The correct size is just a tad smaller than the distance between two knots.

[bigd7400]

6ft nets have done the majority of work for us off the kayak no problem but I did get a 7ft and my buddy Danny has no problem throwing it. Im in the same boat as you with shoulder problems so I gotta stick with the 6ft purely for weight reasons.