Hey Guys, I'm moving to Petaluma this summer and will be working at the Coast Guard Training Center out in Two Rock. I'm an avid kayaker and bass fisherman and will be looking to check out the club once I get settled. I know that float tubes and kickboats are the primary boats used for your tournaments and that kayaks are allowed, but why don't the kayaks get more use out there? Is it due to launch locations? Do most of the tournament sites have ramp access or at least a grass bank that tapers into the water? Kick boats and float tubes are pretty much unheard of here on the East Coast.

I'm bringing my Hobie Pro Angler with me and was hoping that I would be able to use it to fish the Bass-n-Tubes circuit. It's a fairly good sized craft so launching from rock levees isn't going to be an option. I would need some sort of tapering bank, beach, or paved ramp in order to be able to launch and recover.

I'm pretty well versed in tournament fishing and have been involved in either boat or kayak bass tournaments for most of my life. Most currently I fished the KayakBassFishing.com Open on Santee Cooper in South Carolina with a 19th place finish out of 109 anglers. I then moved onto the KayakBassFishing Invitational and placed 8th in that group. I'm looking forward to joining the club if my current craft will allow me too and fishing some West Coast waters.

Welcome Ring King,


I'll try to answer this.

>why don't the kayaks get more use out there? Is it due to launch locations?

I am not a kayaker so I can't answer for them but here is a kickboaters perspective.

A kayak can definitely cover more distance but personally I think it's easier to fish from a kickboat, especially in current and wind. Since my feet are in the water with fins I always have control and my hands are free to fish. When I want to cover water I have oars.
I had an old guy once refer to it like this...
"I get it, them oars is yer big motor, and them fins is yer trollin motor". It is very much just like that.

With a kayak I believe there is less control against the current and wind while trying to fish.
The majority of our tourneys this year are in the delta. The delta is a river with tidal influence, so there is plenty of both current and wind to deal with.

Launch locations could be an issue too. This year we have 4 of 9 tourneys launching from levees without ramps.

Hopefully you can come and fish a tourney or two with us. We are going to have two "Opens" this year where membership isn't required and both of them have ramp access. The first is at the end of this month at Clear Lake and the second is going to take place July 13-14 in the delta.

See ya on the water!

MT

I think another part of it is having a working live-well on your watercraft. It's what's been holding me back from joining. I just bought a kick-boat and haven't had time or the resources to set-up a livewell.

True!

MT

There would always be someone at a tournament to help you get your boat in and out of the water wether on a ramp or rock levee.

Mr. Rotten,

What kind of kick boat did you get? I fished with BNT for years (about 15 or 16) but it is unlikely I will be fishing tournaments again. I have a live well made with a cooler. It has an air pump screwed to the top and drain holes drilled in the back. It is pretty big though (too big really) as I over sized it to avoid killing fish. I just sat it on the frame behind the seat on a couple of tie down straps making a cradle.

Anyway if you are interested I would be glad to donate it to you. If you are interested email me: clint (@) santacruzanswering.com <--- that is to confound the spambots, not that it is likely to work.... I email back some pics and measurements.

Buzzfish

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm really looking forward to getting out there. Ill be moved in to my new place sometime at the end of June but I don't think my household goods will be there in time for the July open. My boat is a little unique in the kayak world because of Hobies mirage drive technology. Wind and current aren't an issue b/c I can "pedal" slowly with the bow pointed into the wind or current to hold myself on location while I'm fishing and area. Also, there is a huge back tank well that easily holds a 48-60qt cooler that can be plumbed and used as a live well. However, I think my limiting factor will be the rock levee launches! My boat weighs around 130lbs with gear and would be an absolute bear to try and launch from a rock levee. A tapering grass bank, beach, or ramp would be no issue at all though.

Looks like I might be restricted in which tourneys I could fish as a club member. It would still be fun though and I may just join and fish the events that I can. It wouldn't put me in contention for AOY title but will still allow me to complete in individual events!

Thanks again for the info!!

Hello there Ring King.

I am sure that you would have no problem at any of the spots. Most peoples kickboatz weigh well over 100 lbs loaded with gear. You just take your gear down in multiple trips. As others said there are always others around to help. Some of the locations can be difficult but manageable.

D.J.

Welcome to the forum..

Last year I picked up a 14' Jackson Kayak Cuda. I'm still getting the hang of fishing from it. When you get out here, drop me a pm. There are several places that offer good bass fishing with kayak access out here. Lake Sonoma, Lake Berryessa, Clear Lake, The Delta. All of which would be within a couple hours drive from where you will be stationed.