Do You Guys Have a Yak?

[75_stingray]

I've never given a kayak a thought, and to tell the truth always looked at kayakers as a bunch of granola eating libtards. But I got to thinking some time back, I could really build something better suited for me outta one of these boats.
Here's what I did.

First I built my own anchor trolley system allowing me to position my anchor anywhere along the length of the entire yak, allowing me to face my boat into the current either bow first, stern first or any combination in between.

I cut flush mounted rod holders behind my seat for travel or trolling.

And since a depth/fish finder is 12v dc I installed one in the yak w/the transducer firing through the hull. I went to Radio Shack and bought a six compartment AA battery holder (6 AA batts come out to 12v), a 12v male connector and some silicon sealant. After splicing, soldering and mounting I had a sweet arshed depth finder in the yak!
[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

I've since sold the above yak and picked up a top of the line 16' Wilderness System Tarpon 160 Angler. Although these yaks are perfect for sneaking into the weeds and shallows for tailing Red Drum, I'm a shark fisherman.
There's nothing like hooking a big Bull Shark over a 80' deep hole. We call it the Low Country Sleigh Ride! :D

[voodoo]

Hope you pack enough granola trail mix with ya! Use my yak for flats fishing, plus duck hunting. Also scouting for deer and hog.

[David M.]

I've got a Wilderness systems Pamlico, it's convertible from two man to one, fairly open, it's a good boat for generic paddling. Too long for quick handling, but very stable. I use it in the intracoastal waterway. I just built a pirogue, haven't put it in the water yet....

[Rustyshakelford]

I guess I could put wheels on it and a sail and skate accross the desert, kind of like the Martians did on The Chronicles of Mars. :D

[Zombie Axe]

Nice yak!

I got an Old Town Loon with rudder that I used to really clean up the little fishes from the lake...

Nice setup on the transducer, I used a Fishing Buddy 2 mounted over the side.

Still got mine, but it is in dry lock for now... need to get the keel wet again :D

[snal]

I have a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 rigged with a fish finder, 2 rod chutes aft, a GPS mount, and a single Scotty mount up front that I use a Scotty tree on.
Also have a WS Tsunami 145, Perception 15 footer, and an Old Town Castine 13.5 footer.

[Zombie Axe]

Dang nice pics snal :)

Wished I had a digi-cam when I was yaking especially on the coast...

[75_stingray]

It's really, really nice to see like minded people!

I've run and owned offshore boats all of my life, but like i've said I've kinda cut my eyes at the paddlers. But that was until I took a hard long thought.

Great pics snal!

[snal]

Dang nice pics snal :)

Wished I had a digi-cam when I was yaking especially on the coast...

Thanks ZA!
Those were taken with a Nikon D70. I aquired 3 of them cheap off of ebay after they were discontinued...from folks that had to have the latest greatest. I bought an olympus 740 waterproof just for yaking...but I hate it! No viewfinder, and a dim LCD that's terrible in sunlight. Ended up just getting Pelican cases for my Nikons.

[snal]

It's really, really nice to see like minded people!

I've run and owned offshore boats all of my life, but like i've said I've kinda cut my eyes at the paddlers. But that was until I took a hard long thought.

Great pics snal!

Thanks!
We looked for 4 years for our "dream boat"...a 22' C Dory Angler. They hold their value very well, and it's hard to find a deal. Saw one online in MD at a steal and drove there that night! 1994 model with twin onda 45's that only had 340 hours on the package. They draft 9"! We've done over 900 miles on the Tennessee River since last fall...beautiful trips! I just gotta fab a kayak carrier for it...LOL!

[snal]

Stingray...you're in the SC lowcountry? We paddle the Lumber River a lot, from the NC line down into the Little Pee Dee...beautiful and lot's of solitude! Did 2 trips to Capers Island last year too.

[75_stingray]

Heres last yrs pics w/my little girl.



Her first shark.
And my Tarpon 160.

[75_stingray]

Stingray...you're in the SC lowcountry? We paddle the Lumber River a lot, from the NC line down into the Little Pee Dee...beautiful and lot's of solitude! Did 2 trips to Capers Island last year too.

Capers Island IS beautiful!
I'm down here in Charleston, and I'd be more than happy to meet ya to do some surf fishing this summer! We'll hit a channel I know right off Folly Island.

[snal]

Capers Island IS beautiful!
I'm down here in Charleston, and I'd be more than happy to meet ya to do some surf fishing this summer! We'll hit a channel I know right off Folly Island.

Sounds like a plan! Got a yaking buddy in Summerville. Last time we hit Capers we caught a falling tide trying to make it back....wore us out! We paddle to the ocean side and ride the surf in to camp. 1st time we were thre we walked across the island to the boat dock on the west side...fished the pipes that go from the marsh to the bay/ICW on a falling tide and slayed the reds!
The last pic (above post) with the trout was at Beaufort, Brickhouse Plantation. Got another yaking buddy up in Hartsville that has a friend that's family still owns the plantation property...lotsa good yak fishing there!

[75_stingray]

Those pics above were taken on the ICW at the mouth of Tom Point Creek, right past the Toogoodoo river outward toward the Atlantic. On Youngs Island to be exact.

The next time you get the chance to come down our way, shoot me a pm, and we'll have to do some fishing. You have a friend in Charleston now!