Do You Guys Have a Yak?

[Freedom Defender]

Hey guys !! I'm up here in Timmonsville next to Florence and have been a yaker for about ten years. I built my own kayak. A 17' ocean yak. I'd love to meet up with others also to do some paddeling and fishing. Hard to find other like minded people up here that also like to kayak. Looking forward to hearing from yall.

[snal]

I'd invite you guys on our next paddle trip...if you dare to go!...LOL! I've been paddling with my racing buddies for 3 years now. We generally paddle in NC/SC/Fla...and our trips usually start at the host's house on a thursday night (host's wives dread this) and try to hit the water by noon on friday...taking out by noon on sunday because somebody always has a long drive home. We've painstakingly devolped lightweight food to carry, in order to make room for more beer and Tennessee sip'n lick'r. Trips are typically either one base camp, and we paddle the area and sight-see or fish, or 20-25 mile trips with campsites along the way. If it's bug season, we usually hit the tents early, if not, we usually build a bonfire and become seekers of the orb (sunrise) as we sit around the fire and belittle each other. There's usually 10-16 of us...and we keep adding paddlers. Ages range from 30-74! On our first trip, I didn't have a kayak yet, so I shared my Old Town Discovery with the (then 71) eldest...he almost wore me out try to match him stroke for stroke! If I try to match him drink for drink (his prefered Lord Calvert and Coke)...I loose. We try to paddle as fast as the slowest paddler. ALL of our trips have been fantastic, save the Shenandoa River. The water level was too low, and the razor rock river bottom took it's toll and wore holes in 2 of the yaks, and made for a severly exhausting trip. But!...we salvaged the weekend by introducing bikini laden college girls to the sip'n lick'r as they floated on their tubes beside us...and giggled as they flattered us old men with their smiles.
We've been known to share campsites with other paddlers when need be, and they are always the nicest folks.
Like us...they pack out what won't fully burn as trash...and we always leave our campsites cleaner than they were when we got there.

[ridgid1]

I was just checking out the fishing yak there that is quite slick, fish finder and all....nice
I have had one of these for like 6 years http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/kayaks/r...ion/otter.html

time for a new one....lol I still have realed in some big ones on it and done many long river trips

[snal]

I was just checking out the fishing yak there that is quite slick, fish finder and all....nice
I have had one of these for like 6 years http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/kayaks/r...ion/otter.html

time for a new one....lol I still have realed in some big ones on it and done many long river trips

I'll say this...my OT Castine is the most versatile kayak that I have. I can paddle it anywhere up thru mild class III waters. It tracks very well, and holds enough gear for a weekend trip.
My fish finder has been mostly useless so far. The areas that I've been yak fishing are those types of water where I already know where the fish are.
So far the biggest help for my yak fishing has been organizing my boat so that I have everything I need within easy reach. The best thing that I have added is a short paddle and lanyard that I keep lashed to my fishing vest via an elastic cord. I lash my double ender to the boat, and use the shorty to maneuver position as I drift. The lanyard keeps it within reach, no mater where I "drop it".
I also use a collapsible, floating fish basket tethered to the boat. Makes for easy fish storage till I'm ready to paddle a bit...then they go to the soft sided cooler.

[snal]

Just picked up another kayak this morning! Got a great deal! Still had the tags on it! It's a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 175....a looooong rascal, but I'm gonna try it out on the Lumber River in 2 weeks. It has a huge amount of storage space, as well as deck rigging. I'm installing a rod holder today.
MSRP is almost $1900 with the rudder....picked it up for $600!

[The One]

That is one nice yak. I have been considering taking my canoe out to the Lumber river and doing an over nighter.

[snal]

Thanks! I have the Tsunami 145 too...I love it for the volume.
Have you ever paddled the Lumber north of Fair Bluff? That's typically our launch point. I haven't been below Galivants Ferry either, but that's beyond where the Lumber meets the Little Pee Dee.

[The One]

Thanks! I have the Tsunami 145 too...I love it for the volume.
Have you ever paddled the Lumber north of Fair Bluff? That's typically our launch point. I haven't been below Galivants Ferry either, but that's beyond where the Lumber meets the Little Pee Dee.

No I have never done any of the Lumber but I follow the Lumber river canoe club site and it has given me some ideas on the areas that I would like to try. I am somewhat familiar with the Galivants ferry area also, driven by/through there many times driving from Florence to Conway, but have never been in there with any type of boat.

[snal]

No I have never done any of the Lumber but I follow the Lumber river canoe club site and it has given me some ideas on the areas that I would like to try. I am somewhat familiar with the Galivants ferry area also, driven by/through there many times driving from Florence to Conway, but have never been in there with any type of boat.

The Lumber is by far one of my favorite places to paddle. When the water is at normal levels, there are a lot of pristine beaches for camping. Although the water is stained (tannic acid I think) the beaches are almost pure white sand.
I've done early April and November trips there, no bug problems then, but I'd imagine that they are pretty bad in the summer.
One of the guys that I paddle with is a Scout Master, his troop does summer trips there, said they just go to bed when the no-see-ums come out.

[The One]

The Lumber is by far one of my favorite places to paddle. When the water is at normal levels, there are a lot of pristine beaches for camping. Although the water is stained (tannic acid I think) the beaches are almost pure white sand.
I've done early April and November trips there, no bug problems then, but I'd imagine that they are pretty bad in the summer.
One of the guys that I paddle with is a Scout Master, his troop dies summer trips there, said they just go to bed when the no-see-ums come out.

Yea I have been around the dark waters of North and South Carolina all my life so that's not a problem the bugs are a nuisance and I plan on doing a trip in early spring and if I don't make it then it will wait till fall most likely. Although I do plan on paddling it before trying to camp it.

[Morguns1Cam]

I knew Snal Couldn't resist this post, if he spent any more time on the water he would grow gills or fins! He definitely has that department covered. I only have two yaks, a capela 17" sea kayack and a wilderness system 14' pungo, I get more use out of the pungo it hauls alot of weight ( 450 Lbs), its very stable, and about the fastest " recreational Kayack out there. The Capela is fast as hell, but stable it aint! Good boat for warm water when you don't mind a swim once in awhile! Ready for the Lumber Trip Snal?
Cam

[snal]

I knew Snal Couldn't resist this post, if he spent any more time on the water he would grow gills or fins! He definitely has that department covered. I only have two yaks, a capela 17" sea kayack and a wilderness system 14' pungo, I get more use out of the pungo it hauls alot of weight ( 450 Lbs), its very stable, and about the fastest " recreational Kayack out there. The Capela is fast as hell, but stable it aint! Good boat for warm water when you don't mind a swim once in awhile! Ready for the Lumber Trip Snal?
Cam

I AM ready Cam! Well...except for the typical "I can't find my GPS, my fishing vest, ect"
BTW...I didn't know you had a Pungo 140...(by far the most versatile 14 footer made).
I've been prepping all weekend. I think I'll take the new boat to a local lake sometime this week and test paddle it a bit.
We need to get together with some of these XColony paddlers, meet them, and try to break them into "our" padding group. I'm afraid that just inviting them without prep would shock their system...LOL!