I would cast upstream, and bump bottom all the way back to me.
Lost many to snags…….
But when I would make contact, and pop that jig off of it, Thump!
Every time.
I moved around quite a bit, but the faster water produced the Bigger Smallies, the slower side perch and smaller smallies.
I ended the day with 8 perch, some were ready to pop they were so fat, and 12 Smallies.

Life Is Good!
Tight lines and MoPaddle safe all.
Rox

My W500 performed great and I loved the stability, look, feel, and how comfortable it was to paddle around in it. Being able to stand while throwing a spinnerbait, rip bait, and jig with the feeling and confidence I was not going to tip over was comforting. As for the fishing I blanked but it was still a good time getting used to my new yak.

My second trip was this past weekend to another northern California lake called Lake Oroville with a fellow friend/co-worker who was already yak fishing with a SOT yak. We arrived Friday night at the cabin, ate some dinner, and got ready for the next day of fishing. After rigging our rods I showed him the art of dropshotting before calling it a night. Waking to the smell of bacon and eggs I knew breakfast was in order. Once done we loaded my yak on top of his then our gear and headed off for the lake.
Shortly after we arrived, prepped for launching and soon after we were on the water.
First I tried a spinnerbait around some sunken trees with no takers and the same result with my rip bait. Next we started to dropshot and we were getting bites right away. Unfortunately it was some little trout but it was still a fish. A short while later we go around a point and in the back of this cove were some trees coming out about 50ft towards the center of the cove. So I stayed out about 10-20ft past them and lowered down my dropshot bait and after it hit bottom I went to shake the rod tip and felt weight at the end. Slowly lifting I realized there was a fish on the other end and started reeling as I lifted the rod tip to set the hook. WooHoo! Fish on and the fight began as I did my best to bring the scrapper boat side. Once I got him to the surface I could see it was a nice spotted bass that could possibly go 2lbs. After lipping him and getting him inside the yak all I could think of was how good it felt to be back on the water again (ex bass boat owner – pre kids). We ended up with about 7 spots and all were in the 2-3lb range. Also throw in a nice smallie and we called it a good day.
I’m sorry for the lack of photos as my phone died the night before and I left it behind to charge.
So far my adventures with my W500 have been a blast and I can’t wait for the next one.
Take care! And maybe I’ll see you out on the water.
George – Northern CA

View George’s kayak fully rigged for fishing >>



I had to get out and take advantage of this great weather on Tuesday. Sunny, slight winds, water tea stained in color, 44.5 degrees to a balmy 49.8 degrees.
I hit the water at Rainbow at 10:30 am and was off the water by 3 pm. Water levels are low, almost to the bottom of the ramp.

I started off with a Rattle Trap, with nothing to show for it, put on a deep diving crank bait, Nada. So I went to my light gear, 1/16 oz jig with a small paddle tail.
Perch, crappies and dace were very active, but I wanted SMALLIES! So I was motoring in my W500 kayak looking for steep banks coming off the flats, and rock walls.

If I didn’t Love this Yak before, I love it even more with the gamefisher outboard motor on it.

Since time and light is short, I was able to zip to all my spots with ease. Then I would just use my paddle until I needed to make a long run. I’d set up the yak over the deepest spot of the drop offs, cast the Paddle tail up into shallow water, and pop and drop it down the drop offs. I’d pause in between pops for a ten count.
This proved to be deadly, but all shorts, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, with a mix of perch and crappie…
Until I get a great hit, and a head shaking fool ripped off some line – I knew it wasn’t a bass, but this fish was fighting hard. I get her up top, and it’s a huge dace – Snap a pic, and sent her back.

As I moved down the channel, I found what I was looking for – a steep drop from 12′ down to 25′.
Working the lure down to the edge, I gave it a good pop, and opened the bail so the bait would float freely down to the bottom of the 25′… which takes forever with a 1/16th jog head.
As my line went slack and told me I was down on the bottom, I count to ten, gave it a sharp pop, and followed it back to the BAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Fish on -
This bad girl didn’t want to come up, but she had no choice.
With the net ready, I scooped her up: Big Fat and Beautiful 18 1/2″ Small Mouth – Toooooooo bad I took a bad picture, I didn’t check the sun location before letting her go.
I paddle back to the last boat position. I cast the jig up shallow again, popping it along the bottom,
and as it started it’s fall to deeper water, the line started going sideways, set the hook, and the battle was on.
Another chunker ripping drag ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ She breaks the surface, and Holy crap, she’s bigger then the last one. She doesn’t want nothing to do with my net, and dives under ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ I bring her back up and snag her in the net.
SWEET!! Another Fatty, 19 1/4″ of pissed off Smallie!!

All in all a great day on the water in November. Here are pictures of the best for the day.

Tight lines and MoPaddle safe all.

Rox

Here is the test ride, it was awesome!!!!!
I had a late start today, didn’t hit the water until 2pm. Cloudy, windy and water temps were 53.
Today was my maiden voyage in the W500 with my 1.2hp Gamefisher outboard motor.

It Was AWESOME, I had so much fun, the W500 handled like always – Stable, stable and yes Soooooooooo Stable. The motor made no difference in the balance, it was like the kayak was meant to be used with a gas outboard.
I was doing doughnuts, driving over my wakes, I felt like a Kid with a new Toy…………
I even stopped to fish a little, maybe 1/2 hour was spent on fishing.
All smallies came out of the channel in 10′ to 16′ of water. Rattle Trap was really the only lure I tried, time was short. Only 2 Smallies were picture worthy, lost a beast, and landed 6 that were cookie cutters, 13″.

These 2 Big Girls hit the RT like a freight train. They both did circles under water putting a good bend in my Med/Hvy BPS rod before coming up and jumping like crazy even with the cold water temps.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!

Rox

Rox' motorized fishing kayak in her vehicle with the motor mounted

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Water temps were 56 to 58 degrees, wind was mild at the start……Hazey cloudy and partly sunny.

I headed straight down the channel and worked it hard.
I found the smallies to be suspending at 10′, after working from the bottom up with a 20′ diving crank bait, to a 14′ diver, to the 10′ diving crank white ( 12 SMB) nothing big, all SM bass and tons of fun.

The Yum Dinger, I fished it like a jerk bait when the wind wasn’t blowing (6 SMB), again, nothing big just a lot of fun.
As I got into view of where I wanted to fish hard…………..I was thinking, man this wind isn’t to bad today………
No sooner did that thought come and go in this pea size brain…..THE WIND GOES INSANE!!!
150 yards to go, and I’m standing still as I’m paddling.

Up yours Mother nature………..

After the gust of winds died down, the bursts of wind weren’t constant, I made it to my spot.
I Started tossing a Jig/craw dark green 1/4oz.
Lots of small fish, just a few small keepers, and one solid Small Mouth Bass.
As I’m working the jig on the bottom in 12′ of water, I paused the bait, then 3 pops and a little wiggle…..
BAM!!!! Fish ON, and my St Croix doubles over.
Up she comes and does a very nice summersault, and three jumps
and dives ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Up she comes as I get her closer and she tail walks right into my net.
SWEET!!!
I LOVE SMALLIES!!

This Smallie made that last 150 yards of hellwinds well worth it.

After that, I let the winds work for me.
I just stood there fan casting and catching fish as the winds pushed me back towards the ramp. LIFE IS GOOD!
Tight Lines and Paddle Safe all.
Rox