Eddy Rider and I (Fish Tank), had a group of four anglers out for an overnight, and kayak fishing, camping trip on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River this weekend. Smallmouth are closed so we were targeting pike and walleye. From the get go it was a study in dealing with adversity, primarily at the hands of the nastiest wind gusts I have ever witnessed in the field, no less on the kayak. We'll get to that in a bit.
Eddy Rider and I were at the launch unloading the kayaks and packing the provisions by 7am. in a steady rain. The initial game plan was to launch by 8:30am but the clients asked to get a bit later start so we didn't start the trip out all wet. We weighed that option out and our schedule was to be setting camp before 2pm. That was when the wind was schedule to start gusting. We figured we could speed up one area after lunch and still be in camp on the island before the wind started cranking. We figured postponing an hour would also allow us to not get water in the dry storage, which would happen opening the hatches and putting in wet, dry bags. Eventually the rain slacked off and ER and I got the camping gear distributed as well the food and fishing gear stowed and ready.
Once the necessities were in the yak ER took off to take the trailer and truck to the take out and pick up the Suburban which we used to pick up the clients at their mobile home parked on a local campsite. They arrived stoked to get out and and the 2 Hobie Quests, 1 Ocean Prowler Trident 11, and a Native Manta ray 12, soaked up their gear and the overflow was taken up by the rod pod in the Ocean Kayak Prowler 15 I was paddling. ER was in the 17' Prijon sit-in, and that yak houses gear.
So, at the point the shuttle rig was parked ER did the safety and game plan briefing before securing the waivers...
This is the single most important part of the trip. We cover everything pertaining to getting out alive. We start with the necessity of the PFD's. We kindly ask the clients to wear them at all times while in the yak. Legally they just have to be with you however we stress the fact that if one goes in without the PFD being worn it compounds the danger to anyone one assisting in the event of a capsize. Please wear your PFD.
This trip right before the safety briefing Joe, started putting on hip boots. ER and I addressed that immediately. We kindly explained the absolute horrors of going in water over those boots, and that it endangers everyone on the trip. ER and I double checked with everyone that they packed extra changes of clothes. Given that all the clothes were in dry bags, in the event someone went in we would have easy access to shoreline to change and get dry. So the hip boots went back in the truck.
We also cover where to go and where not to, namely don't get ahead of the downstream most guide, or lag behind the upstream most guide. ER and I work more as shepherds when running with four clients. One of us is always behind the group and one is always ahead of the group, we have VHF radios on and working, and this keeps the clients in between us and we are able to keep eyes on everyone. We absolutely ask the clients to never get ahead of the downstream guide or behind the upstream guide.
The last thing we touched on was the beer they brought. We made it clear that no one was to be consuming any alcohol in the kayaks. We are totally cool with it being consumed in moderation at lunch and while in camp. We made mention that we don't know if there are any kayaking under the influence laws and we do not want to find out, so don't be seen drinking in the yaks.
After we briefed them they thanked us for being so thorough and the briefing answered any questions they had. The four guys, Bill, Joe, Dan, and Tom were the best clients an outfitter could ever hope to take out. They were there to have a good time, understood the dangers, and were above all just downright respectful of every facet of this adventure and the responsibility ER and I take regarding their experience and safety.
It was an interesting breakdown. Bill and Joe were the anglers. They were there to fish. Joe was mainly a salt water boat guy who targets fluke and blackfish among other species, and Bill fishes both sweet and salt. Dan was a mellow dude. He lived in Colorado for a time and skied as well as fished. He was along just to enjoy the ride. He fished and knew his stuff, but was often just hanging out going with the flow. Then there was Tom. My heart went out to that poor dude. His fishing was mainly for pelagics off boats and trolling. This was his first time ever camping and I think the first time he had to use toilet paper in the woods. His crew broke his stones good on that one. Shortly into the trip it was evident this wasn't necessarily his cup of tea or comfort zone. I was watching him paddle and it was almost as if he was afraid of hurting the water. Eventually the weather became less than perfect and Tom didn't complain once the whole trip. These trips aren't for everyone, and it wasn't for Tom, yet he rolled with the punches and kept his resolve. I couldn't have more respect for that dude.
So we are now on the paddle, we fished a good bit, Joe dialed in smallies but we don't target them in the closed season and we like them to go back as quickly as possible, hence no pics. of smallies. We were paddling by 10am. By 11am the wind started to show. We wanted to be at the island setting camp by 2pm. So we pulled up at a creek mouth for lunch at noon. It's only about a half hour paddle from there to camp,"normally". ER cooked up the chicken wraps for lunch...
We were all awe struck that Joe got that chair in the yak.
After lunch it gets hairy. We got back in the water by 1pm. At this time the wind was sustained at about 20mph, but it was clocking all directions. I think the river corridor and steep mountains was causing the direction shift. 2/3 of the way to the camp island the wind started gusting. These were the worst gusts I have ever witnessed in all my days afield. You could hear them coming. The wind would be sustained then it sounded as if a train was coming down the river. Mist was being whipped off the surface. This was the first time I had ever paddled the Trident 15. That kayak is SOLID, especially loaded and ballasted. The deal was when the gusts started I had herded the clients toward the shoreline where we would be pulling up on the island. Because of the shallow depth and the fact the rocks come up inches below the surface I had to raise my rudder. Let me tell you, it was hairy. The gusts when they got a hold of me and the yak rendered me immobile. All I could do was dig my paddle in and brace. A few times I was braced on the paddle so hard and the water was churning around it so hard I thought it would snap. I drifted towards shore and just held position.
This is where it got scary. With the wind gusting as it was, ER made off to get to the island. He took Tom with him as we didn't want him on the water in this condition. Dan was below my position, in sight and I told him to continue down the shoreline while I waited for Bill and Joe who got behind me while I made my way to shore. They were catching fish and I wanted to get them to the island. I had eyes on them the whole time. As they were approaching me, maybe 50 yards away, I see Bill paddling, and Joe just cast. Then the train sound started and I see Joe's bow quartered down current towards my shore and the water ripping on a gust coming straight towards his upstream aft quarter. It hit him with the same ferocity of a train, the sound it was making. The gust moved him off center, caught the hull, and he was in the drink and the kayak came down with a sickening clapping sound. It happened as quick as you could blink. Bill saw it too. They actually had a small calcutta for biggest fish, most fish, and who goes in first. ER and I told them you don't want to go in. Well Bill started laughing at Joe busting him that he owed money. Joe was perfect in recovering. He came up upstream of the yak, and we were already in naval to nipple deep water, and he was wearing his PFD and foul weathers they all dawned because it looked like it could rain. He righted the yak and bounced right back on with rod in hand. It was like he practiced it. As soon as he went in I paddled out to hold where I could intercept. I told Bill to get to shore and hold up. When Joe approached me I asked him how he was. He said he was fine and said the gust hit him and the next thing he knew he was standing up in the water. I said get to shore pop the scupper plugs and drain the water. I watched and nothing came out of his yak when he turtled. Ironically it was Joe who wanted to wear the hip boots at the start of the day. In talking after he went in I brought up the hip boot thing and he just nodded and understood.
Once I had Bill, Dan, and Joe collected I raised ER on the hand held and told him of Joe going in and said all were safe and to hold up before we hit the rapid behind the camp just before the island pull out. All I kept thinking was thankfully they were out of the deep water. We fought the wind to the island and all was well. I had Joe immediately get dry clothes on and lay out the wet clothes in the sun.
Camp Time...
Normally ER and I use the tip of the island to camp. Well this day it was out of the question because it was being hammered by wind. We went interior to the island and found the campsite from heaven. It was a silt deposit from the winter high water, and loaded with dry wood and kindling, and was about 20yds from the yaks. ER and I went into camp mode. We got the tents, kitchen,and food, into camp while the clients brought up their clothes bags. As soon as the gear was in camp I started on the fire. We knew that comfort that night would be contingent on the fire. I dug a 3' wide by 1' deep pit in the silt. I heaped up dried grass and twigs in the hole. I always travel a 1 gallon ziplock bag full of drier lint and drier sheets. That stuff torches. Once it was lit I kept heaping on dried sticks and twigs til it was cooking. There was a potential for rain so we started putting logs on it. The site was shielded from the wind for the most part but every so often a gust made it through which hooked us up because it acted like a bellows on the fire. The area we were in held the heat and it was beautiful.
ER started on dinner...
We had cheeseburgers with fresh tomatoes and cut potatoes. The clients were enjoying life and some beers hanging by the fire. Joe built a clothes rack to dry the wet stuff. The wind kept cranking til about 2am and we fished around the island off an on through out the night, eventually winding up enjoying the fire.
The next day was relatively uneventful. Joe did catch a short walleye in the morning. Tom had enough and so they decided to just paddle to the take out and cut the day short. ER and I felt bad that the weather hampered the fishing as it did but Bill, Joe, Dan, and even Tom said they couldn't have enjoyed the trip more. They had a blast and the trip exceeded their expectations.
I believed them based on their smiles, or was it they were that happy to be at the take out...HAHAHA
So the first major trip of the year was a study in adversity and tested our collective metal. ER and I always debrief after a trip while the details are fresh in our minds. One of the most enjoyable things for us running this style trip is that everyone is different and we are constantly learning and perfecting the trip and our efficiency.
Now I'm off to help pack for our Jamaica Bay run with John Oast.
Until next report...
TIGHTLINES AND SAFE PADDLING!!!
Fish Tank