The slot is to retrieve lures caught in trees etc. you slot the line and run the paddle down the line to assist in freeing hang ups in your terminal tackle
Thanks Darkstar. Kayak fishing here around the Chesapeake has exploded. Bass fishing is being replaced by the ālureā of the resilient Snakehead. Powerful fighters, 18 inch is common, no size limit, no catch limit, no season limit, and the meat is good, very good. I think it could easily substitute for cod or whiting. Maybe even Rockfish.
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Jyak, I had never even heard of a āsnakeheadā I just looked it up on line. Wow, they look like something from a Sci-Fi movie. They look a bit like a Ling. We have ling here and they are one of the very best fish we can catch for food. Absolutely deliciousā¦
The fish is an invasive species from I believe China, where they are apparently highly valued. The first sighting in Maryland was in a pond in Crofton. The Natural Resources Department drained the pond and killed all they found, but they soon found more. Its believed that someone had it in an aquarium as a pet and released it into the wild.
The bad news is they are prolific and out reproduce other species. Theyāre very protective of the fry (baby fish) and typically wonāt chase bait while sitting near the nest. The have a voracious appetite, which is the problem, because they decimate sport fish like bass. Theyāre muscular and put up a strong fight, so they make a good sport fish. The creepy part is that they can live on land and use their flippers to walk, while breathing air. The fishing rules require any that are caught to be killed.
Here are some pictures. I recommend looking at the sites if you like to fish. I know people in Florida are familiar, as well as other states adjacent to the ones mentioned. There is a very dedicated following. Some are attracted by the lack of limits, others take advantage of fishing with a bow. Itās not unheard of for some to harvest 10 or 20 in a night.
If you can get over the ugly mug, you have a great source of fish for dinner. It would probably be a public service for someone familiar with the topic to start a post about fishing them. The size pictured is typical.
Iād catch more fish using the hook on the paddle than I ever do with a rod and reel.
On a diff note. Maybe a better take on the title of this thread is how much this site has accomplished for newer paddlers. It wasnāt till I did some reading here that I spent any time actually practicing self rescue. 2. Ever gave safety gear other than a PFD any thought. 3 Realized not all rec boats come with bulkheads. 4. Gave enough thought on the rigging to secure the boat to the rack. ( I never gave enough thought on how much torque there might be at 65mph) 5. Thought to take the huge money saving advice and buy used to start. And so on.
On buying used I was sure I wanted and needed a Inflatable kayak. Namely the sea Eagle 393Rl. Terrible choice for me and after a seasons use I sold it at a slight profit all by purchasing used. I also learned that a few people are Harley Davidson loyalty nuts if you say anything they donāt like on their preference. On a utube review I commented I had sold mine. The sea Eagle ambassador asked what I didnāt like about the kayak. I gave the list and the next thing I was being called out as a liar etc., not by the ambassador but other posters. I posted an email direct from sea Eagle to show proof of one issue and they stopped. Never apologized of course which is fine. Hence another reason Iām good using the search most of the time.
Oh and Iāll be learning something new today with search. No idea what a Dragon boat is but if it breathes fire Iām in!
Joseph
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Jyak, The wing paddle blade you show a few spaces back is a right hand blade, the ridge goes up and the bigger radius goes down, just like most rec blades.
That puts the scoop towards the paddler. Best explanation of them I have heard is that you push water past your boat with a regular paddle; you pull the boat to the paddle with a wing.
I kayak fish with a rec boat and a single blade paddle I built. I have a hook in the handle to retrieve flies when I end up squirrel fishing.
We have Bullseye Snake fish down here in Florida, though they haven;t gotten this far up the state, neither have Mayan Chichlids, between the two of them they have almost destroyed the natural freshwater fisheries of South Florida.
I have a couple friends that run Dragon Boats Groups. I must admit that they are not for me because you always paddle on one side and I donāt like that. If I want to paddle in a boat with other folk I will choose OC-6s.
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I first learned about wings on the forum. Thanks for the explanation. I passed over the comments about the Olympics, but I ran out of other reading topic and endulged. It was fascinating. I followed some You Tube videos and actually modified my low angle stroke to somewhat mimic the wing stroke. Not to create the lift effect (if thatās a correct term), but to keep on track without using the rudder.
I had the chance to paddle in OC-6s when I was on business in Tampa. I like solo boats, but if I ever have another chance to paddle one, Iāll take it in a heartbeat. We had three boats with 5 paddlers each. Apparently the trick is to stroke at the same time. When a crew did that, the boat would surge out front of the others, but the captains (for lack of a better term) were not effective in getting all the amatuers to work together. It would be a real treat to work with an experienced crew to see how they would perform if handled by competent paddlers.
I believe you explained a question I had about seat placement on racing boats. If I recall right, you removed the deck and rebuilt it with the seat further forward, and explained the benefits.
One thing that always amazes me about the forum, is how the topic flows to cover so many topics. I donāt believe anyone has ever asked if anyone could identify a boat and failed to get a hit. In many cases, they get the history of a now defunct manufactuer.
Apparently, Facebook is considered the preferred platform for old fogies (like me!), while the youngsters now go to Instagram (for content) and Twitter (for chat).
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I prefer the paddling forum for the focused content. Although anything can come up and it does, most topics remain connected to the theme. For example, the topic might turn to bicycles or sailing, but at some point it gets redirected, it comes back to the original topic, or people just naturally drop off. The forum also allows side messaging for direct interaction.
I got back on the water when I bought several canoes and a rec kayak for family outings. Iāve since focused entirely on kayaking and even considered buying a tandem kayak. Then I realized the canoes I have were designed for two, and can be used solo as well. The canoe focus on the forum has rekindled the nostalgia of my canoeing roots. Iām now thinking about pulling out the canoes again. Especially for the leisurely early morning or late evening exploration of the river banks.
Mission Accomplished.
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Lol. I was playing with the paddle. I donāt paddle with it that way.
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I donāt fish but I find the notch on my paddle handy to grab a tree branch or dock to pull up to shore for a break.
I donāt normally paddle with it upside down. I was experimenting with the paddle.
Never seen a paddle with a notch.
.For me it would guarantee I break itā¦
Mostly the upside down comment was for others starting out. I see a lot of rec kayakers on my lake as there is a rental company nearby that deliversā¦ Bill may tell them a bit , but people often donāt listen. So about everyone has it upside down.
Iām happy you checked back in, kmdw; keep on experimenting. Like one of the above posts mentioned, the smile on your face tells it all. I agree with kayakmedic. I launch at a rental site and have never seen the young attendants point out how to orient the paddle. Thereās a 50/50 chance to pick it up wrong, so its something that a regular kayaker notices immediately. Actually it was a keen observation, because your paddle is relatively symetric. For any novice paddlers who didnt know, now they do. Its not a sin if others have gotten it wrong.
I looked back at the picture. That notch would be beneficial to catch the dock. Now you make me curious. How does the paddle perform. Do you notice a difference between each orientation.
You should be proud that your post generated so much interest and information. Donāt be a stanger.
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Scary looking fish. Invasive species are a threat we need to avoid releasing into our environments as they have caused great harm.
And thatās not the only problem. We also have a massive blue catfish thatās invasive.
I understand the great lakes were the originally site of the problem with the zebra mussel. Its believed the mussel originally arrived in the bilges of sea going ships. Resilient, polific breeders, they also last a long time out of water. These mussels get into and attach to the screens protecting turbines and gates and block channels diverting water through dams.
Fortunately they have enemies, but not enough to control the spread. Lock Raven Water Reservoir permitted boats, but required a certification of sorts that the boat was never used in other waters. Not sure of current status.
Its something to consider if you travel extensively with your kayak. Just like transporting firewood can spread the gypsy moth, the lantern fly, the emerald beetle and other invasive insects. Its important that we understand these threats and spread the word in a dedicated post, similar to the bear topics.
Its important that we donāt take part in destroying the very natural environment that we enjoy.
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We have signs at pretty much every boat launch in New Hampshire warning about invasive plant species that might be attached to boats. One place I frequented this year had an attendant in the parking lot asking anyone with any kind of boat where and when the last place their craft was in. Itās a clean lake and they want to keep it that way.
That awesome. While I was writing about the snakehead and catfish, I recall concern about mussels in the great lake and the precaution at our reservoir. I looked it up and there is a map listing the mussel all over the Chesapeake Bay. Iāve seen no warnings posted at launch sites about the fish or the mussels. Our tax dollars, not at work.
Who said there are no professional paddlers?
The US has some good ones so it would seem.
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