Tournament update

First of all, go check out the new fan page for the blog on Facebook! Just got done with it. There's a like button in the right margin. over here--->>>
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pondbass-The-FishBlog/218554381487959

This is a sneak peek at the blog's new logo. Adding some stuff to this before it's on here

But the main reason for this post is the fact that Saturday is a pretty big event on Lake Fork. It is the World Championship of Bass on the Fly Tournament(Wow that sounded important) on Lake Fork. Shannon and I are ready and packed to leave tomorrow afternoon. I hope I get something at least!

http://www.bassonthefly.org/

We'll have the Diablo's over at Lake Fork Marina after the weigh in so come check them out! Being on the lake this time you guys can come test paddle them!

TKF and TFF yakkers G2G

Saturday was the Texas fishing forum and the Texas kayak fisherman kayak get together at Jordan branch SP, Lake Ray Roberts, Texas. Not only was it a great get together, but Shannon made a few bucks in the HOW benefit tourney held during the get together. So, here's my writeup-

Shannon(Texasflycaster, if you don't read his site) and I decided to just enter into the tourney. Of course, that means I had all week to get ready, but put it off until friday night. Bad idea. I was busy messing with the kayak almost all afternoon Friday, but eventually I was ready. I didn't want to be tempted by the lure of carp on the fly so I left all the fly stuff at home and conventional fished this trip. I had everything I could need, so I finally went to sleep.

4:00 AM came way too fast and I was in the truck with Grandpa by 4:30 and at the Johnson branch gate by 5:30 and in the parking lot rigging out the kayak a few minutes later. The day started off cold for April at a chilly 39 degrees. I met a bunch of the people that would be competing against us. We talked fishing spots, messed around with the map, talked more, and before we knew it it was go time. The announcement came and we immediately paddled a mile over to a cove Shannon thought might hold some fish. Nada. Kept paddling. Nothing. We eventually made it over to a cove and fished it for a while. Shannon got a TEENY Largemouth, An 8 incher. He joked about the fish being so small and I remember encouraging him to enter it. He measured it and released it. He was on the board

Shot of Shannon fishing Diablo style!

10 minutes later he bagged his second bass, a scrawny 6 incher that almost went through the scupper hole on his Adios. Again, I made him enter it.

Where are the keepers?

We just kept toughing it out, I swear the weather was constantly changing. The wind blew every direction possible and changed several times. We moved around almost every cove in the area to no avail, no fish at all.

Documenting the 2nd pathetic bass

we toughed it out for a few more hours and threw in the towel and paddled back. Shannon found out we are so far the only ones with fish. What? Shannon could be looking at a win here!

Food! Crawdads, yummm!

Next was food- cajun style crawdads. Yum!

Eating, hanging out, having a good time.

Yaks, yaks, yaks

Finally results time! What happened during the tourney? 

Crappie division winner

Bass division winner-

Well, Shaun ended up winning with several more fish than anyone else. BUT he is a local.

Shannon came in third and earned 60 bucks, a fake boga grip, and a fillet knife for his efforts. He slipped me a 20 for making him enter the fish, so I actually earned something that day.

Shannon and I showing off the Diablo's

We spent most of the rest of the day showing the Diablo's off. Lots of interest in the yaks!

All in all, it was a great trip. Check out the TFF or the TKF boards here for more pics and info

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=157196

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/6077651/Official_Spring_GTG_Picture_Th#Post6077651

Yak Tourney

There's a kayak get together and tournament coming up(Saturday actually) on Ray Roberts so come on out and meet up with Shannon and I and take your pick- Paddle Diablo! We'll have 3 Diablo kayaks, an Adios and 2 Chupas, for you to try out saturday afternoon. Here's the info for the whole event

ALL INFO-

April 16th
Lake Ray Roberts State Park - Johnson Branch

Heroes on the Water Benefit Tournament
Bass and Crappie Divisions
$40 for each division, $60 for both
Catch and Photo
Check in from 5:30 to 6:45
Fish from 7:00am to 2:00pm
Best 5 Bass or 7 Crappie

12:00-5:00 Kayak Demos from Mariner Sails and Bass Pro
1:00 MUDBUGS!
3:00 Announce Tournament Winners

Barbie Casting Contest, Paddling Contest, Rigged kayak judging contest after mudbugs

Invite the family and friends. If you've thought about kayaking, this Saturday would be a great event to make to test paddle many different kayaks and see how seasoned kayak fishermen rig their yaks.

Map of G2G site: CLICK 

More Info: CLICK 

Tournament Info: CLICK


Also check here or the TFF kayak section for more updates in the coming days.
Click Here

It's gonna be great!

Kayak mods

Just got the new fishfinder/GPS on! It works great! we had a Navionics 2010 hotmaps chip left over from the bass boat (it takes the 2009 chip, somehow we never returned the 2010) so that went in it, and I have maps for all water bodies in texas (not sure i'll need it except for marking waypoints). The Diablo works great with the fishfinder in it. Here's the mount and transducer.

We went with a ram mount under the handle on the front. It's out of the way and I can fold it flat for when i'm standing in it.

Oh, we also mounted the light. Scotty sells an extender for their mounts so I think I'll make this about a foot taller than it is so it's more visible.

More of the mount, the next few are with the fishfinder on the mount.

Here's the transducer, mounted in the hull shooting forward. the dry bag behind it holds the battery.

 You can see the hole in this pic. That is where the wires go below the deck. An O ring is going in it to waterproof it.

And it's gotta have a TFF sticker!

Other side got one too

I'm planning on mounting 2 scotty rod holders up front and 2 in the back plus a few flush mounts. It's going to be an awesome fishing machine!

First trip in the new Yak

Got out on Grapevine around 12 and stayed until 4. I hooked 1 fish all day on a Black Angel jig and broke it off when it made a run under the boat and I couldn't react fast enough. But, I got a few great pics of the new kayak. Enjoy!

Diablo

Today I got it. Finally. I was down in Austin for almost the whole day (got in a bunch of traffic on the way home)  and dropped by Diablo Paddlesports and Austin Canoe and kayak.  First of all I got it- the Diablo Chupacabra, new seats to go in it, SUP paddle, a few Diablo stickers, and a few hats. Thanks Thomas!

Then I dropped by ACK and picked up a mount for the fishfinder, a new PFD, a new light, and a new sunglass neck holder (don't wanna lose my Costas!) then started home. Of course I put it in the pool when I got back!

The light goes on tomorrow I hope, then I'm taking it out! I really want to fish in it. Oh, it feels better to paddle in it standing up than sitting, it's incredibly stable! Completely different from my little Emotion Kayak I have.

Thanks Diablo Paddlesports!

Early Christmas at PB's house

I've been hanging out in Tailwaters for the past few days trying to decide on a Christmas present for Mom to get me.  decided I want a new 4wt rod that's a lot better than anything I currently have. Casted 4 of them alongside my Clouser and fell in love with a 7'9" G.Loomis Whisper Creek GLX 4wt.

http://www.gloomis.com/publish/content/gloomis_2010/us/en/fly/rods/trout_rods/whispercreek_glx.html

Yes, that is a $625 Fly rod. Travis got me a sweet deal on it ($340 or something like that) and matched it up with a sweet reel (Sage Click 4wt) http://www.sageflyfish.com/dyn_prodlist.php?k=132673 and a SA GPX line (I'm literally obsessed with this line)

This combo just seems perfect. The rod casts line really nicely, I love how light the reel is, and the reel is the exact same color as the reel seat. The problem? Mom won't let me use it until Christmas.

 This rod is just awesome. I haven't even fished it yet and I love it.


Now tomorrow is a big day. Wake up at 5, get in the car at 6 with Grandpa, drive 4 hours to Austin, pick up my new Diablo Chupacabra, go by ACK and get a new paddle, stand up paddleboard paddle, mount for my new fishfinder (more of a real graph and a GPS), and a few other things, then drive home. Now,  I need to set up a time to sneak off to one of the rivers and mess around with some Rios, Sunfish, and maybe a few bass. I may just end up back at Shoal Creek or Waller Creek that I fished during the clouser contest(and hauled on Rios and sunfish) or LBL is probably a good choice too.

Hey Guys-FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE tonight. It starts at 1:20 so I'm waiting on it so I can go get some pics. Everyone was all excited about it at Tailwaters. I hope it's really spectacular! I'll post some pics right after I get them tonight.