tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68776068629624093722024-03-13T22:32:19.787-04:00Laser FishingBrian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-23710298667446078762012-06-01T15:12:00.002-04:002012-06-01T15:16:23.802-04:00Something Huge<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoSp98cXWPw/T8kQnklonNI/AAAAAAAAAJY/5BePuQYc304/s1600/photo%281%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoSp98cXWPw/T8kQnklonNI/AAAAAAAAAJY/5BePuQYc304/s320/photo%281%29.JPG" width="320" /></a>Yesterday was one of the best days I have ever had kayak fishing. Not because I caught everything that swims but because I was able to finally get my dad into a kayak and fishing for the first time. The day turned south though when he started to out fish me!<br />
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The wind was calm and the tide was starting to run hard so we made our way over to the HRBT to see if we could snag a few flounder to bring home. At the bridge we met up with Schwigy and PhillyJoe who were also on the hunt for some keeper flatties. We were only able to find undersized flounders, croakers, and specs. My dad caught a keeper trout that was gut hooked so badly I decided to take it home. Normally, I would have thrown him back but the jig was literally inside his stomach and knew he didn't have a chance after we got it out. <br />
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An interesting twist was when I hooked into something huge... huge as in at least 50-60 pounds. I was drifting large minnows around the base of pilings hoping to entice a hungry flounder. I thought I was snagged when the line came taught and the rod bent over gradually. This was not a snag though... I felt it start to swim and flicked on my camera to record the events. After about 10 mins of small shakes, short runs, and a little pulling I was not gaining any line. Confused I decided to see if I could manage to pull it up to the surface to get a look. When I did this I only gained about a foot or two of line, got some good shakes, a short run and it felt like it was back on the bottom again. I was starting to grow impatient wondering what the heck was on the other end of my line and tried to pull it up again. Then... the line broke and it was gone. Below is the link for the video and I am curious if anyone has any guesses what it may have been based on the looks of the fight. The only thing I can think of is it may have been a cownose ray or a large sea turtle? Any other ideas? I dont think it was a fish because I only felt it swim for brief period then it was like it was anchored to the bottom. Give me your best guess.....<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dqOa7Bs2vo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dqOa7Bs2vo</a>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-73514859743810715502012-05-25T08:37:00.001-04:002012-05-25T08:37:38.962-04:00No Drill Kayak Fish finder Set-UpBelow is a video reviewing the Eagle Cuda 350 fish finder/GPS. Also show the way that I have mounted my unit without drilling holes in the kayak. I cover the unit, mount, wiring, transducer, and batteries. Let me know if you have any suggestions or questions! Thanks for watching.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPwXYfMzxJE&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPwXYfMzxJE&feature=plcp</a>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-57410377847341512232012-05-24T13:57:00.001-04:002012-05-24T13:57:27.646-04:00DIY Kayak Stakeout Pole and Camera MountJust finished making and testing a homemade stakeout pole made from PVC with a dowel rod in the center for support. I also added a way to attach the camera to the pole so I can get different views from outside the kayak with the GoPro. Check out my video on YouTube and let me know what you think. Thanks. <br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTPvz1d24RA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTPvz1d24RA</a><br />
<br />Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-30406498996084591662012-05-02T18:02:00.000-04:002012-05-02T19:03:59.613-04:00How to set up a kayak for crabbing<br />
<a name='more'></a>I have had several people ask how I set the kayak up for crabbing so I figured I would make an entry and video showing exactly what I use and how to rig it. As with almost everything from the kayak...the simpler you keep it.. the better you are.<br />
With that said I took my experiences as a little kid crabbing and thought how can I adapt this to work from the kayak. When I was growing up we exclusively used hand lines hanging off the boat all around it and it produced pretty good results. With the kayak this is possible but not nearly as effective since the kayak is a lot smaller and you're pretty much confined to your seat.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5-cfLYF79o/T6GawmT_e1I/AAAAAAAAAHU/qqPWGp6E-XA/s1600/photo%2812%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5-cfLYF79o/T6GawmT_e1I/AAAAAAAAAHU/qqPWGp6E-XA/s320/photo%2812%29.JPG" width="320" /></a>What I came up with was making several floats that had a weight and a hook on the end of it. I use the hook to hold the chicken in place and have never had a crab get it off. If you put the hook through some of the tendons on a drumstick or through the throat of the chicken neck it makes a great hold. I use 3 oz weights to hold them on the bottom and keep the current from pushing them. Its pretty cool because once you get the lines rigged, you can paddle and toss the floats as you go. When the chicken sinks to the bottom is automatically unwinds so you can toss the floats quickly without having to wait for it to hit the bottom.<br />
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I normally crab in about 8-10 feet of water so all of my lines are about 15 feet long. You want to have about 5-8 feet more line and I'll explain that in a minute. Let the lines soak for 10~15 minutes then check your first one.<br />
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I usually deploy all my lines going down stream because you can keep a straighter line but it doesn't really matter for this part. When you check them though you want to go up stream or against the current. Approach the float on a glide but with not a lot of speed. This is where the extra slack comes in. The slack allows you to pick the float up and if you timed your speed right you should be just over top of the bait when you come to a stop. With the slack you to get right over top of the bait without jerking it from the crab or spooking it.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IW7aG9CI8IU/T6GtoWTu7SI/AAAAAAAAAIE/XftxTjIjW1I/s1600/line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IW7aG9CI8IU/T6GtoWTu7SI/AAAAAAAAAIE/XftxTjIjW1I/s320/line.jpg" width="320" /></a>Next you want to put just a little bit of pressure on the line because sometimes you can feel the crab holding onto the bottom and if you just pull he will let go. Usually with a little bit of pressure he will release from the bottom and hang on to the line. Pull this up very gradually and smooth (a lot of times you can actually feel him still picking at the bait as your coming up and can notice the difference in weight of the line. I use a small piece of electrical tape about 2-3 feet above the hook and this serves as a reference point for me. When I see the electrical tape I know how far the bait is from the surface and can get the net ready and know that I do not need to pull hand over hand anymore. The distance you put the electrical tape should be an arms length away from the hook so that you can hold the tape with one hand and by the time you have raised your arm all the way up, the bait should be just at the surface of the water. Without this you can pull and pull and then the crab pops up without knowing how close it is. I usually slow down at this point because this is when he is most likely to let go and bolt.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNCYIrUOwHI/T6GtllfSf_I/AAAAAAAAAH8/Nu6pByJ-0nA/s1600/Scoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNCYIrUOwHI/T6GtllfSf_I/AAAAAAAAAH8/Nu6pByJ-0nA/s320/Scoop.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
95% of the time if you bring the crab out of the water it will immediately let go so you want to scoop him while the bait is still in the water. I use a wire net for this so the crab does not get all tangled up in the nylon net which can be a pain to untangle.<br />
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Because this process take ~20 minutes for 6-8 floats, it is usually time to check your first one again after you do the last float in the line. I usually just let the current push me back to the first one or make it a nice easy paddle. Don't over do how hard you paddle for this part because all of these laps back and forth quickly add up. I usually paddle more miles crabbing than I do fishing and the launch is only about 1/4 mile from where I crab so conserving your energy is important. <br />
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Check out the video below and you should be able to see everything else I use to keep the catch in the kayak. Let me know if you guys have anymore questions and I'll do my best to explain!<br />
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</div>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-58320915822163683612012-05-01T11:00:00.001-04:002012-05-01T11:03:37.428-04:00Kayak CrabbingAfter spending the last several months crammed up inside with school research, reports, projects, etc. I have been dying to get back in the seat of the kayak and get on the water. The closest I have been able to get to fishing last month was taking my new bait-caster in the backyard and slinging a few casts in between study breaks.<br />
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I've heard many reports that the crabs are starting to come in and have been dying to bring some home. My family doesn't eat fish, but they love picking crabs. I think this is one of the reasons I am so attracted to crabbing because I can sit around the dinner table that night with my family and enjoy the days catch with everyone. When it comes to fish... I'm on my own. <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXo1ONI9VWA/T5_xGqM5iiI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Oa2LAGAS2G8/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xXo1ONI9VWA/T5_xGqM5iiI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Oa2LAGAS2G8/s320/IMG_1010.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<u> THE HUNT</u></div>
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I started out first thing in the morning.. I have found this is when crabbing is the best. I was on the water at 5:30am paddling down my favorite creek at dark and watching the sun rise slowly as I began to reach my honey hole. The creek is a winding salt marsh not far from my house and I have cleaned up pretty well here last season. I left with a little bit of optimism that I might bring home half a dozen crabs since it was still really early in the season but was surprised with my catch.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t51GGxnJQbM/T5_xy7OCzFI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vw3aYiklmzU/s1600/crab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t51GGxnJQbM/T5_xy7OCzFI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vw3aYiklmzU/s320/crab.jpg" width="254" /></a><br />
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Using a combination of my modified hand-lines and some box traps, I planned my attack. I took a water temperature reading of 63º and set all my lines in 6-10' of water along the slope of the marsh.<br />
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<u>THE CATCH </u></div>
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There were a TON of small crabs in the creek but I did manage to find about two dozen keepers. The biggest crab measured 6.5" and I probably threw back 30-40 undersized crabs. The crabs are definitely here and should start to pick up a lot more as the water continues to warm. This year crabs are supposed to be at a 20 year high for the Bay so I am looking forward to it!<br />
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<u>THE DINNER</u></div>
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With around two dozen crabs and a 1.5 pounds of shrimp... it was an awesome dinner. All of the crabs were full and some were very sweet. Nothing like a little bit of vinegar and Old Bay seasoning on fresh crabs!</div>
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<u>VIDEO REPORT</u></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6ctfSkzA8E%20">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6ctfSkzA8E </a></div>
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<br /></div>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-8101622401252206142012-04-03T21:11:00.000-04:002012-04-03T23:12:26.126-04:00MS Shad Shootout 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend I made my way up to Richmond, Va for the MS Shad Shootout. This is a tournament that was put together by a great group of people to help raise money for the national Multiple Sclerosis Society walk. My girlfriend (Jessica) lives in Richmond so I was able to come up the day before the tournament and do a little pregame fishing to get an idea of where to go. I have been to the James River many times but I have never done any fishing that far up the James. <br />
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Friday, I fished for most of the day and searched almost the entire river from Anncarrows Landing up to the 14th street bridge without much success. The water was really murky and I was only able to land 1 shad about 14". I got an idea of the area though and feeling for where to go. When Saturday came I knew exactly where I wanted to head to and began working the rocks just upstream of the I-95 bridge. There were a ton of hickory shad here and they were busting all over the water. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IpjdZepw7mw/T3udZ_5P1aI/AAAAAAAAAFc/m80_E1ZdBKw/s1600/IMG_0937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IpjdZepw7mw/T3udZ_5P1aI/AAAAAAAAAFc/m80_E1ZdBKw/s200/IMG_0937.jpg" width="200" /></a>Almost immediately I began hooking up on shad and got a feeling for the way they liked to see that gold spoon move through the water. I stayed there and had fun with the shad until 11:30. The two largest shad I caught were 16" and 16.5".<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_UDEHnDeKs/T3udS_duTFI/AAAAAAAAAFU/R8Y_VXszwio/s1600/IMG_0924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q_UDEHnDeKs/T3udS_duTFI/AAAAAAAAAFU/R8Y_VXszwio/s200/IMG_0924.jpg" width="200" /></a>The tournament allowed each angler to enter two shad plus one catfish. The person with the longest total length of the these entries added together was the winner. With this in mind I decided to abandon the shad and start searching for my catfish. This was hard to do because those shad were so much fun on ultralight tackle.<br />
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I moved downstream and found a little hole that I thought might be holding catfish. I was using a fish finder rig with a 6/0 circle hook and open drag. The first run I had seemed to be huge. I fought him for a little bit before it came unbuttoned. I think I got excited and tighten the drag too much, which pulled the hook through its lip. My leader came back covered in slime but empty. About 10 minutes later, I got another nice run and was able to land the 24.5" kitty. I had two more runs after this but only was able to hook up on the last run which was around 21".<br />
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After the tournament was over, we all meet up at the local pub and had dinner and did the awards. I took first place but only by a hair. The top three anglers were all within an inch so it made for a close finish. This tournament was a blast and I am definitely looking forward to doing it again next year. I helped out with a great cause and learned how to fish a species I have never caught before. I also got a personal best on the catfish and learned some new fishing holes.<br />
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Below is a video I put together with some of the highlights of the tournament. Enjoy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIfYVGmqVY&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIfYVGmqVY&feature=player_embedded</a>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-20708924721839961702012-03-09T00:20:00.000-05:002012-03-09T15:14:30.906-05:00YakAttack VISIPole II Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Safety and visibility on the water are two of the most important concerns for kayak anglers. Whether you are fishing during the day or night, it is imperative that other boaters are able to see you. Kayaks sit very low to the water making them hard to be seen. YakAttack has created a solution that makes yakers extremely visible and safe during while paddling with the <a href="http://www.yakattack.us/Products/VISIPoleII.html" target="_blank">VISIPole II</a>.<b> </b>Quality DIY lights can easily equal the same price as the VISIPole but lack the reliability that is critical for safety.<b> <u>I can not stress enough that you should NEVER cut corner with safety gear</u></b><u>.</u> You are depending on this equipment to protect you, don't go cheap. I have had the opportunity to use the VISIPole over the last year and have put it through its paces, as well as added upgrades. It has proved to be <i>bombproof</i>. <br />
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<u>Overview</u></div>
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The VISIPole II features two bright LED lights that are visible from 360 degrees, meeting U.S.C.G. requirements for operation at night. The light is powered by three AAA batteries which will last for 100 hours! Throw a spare set of batteries in your fishing gear though because the light runs like the energizer bunny and it's difficult to add up how many hours you've had it on for.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdn4qgrghVg/T1mMF2iOzbI/AAAAAAAAAE8/taWdvEntDCY/s1600/flounder+copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdn4qgrghVg/T1mMF2iOzbI/AAAAAAAAAE8/taWdvEntDCY/s1600/flounder+copy.jpg" /></a><br />
The light housing is outfitted with S.O.L.A.S reflective tape that produces great light reflection and is elevated above the kayak. It is impossible not to notice the way it reflects the flash from cameras!<br />
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At night, the light is well above eye level and does not destroy your night vision like other lights do when you turn around. <br />
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I have the VISIPole model with a flag and fly it during the day. The flag is quiet, does not catch wind, and stands tall enough (4'6") that other boaters are able to see you if you are fishing creek bends or in choppy conditions.<br />
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Some more great features are that the light is extremely light, durable, waterproof, and it floats! The base fits snugly into rod holders and also comes in several different mounting options (RAM, Scotty, Mighty Mount)<br />
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<a href="http://www.yakattack.us/Products/Products.html" target="_blank">YakAttack</a> is an excellent company that produces top notch products and outstanding customer service. All of their products are made in the U.S. and they stand behind everything they make. You can not go wrong. <br />
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<u>Mods</u></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ebvJLX2g5I/T1ksM2hpxMI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ZmtwUXlfBpo/s1600/light+bright" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ebvJLX2g5I/T1ksM2hpxMI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ZmtwUXlfBpo/s200/light+bright" width="112" /></a>Because I fish in heavily traveled areas at night, I upgraded the LED module from 2 LEDs to 4 LEDs. Although this cuts the battery life in half (50 hours!), it doubles the amount of light produced. The batteries still last countless outings before needed to be replaced. This is highly recommended for those that fish in areas where boat traffic is heavy. If interested, Luther at YakAttack can set you up with these. Shoot him an <a href="mailto:luther@yakattack.us" target="_blank">email</a>. <br />
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The second upgrade I added was an <a href="http://laserfishing.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-yakattack-led-nav-light.html" target="_blank">LED Nav light</a> that features the standard green and red maritime navigation colors. Click on the link above or visit the Rigging section for an explanation on how I rigged this. When near bridges, I noticed white lights tend to blend in with horizon lights and vehicle lights. When looking for powerboats on the water RED and GREEN always seem to be the easiest colors to pick up against the horizon. I feel adding these to the VISIPole greatly increases my visibility and overall safety.</div>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-88298767143924491442012-03-08T18:06:00.002-05:002012-03-09T15:17:50.807-05:00Lighting for Videos at Night<a name='more'></a><br />
I use the GoPro Hero2 HD camera to film all my videos. The only problem with the GoPro is it is almost useless for night filming without a light. I have found an easy, inexpensive fix to this problem. In <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zHlUZQJeIU">this video</a> I am using a headlight that is made for bikes. The light is meant to attach to the bicycles handlebars but it also fits securely around <a href="http://www.yakattack.us/Products/PanFish.html" target="_blank">YakAttack's PanFish</a> RAM mounts. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3dsbNennj8/T1k6tIy_GGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/X8igscq5h3Y/s1600/GoPro+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--3dsbNennj8/T1k6tIy_GGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/X8igscq5h3Y/s320/GoPro+light.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJp1IhAUQPo/T1k6uvoQW-I/AAAAAAAAAEU/XigqlWVbObY/s1600/GoPro+Light2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJp1IhAUQPo/T1k6uvoQW-I/AAAAAAAAAEU/XigqlWVbObY/s320/GoPro+Light2.jpg" width="240" /></a> <br />
When I need light, I simply reach behind me and turn it on. The second mode makes the light flash, which can be effective as additional warning for boats that are approaching or to get others attention. In the future I may experiment with adding a diffuser to help even the light out and avoid "hot spots."Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-51826725684866372282012-03-08T17:44:00.000-05:002012-03-08T19:10:38.001-05:00DIY YakAttack LED Nav Light<div style="color: white;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ebvJLX2g5I/T1ksM2hpxMI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ZmtwUXlfBpo/s1600/light+bright" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ebvJLX2g5I/T1ksM2hpxMI/AAAAAAAAAD8/ZmtwUXlfBpo/s320/light+bright" width="180" /></a>Hey guys, for those who have been interested in how I made my light, here are the details. I
primarily have been fishing the HRBT at night and have had many of the
same concerns I have heard others discuss. When looking for other yakers
that I KNEW were there, I noticed many times their white light blends
in with the rest of the lights on the horizon making it hard to pick
them out. When the kayak is between pilings it makes it even harder.
While I always carried a Visipole 360* light and a headlamp, I felt like
I needed something more noticeable on the water from a safety
standpoint.<br />
<br />
<u>IDEA:</u><br />
<br />
My goal was to create something that was bright, easily recognized, easy
to remove, waterproof, and did not require any holes, mods, etc to the
yak. I wanted this to be something that stood out as a maritime nav
symbol making it easily distinguished from the bridge, cars, and horizon
lights etc.<br />
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<u>SOLUTION / CONSTRUCTION:</u><br />
<br />
What
I came up with was adding RED and GREEN LED strips on the VISIpole.
These LEDs strips can be purchased online or can easily be found at any
auto parts store. They run on a 12v circuit that is produced by 8 AA-
rechargeable batteries. The batteries need to be placed in a series
connection (+) to (-) to produce 12v. The batteries are stored in a
waterproof cell
phone case I found at Walmart for $5 and 8 batteries fit tightly inside.
The case had supports running down the outside -side of the of case to
support the latch. I used a dremel tool to create a perfect fit for a
switch and mounted it into place.<br />
<br />
The lights came in packs of two... 2 red 2 green. I wrapped a little
gorilla tape around the top of the Visi pole to add some diameter to the
pole. From this, I used the adhesive backs of the strips to position
them into place.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDygBJxXOsY/T1kjoBC_oYI/AAAAAAAAADk/k6qGdybvDLE/s1600/battery+box" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDygBJxXOsY/T1kjoBC_oYI/AAAAAAAAADk/k6qGdybvDLE/s320/battery+box" width="239" /></a>On the front of the pole I put a red and green close together to mimic
an oncoming vessel. The next two strips I put on the side to show only
RED or GREEN. From past experience I knew the adhesive strips were not
going to hold the lights permanently so I wrapped the light strips
several times with thin wire. I did this every couple lights and it made
a great hold!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hdg7LCyaHrI/T1klKAZi8EI/AAAAAAAAADs/5n022YfkS-0/s1600/close+up" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hdg7LCyaHrI/T1klKAZi8EI/AAAAAAAAADs/5n022YfkS-0/s320/close+up" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Next I wired all the lights together to one (+) wire and one (–) wire.
Each light had its own wire (8 all together) and I felt like this was
waiting to get tangled in a rod. I ran a single wire down from the
lights at into the battery pack.<br />
<br />
The battery pack is connected to the base of the Visipole using the
attachment cord that came on the waterproof case. This sits it the
middle rod holder of the crate and the switch is easily assessable if
needed.<br />
<br />
To prevent the light from turning off-center in the rod holder, I used
gorilla tape again to increase the diameter of the pole to create a snug
fit in the rod holder… about 2 wraps of tape.<br />
<br />
When I load my kayak I make sure it is facing forward and it does not
take anymore time to load than it did when it was just the Visipole.<br />
<br />
<u>USE:</u><br />
<br />
The light is VERY bright and easily noticed. I have received a lot of
compliments from powerboats and kayakers alike. This was exactly what I
was after… being seen on the water.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3zqLrZLzRM/T1kmS88MXiI/AAAAAAAAAD0/pb_adrZPgws/s1600/photo%288%29.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3zqLrZLzRM/T1kmS88MXiI/AAAAAAAAAD0/pb_adrZPgws/s320/photo%288%29.JPG" width="320" /></a>Because the light shines forward… it also illuminated the paddle blade
as you paddle, creating a larger surface area to be seen… especially
from behind. Another cool thing is the light actually illuminates the
water… when I paddle past the jetty area in 4-5ft of water… I can
actually see the boulders on the sandy bottom and tons of needlefish.
Green lights are also known to attract bait ☺<br />
<br />
Hopefully this will help those who were interested and help the overall
safety of many out on the water. I would enjoy hearing any suggestions
you guys have or see any recreations. Let me know if you have any
questions and Ill try to get more pics.Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877606862962409372.post-76775508340250959162012-03-08T15:43:00.002-05:002012-03-08T19:20:22.124-05:00Laser Fishing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey guys, its Brian (Laser88) and I will be using this blog to upload
videos and pictures from my fishing experiences. I will also be posting
articles and reviews of the gear and rigs I am using for those that are
new to the sport or looking for some ideas. Finally, I do some small
boat sailing (lasers) so I will occasionally post some media from those
when the wind is too strong for fishing. Bookmark the page and enjoy!<br />
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<a imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--m1mcjjqpjQ/T1khgALz7DI/AAAAAAAAADU/hRi3fmX2TMs/s640/collage" width="640" /></a></div>Brian Whaylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10989816434320035984noreply@blogger.com0