View from the Cockpit, September 1, 2008
JULY IN THE KAYAK FISHING BIZ - Our favorite four-letter mid-summer month offered up more than fireworks. In Vegas, ICAST attendees braved 114 degrees of pavement-melting heat just to get a look at the newest crop of bleeding-edge fishing tools. Shimano claimed the Best of Show hardware for the reworked Curado E. If nothing else, it gets my More Bang for the Buck award - this glitter reel is $50 cheaper than the prior model.

The evolution of Abu Garcia's sweet little low-pro powerhouses, the tasty Revos, continued with the new go-get-'em Toro. With a wider spool and more line capacity, this saltwater ready machine is into big-game territory.

In other kayak-centered ICAST news, Shakespeare is etching their mass-market name onto a pair of ready to rock fishing kayaks. Grab and go is the watch-word for these boats built by Emotion. Few kayak shops carry Emotion's rides here in the West, so the deal could mean another option for local anglers.

There was much more: Berkley Gulp Alive in a new, near leak-proof jar; a bunch of sick FireLine braids, including the cool new alternating-color Tracer; a bevy of improved RAM rod and accessory holders; a two-in-one DSC VHF / GPS from Lowrance, the LHR-80; an entire line of reworked Quantum PTI reels; and sticks that stick it to ridiculous airline baggage surcharges, the beefy conventional Nomad travel rods from Okuma. And that's what we get out of a year that was more evolutionary than revolutionary. Not bad.

Pop some corn: Jim Sammons must be living right, 'cause he's in the midst of an all-expenses paid tour of the world's kayak fishing sweet spots - and we get to come along as he fishes it up with the hottest sticks going. Kayak Fishing Game On debuts this spring. For now, catch a taste of the ripping action at www.KayakFishingMovie.com.

Get High: When it's time to wash the salt off your skin, you can't go wrong with a trip up the hill to any of California's high spots. In the past month I sampled the best of two trout worlds at Big Bear Lake and the Sierras.

SoCal's Big Bear Lake is a sparkling gem up at 8,000 ft, less than half a tank of gas from the LA metro area. The trout here, the 'native' pink meats that wait out winter's ice cap, bite all summer. Launch at Boulder Bay, the north shore, or for the ultimate easy experience, toss a pair of 'yaks on one of Big Bear Marina's pontoon boats and cruise. Just remember to fish deep.

And oh, the incredible Sierras. One could spend a lifetime here, at places such as family-friendly Pinecrest Lake, on the western slope near Sonora. A bit more driving gets a kayak angler to the Eastern Sierras and spots such as scenic Bridgeport and the Mammoth Loop, where I dragged a kayak up an old mining trail with Mammoth Kayaks operator and fellow kayak fishing nut Rob Witherill. Take some time to get your trout on - you won't regret it.

Two great tastes that taste better together: The OEX family of kayak fishing centers has joined forces with San Diego Kayak Adventures. The partnership brings the fishy boats of Wilderness Systems into SoCal's 'Mile-of-Kayaks' dealer network, which already included Hobie, Malibu, and Ocean Kayak. Check out the new joint effort at the newly remodeled former Anglers Yak Shack location in San Diego. www.oeexpress.com/kayak-fishing

Here's August's Mega-Update:
Buzz Cut: Mow the Weeds with a Kelp Cutter Rig

Safety Snippets: Tips to Keep you Kayak Fishing

Kayak Workshop: North Coast User Mods

The Saltwater Basser's Quiver: How Top Anglers Gear up for Plastic Navy Competition

Unbelievable: Weird and Wacky Kayak Fishing Tales

KZ's Reel Look at Kayak Rods

Shortcut the Learning Curve: California Kayak Fishing Guides at a Glance

Twin Lakes, Brideport: One of the Eastern Sierra's Special Places

Family Fun Spot, Tuolumne County's Pinecrest Lake

Big Bass Sizzle at Newport, Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Report

View from the Cockpit, July 1, 2008
A SUMMER CHOCK FULL OF KAYAK FISHING FUN - June flew by, full of good stuff like Plastic Navy's Newport tourney ('Happy' Howerton strikes again), bass fishing with Hobie at Barrett (look Ma, no hands), an eerie and adventuresome foggy Friday at La Jolla, and much more. I hope you and yours got in on the good times. Wherever you wet your lines, keep on kayak fishing!

If you're not getting the recommended daily allowance of water time, you need the next best thing, a virtual supplement. The July edition of Canoe and Kayak is full of quality paper paddle fishing, including a look at the newest crop of fishy boats by yours truly.

I teamed up with East Coast outdoor writer Ric Burnley to test out the Emotion Grand Slam, Hobie Mirage i12s, Hurricane Phoenix 160, Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident, Native Magic 14.5, and Wildy Tarpon 120 Ultralite. There's not a dud in the bunch.

A self-congratulatory pat on the back: Before we get to what's new on the site, let's revisit a classic from last year. When the Tax Man Cometh, my WON column discussing the first documented white shark on fishing kayak crunching, was honored with an Excellence in Craft award from the Outdoor Writers Association of California. Here it is in case you missed it: How to Avoid the Tax Man

Shameless plug #1: Mammoth Kayaks, the Eastern Sierra's first fishing kayak outfitter and rental service, is up and running. Proprietor, all-around nice guy and trout nemesis Rob Witherill runs the show out of the cool little mountain town of Mammoth Lakes. Check them out at www.mammothkayaks.com.

Shameless plug #2: As much as we love to fish, there are other great ways to spend time on the water. One of the most fun I've ever experienced is the rocking and rollicking raft trip down the Main Tuolumne run just outside Yosemite. In early June I hitched an 18-mile ride with whitewater outfitter Sierra Mac. We challenged class IV+ rapids with names like Pinball, Rock Garden, and Clavey Falls. The adrenaline high still hasn't worn off. Find them on the web at: www.sierramac.com. - PL

The New Stuff:
Isles of Adventure: Kayak Fishing California's Channel Islands

Letting 'em Go: Releasing Fish the Right Way

Wading into the Wader Controversy

Beach Launch Baja: Brave the Waves for a Taste of Northwest Baja's Bounty

Islander Kayakers Hunt SCI Flatties, Calicos

View from the Cockpit, May 23, 2008
MOTHERSHIP ME! - May and June might as well be called the mothership months here in SoCal. It’s the time of year when most sportfishing boats are still tied up to the dock, waiting for the season to really get cracking.

Not so for the Islander and Qualifier 105. These two boats pile on the kayaks and point the bow toward exotic action.

I was lucky to spend time on both this spring. The Islander was up first. I admit it was like coming home; skippers Shane Slaughter and John Coniff have run their mainstay 1.5-day San Clemente Island trips for four years.

Talk about dialed-in. These guys really "get" kayak fishing, giving their riders free reign to fish hard - even far from the boat. This is the deep end of the pool, mana for the hardcore crowd, but not really suited for novices.

The Qualifier crew plays things a bit safer. They put eight first-time kayakers on their 3-day northern Baja expedition, and kept everyone close to the boat. We fished the beach at Colonet, spent a day a Isla San Martin, and parked for a few fishing hours a bit south of Rosarito. We even fished a few high spots on the big boat, tallying a bunch of excellent-eating vermillion rockfish.

San Martin was a first-rate destination, with tremendous variety and excellent potential for trophy calicos and the powerful pelagics that get us going. The others were coastal spots and really didn't offer enough variety to suit a full-on paddle-fishing maniac. The novices? They ate it up! Those guys are hooked for sure.

Whichever boat's your cup of grog, both provide first-class service, stuff anglers with tasty home-cooked meals, and offer stateroom accommodations and the all-important hot showers. Go for a ride! - PL

View from the Cockpit, April 28, 2008
A 'YAKKER TAKES HUGE POWER BOAT FIELD TO THE BRINK - Wilderness Systems pro staffer Mark Pierpont made kayak fishing history earlier this month at the huge Marina del Rey Halibut Derby. His 35-lb flatty was just a couple pounds shy of first place and missed second by mere ounces. Scroll down or click over to Hot Bites for a look at his magnificent flatfish.

The fantastic floating kayak fishing home base Islander is up and running for 2008. The first trip ran to San Clemente Island's crystal clear waters. The pelagics didn't show, but a trio of worthy halibut made the count. Calico fishing was slower than usual for the legendary island, but the quality was there. Several more trips are on the books and the fishing should only improve. Secure your spot! islander-charters.com

On the subject of kayak halibut fishing, let's dive in a little deeper and see how one of SoCal's hottest sticks racks up the numbers. Talk about methodical. Learn how to Scratch for Flat Ones. Click here.

In other news, Plastic Navy's first 2008 Tournament Trail contest is in the books. Tough tides made for scratchy fishing at Mission Bay, but Brian Sanner solved the puzzle and notched his first PN victory. Read the rest. Click here.

The Eastern Sierra trout season is finally underway. The range of light holds more first rate trout fishing than a kayak angler can shake a stick at. Check it out, kayak style. Click here.

View from the Cockpit, April 5, 2008
TOO MUCH GOOD STUFF - Pause a moment before you cast that enormous 'calico candy' MC Slug (you stocked up at the Hall shows, right?). There's a lot doing just now.

Fresh off its Irvine Lake invasion, Plastic Navy is days away from kick-off of its 2008 Tournament Trail at Mission Bay. Be there on April 12.

The 2008 kayak fishing event scene is just getting started. Check the KFZ Event Guide to see what's in store. Click here.

Or take a tour of mysterious Elk. NorCals are still sweating out the long wait until rockfish season opens. In the meantime preview Cali's annual Kayakstock - the Elk Rockfish Fiesta. Click here.

There's more; this is a mega update for KFZ. Other new stories:

Hit the Water a Hot Stick: Tips for Tournament Trail Newcomers

Kayaks on the Fishing Edge: Half a Dozen Catchy 'Yaks

A Stack of Budget 'Yaks - Break into Kayak Fishing on the Cheap

Kayak Workshop: Waterproof Fishfinder Fittings

View from the Cockpit, March 15, 2008
MALIBU'S X-13 DEBUTS - Got a wandering eye? You're not alone. When a new boat hits the block, few kayak fishermen can resist stealing a look.

Go ahead and drink in the view. Malibu Kayak's hot new X-13 shows off sexy lines. This baby's got curves in all the right places. Check out that upswept bow.

But she's got more than good looks. The X-13 is built for all kinds of fishing fun. There's room for rod holders galore, and plenty of storage via a cockpit hatch and Malibu's trademark big beauty up front.

The boat's most intriguing feature is hiding beneath the new 'gator hatch lite.' It's a drained well - think of it as a covered tankwell. Malibu calls it a fish hold.

Want to stash rods in the boat? Don't fret. There's room on the bulkhead for a round hatch. That's right, this baby goes both ways! Go the fish hold route, or plug the scupper and use the bow well for additional secure storage.

Time to put this baby through her paces. Check back soon for a full review of Malibu's new X-13.

View from the Cockpit, February 25, 2008
FRED HALL - The western angler's answer to Groundhog Day is nearly here. Of course I'm talking about the huge Fred Hall Fishing Show. When it takes over the Long Beach Convention Center, fishing prime time can't be far behind.

This year the Show runs from March 5 to 9 - typically when the first white seabass show up. Hah! The ghosts came early this year (see Hot Bites below).

Seabass aside, the Show is a kayak fishing tour de force, jam-packed with the best new boats, seminars galore, and WAY too much great tackle. And someone will win one of the hottest new boats, the fishy Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident. The free contest is courtesy of OEX Angler's Yak Shack. Get your entry at the Show!

PLASTIC NAVY'S FRESHWATER MISSION - A long time coming, Plastic Navy's freshwater debut at Irvine Lake is sure to make a big splash. A people-powered flotilla is taking over the trout-filled lake on March 15.

Limber up your light sticks. The heaviest 3-fish stringer will take top honors. Rinse off the salt! Read how at www.kayakfishnation.com

View from the Cockpit, February 11, 2008
The kayak angler's bookshelf is a short one. There's Ken Daubert's aging but pioneering tome, Kayak Fishing the Revolution, and more recent offerings such as Kayak Fishing the Ultimate Guide, a gorgeous coffee table book but short on the hardcore scale.

Move them on over, there's a new book in town. The Complete Kayak Fisherman by Ric Burnley is an instant classic.