Trip report:Kayaks, TCs and Fish on deck

It would seem that whenever I get a new toy I go whole hog and jump right into the deep end. A few weeks back I bought a new sit on top Kayak and I have spend most of my free time getting it set up and going fishing at the local lakes just putting it on top of the Volvo. It turns out that it was probably good that I did that as I learned how to really secure it to the cross bars. My friend Pat screwed a deck cleat into the roof of his lance to which he hooked in a bow line, I decided that I do not like the idea of more holes and possible roof leaks so I investigated alternatives on the net.

I hauled the kayak up with a knotted rope ( note always have TC on the truck and the jacks extended and touching the ground for stability while doing this) It only took 10 minutes to get the Kayak lashed down to the Thule cross bars with ratchet straps ( snug not tight) then you take the tails of the straps and drop them through the scupper holes and tie them to the rack cross bar as a back up in case of mechanical failure







I also used one ratchet over the kayaks bow forward of the cross bars to hold the nose down to remove any excess lift stress on the crossbar tower to rail spring loaded interface




The furry kids assumed their usual riding positions



then Kozmo decided to join big brother Jake riding shotgun. Watson stayed in the back snoozing




I stopped at Bass Pro to pick up a set of scupper mounted wheels to haul the kayak to the water. figured $60 was better that throwing my back out carrying it.


Campsite is perfect. in the overflow dirt lot, dry camping no one within 300 yards



Lake is beautiful



Landed 3 of these guys tonight using a #14 woolybugger on a 6x tippet
http://youtu.be/EZ7FoYm52_M


Dinner was good, Cajun spiced Fish and a salad


Good company



Exhausted after two 3 hour fishing/kayaking sessions I passed out at 9pm

At 5:45 am I awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the Sierras while letting the dogs run loose and do their business


camp at sunrise


then it was time to carbo load then go do some more fishing



The Bluegill were biting I got two with the wooly bugger then noticed that something was hitting the yellow foam indicator on the leader so I switched to a small yellow bass popper and caught two more before the wind kicked up something awful and I decided to head for shore and call it a day


morning fishing video
http://youtu.be/MEMDMeeL1pA

I think I tuckerd ol jake out


Last look at the lake


Me, the dogs, a tc, Kayak, fishing, good food and Beer. perfect weekend. And to be perfectly honest I never knew that Bluegill were so dang fun to catch. These were the very first ones I ever caught.

There was a high wind warning on the Altamont Pass of I580 and the message sign said to reduce speed so I stayed in the far right and putted up at 45 and still got buffeted fairly hard

Now did anyone get the number of the truck what hit me? I am totally worked. Still have to take they Yak off the roof and sweep out the tc.