I won the LOTTERY!

Not really...well maybe the fish lottery.  The month of February was one to remember!  The weather was exceptional and the BIG fish were biting.  The GoPro has been really handy.  Not necessarily in the cool edits stuff (one more thing I have no talent for).  Rather, I’ve used it like a golfer would to analyze their swing.  I’ve been able to look back at the footage and see exactly what I did, where, how long I let a bait rest and what side a tree a bass came off.  Or in most cases why I suck as a fisherman.  Funny how I’ll remember something completely different than what actually happened and WHERE it happened!  Old age....

When I haven’t been fishing I have been writing fishy tales.  The latest was in Kayak Bass Fishing Magazine, https://issuu.com/chrispayne94/docs/spring_2016_kbfmag, pg 24 “Force of Nature.”  If you review the contributors, you’ll probably recognize some familiar names from the JK team and others that I have a lot of respect for.  Great info in this FREE magazine!

The other story was in the February issue of The Fisherman’s Journal, http://www.joomag.com/magazine/the-fishermans-journal-february-2016-kayak-edition/0642190001455768899, pg 70 “Gifts of Winter.”  Again, the list of contributors is very recognizable and the content they provide is great.  

Between fishing and writing, I’ve been preparing for a trip to the Florida Keys in March.  To me the Keys means fly fishing and I’m pumped!  Knowing I’ll probably only spook everything in sight, I decided to tie up a bunch of salty patterns.  That way I can blame my lack of talent on the tying and not the actual fishing.  The reality is I’m not that talented at either.  Maybe I’ll snag a bone with a poorly presented fly as it’s fleeing from the sight of my ridiculous crab pattern!

The month of February ended great.  Got to spend a weekend with Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters in Hot Springs, AR representing Jackson Kayak at the largest boat show in Arkansas.  Had an awesome time talking to the public about kayak fishing and the outdoors in general.  Plus, getting to hang out all weekend with like-minded individuals is always fun.

Ending this post with a, "was that a gator getting in the water" short clip I made!

Stick around...it's about to get fun!

We're having some great weather around here.  I've been able to get out several times each week and catch a few fish.  

Headed to Florida next month with some guys from JK for my first big trip of the year.  I hope I can get something on video for y'all.  Probably won't but maybe a few of them will.  I'm excited about the chance at permit and bonefish.  Here are a few crab flies I'm sure will scare away anything on the flats. 

In 2 weeks, February 26-28th, I'll be at the Hot Springs, AR boat/RV/tackle show with Ouachita Outdoor Outfitters http://ouachitaoutdoors.com/.  If you like to talk about fishing, come on out.  I'll do my best to find someone with some knowledge on the topic.  Link:  http://www.hotsprings.org/events/event/1583/

Latest video.  Much shorter than the last:

Side Effects

I have a love/hate relationship with winter fishing.  I pretty much hate winter and love fishing.  However, this year I’m loving winter.  Mostly because winter thinks it’s spring.  Instead of freezing cold temperatures and sluggish bites, it’s been warm and the bite has been insane.  Some days the big bass are biting and on other days the numbers are out to play.  It’s been awesome but there are some side effects I wasn’t expecting.

Instead of sitting around in my kayak with popsicles for fingers I’m seriously wondering if I’ll have a sun burn at the end of the day.  That’s my kind of winter fishing.  Also frozen digits have been replaced with bass arm and bass hand.  I explain these conditions for those not familiar. 

Bass arm is the pain associated with the handling of large bass.  It’s an overuse injury resulting from the stress placed on the arm.  Bass arm can have some pain associated but is usually not life threatening.  It can happen to anyone but usually found in those that normally only catch small bass…this guy!   Other than these few symptoms, not much is known about bass arm because no one ever complains about the pain caused from handling large bass. 

Warm enough for these guys to come out

Bass hand, on the other hand, is much more common.  It’s the scaring that happens to the hand from lip gripping large quantities of bass.  Common signs of bass hand include, minor scraping near the thump, slight pain, bragging and showing off of the scared hand to anyone that will make eye contact with the angler.  It’s generally the result of a great day of catching and prized among the angling community.

The remainder of winter I hope to continue experiencing bass arm and bass hand on a regular basis.   I’m sure it’ll get back to normal and I’ll have to hate it again.  Until then, I’m fishing hard and dealing with the side effects of winter fishing

Still here

Still here....fishing daily and playing with the GoPro.  Check out the video.  Until the weather warms or I get a chance to sneak away for some trout, I'll be conventional.  Missing my fly adventures but that's the way it is in Arkansas right now.  The tailwaters are generating at maximum levels. 

Gear Review - Orvis Clearwater 9'/6wt/4pc

Short story:

I'm very impressed with my new Orvis Clearwater 9'/6wt/4pc.  Its been a workhorse for me the last few months.  In some rather unsavory conditions.   

Long Story:

I purchased the Clearwater from the Ozark Angler in September 2015.  I'm not quick to buy new gear without testing it first.  Fortunately, I have a buddy who owns several Orvis fly rods.  Any time I have a question he's quick to offer up his collections.  I first borrowed the Clearwater Janurary 2015.  I kept it for a month using it as a streamer rod.  See post from Jan 2015: 

http://looknfishy.blogspot.com/2015/01/infected-with-fever.html.

I liked it so much I immediately asked my wife if I could buy one.  She quickly replied, "which trip are you not going to take this year?"  Say what!  I'm not sure she understood.  I wanted to buy a new fly rod, not trade a trip for one.  SO...my trips included, Southeast Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, including a few return trips to those areas.  If you would like to read more about those trip.  I posted some highlights on the Jackson Kayak page:
http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/2016/01/10/year-fly/.  

I wanted a light weight fly rod with the action to deliver small dry flies to grass carp and also small articulated to streamers on a sink tip.  It does both very well.  I can throw the Clearwater all day from my kayak without feeling like I just completed a Crossfit workout.  Throwing my 8wt all day is a workout.  Its got the backbone to fight trout, largemouth bass and some pretty large grass carp.

What I've been most impressed with is how its performed in the conditions I have used it.  For the most part when I'm targeting trout the water is clean and free of mud or silt.  Dropping it in a trout stream doesn't worry me.  Those conditions aren't found in my Southeast Arkansas cypress swamps.  Instead of telling you why I'm impressed with the Clearwater.  Let me show you with an example.

On one occasion I was fighting a 40" grass carp from my kayak.  I thought it was ready to be landed.  I got in the water and sank to my calves in the mud.  Guess what happened when I was ready to CPR the carp?  It was NOT ready and ran between my legs...still hooked!  I did my best Russell Wilson side-step and spin trying to avoid JJ Watt.  I'll be 39 in two weeks so I move like Peyton Manning hobbled by a torn planter fascia. 

I went to avoid the collision but couldn't move because I'm not athletic.  I lost my balance and started to fall backwards as the carp was splitting the double team.  I couldn't get my feet unstuck and drug the tip of the rod through the mud...seriously all 9ft passed between my legs and through the mud.  I fell backwards landing hard on my a$$ and drove the reel deep into the mud.  

My local water

I was certain I would be testing out the Orvis warranty and the customer service I've heard so many great things about.  However, after closer examination everything looked good.  That's tough and something I need in a fly rod.  I have limited space in my kayak and I'm hard on gear (see above).  There's a real possibility I'm going to bang it off a overhanging tree branch, sink it in mud, or skewer a cypress tree.  I need gear that can stand up to that kind of abuse.  The Orvis Clearwater has met all my expectations and more.  I have zero complaints.

See it in action here:

Check out my other fly fishing videos on my YouTube channel:  Looknfishy on YouTube

Other gear reviews:
Orvis Encounter 9'/8wt/4pc
Orvis Recon and Hydros SL review

Orvis Silver Sonic wader review