DIY ROD REPAIR

Have you ever broke a good fishing rod.  I did.  If it isn't covered by a warranty then you have two choices,  shorten it or repair it.  For this I was able to repair this rod to use with a few things.

1- wire cutters
2- small steel rod cut to slide smoothly 3/4" on each side of break.
4- some braid line
5- two part epoxy adhesive

  Cut your rod and test fit into each side of break.
  Mix epoxy well and coat one half of metal rod and insert into one side of rod then the other to quickly coat both sections of the pole.
  After that is done apply some more then place in one of the sections.
  Apply some more epoxy to the other half of the metal rod and press both sections together and hold till set.  The epoxy I used allows 5 min work time so work fast.
  After that has set apply another coat of epoxy and then start a tight wrap with the braided line applying more epoxy as needed to coat the braid.  The braid will soak up the epoxy and act like a fiberglass reinforcement on the rod.

  After all was set for a day test your rod.  Mine was able to go to work again and saved my fishing pole to catch fish another  day.  Sorry for the bad pics but wasn't sure if it would work at first so I took pics at the end.

Sea Line E Case Waterproof Phone Case

Let me tell you about the Sea Line E Case by Cascade Designs. If you are in need of a phone case to keep your phone out of the elements and still be able to use it this is the case for you.
  I bought this from Wild River Outfitters in Virginia Beach for around $30.00.  The one I got was for an IPOD phone but it fit my phone perfectly. Also use it for my IPOD Classic to play some tunes if I'm on the water.
  Pair this with a clip to keep it accessable on you PFD and a set of waterproof speakers and you will be set for a day on the water without your device getting wet.
  Sea Line makes some great products that fit the need for kayak fishermen. Check them out.

Home Made Gaff

In process of an upcoming fishing trip to the Potomac River area in search of Northern Snakehead. An invasive fish that is on the wanted list that is threatening to possibly take over I have started making a few fishing tools to help with the kill process and landing of this monster.   A few items and you to can make one the same.
Stainless rod bent to shop with a point.
A hammer handle from the hardware store.
Marine Epoxy.  Drill Hole at end of handle insert rod with epoxy and let set.
PAINT.  Get creative.
550 Cord.  Look around on YouTube and you can learn any little weaving techniques to add to your gear.  Even to make your own leashes for your rods.
  With all this together you can now make your own gaff.  And the same above without the hook you will have a nice wacking stick to kill your snakehead monster .  Now get to work and make your own. Later.

Daiwa AIRD 4000SH Reel and Daiwa Procyon Fishing Rod Review

If you are in the market for a new fishing rod to target some inshore Reds, Specks or Flounder this could be something for you.

  I was in the market for a new rod after a car wreck I was in took out one of my Team Daiwa rods.  I stopped by Oceans East 2 to replace to broken one and saw the Procyon line of rods and made the purchase for a 7 ft medium heavy action rod.

   I paired this rod with a Daiwa AIRD 4000SH. An excellent reel with 9 ball bearing, 6-2-1 gear ratio and light weight.

  Over the last week I have been able to give them some good fish getting action in the morning and around lunch time to get a good feel for it and I wasn't disappointed. 

  With the features built into this rod like Minima black ring guides, a durable IM-7 graphite rod blank, micro pitch taping blank and Minima real seat with a woven carbon fiber hood this rods performance will speak for itself.

  While using this rod you will find the ability to make a long cast and with the sensitivity to feel the slightest of nibbles and strength to real in a trophy sized fish I feel this makes an excellent choice for a superior inshore rod.

  Together this rod and reel combo is light weight, comfortable in your hands and will help any angler land there catch in the boat.  You will be happy you got them.

Kayak Fishing Little Yellow Perch Video

This is a little video I put together to test out my camera mount mod.  Sorry about it being short but the batteries on my GoPro didn't charge fully and it died before I got to all the days action.  First YouTube video hope yall like.

YakAttack Dog Bone and YakAttack PanFish Mod

 
Have you ever been out and the camera mount that you were using didn’t want to cooperate.  This was my issue.  The mount I was using had a flexible arm system that I would use to wrap around the top of my fish finder then try and take the picture. 

  I finally had enough of the fiddling around on the kayak trying to take a picture while holding a fish and the camera would start sliding from where I mounted it.   I felt the need for a better system...
  The system I found to be the best setup for my kayak was the Dog Bone from YakAttack. 

  This great system combined with other YakAttack products like the MightyMount, Screwball, and the Fullback for the backing plate.  I would make a solid mount to hold my camera and a versatile mounting base.

  It was now time to install the mount.   For those that feel unsure of how everything goes together Luther from YakAttack has made some very helpful videos and has them available on his website.
 

   For this install I used the help from my twelve year old.  I had an unused mounting location just behind the fish finder.  After drilling four holes for the mounting plate, we then added some sealant.  We secured the mounting plate though the plastic into the Fullback.  The MightyMount comes with all the hardware and tools (minus the drill and bit).  The Fullback plate I purchased seperately from Wild River Outfitters.  The Fullback came with a smaller threaded nuts, but I had some smaller threaded  stainless bolts that I used instead.

  After tightening the bolt, we installed the Screwball to the MightyMount and then installed the Dog Bone to the Screwball.   All there was left to do was now attach my camera or the GoPro for whatever shots I wanted to take.  

This was an extremely easy install.  The amount of time taken to do everything was less than ten minutes.  I now have a great looking and adjustable mounting system without the worry of the camera falling overboard.

  Since I was in the mood to do some installations, I had another project in mind for a YakAttack product I already had.  For the longest time I’ve been using the PanFish to video some of my trips.  The PanFish is another great innovative product that Luther had created.  It mounts to any GearTrac or installed track system that already comes on a factory kayak using the MightyBolt.

  After looking around at some spare parts I had laying around, I came up with a small plan to get a little more from the PanFish that I wanted.

With the use of a Screwball and modifying a bolt, I attached the ball to the base of the PanFish so I could now adjust the angle of the camera for video/picture taking further out from the kayak.  The ball is removable, so if I want to put it back into the track I could do that as well.  I basically made the PanFish into a Longer Dog Bone.

 
 Luther continues to make great innovative products that benefit the kayak fishing community and I’m sure I will get a lot of use from these camera mounts for a long time.

Untill my toes say its time to go.

Feb 17, 2013
Air temp: 32 deg
Water temp: 44 deg
Location: Back to the Northwest River
Wind: 10 to 20 mph gusts

  Woke this morning to meet up with Patrick at the Elizabeth River but was greeted with snow.  After I got the snow off the truck I headed down to the river where we felt that 10 to 20 mph winds was not going to work for us so we headed off to try our luck at the Northwest River.

  Got to the launch at 0900 and grabbed our gear then headed out toward and past the bridges to find some new holes to drop our lines in. 

  Bait of choice for the day was minnow and Beetlespins with minnows.  Right away I found a small school and was able to land two small Yellow Perch. That was about the end of my luck for the day.  After a few hours we headed back toward the bridge and tried there for a while.  Patrick landed some good sized Crappie.  I was also looking for the Crappie but it was not going to be my day.  We stayed till basically our toes said it was time to go home.  Even with the cold it was a great time out on the water.  I will do it again any time.