CXFishing

For this next issue, I decided to capture my top 10 wildlife photos for the month of May. I shoot thousands of photos throughout the month which can be viewed through my wildlife site at https://changlorwildlife.smugmug.com/. These 10, however, were memorable due to its surprising encounter!

All these photos were shot from my kayak: Feelfree Moken 12.5 v2; a workhorse of a kayak that combines speed, stability, and tracking.

Feelfree Moken 12.5 v2

Common Carp

I had an unfortunate – but spectacular – encounter with hundreds of spawning common carps. From the moment I launched my kayak to the moment I returned to shore, the carps were surfacing the refuge nonstop, which made for great photo op to showcase their size and fearlessness. There were moments while spawning the carps would smack the side of my kayak, rocking me; they are tough!

Raccoon

While paddling along the marsh, I came face to face with a young raccoon foraging the grassy shoreline. Although the encounter was short, the curious woodland critter didn’t shy away from seeing who was on the other side of the grass. I don’t know if it was my camouflage attire or Moken, but the raccoon took a few seconds to register what I was.

Bald Eagle

A mature bald eagle and her young nest. I frequently visit this county park over the past three years since moving to my new home. This is the first year I’ve seen this nest. Both eagles were continually adding wooded materials onto their nests in preparation for the incubation of their eggs.

Turkey Vulture

Imagine floating down the river and passing by a group of turkey vultures perched along the shoreline and nearby trees. That’s what happened while I took this shot and continued my float. They were sheltering from the high winds this day. Although they spotted me, all I had were motionless glares; spooky, but surprising!

Eastern Kingbird

The return of the kingbird also brought back with him a hungry appetite for emerging flies along the river. I had a memorable time photographing kingbirds flying from branch to branch eating flies along the riverbank. As I continue to see them more frequent going into the summer, I’m reminded of how aggressive they actually are with their appetite and intolerance for birds of prey. I have seen kingbirds chase away eagles within their nesting ground.

Yellow Warbler

The warblers have also returned with a hungry appetite. The flies are abundant giving these birds and all birds great opportunity to feed in preparation for nesting season. Their vibrant plumage makes them easy to catch, but not the easiest to photograph as they dart back and forth seeking flies.

Painted Turtle

The ease in getting into tight waterways is an absolute advantage of owning a kayak. This photo was made possible due to just that, captured in a windless bay surrounded by the songs of warblers and orioles.

Groundhog

One of the most memorable encounter I’ve had on any of my kayaking trip was this moment. What I thought was a squirrel turned out to be a groundhog scurrying the woody shoreline. It spotted me while hiding behind a tree in the most cliché-spying way. 30 seconds later, the groundhog scattered off into a giant log, presumably its den.

Common Snapping Turtle

A yearling basking in the sun after months of hibernating. I floated motionlessly, allowing the wind to track me towards the turtle that produced this image. Amazing that these guys can live up to 40 years!

Forster’s Tern

I encountered a flock of about a dozen terns hunting – or fishing – for baitfish throughout the marsh. Their tolerance to people allowed for close capturing of these majestic birds. I learned they are endangered in Wisconsin due to loss of habitat from deforestation and flooding, but making a recovery due to the efforts of artificial nesting grounds for them.

Thank you for viewing and reading this series! If you are interested in viewing my entire wildlife gallery and/or ordering my work, please visit https://changlorwildlife.smugmug.com/. Thank you!

Saturday, 4/15 – The first official weekend where our surrounding lakes are ice-free! Wisconsin saw record-high temps the past few days, which really helped to melt any remaining ice on the water. I satisfactorily put on my drysuit, loaded my Feelfree Moken 12.5″ and headed out to a local lake to do some wildlife watching. This is my favorite time of the year: migratory waterfowls returning, courting, and bringing new life into the world. I was also excited to just be back on the water enjoying a good paddle while observing the environment. Spring has not sprung here in Wisconsin yet, but I am optimistic that April showers will bring May flowers and with it, new life.

The six outings I was able to do for the month of April were dreary conditions with low light and snow flurries and/or light rain (or both…). Thankfully, I had weatherproof camera gear to allow me to continue shooting and take on the opportunity of shooting in “creative” lighting environment.

The Feelfree Moken 12.5 remained as reliable as ever while paddling and photographing wildlife. The combination of stability and tracking allowed for simple maneuvering through the marsh.

Please enjoy the following wildlife highlights of my trip this month, through the lens! To view full gallery, visit https://changlorwildlife.smugmug.com. All photos were taken from the Feelfree Moken 12.5 v2!

↓ Feelfree Moken 12.5 v2 ↓

↓ Bald Eagle Nestoration ↓

↓ Red-winged Blackbird ↓

↓ Tree Swallow ↓

↓ Belted Kingfisher ↓

↓ Eared Grebe ↓

↓ Ducks In Flight ↓

↓ Yellow-rumped Warbler ↓

↓ Great Egret ↓

↓ American White Pelican ↓

↓ Soft-shell Turtle ↓

↓ Muskrat ↓

↓ Sandhill Crane ↓

↓ Green Heron ↓

↓ Great Blue Heron ↓

And when the wildlife viewing is slow, fish on!

Thanks for reading and viewing!

Tyler Thiede of Small Craft Fisherman and I have long wanted to do a multi-day kayak camping excursion on the MS river. This year, we had the opportunity to float a stretch on Pool 4 from Maiden Rock, WI to Pepin, WI.

After weeks of careful planning, mocking our kayaks for storage, and mapping out the float trip, we were ready to begin the journey. Tyler and I were not oblivious to the adventures of river floats. We have done many outings on local rivers and this multi-day float would be that next step in the kayaking experience.

DAY ONE

Tyler and I arrived at Maiden Rock, WI, Point A, for the launch. Thank you to Tyler’s wife, Stacy, for being our transport and dropping Tyler’s car off at point B. The cool, dusk air has slowly faded as the day began to warm up. We launch off of our Feelfree Moken 12.5′ v2s and begin our journey down the Mighty Mississippi, aka Lake Pepin on this stretch. The wind was calm; we casted a few topwater and finesse across the open lake while getting our bums ready for the long float. There were no catches for the first one to two hours, but when one is out on a kayak camping adventures, the scenes of nature should also be caught and captured. Shad were swimming in school of dozens and the scattering of thousands of mayflies along the shoreline were breathtaking (and annoying). While floating down the river, we counted dozens of eagles from nearby and afar, both adolescents and mature.

For the first few miles of floating, it was just that: talking, observing nature while nature observed us.

Towards the later afternoon, we did a rest stop in Stockton, WI, thinking their campsite would be opened for camping (sadly, it was closed, potentially due to plumbing/water issues). Being the quick-wit that he was, Tyler announced plan B, which was camping along sandbars. This was a more adventurous option, and we did come out to venture so this fit our impromptu agenda. A few miles down from Stockton, we stopped by a quarter-mile long sandbar to have dinner and set up camp.

I fell into a deep sleep for a few hours, being massaged by the sand. Tyler stayed up for most of the night and was able to capture some scenic landscapes. By the time I woke up, the sun has set and the mayflies have begun to fly across the shoreline of the sandy beach. The sound of waves crashing and fishes splashing from feeding on the mayflies was enough to end the night.

DAY 2

I woke up to the condensation from the cool night dripping on my face. My tent on the inside and out were cool and wet, which was a great wake-up call because this was going to be one of the best mornings I’ve had this year (possibly ever). The lake was motionless, mayflies were out and about, ripples could be seen throughout the shoreline from the feeding frenzy, and temperature were cool enough where if I needed to warm up a bit, I’d dip my feet into the still-warm sandy waters. I observed the feeding frenzy and decided to toss a lure that would mimic a minnow. One regret ran through my mind, which was not bringing along my fly rod. Mayflies coming down to the water are instantly taken by the fish underneath. I rigged up an inline spinner onto my spinning combo and casted as far as I could, slowly reeling, waiting for that hit. After a few casts, I finally got a bump on my lure and pulled in an 11″ smallmouth bass. I wasn’t expecting anything big; the bites that I have been seeing across the shoreline were small. Nevertheless, this was a GREAT sign! The fish are going crazy! I continued to cast out the inline spinner and caught a few more smallies, including a 15.” I also caught a white bass, which was shocking to me because I really didn’t know what I’d catch on the riverbed.

As much as Tyler and I wanted to fish longer, it was time to move along if we wanted to hit our next destination: Pepin, WI. We packed up our camping and fishing gear and proceeded down the river. With the weather quickly warming up, we prepared for the paddle. Many boaters were already out in the morning and waves have started to emerge throughout the river. Thankfully, the Mokens were well-built to handle these types of waterways.

A few miles of floating later, we reached the harbor in Pepin, WI. This area was not kayak-friendly with all the boats and waves; but we were destined to land. It wasn’t a surprise that we were the only kayakers by the harbor; I don’t imagine any inexperienced or recreational kayakers wanting to partake in activities with these big boats.

We shored our Mokens and sat with our drinks and planned for the rest of the trip, whether to continue onward for the next few miles or cut the trip short. After much thought, we decided to end the trip a day early. As much as we wanted to continue he journey, there was a storm brewing up in the evening. Considering we were going to camp again on sandbars, the increased water level was a concern to us. Although the trip was cut short, the trip was one in the books and allowed me to better prepare for future multi-day floats.

What I’ve Learned…

Multi-day kayak camping takes on a whole new level to kayaking. The amount of energy one needs to use and conserve is significant. Balancing time to fish, float, paddle, and set up camp has to all be thoroughly planned for the entire trip. I’m glad Tyler was able to get this set for us. The most memorable part about the trip was the scenic view throughout the entire float. I thought I would be fishing most of the trip, but time was more spent on exploring new bodies of water.

I admit I was unprepared for the amount of water I would be covering. I bought 30 17-oz water bottles for the trip and I went through half of it the first day. Have we continued the trip, I would have had to drink river water (kidding!).

I was able to research and prepare for the entirety of the trip. After reflecting and taking into consideration what I used, needed, should have, here are a list of ESSENTIAL supplies I would bring with me for my next kayak fishing camping excursion:

• Paddle
• Paddle leash
• Life jacket
• Spare clothes
• Water (plan for 1-2 gallons a day; much of your energy will be consumed from paddling)
• Snacks (chips, beef sticks, sunflower)
• Food (I brought tortilla wraps, canned tuna, spinach)
• Working phone/communication device
• Chargers + batter packs for phone/communication devices
• Tent
• Blanket
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Hand wipes
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Portable propane grill/stove
• Propane
• Flashlights/lights
• Hi-vis pole/flag
• Matches/lighter

Add’l Photos

Enjoy some more photos from the trip!

Photos contributed by Tyler Thiede

IT DEPENDS ON YOU, but you will quickly learn that your first fishing kayak purchase will not be your last. This article will give you a brief comparison between a sit-inside and a sit-on-top kayak and what is most preferred for kayak fishing. Keep on reading!

***Scroll towards the end of this article for answer.

The advantageous part about kayaking is the ability to diverge into many water sport activities. One of these activities include kayak fishing. Both sit-inside (SIS) and sit-on-top (SOT) can be used for kayak fishing. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, though. If you decide that kayak fishing is an activity you would like to try out and potential do regularly, there are reasons to go with one over the other.

First, let’s compare the differences between SIS and SOT kayaks.

DESIGN: SIS kayaks have a hollowed-out hull design allowing the person to sit inside the kayak via a [typically circular] cockpit. SOT kayaks have a relatively horizontal and leveled deck allowing hull space to be use for storage, stability, and buoyancy. SIS kayak’s narrow design allows the vessel to cut through water; great for recreational kayaking and giving the person dependency with the kayak. SOT kayaks push water with its less-narrow hull design, but maintains stability.

SPEED: When comparing speed between both a SIS and SOT kayaks, SIS kayaks are traditionally faster and are built for speed. Sitting low to the water allows for more paddle-water contact, creating a more constant speed. SOT kayak’s high seating and wider design makes the user more prone to constant speed. Generally, as a rule of thumb, the narrower the kayak, the more speed it will pick up as it cuts through the water. There are a few SOT kayaks that are more narrow versus wide as shown on the image above on the right.

COMFORT: When comparing comfort, SOT [fishing] kayaks are built for duration. The kayak fishing industry has invested much to ensure anglers are getting a comfortable seat to endure hours on the water. I have fished with SIS kayak anglers and after an 8-hour float, their back starts to hurt due to stiffness. With a SOT kayak, you have the option to stand and stretch if needed. Additionally, the seats are normally comfortable and allows you to sit higher from the water, as if you were sitting on a chair. The industry does acknowledge the importance of comfort and are ergonomically developing products to enhance the fishing experience.

STABILITY: When comparing stability between both a SIS and SOT kayak, SOT kayaks are far more stable due to the wider hull design, allowing user to sit higher and stand without wobbliness. The V-shape design of SIS kayaks tends to rock the kayak, which can be more of a hinder if trying to stand (I would NOT recommend standing in a SIS kayak). A stable platform is essential when fishing to maintain balance when casting, setting the hook, and reeling in the fish.

MOBILITY: When comparing mobility between a SIS and SOT kayak, a SIS will allow the user to control the kayak more because they will be the center of the kayak on both axis. This allows the SIS kayak to easily track without having to battle wind resistance. A SOT kayak will struggle with tracking due to wind resistance on the angler and paddle. There are certain SOT kayaks that track well regardless, but the U shape hull will need additional effort to track the kayak.

WEIGHT: When comparing weight, SIS are traditionally lighter than SOT kayaks. SIS kayaks are normally under 50 lbs and SOT kayaks are above 50lbs. The weight depends on the design of the kayak and material use. Traditionally SOT kayaks are built for convenience outside of recreational paddling, such as fishing. SIS kayaks are built more for recreational kayaking where the need for excessive weight is unnecessary. When I still had my SIS kayak, I was able to carry it over my shoulder or above my head with no problem. With a SOT kayak now, I have to use my vehicle/trailer support to get the kayak mounted.

ACCESSORIES: SIS kayaks do not offer much accessories to enhance the fishing experience as compared to a SOT kayak, which can be equipped with rudder, pedal drive unit, rod holders, and storage. Kayak fishing industry primarily develop and market products towards SOT kayaks, but a little creativity and DIY will allow for add-on features on both a SIS or SOT kayak. Realistically, all you need to kayak fish is a kayak and a fishing pole. All other accessories, specs, and features are tools used for convenience.

RE-ENTERING: Because of the hollow design and cockpit, a SIS kayak is quite difficult to re-enter if tipped over and suddenly filled with water. Whitewater kayaks can be re-entered quickly if educated and trained properly, but a SIS fishing kayak is more difficult. SIS fishing kayak may require rescue or drag to shoreline to drain out water. A SOT kayak has scupper holes across the deck that allows for water to exit. Because the hull is dry, water will not enter it regardless if the kayak tips upside down; this is an advantage with SOT kayaks. If for some reason you do capsize or the SOT kayak tips over, it is simple to re-enter because the kayak will stay dry inside the hull and remain buoyant. The angler, however, do need to learn how to re-enter properly without exhausting themselves. I try to practice kayak re-entry at least once or twice a year. I have also created a video on two ways to re-enter a SOT kayak: from the front, or the side. Commonly with a SOT kayak, the angler is the one that falls overboard while the kayak stays stabilized. This is not to say that it is impossible to enter a sit-in fishing kayak when it does capsize, but may require a buddy to hold the kayak steady so it does not rock back and forth; this is also assuming your SIS kayak has not been filled with water. If your SIS is full of water, use a bilge pump to pump out the water. I HIGHLY recommend carrying a bilge pump with you if you choose to purchase a SIS fishing kayak; I would even carry one for a SOT kayak in case of an emergency.

ANSWER: Sit-on-top kayak. There are a few selections of SIS kayaks designed for kayak fishing, but the kayak fishing industry is primarily marketed towards SOT kayaks. If you have ever observed or gone to a kayak fishing event, you will notice that majority of anglers use SOT kayaks. SOT kayak’s stable deck allows angler to fish sitting down or standing. The deck also allows for a dry hull that will not sink if someone were to capsize. The scupper holes on SOT kayaks will allow water to freely drain. SOT kayaks are normally costlier than SIS kayaks, but SOT becomes advantageous with features that can turn it into a fishing convenience such as rudder-capability, pedal-drive capability, more DIY options, deck space, dry hull for storage, and ease of re-entry. There are reasons to get a SIS kayak if an angler feels more comfortable sitting low to the water and like a lighter kayak for transport and mobility. If you are committed to kayak fishing and long trips are on your agenda, a SOT kayak will be a more ergonomic and convenient choice. Whether inland or offshore kayak fishing, you will realize that the type of kayak you select matters; it’s about personal preference, but also geographical preference!

The next step is WHICH SOT kayak to purchase. This will be tabled for another article, but I advise doing some research on select brand and live demos if you are able to. I own a few Feelfree SOT kayaks and will gladly assist you in selecting the right kayak for your need! Remember that whichever fishing kayak you decide will probably not be your last. To get the most out of your kayak, try and initially find one that is right for you. Enjoy shopping and welcome to the kayak fishing world!

Before continuing, I’d like to thank Tyler Thiede of Small Craft Outfitters and Small Craft Fisherman for his help and assistance with transforming the utility trailer to a kayak trailer. Much, much appreciated.

Prior to purchasing a trailer, I spent hours researching various trailers’ sizes, weight, material, and brand to see the best fit for me. I was looking for a trailer that could transport at least two kayaks. There were a ton in the market, new and used. However, the prices of new trailers exceeded my budget; and the used trailers did not meet my expectations. Upon my search for a trailer, I spoke with Tyler and he steered me towards the Harbor Freight 1090 lbs. Capacity 40-1/2 in x 48 in Utility Trailer, which was at a discount at the time of purchase for about $260. I spent a good amount of time reading reviews for this trailer, both positive and negative feedback, and contemplated on purchase. Based on Tyler’s recommendation, I made the purchase for that trailer; it did come disassembled so I spent a good week assembling the utility trailer. Looking back now, I was glad to have assembled this trailer to better understand the ins and outs of it in case any issue arises. If you have the time and capacity to assemble your own trailer, I would recommend it!

The trailer jack was purchased separately knowing I’d be physically moving the trailer in and out of my garage. The U-bolt spare tire carrier and spare tire were also purchased separately as well. Also, based on Tyler’s recommendation and past experience, the Bearing Buddy was also purchased for continuous grease application onto wheel bearing.

Upon completion of assembling and wiring the utility trailer, it was time to transform it into a kayak trailer. I only had one minor issue which might have occurred during assembling, but one of the side markers went out. Not a big issue as it was easily troubleshooted. I have no experience with building a trailer, so I reached out to Tyler for the help. Below are a list of supplies used to construct the kayak trailer:

• Two PVC tubes for kayak to sit on
• Two PVC elbow hub
• XtremepowerUS Pick-up-rack 650 Lbs Adjustable Universal Fit 2 Bars Utility Ladder Truck Pick up Rack
• Insulated pipe insulation
• Carpet
• T-tracks
• A bunch of hardware: hex nuts, hex bolts, washers, etc

I used this trailer throughout the 2019 season and had minimmal issues. I have driven on rough roads and gravels and there are the occasional bump from lesser weight, but nothing dramatic. On highways, I was able to go at a constant 70 mph for 200 miles (longest travel so far on trailer). Overall, I have put in a near 2,500 miles on the trailer in 2019. This purchase that I made was a great addition to my kayak fishing voyage. I will continue to use this trailer throughout 2020 as I do more traveling in state.