I tied on this cheapo fake floating Rapala that I got at wally world a few years back because the color, "electric chicken" was one that I was familiar (and successful) with. So I tied on the cheap chicken - stuck the rod in the flush mount, and started paddling against a wind that was trying to blow me up to Ohio. I wasn't 200 yards from the ramp when the rod indicated a strike and a nice puppy redfish presented itself to be the first ever fish slime for this yak. Had to start all over after unhooking and releasing him since the wind had blown me up to about Lamont. The next strike doubled the rod over - a miss - but when I checked the cheap chicken it had paint gone it the middle - between the two trebles! Started out again and the next strike doubles the rod again and I played with a nice copper colored fish for the next 3 or 4 minutes. When I got him in, I realized that with 2 buckets in the boat and 40 some pounds of tackle - I had no measuring stick. If I had kept him, he would have been 17 and 3/4. He was more likely 19. I intend to go catch him again. I will not complain. I bought the yak to go in search of reds. I found 'em the first time out. I'm happy. I'll get better at this. By the way - further downstream I saw what I thought must be giant spawning trout sows. There were 10 and 12 inch jumpers all around, but these bigger fish would come up and breach like dolphins just showing from behind their head to behind their dorsal .. they would not touch anything I threw at them, but I'm convinced that they were 'gator trout.' Have you seen them? Do you know what I mean?
ps .. went back out on Monday .. not in the yak this time, but with the sob-in-law in his boat to Keaton. Threw the cheap chicken a few times and got my first twofer .. two trout about 10 inches each .. one on the front treble and one on the rear treble.
