Cuda (Preview)

My Cuda by Jackson Kayak was delivered to the dealer on Wednesday and I made the short trip today to pick it up. The camo color scheme came out great, enough visibility to be seen yet still be stealthy.
Specs:
•Length: 14.3 ft
•Width: 29.75 wide
•Weight: 74 lbs
•Capacity: 400 lbs
•22 inch wide flat standing platform

This kayak is ideal for fly fisherman with the ability to stand and fish as well as all of the features that are built into it with the fly fisherman in mind.

On the front of the Cuda is an integrated rod tip protector which will come in handy when you use the molded in fly rod stagers (one on each side).
The center hatch has the ability to store items inside the kayak and within easy reach. With the seat in the high position it makes it possible to stand straight up with ease as well as put your fly boxes under it and within reach but still out of the way.
The Cuda is designed for the person who would like to stand up and fish, there is a nice smooth surface to stand in and it is extremely stable.
There are so many well thought out features put into the Cuda that I will save for the review, so as soon as I get a few outings in I will share the report with you.
Merry Christmas,
Robert

Trout time on the Guadalupe

It's that time of year again. The leaves have been falling and the temperature is dropping, and the trout stocking in the Guadalupe River has begun.
A good weapon of choice is a 4wt rod with a 3X or 4X leader. For tippet, try using 5X fluorocarbon. Flies to use are woolly bugger in size 12, San Juan worm, nymphs in size 16/18,thread midges in 20/22, and egg patterns. You will need strike indicators as well as BB shot.
Most of the fishing is subsurface, though on some days dries and emergers will work best, most often at dawn and dusk. The trick is having a fly you can see, parachute patterns are good for that with a good size being 12-16.For fish in riffle water, a dry with a midge dropper is killer.
I can't wait to get out an experience some of the trout fishing that the state has to offer.

Avoiding the lines

Avoiding the temptation to stand in the long lines to save a few bucks, I launched the kayak as most people were waiting for that special deal. Gliding through the water you could lose yourself in the beauty of the changing scenery as winter approaches. With some of the trees starting to shed their leaves and the cypress needles starting to choke the waterway, it made for a rough day with the fly rod as more time was spent removing debris from the fly than fish. Numerous fish were caught on the day with the majority coming on an ant imitation fly, no pictures of bass were taken since every one of them went airborne and politely gave me back my fly. Water temperature is starting to drop as I didn't see any fish cruising around or hanging out in the shallows.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and look forward to the Christmas season.

Fly Rod 002

Started building a new fly rod a few weeks ago and put the final touches to it yesterday. It's a 9ft, 4wt, 4pc built on a TFO Professional series blank. The guides are wrapped in orange with gray trim rings. Won't get to use this one since I built it for someone else. Matched the rod with a Konic 1.5 reel.

After following The Fiberglass Manifesto for the past six months reading up on the growing popularity of glass fly rods, i've decided to build a 3wt out of glass. I have been in contact with Mike McFarland who is a custom builder as well as a custom blank maker. He is going to be making me a glass blank which I will make into a nice stream rod. Can't wait to get started on it

Black "fishing" Friday

While everyone else will be obsessing over the deals that are taking place after 11:59 pm on turkey day, I will be drifting off into dreamland as the visions of bass hitting the popper on a cool fall morning float through my head. Every year the start of Black Friday gets earlier and earlier, yet my internal alarm still awakens me at the same time. While you are standing in the long lines, I will be easing the kayak around the next bend in anticipation of the next explosion. Don't worry about me, i'll still be able to find the deals as stores will continue to drop the prices on the items that will need to be bought.
I just hope the fish aren't out shopping........

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!