Jackson Cuda Kayak Review

You may say this review comes a little late. I did not want to post a review until I put the Jackson Kayaks Cuda through a full test. First the likes: Jackson has the #1 sit on top seat in the world. The cool mesh, comfort and ability to go from the low paddle position to the high fishing position to moving it to the back so you can stand and fish makes it amazing. Even though the Native Ultimate and now the Native Slayer are close, Jackson Kayak nailed it. It looks like Hobie has taken notes and has incorperated the same style seats into the 2012 Hobie Pro Angler 12 and now the 2013 Pro Anger 12 and 14. Its a complement when the competition sees a winner and copies you. The number one complaint of kayak angers has been the seat is uncomfortable and wet. The solution is the Jackson Cuda and Jackson Coosa seats. Next fisherman want a kayak they can stand in to cast, sit fish and fly fish from. Again Jackson answered with the Coosa and the Cuda. Where does the Cuda pull away it is 30 inches wide and 14 feet long. Which gives it a great speed and stability ratio. This kayak gets going and you are almost making a wake as you paddle. Other items seem like a great idea on the surface but turn out to be impractical. The rod storage and tip protector only is useful when I am transporting the kayak on the truck. On the water the only thing I store in the rod keepers are the Yakattack Park and Pole and the Bending Branches Angler Ace paddle when not in use. The problem with placing rods here while paddling is they tend to get in the way and if you flip the reels outboard they get soaked (with saltwater in my case). Jackson has helped in 2013 on the rear rod holders with using Scotty tubes to get the reels away from the water. The center hatch is nice and a place I store alot of gear using the Jackson hatch insert. The fact that the Jackson Cuda has hatches in the front, middle and rear make it very easy from a rigging standpoint. I can access the inside of my entire Cuda from the front to the back for rigging like my Cuda anchor trolly install. These kayaks are proudly made in Tennessee, USA. Please support made in the USA no matter what you chose but do yourself a favor and paddle a Jackson before you buy a competitor.

Columbia Drainmaker Shoes Review

During a recent fishing outing in Morehead City, NC I was attempting to collect some bait and sliced my foot on some oyster shells. This was not the fist time so I felt I needed a show that not only offered full coverage of my foot but also ties so it would stay on my feet when I get in the sticky mud of the Carolina marshes. The solution was the Columbia Drainmaker shoes. I purchased them from the Columbia store . They were comfortable and were true to size. The test was to come during the Hook Line and Paddle TJM tournament. I stepped into the water unloading the kayak into the Fort Fisher marshed and they drained and wore like any normal shoe. I fished and wore them from 3am-9pm with no issues. All it takes to clean them is a water hose. I thought the mud and stained water would discolor them yet the whites have stayed bright.

If you have been looking for that watershoe that has it all consider the Columbia Drainmaker. For me it is worth the price and hopefully will save you a trip to the hospital getting oyster shell stitches.

DIY GoPro Kayak Mount

I must be the cheapest of the cheap and not willing to buy a camera pole for my GoPro and wanting to stay simple I took a 1/2" plumbing screw cap and added a 1/4" stainless bolt. This bolt goes right into the GoPro tripod mount ($7.99 retail). This screw cap is interchangeable with my DIY kayak light in a earlier post on my pole. The swivel mount is optional but allows for other angles.

DIY Kayak Baitwell Livewell

I wanted to get my livewell completed before the TJM Tournament at Hook, Line and Paddle in Wilmington but I did not have all the parts so I used a Flo-troll bucket. Don't get me wrong the Flo-troll served its purpose but putting the bucket in and out of the water to keep the bail alive was a chore and not my primary concern which should have been catching fish. The DIY baitwell is a solid solution with the only possible drawback that the pump could create some noise the fish might not like. I figured it was worth a shot. I purchased a 40 lb Gamma Vittle Vault at my local super pet supply store. I did see there is a similar model available online is 60 lbs which would add some capacity as a livewell but it would be too much weight in the back of your kayak..

First I drilled my holes for the inlet and outlet. I used a spray head that could be adjusted to turn the flow up or down. This hole was 1 inch. Next was the outlet with is standard at any marine store. This one is 1 1/2 inches and my though was I did not want the water backing up in the tank or tank well since my Jackson Cuda doesn't have scuppers in the tank well.

If your does you can run your intake through a scupper hole. You may want to consider adding a screen over the outlet to keep from losing baits but I have noticed I rarely loose baits.

Next I needed a way to carry this thing if I had to catch bait away from the kayak and why empty your cast net into your tank well and get it nasty. Just set it on the sandbar and load it there with bait. After you have it loaded haul it to you kayak and wash off the bottom before setting it in. Ask you can see I used a kayak handle available at Hook 1.

Why are lids so easy to lose? Even if they do float why deal with it so I attached it with a screw in the lid and some bungee to one of the nuts holding the handle on. problem solved.

Next was adding a waterproof box to house my battery and switch to turn on my pump. As you can see I just attached it with (4) 10-32 x 3/4 stainless steel machine screws, #10 SS washers and some SS lock nuts. The battery will be a 12volt gel cell battery and I will put some cutoff pool noodle on each side to keep it from shifting.

I have added a 2 wire disconnect on the pump wire so if I decide to use this as dry storage I can simply take off my hoses. As you can see the wire run is as follows. Positive to the switch. Positive from the pump to the other switch. The negative goes straight from the pump to the battery. For a pump use a Rule 360 model 24. The 500 pictured was great but draws so many amps the battery would be dead after 6 hours. I also will switch it on and off to conserve the battery but be careful as the water will drain back out the pump hose and leave your bait will very little water.

I have also added a rod holders from Hook 1 on each corner for rod storage so no Milk crate is needed. The semi-finished product. I need to get a rubber grommet to run the wires into the box and I will be attaching some pad eyes so bungee this to the Jackson Cuda tank well. I have the openning facing toward me so I can simply reach behind me an net some baits. It is quite and easy.

TJM Celebrity Charity Kayak Fishing Tournament

Well I fished the TJM Celebrity Charity Kayak Tournament hosted by Hook, Line and Paddle in Wilmington. This was my first kayak tournament and I didn't know what to expect. It was great with Hook Line and Paddle along with the help of NCKFA Mark Patterson a great time was had by everyone that participated. I met anglers from all over NC, SC and VA. I will start out with saying I have never wet a line in the waters in or around the cape fear. I bought a beach pass on Friday to allow me to drive on the beach Saturday. I was waiting for the ranger at 5:30am along with 7 other trucks and when the gate went up it was a mad dash down the beach and an amazing site it was.

Everyone off loaded and was in the water on their own way. I just started working a marsh line and with the tide out I knew it was going to be tough. Then I saw a site I have wanted to see for 30 years, tailing redfish. The drum where in 1 1/2 feet of water and aggressive on the bottom. I tossed in a Gulp! shrimp and when I tightened up I thought I had a strike. When I set the hook the group scattered and I pulled in my clump of grass. We will call this lesson 1 in tailing redfish. I worked the area but they were gone and I was heart broken. I moved down the marsh and saw another tail. I tossed in with no results. Another throw and fish on. He ran out and circled the kayak. What a ride! I saw him on the surface and I knew this was an upper slot fish. I had him worn down and 10 feet from my net and the hook pulled. I stopped and thought this was not going to be my day and I am paying the price on new water. I continued fishing the incoming tide and drifting some live baits for flounder but no luck. All in all I was rewarded with a perfect day of fishing with god allowing me to see the tailing drum that were on my bucket list. Next time I am a little wiser and understand the water a little better. Its hard to top the locals as I spoke with Joe Waple the winner in the redfish division with a 30 1/4" fish when I was pulling out. Joe said he was live baiting all morning and had caught the largest drum he had ever caught in the area. Sound like I was in the right area but I just missed my fish. The NCKFA host the next tournament at Oak Island and I am planning on attending. If you are there flag me down and say hello. I am sure I will be sporting a salty Sebile hat that I received at Hook, Line and Paddle. If you are in the market for a new kayak support the dealers that support your sport.