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Summer 2016: Kayak Memories
Clearwater Designs kayaks at the Toronto Sportsmen's Show
There's nothing crappy about Black Crappie
KAAO Meet and Greet - It was cold, but we're a bit crazy
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Summer 2016: Kayak Memories
Welcome to a pictorial retrospective of summer 2016, and some of my/our adventures in our new Clearwater Designs Inuvik and Iqaluit kayaks. My Inuvik Angler edition allowed me to combine two life-long passions, spending time in the outdoors and angling - particularly kayak fishing. This gallery begins in the spring, with the purchase of the boats, chronicles a summer of activities on the waters around Ottawa, Ont., Canada and ends with some thoughts about just how "great" the outdoors really is. Let me know if you liked it by leaving a comment. And feel free to share your own experiences, I'd love to hear them. CLICK on the first image to open up the full-size gallery with captions. -
Clearwater Designs kayaks at the Toronto Sportsmen's Show
This story starts at the 2016 Toronto Sportsmen's Show. It was the second time I was drawn to a Clearwater Designs display at a winter outdoors show (I'd also talked to a rep at the Ottawa show). But this was the day I decided my wife and I had to visit them in Prince Edward County in the spring, to buy his 'n' hers boats at their factory and outlet on the St. Lawrence River. -
There's nothing crappy about Black Crappie
After buying the boats at the end of April, it didn't take long to get out onto the water for my inaugural kayak fishing expedition. And the first crappie hunt on the Rideau River near Ottawa in the new Clearwater Inuvik Angler was a good one. Small Twister Tail jigs were a big hit on the black crappie and other panfish on that warm, early May day. -
KAAO Meet and Greet - It was cold, but we're a bit crazy
Although kayak fishing might seem a solitary pursuit, that is not true at all. On a cold, windy May morning, about a dozen members of the newly formed Kayak Anglers Association of the Outaouais got together to meet each other for the first time. We launched our various fishing rigs from Kars in the south end of Ottawa. It was quite the sight for boaters and residents along the river - especially considering the 4C temps and gusty 20-40 km/h winds that kept even most powerboaters off the water. -
The pike are biting...
After a few trips to get used to fishing from a kayak, it was time to pursue some larger quarry. The Rideau River near Merrickville is home to a healthy population of pike, and this guy fell to a red-and-white spinnerbait on opening weekend. There were no monsters on this day, but a half-dozen fish ended up beside the boat that morning. -
Bass season opens. Oh Glory Be!
There is no bigger opening day in Ontario than bass open. Anglers in our area must wait until late June before being able to legally pursue these prized fish, and a spectacular sunrise greeted those of us up before dawn in Ottawa. It was almost as if the sun was welcoming us back... -
Just one more cast ...
Silly me. Didn't book off football on opening day, so I was pressed for time that morning before racing off to a noon-hour game (I'm a ref, in case you don't know me). Fortunately, being able to cover lots of water quickly in the Inuvik paid off. A stealthy approach to a gap in some early-season bullrushes yielded this hawg. On what was, probably, my last cast of the morning. -
Kayaking is always better with a friend...
In addition to being a fine kayak fishing platform, the Inuvik is a great touring boat. A warm July morning seemed the perfect time to introduce my best buddy to the world of kayaking. Carly seemed to love it, proudly strutting around in her puppy lifejacket and watching the world pass by from the cockpit. Not sure if it was seasickness, or the treats I'd given her, but she sure did have an upset tummy later that afternoon. The jury is still out on her sea legs ... all four of them. -
So beautiful, you just had to sit and watch
There were a few spectacular sunrises this summer, but perhaps none better than the view from Five-Span Bridge Park in Pakenham on this July morning. The fishing on the Mississippi River was also pretty good, but that didn't seem to matter anymore. -
The picturesque Muskrat River
The Muskrat River near Pembroke was dead calm as the sun set on a warm July evening. It had been an interesting day, with the water well down from normal levels due to an ongoing drought in our region. When you hooked a fish, it wasn't uncommon to see others cruising over to check out the action. "Oh look, Herman's going to get eaten..." Or they'd just hang around, under the boat, thankful for the shade but not thankful enough to hit lures jigged in front of their noses. Herman, BTW, did not get eaten. He and his buddies were released to swim again... -
I showed you this photo...
I like fishing in the slop. If it's thicker than a backyard hedge, I'll be in there with plastic frogs, critterbaits and worms, hunting big ole largies. The Inuvik even beats out my ancient Coleman canoe when it comes to these areas, slipping in and out with relative ease. This guy, and several others, fell to such tactics in some Rideau River weedbeds... -
...So I could show you this one
Yeah, I set you up. But I love this pic. A few minutes after that nice largie hit the frog, this feisty bucketmouth smacked a plastic worm not too far away. Can you see him in there? There's about a pound of fish and 10 pounds of slop. Laughed my ass when I finally saw the little guy. Man, I thought I had a monster ... -
Angry Birds, in real life
Remember I said "his and hers" kayaks? My wife joined me for a paddle on the Mississippi, again out of Pakenham, and actually ran into a real-life Angry Birds scenario. While cruising the shoreline, she got too close to this Red Wing Blackbird's nest, provoking an angry and determined attempt to force her into retreat. See him hovering off her bow? That kayak, by the way, is a deep red wine colour. Unofficially, it's called Merlot. If you like it, go see Mike at Clearwater. Tell him Don and Cheryl sent ya ... -
Magic on the Mississippi
This wasn't the biggest fish of the summer. It wasn't even the biggest fish of the day. But it was one of a couple of dozen pike and smallies that hammered my baits one glorious September weekday near Galetta in west Ottawa. I don't troll much, but paddling a gold-and-black jointed Rapala on this day was one of several very effective techniques, calling fish out of submerged weedbeds -- and into my net. For sheer numbers of fish caught, it was by far my best day of the season. The only downside? Losing two very large bass, right at the boat. But the highlight was an acrobatic northern pike, about five pounds, who corkscrew-jumped three feet outta the water to clobber a plastic frog at the edge of a weedbed. I just about tipped the 'yak when he did that... -
Moments of reflection
As we near the end of the gallery, I just want to say that one of the most enjoyable things about spending so much time on the water this year had nothing to do with the fish. From deer and fox sightings to beavers, muskrats, majestic blue herons, soaring osprey, spectacular sunrises and silence at sunset, there were lots of moments when you just put the rod down and watched. Or listened. If you've been out there, you know... -
Sunset on Summer of the Kayak
Thank you for reading to the end, I hope you enjoyed the journey. Please feel free to share your favourite experiences from summer 2016 in the Comments section, whether they involve kayak fishing, some other type of angling, or any outdoors pursuit ... I'd love to hear about them!
Welcome to a pictorial retrospective of summer 2016, and some of my/our adventures in our new Clearwater Designs Inuvik and Iqaluit kayaks. My Inuvik Angler allowed me to pursue two life-long passions, spending time in the outdoors and angling — particularly kayak fishing.
CLICK the image “Summer 2016: Kayak Memories” to open full-size gallery with captions.
This gallery begins in the spring, with the purchase of the boats, chronicles a summer of activities on the waters around Ottawa, Ont., Canada and ends with thoughts about our “great” the outdoors. Let me know if you liked it by leaving a comment or share your own experiences, I’d love to hear them.
Although I mention Clearwater Designs several times in this post, I am not employed nor associated with the company. We bought our kayaks from them in the spring and have been very impressed with the boats. They weren’t cheap, but we weren’t looking for cheap rigs. We think we received great boats for a very fair price.
We also enjoyed visiting the factory and outlet when we bought the ‘yaks, so I’m happy to give them a plug.
Clearwater is the only company which designs and builds its kayaks in Canada, at its facility near Belleville, Ont. Here is a link to the Clearwater Designs website.
Another resource you might be interested in … Rapid Media is another Canadian company based in Palmer Rapids, Ont. (about two hours northwest of Ottawa). It publishes four kayaking and canoeing magazines, including Kayak Angler. If you’re passionate about kayak fishing, it’s a great publication and worth a look. Note, however, the website allows only article previews for non-subscribers. Some back issues are available for free downloads, but you must subscribe to view current issues and content.