Youngest yakker to land a YT... - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Tman · 08-10-2006, 12:05 PM

After reading about the reports of the grade of YT being caught off LJ, decided it was prime time to give the Fishcatcher another shot at one, after a couple unsuccessful attempts.
Woke up like a true fisherman at 5 am, and on the shores by 6 am. As I was loading up the yak on the beach, he was already trying to pull it to the water.
Paddled out and once we got a bit past the yellow buoy, we witnessed the biggest bait melee I have ever seen. He wanted to catch some bait, so I had him load us up with some pretty Spanish macs and a couple greenbacks.

Paddled out a bit more, and he cast out his first bait, a nice size greenback that instantly got him bendo, only to bring back a raked bait. Took him off, and pinned on a fresh Spanish, only to have that raked as well. Decided some trolling was in order, moved around, and still no takers. Had a couple yakkers comment when they saw Clay out there that they need to take their kids out...get busy fellas. Decided to do a drift in front of the hotel...patience...

After a couple more rakes, we were down to 2 baits. Decided to head to the NW corner where other boats were, and as we got closer, we could see some boils. Found what I thought was a good spot, and told Clay to cast the bait as far as he could towards a cattle boat. The bait started swimming nervously, when Clay finally goes bendo.

Watching him play a tug of war with the fish, I started telling him that it was a YT, and the battle was on. With the fish peeling line of off his spinning reel, I had to tell him only a couples times to hold on and keep the line away from the yak, as I was nervous that too much rubbing would lose his fish.
He fought it well, the whole time the fish pinning him to the rail, and when he finally got it to color about 15 minutes later, I then realized why it took so long - the fish came up engulfed in salad. Took the most important gaff shot in my life, and got him perfectly, right through the gills, and quickly made sure to get him on the game clip.

Told him we had another bait left, and asked him if he wanted to try for another one...no way, he was ready to head in. Got a couple on the water shots from a fellow yakker, and began the long float back to shore..

Here is the epic shot, and although this YT is but a firecracker, not too bad for a 6 year old...Clay the Fishcatcher's first YT...

Next targeted species - WSB.... :lol:

Margarita Mike · 08-10-2006, 12:52 PM

Martin,

Great shot of Clay with rod bendo.
One Very happy fisherman and a time he will never forget. Got to frame that one.
Way to hang on Clay.

I was out yesterday and had a blast with the YT.

Margarita Mike

MKNOTT · 08-10-2006, 03:02 PM

Good job Clay. Showing your old man how its done.

Arne · 08-10-2006, 03:25 PM

Outstanding Clay!

Arne

Aaron&Julie · 08-10-2006, 03:30 PM

Clay the champion fisherman! Good job!

Jimi · 08-10-2006, 04:08 PM

Nice job. Get me that young mans address I want to send him a jig.

Tman · 08-10-2006, 06:20 PM

You got it Jimi...the lad loves flinging lures and reeling them in, gets bored with waiting for the bites. Haven't taught him how to nap on the yak...yet.

Hook 1 · 08-10-2006, 06:51 PM

Clay, you are the man. Way to go. You are a true Fisherman.
Great job dad. Those photos are the great......."the great"..man I need to
work on something. I guess I will have some more ice cream and work on it.
Those photos are priceless..

tylerdurden · 08-10-2006, 08:37 PM

Awesome set of photos there. Way to go Clay and dad.

Kevin · 08-11-2006, 12:39 PM

That is awesome martin. Congrats all around!

Kevin

Tman · 08-14-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimi

Nice job. Get me that young mans address I want to send him a jig.

And just got them today in the mail, thanks Jimi....too cool. 8)

Even included a very touching note.... :shock: :lol: :lol:
Just kidding....

Think they will be perfect for the lad, again, much thanks, can't wait to try them out, er, I mean, I can't wait for him to try them out.

DrDirt · 08-16-2006, 02:46 PM

This is a very cool post. I'll have to bring the youngsters out soon.

08-10-2006, 12:05 PM	#1
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	Youngest yakker to land a YT... After reading about the reports of the grade of YT being caught off LJ, decided it was prime time to give the Fishcatcher another shot at one, after a couple unsuccessful attempts. Woke up like a true fisherman at 5 am, and on the shores by 6 am. As I was loading up the yak on the beach, he was already trying to pull it to the water. Paddled out and once we got a bit past the yellow buoy, we witnessed the biggest bait melee I have ever seen. He wanted to catch some bait, so I had him load us up with some pretty Spanish macs and a couple greenbacks. Paddled out a bit more, and he cast out his first bait, a nice size greenback that instantly got him bendo, only to bring back a raked bait. Took him off, and pinned on a fresh Spanish, only to have that raked as well. Decided some trolling was in order, moved around, and still no takers. Had a couple yakkers comment when they saw Clay out there that they need to take their kids out...get busy fellas. Decided to do a drift in front of the hotel...patience... After a couple more rakes, we were down to 2 baits. Decided to head to the NW corner where other boats were, and as we got closer, we could see some boils. Found what I thought was a good spot, and told Clay to cast the bait as far as he could towards a cattle boat. The bait started swimming nervously, when Clay finally goes bendo. Watching him play a tug of war with the fish, I started telling him that it was a YT, and the battle was on. With the fish peeling line of off his spinning reel, I had to tell him only a couples times to hold on and keep the line away from the yak, as I was nervous that too much rubbing would lose his fish. He fought it well, the whole time the fish pinning him to the rail, and when he finally got it to color about 15 minutes later, I then realized why it took so long - the fish came up engulfed in salad. Took the most important gaff shot in my life, and got him perfectly, right through the gills, and quickly made sure to get him on the game clip. Told him we had another bait left, and asked him if he wanted to try for another one...no way, he was ready to head in. Got a couple on the water shots from a fellow yakker, and began the long float back to shore.. Here is the epic shot, and although this YT is but a firecracker, not too bad for a 6 year old...Clay the Fishcatcher's first YT... Next targeted species - WSB.... :lol: __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

08-10-2006, 03:02 PM	#3
MKNOTT Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Persian Gulf Posts: 263	Good job Clay. Showing your old man how its done. __________________ When I grow up I want to be, One of the harvesters of the sea, <O I think before my days are done, I want to be a fisherman.

08-10-2006, 03:25 PM	#4
Arne Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 223	Outstanding Clay! Arne __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

08-10-2006, 03:30 PM	#5
Aaron&Julie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spring Valley Posts: 1,400	Clay the champion fisherman! Good job! __________________ "Never say die"

08-10-2006, 04:08 PM	#6
Jimi Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21	nice Nice job. Get me that young mans address I want to send him a jig.

08-10-2006, 12:52 PM	#2
Margarita Mike Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 76	Martin, Great shot of Clay with rod bendo. One Very happy fisherman and a time he will never forget. Got to frame that one. Way to hang on Clay. I was out yesterday and had a blast with the YT. Margarita Mike

08-10-2006, 06:20 PM	#7
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	You got it Jimi...the lad loves flinging lures and reeling them in, gets bored with waiting for the bites. Haven't taught him how to nap on the yak...yet. __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

08-10-2006, 06:51 PM	#8
Hook 1 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Marco.....Polo Posts: 98	Clay, you are the man. Way to go. You are a true Fisherman. Great job dad. Those photos are the great......."the great"..man I need to work on something. I guess I will have some more ice cream and work on it. Those photos are priceless.. __________________ High 5.....Come On Guys Mark

08-10-2006, 08:37 PM	#9
tylerdurden Bad Clone Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 874	Awesome set of photos there. Way to go Clay and dad.

08-11-2006, 12:39 PM	#10
Kevin Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 78	That is awesome martin. Congrats all around! Kevin

08-16-2006, 02:46 PM	#12
DrDirt Junior Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 8	This is a very cool post. I'll have to bring the youngsters out soon.