Fishing Kayaks - Sit-In Vs Sit-On-Top

Good afternoon everyone,

I wanted to do a little post on some fishing kayaks. There are two different types of kayaks. There are sit-in kayaks and sit-on kayaks. 

Sit-In Vs. Sit-On-Top Kayaks

According to Paddling.com sit-in kayaks are better for shielding your body from wind and keep you warmer. These work best for anglers who will be traveling and using them in cold water. The downside to these kayaks is that if you do flip them for some reason, they are harder to recover and will most likely fill with water. I will vouch for this, as I have a sit in kayak and have capsized it. It was hard to recover and get the water out. For a sit-on kayak they are typically more user friendly. They are also typically self-bailing which allows water to drain out of them. The downside to a sit-on kayak is that you are likely to get wet from paddling. 

Ascend FS10 Sit-In Kayak

Above is the model of kayak I own. This kayak is equipped with rod holders, front and back storage and a very comfortable seat. It runs between $500-$600.

Ascend 12T Sit-On-Top Kayak

This is the sit-on-top version of the kayak I own. They are very similar as you can see. This one I believe looks like it has a bit more storage space. It runs about $800. 

Kayak Fishing - Irwin Park To Curwensville VFW

Hello everyone! Lets catch some smallies!

The Route:

One of my favorite floats this time of year is floating from Irwin Park in Curwensville to the VFW. At Irwin Park there are multiple places to park and a kayak drop off site. When dropping off your kayak, you will have to drag them down over a hill, it's a bit tiring. Once your kayak is dropped off, you will travel down the road and there is a little park bench and a pull off spot across from the VFW. I believe 2-3 trucks can fit there. The nice thing about this float is that you really only need one vehicle. If you drop the kayaks off, and have the driver walk back up the road it takes about 20 minutes. If you run it's about 10. But it is complete manageable if you are in shape. The float takes approximately 2-2 1/2 hours to finish if you are fishing. 

On The River: 

Once you have secured your kayaks and all your things and you are ready to go you will notice there are "little islands" going down the river. These are what is left over from an old railroad bridge. They are great structure to hit as you continue down the river. Once they stop, I recommend fishing the banks. Both sides are great fishing. 

You will also notice as you approach about halfway there are campers all along the left-hand side, this is the Curwensville Moose campground. If you're feeling froggy, once you approach the back of the Moose there is area there to pull off in your kayaks. You will see long steps that go up to a pavilion and you are at the Moose. 

Life Of A Baby Bass - Smallmouth

 Ever wonder how these beautiful smallmouth bass we have up here turn into what they are?

According to Bass Resource smallmouth bass in northern waters mature later than southern waters. Males mature in 2-4 years, and females in 3-4 years. Spawning typically occurs in the spring at water temperatures around 55 degrees. Only 25% of mature male bass build nests yearly. Largemouth bass also typically produce more eggs than smallmouth bass. 

The female smallmouth can spawn 2-3 times as not all of the eggs will mature at the same time. This I think is very interesting. After the female lays the eggs, and they have been fertilized, the male stays with the "fry" aka baby bass. The eggs typically hatch within 4-6 days.

It has also been reported that some bass actually suck up some of their fry while they are protecting the nest. The fry will start eating zooplankton and various water fleas. Once fry is 12mm long, their mouths are developed enough to start eating minnows and shiner fry. 

All information came from Bass Recourses for this. I thought this was a very interesting chart to show how many eggs the average bass lays. 

Keeping Your Cool - How To Stay Calm While Fishing

 I see so many people while I'm fishing getting upset. 

Getting upset while fishing is something that has always bothered me. I am guilty of it to. I get upset I missed a fish or I'm not catching fish. Losing a fish can be the most frustrating thing that can happen to you. Especially when you love fishing so much. But it's key to remember to keep your cool. I also see parents screaming at their kids and getting frustrated. Although I understand sometimes kids are being bad. But most of the time the kids are just getting their lines tangled.

It's important to remember that being calm is the most important thing in any stressful situation. Here are some tips to help you make it through the day.

1. Remember a bad day fishing is still better than a good day at work.
2. Take a deep breath. 
3. Remember fishing is supposed to be fun. Although you are frustrated, just sit back and enjoy the time you have outside. 
4. Fishing is a sport but, you should always remember to have fun with it. 
5. Sit back and reevaluate the situation. If it is something you can fix, fix it. If it was something that was purely accidental, move on from it.
6. Don't break your gear. Breaking your gear does nothing for you and wastes your money. Just breathe!
7. Remember, take a break if you need to, but get back out there and get your line back in the water. 

Curwensville Dam - Clearfield County PA

Hello everyone!

This Blog post is especially. special to me. I spent my childhood at this dam with my father. Swimming, boating, fishing, and camping.

This is a great place to fish and boat. I don't recommend this place for kayaking unless it is a completely calm/flat day. BUT, you can bank fish or boat fish. This dam has a no Hoursepower restriction.

All boating and fishing regulations are enforced by the PFBC. 

Although Curwensville Dam is known for its musky fishing, it is still a great place for all sorts of fishing.

Some species include:

Largemouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

White & Black Crappie

Perch

Smallmouth Bass & Rivers

 Why do I always catch smallmouth bass in the rivers and largemouth bass in the lake? Great question!

According to Ask The Fisherman, smallmouth bass prefer the river systems for a few reasons.

• Oxygen levels (flowing rivers have more dissolved oxygen levels)
• Smallmouth peek activity 58–72-degree water temperature
• In rivers smallmouths can find the structure they need, and it is more abundant. In lakes, smallmouths are typically greatly outnumbered by largemouths and have to take over what cover they have left.
• Smallmouth bass typically do not like sunlight, the river allows them to go shallow at night and in the morning and retreat to the depth during the day.

Central PA Crappies - What & Where Are They?

What the heck is a Crappie you might ask? 

If you Bass fish, you probably know what a Crappie is. If not that's okay too. 

Pennsylvania has two species, the White Crappie and the Black Crappie. Crappies are considered a north American freshwater a pan fish.

The state record for a Black Crappie is unknown and 4lbs 3oz for a White Crappie. Thats HUGE!

Some of the best places to crappie fish in Central PA:

1. Curwensville Dam
2. Glendale Lake
3. Bald Eagle State Park