Making memories on the Caney...Good & Bad

[geckel]

4/20 - I set out saturday morning on a mission. I've been growing tired of these stocker size trout so I rigged up for some bigger game...basically just left the rooster tails at home haha. I figured this would limit my action so I was prepared to be patient. Not surprisingly, it was pretty slow with only 3 fish (all browns). I was pleased though because one of them was a personal best for me. That fish weighed in at 4.5 lbs and 22in long. (she is wearing a stringer only because it took a few minutes for my friend and I to set up the picture....I'm fully aware that the limit is 24+ inches on browns in the caney)


4/21 - Having told my dad of my small success we decided to go have a try at it on sunday. Before shoving off I gave him a brief tutorial on controlling the kayak when drifting near the edges of the river because the water is fast with two generators running. Well....about 2 minutes into the float I hear a big hollow thud followed by a splash. I cringe and turn to see my kayak he was using upside down and my father thrashing in that frigid water. I paddle as fast as I can and by the time I reach him he has the kayak in one hand, a tree branch in the other, and a look of panic on his face. I have him let go of the kayak so that he can focus on his own safety while I deal with the vessel. I manage to flip the kayak back over and while I'm holding my paddle and the handle of his kayak I turn my head just in time....to get hit in the face by a dog gone branch and over I turn. Luckily, I have practiced flipping and re-entering my kayak before so I was up and running again shortly. I briefly collected a few pricey posessions and let the rest float on down the river. Luckily he was fine and we actually finished the float in soaking wet waders haha(9 miles total). But I did pay a pretty hefty price for my mistake. I lost my rod/reel combo, sun glasses, ruined iphone, and my wedding ring....grand total to replace said items = $2500. Luckily my iphone was insured and the ring was made of cobalt haha. I should have taken more percautions but I was cocky and felt that I would never flip.


I would say the moral of the story is not take anything with you that is not secured to the kayak unless you don't mind losing it...also buy waders with a waist belt....and unexperienced kayakers should stay near the middle of the river....a life jacket may be a good idea also haha. Anyways, I hope you guys are more careful then I am and stay dry.

[jad2t]

Well that really sucks that you lost all those valuables but at least you and your father are ok. I'll be buying a fishing kayak soon and wouldn't even consider using it in the Caney during generation. That water moves too fast that if you get into a tricky situation, it's hard to get out of before you smack into a tree or something else.

Hey, nice trout though!!

[MNfisher]

MAN! I am sure glad you are ok! I would never enter that river on a kayak with even 1 generator running, much less 2. I have seen boats overturn in 2 generators when not paying attention. That river can be very unforgiving! Please be safe!

Nice brown! And not to complain at all, but be careful with putting an illegal fish on a stringer for picture reasons, if TWRA saw that, it would been an immediate ticket. Once on a stringer, that fish is in your possession. Just wanting to save you a future fine! But that sure is a nice brown!

[Travis C.]

No life jacket? No wading belt on the waders?

You guys were pretty lucky. I have seen someone drown due to not having a wading belt on his waders in low water up there.

As far the ticket from TWRA, if there was no life jackets on person or within reach that would be a fine but the fish part all you have to do is be perceived by the officer to not immediately return the fish. That's intent to keep or possession.

I don't mean go all negative Nancy on your thread but there are some pretty important issues here. Congrats on the personal best trout but no fish is worth a loss of life for not taking the proper safety precautions.

[browntrout]

Congrats on the nice brown. You and your father are lucky that you both get a second chance. The Caney can be unforgiving. I hope you were not serious about the life jacket part. There is no way I would be on the Caney in a boat or kayak without one. Any one on this forum can tell you that you dont fish with me on that river without wearing your life jacket at all times. Good luck in the future.

Roy

[Alphahawk]

Congrats on the fish! I have done what your dad did but was not in the main channel when it happened. I was fishing with brown trout in the month of December. The kayak was a sit inside and as it rolled I could not get my legs out. But I was wearing a PFD. Yep I was panicked....the shock of that cold water did not help either. browntrout handled it real well. I walked out from the handicap fishing pier to the parking lot....a long uncomfortable walk. I learned a lot that day. I have since bought a very stable fishing kayak....have a lot more kayak skills...carry dry bag with change of everything....I don't do anything stupid. browntrout did something you might want to consider. He wanted me back in a kayak as soon as possible....like when you fall off a horse you get back on. I was hesitant but agreed and we went back the next weekend but this time he put me in his Native Ultimate....a much better boat for me to be in. That was several years back and have been on the Caney many times since with no incidents...but I do keep in mind anything can happen.




Regards