Stand Up In A Yak!!!

Estes, Texas

A myriad of things happened today, but no thrilling adventures unless driving in fast traffic is thrilling. By request here is a picture from the front of the campsite showing the cubby hole the Castle is tucked into. It works out well to keep the ferocious wind from buffeting the Castle. However a gentle swirling breeze is almost always present. By the way, this campground is nearly reserved out for the winter of 2009/2010.

At night there are lights down at the waterfront so that area can be enjoyed. Some folks just sit and some folks fish. Mostly it is a restful time, except for the wind blasting you heavily.

Next door is a marina of sorts. There are several run down old boats in it with for sale signs. None would be acceptable for me to live in.


For some time now the possibility of using a bait caster reel again has been running through my head. There is lots of room for an idea to run around in there without getting injured running into anything. Since my other reels are spinning reels with left hand cranking, it seemed like a good idea for the bait caster to be left handed cranking also. Today was the day to act on the idea. Today was also the day to un-act the idea.

A trip to Academy caused a new rod and reel to come home with me. They were the cheapest good quality equipment in the store.


After assembly and attaching my normal artificial bait, the rig was tried out at the waterfront. It worked ok, but did not come anywhere close to the performance of the spinning rigs for into the wind casting. The left hand concept was good. Down wind they were about even. Cross wind the bait caster could not shoot the lure close to the water like the spinning rigs. That is needed in the strong wind to get the lure to the correct place frequently. In the final analysis, it was inferior for my wants. So it went back to Academy. By the way Academy is a seventy five mile round trip from here in Estes. In all it was a cheap lesson. Now that idea can stop rattling around in the cranium and peace and quiet can return to the park.

My neighbor, Dick, the yaking fisherman was coming in from the Flats this evening as my stroll headed toward the water. It was nice and very informative to finally get to talk to him. He had a friend with him, Ray, who was a nice fellow to visit. Now there are some things to change on my wish list. Here is Ray on the left and Dick on the right.

Dick paddles all over the place and fishes standing up on his yak and using a fly rod. He must have the balance of a circus tight rope walker to do that. He certainly knows how to try to have tooooo much fun. TheOFM.