I went back to Derby after work this morning, and went to T C Bait shop, he had the tube and worm set-up, plus bought a new rod and reel...and other stuff...
It was beautiful, high tide, river was higher than I thought it would be, sunny, calm, and I wish I had someone there to just say how awesome it was.
Everything set up, went down stream, and trolled all the way down with sand worm on the tube, and a bass spinner on the other line, went past the sand place, and was in view of the other dock, then the wind started to pick up. So slowly turned around, pulled the lines in and set another worm on the hook, and started to troll again. 10 minutes later, I started to hear the reel buzzing...and waited for a solid buzz...because the rods are behind my back and cant watch them...and then it went solid.... heart attack time...
I swung around so fast...that I wanted this to be something I could be happy of for the amount of money I spent...and well...I'm not small, and I'm not large either...so the body weight shift, and I forgot I'm on a kayak...well..I dropped into the water like a lead weight on a piece of paper held over a ledge. Kayak flipped over.
I have an open water divers license, and I was planning on being a dive instructor 10 years ago, been diving since 1991, and I have also done water survival training for work....in a pool, and on the 22nd, I have to go to the dunker in Mystic for re-training... where they simulate a helicopter crash upside down in water and they flip you all day to see if you can get out of it...easy day of work, because you know someone is watching you at all times. Being in water doesn't scare me that much, but becoming disorientated immediately and in conditions not safe, and losing a few hundred dollars of stuff...does. Well...the instant shock of hitting water, then the thought of losing my new rod and real, and tube... and then the wind....= panic.
once I knew that I'm ok, and just got to get back on the kayak...I'll be fine.... easier said than done... first attempt...back in the water, second attempt couldn't do it with out knowing I was closer to shore, so I swam and pulled the kayak with me till I can touch the river bed. Finally back in the boat, and calmed down, but 2 fishing poles are now gone.... scanned the area...and saw them just barely floating...right next to each other... paddled over to them, snagged them, reeled in the lures...and the worm was gone...so it was a hit.... but I'm all wet, and still freaked out.
Wind is picking up...I'm still 2 miles down stream, tide is going out... crap! I grab the paddle...I try it, and I'm still so shaken from the excitement...that it was no good... I look at my legs...calmed them down faster than my arms...and I got peddling just like I was walking... movement...and then I just kept pushing into the wind, into the current, and into the tide... I'd say that if the kayak didn't have the pedal, I probably would've called 911 with my Iphone that I previously put into a Ziplock bag to come snag me.
One full week on the water, many lessons learned, and going shopping tomorrow to get items for future excursions... This is too fun to let a little dip get into the way.
When I got home...the wind is still kicking... and I looked at the map...2 miles down, 2 stressful miles back up the river... pedaling 4 miles, getting wet, learning from my mistakes, and going back out tomorrow at Collinsville... after a little shopping up there to get some damn fishing rod holders for the front of the boat...so I can see the hit, and don't have to lean back and to the side to grab the pole....
