More Kayak Camping

I've been back camping again in the Deam Wilderness area near Lake Monroe.
Rich and I loaded our camping gear in the kayaks, and made our way across the lake to the shore of the wilderness area.  We had stayed in the same spot a couple of times, so we thought this trip we should explore the shoreline for some different options.

The first place we stopped had what appeared to be some voodoo faces painted on rocks.  That was a bit disturbing, but when I found some "devil nets" hanging from the trees (like those on True Detectives), I thought we should depart the area in a timely fashion.

We went on down the shoreline a safe distance, and got out to explore again.  This time we found a campsite that could only be describe as "Yabba Dabba Doo."  A couch, a chair, end tables and a coffee table around the fire pit.

 

Looks like Fred and Wilma left their beach chairs down by the lake.

 

Not wanting to be disturbed by Dino in the middle of the night, we found a more suitable site, and set up our camp.  Rich works from home.....or anywhere.  No one really knows where that email originated.

Big and Rich

Not those guys with the funny hats.  (Well, I guess we do have a funny hat here.)
My pal Rich caught a big smallie on the river Wednesday.

Kentucky Cats

A few days ago, I went to Kentucky Lake to sail with Dawg.  We spent a couple of days sailing down the lake, and anchoring overnight in some coves.  Good times.

Dawg likes to fish for catfish.
I like to CATCH catfish.

Hobie Kayaks on the White River

I've talked a lot about how much I like fishing on the White River.  So it should be no surprise that my Hobie fishing pals would want to join me.  (I have been fortunate to be a Hobie Kayak fishing team member the last couple of years.  Charlie and Eileen at Sailboats Inc let me join their team, and have loaned me a Hobie kayak to use.)

Yesterday, I was joined on the White River by Charlie, Nathan (the other Sailboats Inc team member,) and A.J., who is the regional rep for Hobie Kayaks.  They were all using Hobie Pro Anglers, and I was using an Outback.

I hadn't been catching too many (any) fish lately, so I was concerned that this trip might not be productive.  To make the pressure even greater, A.J. said that smallmouth bass is his favorite species to catch. 

As we were at the launching ramp, a fishing guide was taking out some clients in his flat bottom boat with a jet drive outboard.  We told him we were headed downstream.  He said he had to going upstream because it was too shallow for his boat downstream.

It didn't take A.J. long to connect on some smallies.  Then, he had parked the bow of his Pro Angler on a log, and put down his Power Pole to maintain his position in the current.  He found a decent smallie in this hole, and then a very nice largemouth in the same area.

 

We pedaled on down the river, with everyone catching fish.  Just before the final rapids, A.J. found an exceptional smallmouth.   

At the take-out spot, we loaded all four Hobie kayaks on A.J.'s truck, and drove back up to the launching ramp.  Just as we were turning in, the guide we met earlier, was heading out.  He stopped and said "We didn't get much today.  Did any of you boys catch a 20 incher?"

We replied......."Funny you should ask"

Kayak Camping

Last week, Rich, Bruce and I took our Hobie kayaks down to Lake Monroe in Bloomington to try some kayak camping.  I'd spent a lot of time on Lake Monroe, but I didn't know that Indiana's only designated wilderness area is on the shores of the lake.  So we drove to the Cutright boat ramp, loaded all our camping gear in and on our kayaks, and peddled to the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area to camp for a couple of nights.  I was impressed with how much gear I could get inside my Outback.  The key there is pack stuff in lots of small bags.  I still had a couple of big bags, a cooler, and the firewood to secure on the deck. 

  Even loaded down, the Hobie mirage drives got us across the lake without a problem.

We were able to get into the wilderness area and find a campsite in about one and a half hours.

 Bruce was delayed joining us because a storm had knocked out the power to his house the night before our departure.  He was able to join us in time to set up camp, and prepare for some heavy rain our first night out.

We found a great campsite, and had our part of the lake pretty much to ourselves.  It was rumored that at least one camper went skinny-dipping.

Here's Rich's set-up.

And here's Bruce examining his broken GPS. (Do not sit on your GPS.)

We spent the second day fishing and exploring the remote parts of the lake that abut the wilderness area.  I haven't seen so many eagles since my trip on the Mississippi River.

All the photos were taken by Rich--as well as the these two videos. 

 Returning to camp.

Even though it rained all night the first night out, we had a great time.  Only thing that could have made it better was if our pal the Dawg had been with us.

Not so White River

Dawg and I thought we'd do some fishing on the White River today.  Between thunderstorms. (If you wait for a day in Indiana that does not have scattered showers in the forecast, you wouldn't leave home all summer.)

I loaded my Hobie Outback, and met Dawg down at 146th Street.  We set his blue Otter beside my Outback and drove up to Forest Park.

 

The water didn't look too muddy where we launched, but when we got to where Cicero Creek dumps into the White River, the mud began.  In this photo, Cicero creek is coming in from the left.  You can see the clear water beyond the mud.

  

 Although I have used the Hobie Outback several times, this was my first day on the river.  I was a little concerned about the Mirage drive in the shallow parts of the river.  Turned out to be a non issue.  Whenever I saw I was approaching rapids, I would pull the drive out, and paddle through.  Later. I would just keep my pedals apart which brings the fins up tight to the bottom of the hull.  No problem.

 

Not sure how we have missed  it on all the other trips down the river, but today we noticed a lake just over the river bank.  A short portage.  I suspect it's a private lake, and we'd get evicted pretty quick--but it looks enticing.

We didn't see one fish today, but we did enjoy floating down the river again.

bass n cat

Went out on Morse yesterday fishing for bass.

Caught about 15 small bass, and 6 large catfish—most on crankbaits.

But this one took a plastic crawdad.