[knot-too-fast]

Okay folks.
I have now been out 4 times and find I am getting a sore back at the base of the spine and the legs are a bit crampy.
I try to keep the posture upright but still having to pull over on a sandbank every hour or so for a stretch. I think when I pivot around to reach for something behind me in the crate that this is causing a problem.
I am early 40s and reasonably fit.

Will my flexability improve as I go out more?
Should I not be pivoting around to reach the rods in the flushmount rod holders behind my seat? If not how else do you do it?
Also when trolling with rods in the rear flushmounts how do you know when you have a strike without twisting your head around all the time to check?
I think I will definately be mounting a Berkley or Scotty adjustable rod holder or two so that the rods are in front and out to the sides as I paddle.
Possibly some silly questions here but I would like to know how other people function in such a confined area.

 

[Dodge]

John at the outset suggest you read the paddling technique post at the head of this section which will be of benefit.

A Berkley mount on the side gunwale is certainly a good improvement to the boat [keep within 90mm of you foot position, and still allows good stroke] and makes watching rod easier.

To get in behind you, the easiest way is to swing side saddle with one or both legs overboard, and the yak will still be nice and stable.

I always take regular breaks from the boat stretching legs, after many months of yakking, although there is rarely any soreness now.

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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[Davey G]

I think a degree of soreness/stiff muscles is normal with any 'recreational' paddler. I've had my yak for 9 months and average one or 2 paddles a week. I still pull up a bit stiff in the lower back and hamstrings after a long paddle or if I'm in the yak for more than 3 hours straight and I don't get out and have a stretch. After 4 hours on the water on Sunday I was a bit stiff Sunday night but that's just temporary muscle stiffness and was well gone by Monday morning

I'm 38, reasonably fit and active although did get my yak to help with keeping my fitness and flexibility which I definitely think that it has. Like anything, the more you do it the better your muscles will adapt and cope.

If you were paddling every day and had been doing it for a long time and were still getting soreness I'd be worried but for us 'weekend warriors' it's probably quite normal to be stiff after a paddle.

If nothing else it's a good excuse to keep 'practising' !

 

[Peter_M]

Hi John
I think a bit of stiffness and soreness is par for the course no matter how fit or how much padding your boat has. Just stretching, moving around as much as you can is how I combat the problem - but you can't beat beaching on some deserted, unaccessable-by-land beach and having a cuppa and a wander around. So, pretty much what other replies have said.
About the rod holders mounted behind you - I suffered with exactly the same problem for a year or so, a real hassle constantly twisting to check lines etc. It then occurred to me to use a handline, which I have on the deck in front of me. A wooden peg and some bungy line keeps it in place. I use that for trolling, and I can always have a casting rod ready to go in the holder if I want it. I found it MUCH easier to manage, and handlining a half decent Salmon is a bit of a kick.
Good luck.
Peter.

 

[knot-too-fast]

Good ideas guys.
Dodge, I will have to find a sheltered spot on the Bermagui river next time and see what happens going side saddle, venturing out of my seat and heading up to the bow of the Cobra.
Red. Thanks for the video link and I will pop into Clark rubber in Fyshwick this Saturday for a water proof cushion.
Davey G. Looks like some soreness is part of the fun. Funny though how it goes away after you've just landed a bigin.
Peter M. Yes handlines are great in a yak and there's nothing like feeling the bite directly on the index finger.

 

[knot-too-fast]

Good ideas guys.
Dodge, I will have to find a sheltered spot on the Bermagui river next time and see what happens going side saddle, venturing out of my seat and heading up to the bow of the Cobra.
Red. Thanks for the video link and I will pop into Clark rubber in Fyshwick this Saturday for a water proof cushion.
Davey G. Looks like some soreness is part of the fun. Funny though how it goes away after you've just landed a bigin.
Peter M. Yes handlines are great in a yak and there's nothing like feeling the bite directly on the index finger.

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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[knot-too-fast]

Thanks for the invite Red but it's a bit tricky to even get the yak to Canberra. It's too long for the Transit van and too high to lift onto a roof rack. I also trade at local markets every Sat and Sunday in the ACT so have little daylight hours for anything else.
Thanks anyway.

 

[Dodge]

Dodge, I will have to find a sheltered spot on the Bermagui river next time and see what happens going side saddle, venturing out of my seat and heading up to the bow of the Cobra.

One of the more pleasant ways to fish on a hot summers day is side saddle with feet in water cooling :wink:

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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[knot-too-fast]

No worries John - what do you have on your stall? The wife will grab any excuse to wander down to the markets, so I'll have a chance to say a quick G'day between customers at some point.

Red.[/quote]

The Canberra Farmers Markets (EPIC) on Sat mornings and Old Bus Depot Markets on Sundays. I have a specialist Herb Nursery, ''Marshall's Nursery." Come and say hello one morning.

 

[Captain]

When trolling using the rod holders behind me I just loosen the drag and listen for the reel to start spooling.
Brian

 

[knot-too-fast]

Just came back from the Bega River near Tathra and made a few alterations to the yak in order to make fishing more enjoyable.
I freed up the seat strapping so i was able to push my back on more of an angle and also put a 5cm thick piece of foam under the seat. This helped a fair bit with longer stays out on the water.
I also mounted a Berkly rod holder to the gunwale so i could paddle, fish and look for strikes at the same time. It also saved the twisting thing of having to turn around and reach for the rod in the rear rod holder. This is a great addition and i will be putting a second one on the opposite side next week.
:lol:
It's all a learning curve every time i venture out. Also caught my first keeper for the Cobra, a 39cm flathead

 

[Peril]

Congrats on the keeper John.

I was getting a sore back on Sunday so let out the seat straps and relaxed back into the seat. Was fine after that.

 

[RedPhoenix]

Unfortunately, due to the change in ownership of this web site and the lack of response by the owners to my requests to remove my email address from all administrative-level notifications and functionality, I have decided to remove my posts on AKFF. Thank you for the great times, the fantastic learning experiences and the many many fish. If you are desperate for the old content of this particular post, it is available below base64 encoded and bzip2 compressed.

Red.

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QlpoOTFBWSZTWfH9Vg8AAB3fgAASUCeIMiyQEAo/7/6wIACUiKeE1Q9NGo2p6ENPUaB6noDVP1D1JHqaB6nqYagNMmRoIEk0X1wun0qyw0xzjl8gaWDY9m5uDUnznxren671MhuBNvIZYL1ZWc9P2q8cmLOC5xMa3OqEqOBJ+EZlbuf31fVIiaoA+SHvhySKsNGfYpDQIWOCyY0Olt1wPG/OhNI0kOBx5CHVzRGRgSHOoKYLlFfgqKc6v4u5IpwoSHj+qweA

 

[Dodge]

John good to hear the comfort, and lizard capture made for a happy outing

 

[Mattdogger]

Maybe this helps.. I was getting a sore back and hammys when i was first paddling. I found that i had my legs too bent, the foot rests were too close to the seat. I went to the next possie so as my legs were slightly straighter and found this much more comfortable. This mainly helped with the legs. My back was getting sore due to reaching too far with my paddle stroke. I now put the paddle blade into the water about equal with my knee no further and have found that this is much more comfortable.

:wink: