FreshKATS "Black Butte Bout"

On Saturday March 23rd the FreshKATS started off there kayak fishing series at Black Butte. There were 30 anglers on the water. 

For me it was nice to be able to get out and fish. Since my daughter Arianna was born I haven't been out on the water. Luis and I left Suisun on friday night around 7:30 and headed towards Black Butte not knowing what to expect. When we arrived it was dark, cold and the wind was starting to pick up. We hung out with the crew for a while and then decided to call it a night a little after 12. Sleeping in the back of my truck I could hear the wind blowing so much, at one point I thought it was going to rip the kayaks off the truck. When I finally got to sleep my alarm went off and it was 5 AM and time to get up. 

Luis and I drove down to the ramp and the wind was still blowing really hard. My plan was to stay near the shoreline and see what I could find. I was surprised to see Bio-Bill and we decided that we would try and fish together since he always seems to have good luck around me. We got onto the lake around 6:30 and the wind was already blowing us out away from the shore that I wanted to fish. At one point Bill decided to go around the point into a cove and that was the last I saw of him for an hour. I fished out in about 30 feet of water and wanted to go in more around 10-15 but the wind kept puching me out when I would stop paddling. Every once in a while I would see the rod tip move, but no action. A little before 10 I see Bret on his way in to go to his sons opening day for baseball and he told me that he caught one fish in about 5 feet of water, all I had to do was paddle over to a hill that was blocking the wind. I looked at the destination and really didn't know if I could make it, there were white caps all over the way and it might take me a good amount of time to get there and who knows how long to get back. 

After thinking about it for a short amount of time, I see Bill come back from the cove he was fishing. He said he had no luck, I told him about the intel that Bret gave me and we decided to make the trek. We aimed out yaks towards the wind and hoped that we would be pushed into the spot we wanted to fish. It didnt' take that long to get there and when we arrived Jbaker said he had just caught a fish in the spot I was. The information that Bret gave me was even validated more. I dropped down the line with a secret agent and within about 2 minutes of drifiting in 10 feet out water I had my first fish on. I measured it on the trough a little under 14" and released it, the skunk was off. I paddled over to Bill to give him the news and drifted around a little more for nothing. At that time I had heard from another kayaker that a "Bass pro" had 4 fish already, I didn't even know if my one fish would count for anything. I sent down another line with another secret agent and a few minutes later I had fish number two. 

At that point I didn't know if I had placed but figured I would fish until 12 and then make the paddle back, just in case it took a while to get back in the wind. When I got in to check in my feet were week from using my body to help track in the wind. I walked to the scoring table and found Dan the "bass pro" in front of me with 5 fish. I then gave Jim the pics of my two fish and went to pack up my gear in hopes of maybe placeing. A little after 1, my gear was packed and I went to check out the scoreboard, with a big surprise I placed second with my two fish. It was a great feeling after having such a hard time fishing in the wind and keep my lines where I wanted them. 

In the end 1st place went to Dan Cantrell with 5 fish, 2nd place to Victor Woolworth with two fish and 3rd place went to Jeff Baker with one fish (biggest fish). The youngest fisherman award went to Logan.

From Left to Right: 2nd Place Victor Woolworth, Event organizer Jim Meier, Youngest fisherman Logan, Third Place Jeff Baker, and First Place Dan Cantrell.

The potluck was awesome with some great food and it was great to be able to hang out with the crew. I am already looking forward to the next event. 

Again Jim Meier thank you for putting this Series together. 

For more information on the FreshKATS series check out: http://www.facebook.com/groups/119173128252431/?ref=ts&fref=ts


-Victor Woolworth