[RonG]

I've been wanting to do this for 13 months now - chase those big perch that hang out about 2 1/2 miles out of Waukegan this time every year.

Wanting to cut some time on the 45 minute paddle out the perching grounds, I folded back my outriggers for the trip out there. 3 seconds after launching I rolled the kayak and went for a refreshing swim in Lake Michigan. I have no idea what even happened. A bit annoying, but it served as a good test of my wetsuits and they passed. I went back to the vehicle, dried my hair a bit and traded my sopping winter coat for a sweatshirt and proceeded back out.

With a late start, having to get off the water at 10, I only got 3, but one was a nice 14"er.

Another goofy video:

As always, turn on your sound! 8)~

 

[Fishthoughts]

Awesome report and video. I guess those outriggers do help stabilize the yak, huh? Thanks for sharing.

 

[RonG]

Awesome report and video. I guess those outriggers do help stabilize the yak, huh? Thanks for sharing.

They help a lot, but when I first started, I used to go out to the Chicago lighthouse and out aways in Wilmette without them. I never would have rolled in the past, but now I've gotten so used to them, the first time out without them extended, I go swimming. Call them training wheels for the water.

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

Man, That Kayak is tits! It looked calm out there. Nice Jumbo perch and Vid!

 

[dedfisher]

awesome video man keep em comin. Ive been wantin to get into kayak fishing and was wondering if you had any suggestions or anything on what i would need

 

[Cam]

Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome!!!

Man I'm jealous. I think next year if I have my stuff together I'm going to try something like that. This year... Its going to be fall trolling for kings and browns around some harbors. Great stuff man!

 

[RonG]

awesome video man keep em comin. Ive been wantin to get into kayak fishing and was wondering if you had any suggestions or anything on what i would need

My best advice is to dress for the water temps, not the air temps. I unexpectedly ended up in the water today and the water was 36 degrees which is about the same as falling in while ice fishing. Wearing my wetsuits I was fine and still was able to go out and fish. If this happens to you and are out there a ways, you might be a goner without a wetsuit or drysuit.

A sit on top kayak is more stable and might be a better choice than a sti-in kayak. Put a lot of thought into safety gear.

 

[mplant1]

ron,

you're a crazy mofo. i bet that's what all the bass boaters were thinking

mad props

!!!

cool video, once again

 

[Jaybomber354]

very funny video lol nice job out there

 

[TINA23]

ha i was laughing my ass off after i watched this

 

[toothdoc]

Cool video! It looked like it was a little crowded out there though.

 

[RonG]

I stopped counting when I counted up to 60 boats. It wasn't bad at all because there was little wind. But imagine those 60 boats all drifting at different speeds combined with some ignorant and rude boaters on a windier day. :shock:

 

[Andy S.]

Nice job out there.

 

[JB]

Cool video....hope your gps and fish finder didn't go for a swim on that spill you had.
I can just imagine the look on those guys faces when you pull in a kayak 2 miles from shore. You are one dedicated fisherman with a true sense of creativity.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[packerssuck1]

That was an awesome video man. I like how u incorporated the Pirates of Lake Michigan attacking kyackers. Thats Hillarious!!!!

 

[RonG]

Cool video....hope your gps and fish finder didn't go for a swim on that spill you had.

Everything went for a swim, fishing rods, tackle and all electronics. I only lost a metal stringer that wasn't attached to anything. I was remarkably warm with even getting my head dunked. I had just launched off the south rocks and was relieved to not have hit my head on a submerged rock.

The marine radio, fish locator and gps are all waterproof models. My cell phone was in a waterproof cell phone case. My camera was in my fanny pack in a waterproof tupperwear-like container. Wallet and remote car door opener were in a ziplock bag. Everything that was supposed to stay dry did, the rest is waterproof. I've put a lot of thought in preserving myself and all the gear in the event of a capsize.

The boaters comment and either think I'm nuts or that I say I must have the biggest "stones." I just remind them that they are the ones out there almost 3 miles from shore with a water temp of 37 degrees wearing street clothes and I'm the one in a wetsuit.

 

[Cam]

Yea, you'd be alright for sure, especially with 60 other boats out there. Worse case scenario is someone has to come help you out... My wetsuit is 8mm, I use it for scuba in Lake Superior, how thick is yours man?

 

[RonG]

5 or 6 mm farmer john bottoms leaving only my arms and part of my shoulders exposed. I can't paddle with a 5 mm on my arms so I wear a 2 mm shorty suit on top of the farmer johns. The shorty covers me from my knees to my elbows.

So ultimately I end up with 5 mm from my knees down, 7 mm from the knees to the shoulders and 2 mm on the shoulders and arms. Boots I think are 7 mm. And I carry a thick scuba hood and gloves on me should I get caught in "the perfect storm."

 

[mike2222]

is there a launch fee for boats at the waukegan harbor... iu got a 17footer.. ? thinking about goin out next weekend.. how far out ( or will their be other boats around, so i won't have a problem finding the perch...) and what depths did you fish and what did you use as bait?thanks -mike-

 

[RonG]

is there a launch fee for boats at the waukegan harbor... iu got a 17footer.. ? thinking about goin out next weekend.. how far out ( or will their be other boats around, so i won't have a problem finding the perch...) and what depths did you fish and what did you use as bait?thanks -mike-

I believe the launch fee is $17. (free for sneaky kayakers who can drop in most anywhere)

Pretty much straight E or slightly SE of the harbor and about 2.5 miles out. 50-70 FOW. Just search for the massive pack of boats. You might find fish on the edges of the boat pack and avoid the chaos and near collisions.

Perch are right off the bottom. Artificials will work, but very large minnows are your safest bet, either on a crappie rig or similar double hook rig. Expect to use 1 oz of weight if little wind and 2 oz if windy and you are drifting faster. Anchoring is out if you are the only one anchored and the other 70 boats are drifting.