Chatter
NEW READER I took this picture on our way to
daycare and thought you would like to see it. Austin can’t wait to get out on the water. He loves looking at the fish and asking me what type they are and he really likes all the cool kayaks. I have been sharing my fishing mags with him since he was born and plan on being his fishing buddy for life. Paul G. Lykins Pompano Beach, Florida
“It’s not a good idea to kayak at night in the
upper Keys, particularly around Lake Sur- prise,” Tony Garcia warned. Lee Helander of Florida said he’s fished around the large rep- tiles for 50 years with only one incident that caused any puckering. “It’s always a good idea to treat any wild animal with respect, espe- cially during mating season,” he wrote. “Alliga- tors are normally not aggressive although they have been known to kill in Florida. Crocodiles consider anything on two legs or four part of the food chain,” Henry replied. Kurt was plan- ning to stay far out of range. “Note to self, stay in Virginia. I have enough trouble with sharks and bullfish in and around Chincoteague.”
GEARED UP The 2011 Gear Buyer’s Guide headlined the Early Summer edition, featuring a head- turning collection of rods, reels, rigging, electronics and apparel (www.KayakAn-
glerMag.com/0011). Merely good isn’t good enough to make the cut. Gear has to stand up to the harsh punishment kayak an- glers dish out. Kayak pro Tommy Samuels confirmed our praise for the Okuma Trio 40S spinning reel. “I’ve been fishing Okuma Trios hard for the past 18 months. They stand up to the rigors of kayak fishing and the drag is phe- nomenal. I’ve boated dozens of redfish over 30 inches using the little Trio 20,” he wrote.
BRAIN FREEZE Kayak Angler contributor Ric Burnley fa- mously and repeatedly jumped into a near- freezing Chesapeake Bay to acid test com- mon outerwear systems (Early Summer 2011,
www.kayakanglermag.com/0012). Donna A.
10…KAYAK ANGLER SUMMER/FALL 2011
Bailey was not impressed. “Hardcore? Frigid? Chesapeake Bay? Please—if he wants the true test, come to Maine,” she teased. James Mar- shall watched Burnley splash down in a dry suit and come up laughing, ready to resume fishing. He wasn’t convinced. “Nope. Doesn’t change my mind. I wouldn’t be in that temp of water. Nor would I jump in!” he said. Matt W. Jordan offered a common-sense alternative. “If the water temperature plus air tempera- ture isn’t equal to or above 90 degrees, you won’t catch me on the water. It’s a good rule of thumb to follow,” he added.
LAST RIGHTS In the Early Summer issue we reported the debate spurred by the
Kayakanglermag.com blog “Dead Wrong” (www.kayakanglermag. com/0005). It concerned the death of kayak- er Peter Snider of Troy, New York, who was struck by a powerboat piloted by Donald Pel- tier of Queensbury last year. When Peltier was cited for failure to yield the right of way to the smaller craft, attorney Kurt Mausert mount- ed a vigorous defense, arguing that kayaks are not defined as vessels in New York state law. In March, Queensbury Town Justice Robert P. McNally agreed. Mausert posted an explanation: “My main
point prevailed, to wit: My client was charged with the wrong offense, and there doesn’t ap- pear to be any section of the NY Navigation law that applies. This isn’t the fault of court, or my fault—the New York Legislature is in charge of writing the laws. Courts and attor- neys can only work with what they give us.” Take heed. In inland waters covered only
by New York state navigation laws, a kayaker never has the right of way. Paddlers should demand the legislature correct the oversight.
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