Battle On The Bayou!!!



Recently I participated in my first kayak race, a twelve-mile experience called "Battle On The Bayou."  It was sponsored by South Coast Paddling Company in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  This neat shop is owned and operated by Melissa Johnson.  Melissa is quite the operator and always has something going on for us water-minded people, including kayak fishing seminars and trips!  I must say that the "Battle" was a challenge for me as I am a rank novice to the world of kayaking.  My wife bought me my Native Ultimate 12 for a surprise birthday present, knowing I had a serious kayak jones on.  The first time I rolled it out to the beach and got in the water, I was instantly hooked!  Since then, I had taken it out to Deer Island a few times for some fly fishing, which is only a mere 1.6 miles round trip to and from the Biloxi Schooner pier.  Besides, when you're fly-fishing, you spend more time casting than you do paddling, so I was ill-prepared for the "Battle."  Surprisingly, though, I did not finish last and am now planning on paddling another race:  The Dog River Clearwater Revival's Dog Paddle 2010.  I'll keep you posted on that one.  Until then, I will be in "intensive" training for next year's "Battle," which will include shagging my Native out to Bozeman this summer.  From there I plan on doing Hebgen Lake and catching my share of midge-gulping cutthroats and rainbows.   I can't really blame that one on Craig Matthews at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT for telling me about these fish, because I was going to do that anyway.  But before I met Melissa Johnson, my idea of kayaking was a leisurely stroll around the islands looking for tailing reds, NOT racing!  Of course I have no visions of grandeur about ever winning a race.  My litle Native is a bulldog, built for fishing, not racing.  But the racing is cool...Thanks, Melissa for giving me another addiction...as if I needed one.

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