My Lake Sonoma approach

[Fugaloo]

So as some of you know I hunted deer at Lake Sonoma this year unsuccessfully, and kind of regretting drawing that hunt, I have sense been back to hunt hogs about five times now. I started by going to the trail head at the old Skaggs Springs Rd. I really didn't see much sign at all, and the trail was pretty badly grown over. Next I hit up the northern side of Yorty Cr. fire roads . It's a tough hike, not insane but it is quite a workout. I busted into all the spots I found deer hunting that were wallows, or bedding areas, or any other area that seems like they visit. The weather was a lot different and I didn't find any action. There was a spot I found where I could ambush at a heavily traveled hog trail, and I sat on a log for a little while. I am not very good at blind hunting, I can go about 2 hours before getting antsy. SO I started doing a little woods construction and ended up with a pretty sweet little blind. I would be almost totally concealed planning on drawing back sitting and then standing to deliver the shot. I plan on revisiting the blind and setting it up a little better. Maybe even leaving a little cache of water and other essentials in a water tight box. The problem with this blind is that it is about an hour and a half hike from the parking lot. I got to thinking that if I could just float over the channel on the right side if the beach I could hike straight up and save a bunch of time. I renewed my craigslist scouring for a cheap boat. I found a good deal on a hobie kayak and took it to the lake. My first day I did a 12 mile paddle from the Yorty crk. launch up to the dry creek inlet. I stopped four or five times to hunt different areas and found some really good sign. There was fresh rooting everywhere, poop, rubs, heavily used trails, bedding areas. I must have knocked arrow 15 times thinking I was going to turn a corner or crest a hill and find them right in front of me. This one day made me feel like I wasted my deer season hiking in. Just getting a 20 minute paddle away from the launch puts you where it would take 4 hours to hike to. I saw many times more sign in a one hour hike then I did my entire deer season hiking in. The hunting is just way better when you get across the water a little. The Kayak also got me much farther up the creek than the motor boats could go because of the depth. I have to say I was a little jealous of anybody with a motor on the way back. Although those things can be heard from so far away. I will be modifying my kayak with an outrigger and a trolling motor soon.

 

[OPAH]

There are many different ways to just that take a look at this one
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...2C1423B73058BCC77EC12C1423B73058BCC&FORM=VIRE

 

[JustGuy]

Just one stupid question, if G....d forbid:rotflmao: you kill a 200-473 lb hog, how are you going to transport it back?
Isn't it better a little inflatable zodiac style or jon boat?
Even 10Ft jon boat with 3-6HP motor is much safer and faster. It is possible to find all the setup under a grand, i'd say $500 if you look hard.

Here are some
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5907231759.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5911413849.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5910837517.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5896063829.html

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Thanks for the report Fugaloo , like I always say, if anything u will get in great shape after hunting for pigs at the lake for the season.....tra


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[Bgiordanengo]

Just one stupid question, if G....d forbid:rotflmao: you kill a 200-473 lb hog, how are you going to transport it back?
Isn't it better a little inflatable zodiac style or jon boat?
Even 10Ft jon boat with 3-6HP motor is much safer and faster. It is possible to find all the setup under a grand, i'd say $500 if you look hard.

Here are some
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5907231759.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5911413849.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5910837517.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/5896063829.html

I wouldn't say a 10ft John boat is safer then a kayak. Maybe easier to haul. But much easier to sink. Especially in weather.

 

[Fugaloo]

OK...So thanks to everybody shooting me warnings, I am aware of the dangers. I went out last Friday in the morning and had a bit of a scary experience. I had picked up an electric trolling motor and a deep cell battery. Endgame is fabricating a foam and fiberglass outrigger that will house the battery, and stabilize the kayak in rough water. Being excited to try it out I mocked up a temporary transom on the back, shortened the trolling motor shaft, and pieced it together at the ramp. I was concerned about too much weight in the stern and I was right. Originally I had the battery sitting on the back but I had to move it forward to balance the boat. No problem but I had no way to tie it down so I relied on gravity to keep it in place. Fast forward to launching...everything was ok, had a bit of a head wind but the motor was tugging along just fine. It has 5 speeds, the 5th being way stronger than the 4 before it so I tried to maintain in 4th before I really knew the capacity of the battery. I made my way from Yorty to the open water and crossed to hunt the East facing hillside along the old creek. Wind was in my face the whole time and wasn't very strong, it was windier than when I had paddled before but I felt confident with my motor. It wasn't all smooth sailing, there was definitely a lot of tuning to the setup left to do, and the weight was still pretty heavy in the stern. But I made it across OK and had a nice hike up in the hills. I have been on the lookout for mushrooms when I go up there too but returned empty handed to the boat after a couple of hours.

I was dismayed when I dropped below tree line and the wind was howling and had shifted directions blowing right into me from the East the direction I was going to get back. I looked out over the open area and saw some pretty choppy water. I really thought I was screwed and would have to be rescued by another boater. I waited about 20 minuutes hoping the wind would change or a boat would come by but neither happened so I tied my gear down as best I could, pulled up the seat and planned on kneeling to keep weight forward, and headed out hoping I would make it. It was pretty spooky, got into some waves that almost rolled me, at one point I had to turn 90 degrees away from where I was going just to avoid getting turned over by the wind and the waves. After getting close enough, and almost losing my seat to instability, I came around and started going with the waves. Turning required precision and the waves were stronger than my little trolling motor could keep up with so as they passed me I would take on a bunch of water that would only drain out if I leaned as far forward as I could for a minute or two. Now, if I had completed the outrigger and set up the motor to be foot pedal controlled the way it will be eventually, I could have battled those little waves no problem. Also keeping the battery in the outrigger will increase stability and buoyancy. It is a tandem Hobie sit on top, plenty of room for all the gear, and a hog. If when I get the outrigger fabbed up and I need more room for a harvest I have a few inflatables I could tow. I saw a guy during deer season though with a one man float pontoon converted to like a flatbed trailer he pulled behind his kayak that he had all his camping gear on.

And yes, there are more options that are for the most part affordable. They could put me in a larger, more stable craft. But I'm kind of a minimalist and I enjoy the suffering, it makes the win that much better. I would love to get an aluminum fishing boat, like a 14 or a 16, and it may happen for me. So far though I have kept this purchase well under $500, and it will be a sweet fishing kayak as well. There is a lot of stuff you won't see motoring up the channel. Silently paddling or trolling is a sneaky way to get where you're going, and a great way to see more action.

 

[Sawdog]

I know this is old but I got an inflatable kayak and was going to hit the lake this season. Fugaloo - did you ever connect with a pig?

 

[Fugaloo]

No, crab season started which took a lot of my attention. Then somebody tried to kill me on my motorcycle and now Im broken.

 

[Huntr Pat]

I use to have a 2 stroke outboard but after switching to a 4 stroke you never go back. Its much quieter and very fuel savings. I run merc 25 on my livingston. planning on selling this setup for aluminum boat with 4 stroke motor.