Lauritzen Yacht Harbor - Antioch Bridge

It was 42 degrees at 1:30 this afternoon when Amanda and I launched from Lauritzen Yacht Harbor. High tide was predicted for 2:15 at 4 ft. The wind was blowing gently from the east at less than 5 knots and produced small ripples on the San Joaquin river. After launching we headed out of the harbor towards the Antioch bridge. Along the way we saw another paddler speedily making his way across the river. The bridge towered over us as we passed under it on this cold gloomy day. We floated for a few minutes and took some pictures before we paddled back under it and towards Big Break.

About a half a mile from Lauritzen's, to the south, there is an opening to a marsh which begged to be explored. It reminded me somewhat of the Dow Wetlands but with more open space, almost like a lake. There were lots of mud ducks and other waterfowl in this area and the water was smooth like glass. We paddled at a leisurely pace looking for other signs of wildlife when we came upon some duck decoys. From a distance they sure look real and there were actually quite a few live ones floating next to them. After an hour or so we decided to call it a day and head back to the harbor. It was a mellow adventure and it felt good to be out on the water.

 Lauritzen's is a really nice place to launch from on a calm day and it's located
on the San Joaquin river just east of the Antioch bridge. The harbor itself has a double launch ramp with docks, restrooms and ample parking. There is a launch fee of $6 per kayak which you pay in the office and then they'll give you a code so you can use their restrooms. The people here are very friendly and happy to answer questions.




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Bethany Reservoir

What a beautiful December day! The kids and I met our friends today at Bethany Reservoir to test out the new boats in my fleet and to do a little fishing. All the boats got a thumbs up and everyone enjoyed a great day on the water! Bethany Reservoir is located south of Byron and north of Tracy and is filled with water pumped from the southern region of the delta. It's actually part of the California Aqueduct. According to Wikipedia, "the aqueduct begins at the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta at the Banks Pumping Plant, which pumps from the Clifton Court Forebay. Water is pumped by the Banks Pumping Plant to the Bethany Reservoir. The reservoir serves as a forebay for the South Bay Aqueduct via the South Bay Pumping Plant." If you were to paddle all around the lake following the shoreline, you would paddle a little over four miles.

We arrived around 11:00 a.m. and found the reservoir all to ourselves. We saw one fisherman who was leaving as we were unloading the boats. There is a self pay station and it say's it's $5 but there were no envelopes to be found. There is a nice launch ramp with a pretty high dock to put your boats in. There are shaded picnic tables and a pit toilet available. There are also a couple of small piers you can fish from. I figure it must get windy in this area due to the reservoir being surrounded by windmills but today there wasn't a stitch of wind.

Three of us decided to try out the Liquid Logic Mist 12's to start the day. We found the Mist to be comfortable, stable and quite quick. Gabe took out the Redfish 12 and he spent almost four hours on it! He's over 6 ft and he felt the boat was very comfortable especially roomy for his long legs. He also said it was fast and felt very stable. After lunch, Mary and I took out the Liquid Logic Deuce Coupe. It was exceptionally comfortable with the thick padded seats, very stable and all the cup holders are very convenient. It's also a very dry ride which will make it great for the tours I'm offering. All these boats are available to rent at Delta Kayak Adventures! I also have a Redfish 10 available for smaller paddlers.

Unfortunately neither Gabe or I caught any fish today but we'll give it another try soon! Overall, Bethany Reservoir is a wonderful place to paddle and I look forward to returning. If you have never kayaked before, it would make a great place to try it for the first time. It's a decent size lake to get a good workout, surrounded by gentle rising hills and an awesome view of the Sierra's on a clear, crisp day like today!

Port-O-Sac Stripers

A beautiful sunset to end  an absolutely gorgeous day of paddling! I participated in my first kayak fishing tournament put on by FreshKats. It was held at the the Port of Sacramento and we launched from the Barge Canal Access where it's free to park and launch. Registration began at 7:30 with the official start time at 9:00 a.m.. It ended at 3:00 and it looked as though a few people caught some good fish. I'll update this post when I find out who won today's tournament and the results for the complete series. There were quite a few participants. I don't have an official count yet but there were at least 30 vehicles in the parking lot loaded with kayaks. This was the last event in this years series but I'm told there will be six events next year.

Unfortunately I got skunked today, not even a nibble, but I enjoyed the day with friends and it felt great to be on the water. My friend Tim caught a baby striper but other than that he got skunked too. I did have an assist on the way back to the launch at the end of the day. Nick from Roseville caught a nice striper just east of the bridge. He forgot his net so I loaned him mine so he could land it. He did a great job and brought in a beautiful fish!

I'm looking forward to next years events where maybe I can do a little better!

If your interested in fishing from a kayak be sure and check my website and contact me as I have fishing kayaks available to rent and I'm also leading tours. I see a fishing tour in the future!

Waiting out these storms

While waiting for these storms to pass I've been busy picking up new boats for my new business and working on getting the word out. I'm currently having a sale on gift certificates which would make a great gift for Christmas! Visit deltakayakadventures.com and then call to place your order. Be sure and like our Facebook page so you can get the latest updates. I've scheduled a couple of tours for December including one at Big Break and another at Discovery Bay. I'll also have kayaks available for rent at Sandy Beach on December 30th for a discounted price of $10 per hour for a single and $15 per hour for a double. Hope you can join us!

If you like fishing and enjoy fishing from a kayak or would like to try it out, be sure and attend the 2012 Port-O-Sac Stripers Kayak Fishing Tournament in West Sacramento on December 9th. For more info click here. This event is hosted by Freshwater Kayak Angler Tournament Series also know as FreshKats. This is the last event for this years series but if you've thought about fishing from a kayak it would be a great place to meet others who have been doing it for awhile.

Bay Point

Launch site possibility

I love finding new places to paddle! Today we went and checked out Bay Point Regional Shoreline. East Bay Parks has a water access trail here that you can use to fish from the shore, launch a kayak or just take a hike around the 1 mile loop trail. This small park has restrooms and free parking available. We arrived at the park just after 12:00 and low tide was predicted at 2:45 at .88 ft.. I'm guessing when we arrived the tide was just under 2 ft. and it would have made for a muddy launch.  There was about a 3 foot drop from the edge of the shore to the water. It was definitely doable but I didn't feel like getting muddy so we ended up launching next door at McAvoys Yacht Harbor. It costs $10 to park and use their launch ramp. The ramp is open 24 hours but the bait shop, which is where you pay the fee is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends they are open until 8 p.m.. If they are closed there is a self pay box next to the ramp.

Tide too low to launch

McAvoys launch

This area is  a great place to explore! There are many sloughs to check out and it looks like a lot of people fish here.  After launching we headed north and then turned east at the first channel. We saw about ten Cormorants resting on a barge and the surroundings were surprisingly peaceful. We continued heading east until we came upon another slough which took us north toward Suisun and Honker Bays. Once in the bay we headed west and stuck close to the shoreline. The weather was actually very nice despite the threat of rain. We paddled for about an hour before deciding to head back. This is a great spot to go for protected waters just be sure to check the tides before venturing out. I'll definitely be leading tours from this location so be sure and check out my website if you would like to join a scheduled tour or design your own paddle and would like a guide. There are lots of possibilities!

Delta Kayak Adventures is Open for Business!

It’s official! Delta Kayak Adventures is now open for business! Check out our website deltakayakadventures.com and like us on Facebook and Twitter to get up to date information on upcoming tours and events. We have a lot of plans in the works including rentals, classes, and even a kayak fishing club to name a few. I’m very excited about the opportunity to share my passion of kayaking, and I hope you will tell your friends and family. Don’t let the weather fool you, fall, winter and spring can be the best time for paddling.

 If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please contact me via email at deltakayakadventures@gmail.com.

 Our first official paddle will be Saturday, November 24^th. Check out deltakayakadventures.com and then call to book your reservation!

Cosumnes River Preserve

Thursday my son and I had the pleasure of paddling the Cosumnes River Preserve. We launched at about 11:15 a.m. and the weather was perfect. The temperature was in the low 60's and there was barely a current. A 1.09 ft. low tide was predicted for 1:15 and made for an interesting return as it was extremely shallow (less than 6 inches) in some places along Middle Slough. Definitely consult the tides before departing on this trip.



This is a great time of year to explore the preserve. We spotted Sandhill Cranes, Herons, American Bittern and many different types of duck. The foliage along the shoreline is changing colors and makes for a beautiful landscape.

We paddled at a leisurely pace about 2.5 miles to what the preserve calls "the tall forest." This is a great spot to stretch your legs and eat lunch. After we ate our lunch we hopped back in our boats for the trip home. I brought my fishing pole and tossed my line in a couple of times with no success. I had a lot on my plate this day so I didn't get to spend as much time here as I would have liked but I'm glad we did it.

Dutch Slough

Great paddle today! Some friends and I launched from Sunset Harbor on Bethel Island just after high tide. The temperature was 56 degrees and there was a gentle breeze blowing. We decided to paddle Dutch Slough and head into the wind towards Big Break. Shortly after launching, Jessie and I spotted a seal about 100 yards in front of us. We watched him surface and dive a couple of times before we lost sight of him. I love paddling the Delta because you never know what you might see.

It took us just over an hour to reach the mouth of Big Break. Along the way we spotted a great blue heron and many other aquatic birds we could not identify.

We thought the paddle back to the launch would be easy with the wind at our backs but now we were paddling against the current and it took a little more effort than we expected. We took our time and soaked in the scenery exploring the marsh along our journey. It took us about an hour and 20 minutes to return from big break . We paddled nearly six miles and we all had a great time and a good workout.

Jessie showing off her muscles!

Orwood Resort No- Discovery Bay Yes

 The past couple of weeks have been crazy for our family but Saturday my youngest daughter and I were able to actually do some paddling and some fishing to boot. The day was absolutely gorgeous. It's hard to believe it's the first week of November.

I thought we would go somewhere I haven't been before so my plan was to go to Orwood Resort in Brentwood and launch. It was the first time, and last, that I hadn't called a marina first to check the cost to launch kayaks. I was surprised to find out that they don't allow kayaks to launch from their marina. They have three boat ramps and several docks but no kayaks allowed. That's a shame because it would bring more paying customers to their resort and give kayakers a chance to explore the area.


I checked my launch ramp app on my phone and was directed to a place called Cruiser Haven only 1.5 miles east of Orwood. Unfortunately, the app was incorrect. There was no ramp or dock to be found.

We decided to head down to Discovery Bay Marina and spend our afternoon there. We launched our boats and headed north to find a spot to fish. My daughter isn't fond of fishing from a kayak but she said she had fun watching me fish. I got a couple of bites but wasn't able to reel them in. It doesn't matter because I just love being out on the water and being able to share that time with my kids.

Martinez Marina - 10/15/12

Last Monday my son and I went for a quick paddle to check out the Martinez Marina. There was a small craft advisory for that afternoon but when we arrived at 11:00 the wind was blowing at least 15 knots and there were white caps sprinkling the Carquinez Straits. The Martinez Marina is a nice place to launch if you want to explore the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. There is no fee to launch for kayaks if you carry your boat to the launch, otherwise it's $10. We didn't have a lot of time to explore but it piqued my interest enough to want to return. The winds and current here can be very strong so check tides and weather before you head out.

It was beautiful inside the harbor as we paddled out. Once we exited the harbor we were hit with a strong head wind and broaching waves. The current was also against us and we decided to stick close to the pier and head towards a small beach we saw in the distance. There were many fisherman fishing from the pier so we needed to be very careful as to not paddle too close to their lines. We reached the beach and talked about whether we should continue and watched a couple of tugs push and pull a large tanker. We decided it was best if we saved this paddle for another day. Our return was speedy with the wind at our backs and current in our favor. Waves were breaking over our boat so it wasn't a dry ride but it was fun. I'll update this post the next time I visit but my first impression was very good.

Fishing Big Break

It was a gorgeous evening out on the water tonight. It was 78 degrees when we launched at high tide a little after 4:00 p.m.. I attempted to fish using a small jig but didn't catch anything but weeds. I switched to some power bait with the same results.

We decided to put the poles away and just paddle around and take in the peaceful evening. We saw a few great white herons and hundreds of mud ducks. After awhile I decided to put my line back in the water with a rubber worm. On the second cast I got a bite and thought I set the hook but the little guy escaped just as I got him close to the boat. At least my daughter got it on video so the rest of my family would know I wasn't telling fish tales.

My catch of the day!

I wonder if there is a world record for smallest fish ever caught. I think I have a good shot at breaking that record if there is one. It's probably better that I stick with the small ones because I wouldn't know what to do if I actually caught something worth eating.

Any day on the water is a good one, and I'm blessed that I can share days like this with my family and friends!

Circumnavigating Kimball Island

Today my friend Mary and I did a little exploring in our own backyard. We launched from the Antioch boat ramp and paddled across the deep water channel, about one fourth of a mile, to Kimball Island.




There was a stiff breeze blowing when we launched and the current was flowing eastward at high tide. The water was choppy in the channel and the weather was warm, mid 70's. We soon found a beach on the southeastern tip of the island and decided it would be the perfect place to eat lunch. As we approached, we found the skeletal remains of an old boat surrounded by beautiful Nodding Bur Marigold. The sandy beach provided shelter from the wind and had a couple of logs that we used as benches to sit and eat.


After lunch we paddled east and almost immediately found the entrance to Cabin slough. We entered the slough and headed northwest towards Broad slough. Cabin slough is just over a mile long, and about a half dozen small homes and cabins line the eastern shore.









As we paddled at a relaxed pace, we observed quite a few wrecks scattered throughout the slough. When we came to the end of Cabin slough, we noticed the wind had picked up quite a bit. According to the wind report from Windfinder.com, the winds never exceeded 15mph but the waves were quite steep for so little wind. The waves made for an adventurous paddle across the channel. We pointed our boats toward the entrance of the Dow Wetlands and paddled hard, keeping our eyes peeled for ships that might cross our path. I shot a little video but had to put the camera down so I could concentrate on paddling. It was less than half of a mile to the Dow Wetlands but it seemed to take a long time to cross the channel.

Once we entered the wetlands the wind and waves disappeared and we paddled lazily through the preserve. On our way out I noticed an opening through the reeds that I hadn't noticed on previous trips. We decided to do a little more exploring and we're treated to a beautiful view of the heart of the preserve. A dazzling meadow like carpet of green surrounded by tall reeds. As we left the peacefulness of the preserve, a river otter ducked under the carpet of green. Our only wildlife sighting of the day, besides a couple of ducks and a sea gull. On our return to the launch we had the wind at our backs and the waves pushing us homeward. Overall we paddled a little over five miles.
What a great day!