7-20-12 Trip Report And Boat Review

[Ham]

I gave Justin and the crew at Sunburst a call to reserve a Coosa and headed their way first thing yesterday morning. I've really been wanting to use a Coosa since they first came out and compare them to my much beloved Tarpon 120.

I floated the Hammond Bridge back to Sunburst. I have fished this section before and on that trip I caught almost nothing once we hit the cold water springs so I made a mental note to drag my feet on the upper section. Well this time the water was much lower and there were a lot more people on the river, I drug my feet and tried to let the crowd go past me once the morning rush caught up with me. I really didn't catch the numbers or the size of the smallies I was hoping for, but I did get some smallies to hand. I spent 6 hours getting to the cold water and then 4 1/2 hours getting to Sunburst.So maybe I dug in my heels too hard. I'll do a few things differently next time I make this trip.

I caught fish much better this time from The Twin Springs area down. I did waste some time in areas that were not productive, but I caught a lot more smallies than last time and more and better sized trout. I live minutes away from the White and Norfork rivers; It's a hard sell for me to travel other places for trout BUT I'm going to have to do more trips to NFOW and Sunburst. The trout although fewer in number than I'll catch on a trip on the White were all beautiful. I did not catch a trout under 14 inches and they all fought long and hard. I SAW several BIG browns and I had seen some giant Rainbow trout. They seemed too big to be trout, but the water is gin clear and I catch 100's of trout every year. I was sure it was giant trout I was seeing. REALLY BIG OK. Well, I caught once of the giants. A true she beast. I catch a few 20 inch trout a year and this fish drawfed those. I'm giessing > 25 inches.

By myself, no camera, no way to measure without stressing the fish more. I popped the hook out and held her until she powered off. That turned out to be my last fish of the day and it was a heck of a high note to finish on. My new personal best for Rainbow Trout.

I also got a new species. I finally caught a log perch. I ended up catching 9 species on the day. Including a horny head chub on a jerkbait. The non gamefish species seem especially aggressive on NFOW.

Ahh yes the boat review. Good initial stability and excellent secondary stability. The fancy seat is very comfortable. I kept in high position all day enjoying the little extra elevation above water level that it affords. I know that raises the COG, but the boat is very stable. I did not that at the high position it did feel like I was having to almost reach for the water with my paddle. I use a 230 CM paddle and a 250 would have been OK.

I did stand and fish in it a little while. I could use more practice at it, but it's doable. The new strap makes it easy to get up and down. I don't know how often I would stand and fish, but you can.

The under seat storage is nice. Much easier than my current situation. There is not room in the rear tank well for my tackle bag and cooler, but the under seat stoge makes up for it. It would ot be hard to figure out how to carry my gear, just different.

There is inside storage for rods which I find vital. Hatchs are bungeed down which gets old, but is very workable. Hatches front and rear with a rubber snap hatch on a front center storage area. That area is Wallet and keys I guess, but I use a dry bag.

They keels have been greatly reduced (or eliminated I didn't look). So the boat doesn't track as well but is more manuverable. The boat is wide and stable, but slower than my T120 maybe about the same speed as a T100. It seemed like the wind was able to push the Coosa around more than a Tarpon which I think relates to the lack of keel.

Lots of neat attention to detail was built into this boat. You can read about those elsewhere, but they do make things nice.

Bottom line is a really liked the Coosa. So much so that right now I'd probably buy a Coosa over a Tarpon. My 03 Tarpon keep rocking on though and I won't buy a Coosa UNTIL I need a boat. I do think the Tarpon would be a much better flat water boat, but I use my yak on flowing water almost exclusively now.

[Guest]

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[Ham]

I didn't bring any fly rods. I did see several pretty decent trout make really showy takes on the surface. I think hoppers would have worked in spots. Where legal I got the smallies on finesse soft plastics. Once I hit the trout water, I used Zig Jigs on 6 lb P Line CX premium. I caught all my trout on 1/8 o Zig Jigs.

It was nice to talk to Justin again. I thought the boat rental fee which included the shuttle was very fair. They do a great job at Sunburst.

[Guest]

You sure wear them out on those zig jigs. Did it look like it would be easy to store a fly rod in or on the coosa?

[gotmuddy]

How was the float from hammond down, was there massive amounts of dragging? We are going monday and I am renting the coosa(again). I LOVE that kayak, and I am saving my pennies up to buy one.

any particular colors other than the usual triple olive that works so good?

[gotmuddy]

You sure wear them out on those zig jigs. Did it look like it would be easy to store a fly rod in or on the coosa?

you can store up to a 11ft rod in one.

[Nortrad]

Nice report, Phil landed a big NFW 'bow on a jig last year or two years ago I believe.

[Ham]

GM, IF you take the right line very little dragging. I took the wrong line one time I think and hung on bedrock.

I carry a lot of colors in that jig, but I could live if I just had White, Triple Olive, Olive/Ginger, and Brown/Orange.

Solid Black or Black/Olive aren't bad, but I reach for the others.

[Justin Spencer]

Good review, I really have nothing to compare it to, but I love the boat. Now I just need a 25" bow to go with it, not sure I've even caught a fish out of it yet. Great fish, wish you had a camera!

[Ham]

Until I saw a few of those beasties swimming, I had no clue those giants were swimming there. How long have y'all had those size trout and how often do y'all catch them? I don't think I'm good enough with a flyrod to have landed her. I've had a few over sized trout hooked on a fly and only landed one or two trout on fly> 20 inches.

I'm pretty sure once my wife floats in that ,

I'll be buying one. Justin do y'all have plans to order more?