My First River Trip.

Trip Overview

I have been a site stalker of Paddling.com for a few months now, and just last week purchased my first kayak. Being a "big fella", the idea of kayaking was a pipe dream. But after working on losing weight, I decided it was time. I purchased a used Ocean Kayak BG Prowler 2 from a rental shop and started learning the basics on a shallow farm pond. Practicing paddling as well as getting back onto the kayak after flipping (with only the cows around to laugh), I developed enough confidence (or idiot sauce) to try and tackle a slow moving river. I put in at 2:00 pm on the Meherrin river in Murfreesboro N.C and had planned on paddling up stream for a while before floating back towards the launch point. I had done all my research, you know YouTube and Google, as well as talked to a few friends that kayak and the outfitter that had sold me the boat. I figured I had enough information to try this, after all it is a slow moving river and I like a challenge (yes I am being sarcastic). After paddling upstream for what seemed like 3 hours (really 10 mins) I made it to a spot that seemed promising. Throwing out my texas rigged worm, I came to a realization. There is current and I cant stop moving back down stream. When I was younger I had fished this river on a regular motor boat many times. On said boat we had this thing called an anchor. Well in all my preparation I had forgotten about this. So I did what every good beginner does, I cursed. But not to be put out so easily I decided to try and drift my kayak down the river fishing like this. I caught a few small bass and for the next hour I would paddle up stream and drift back down. All was well until I came across another hazard, people. The older couple on a medium sized center console boat passed me, after slowing down from full throttle. I realize they were attempting to be nice as they passed, but the resulting wake from the front of the boat dipping back down scared the crap out of me. Now experienced kayakers will think how big could this wake be, for me this was my first one and it looked huge. Being inexperienced, I did not have time to turn towards the wake and take it head on, so I took it at an angle. I remembered reading up here that "loose hips saves flips" so I remained loose and it was actually kind of fun. Less nervous I was able to continue my fishing and caught a decent sized bass that actually pulled my kayak a few feet. Heading back was rather uneventful and I loaded up to head home. This was a fun trip one that I will never forget. Please forgive any errors in wording as I am still learning the lingo. Thank you.