We have had strong winds this year. Try to plan your yakking early and to be finished shortly after noon, before the wind gets high.
Mont. Bay can be great check with the local yak outfitters. Check the tides and wind predictions.
before each trip.
Bodega Bay is great unless the wind is really high. You can launch at the two parks. Be sure to avoid the really low tides, or you might get stuck in the mud flats until the next high tide. My wife and I like to launch our Oasis a couple of hours before high tide on the northeast side. We launch about 100 yards west of the last home on the shoreline. There is no official launch, but you can see a sand trail going from the side of the road for about 20-30 feet to the water. We use our paddles to get by the moss/algae. This end of the bay is fairly windproof. Tides again are the critical factor.
If you paddle/pedal down the east side of the bay to go by the restaurants, you need to keep an eye for curious and lazy sea lions looking forward to joining you on your cruise.
ppicker wrote:
Tomales bay launching from Hearts Desire
Russian River near Jenner
There is a fairly new launch site in Jenner by the info center. Be careful of moss/algae on the concrete launch. It is really slippery. If there is too much moss, you can launch in the sand on the east side of the info center. There is limited parking in the lot. We often park on the road next to the site.
There is no tidal impact this time of the year as the mouth of the Russian river is closed with a sand bar. Wind can be a factor, we try to get in the water about 9 ish and out shortly after noon. You can paddle/pedal down stream to the limits and go upstream as far as you can make it. Beautiful country and a fun trip.
Big River near Bragg is nearly 8 mile flat water estuary paddle inland from the coast through the redwoods.
We have never done Big River, but a couple, who are good friends and in great shape, go up there in the summer and early fall. They have learned to get off the river before the big winds roar up the river. They have his and hers Outbacks and came close to having to put to shore after getting caught by an afternoon wind and incoming tide. Try to catch an early incoming tide and then go down river with the outgoing tide before the wind comes up, and it will.
This time of the year, we don't need a lot of heavy outer wear. We both use fast drying fly fishing pants with fast drying long johns with the K waterproof/breathable pants with the built in feet. We like the UA tops that dry fast, and we layer with a lighter top first and heavier zip top if we need it. Our Gore tex jackets are in the hatches if we need them if we get caught in the wind.