10 Tips for the Beginner Kayak Fisherman (part 2)

This article was written by Darrell Olson and re-published with permission.
Darrell writes for www.yakangler.com



5.  Customize your Kayak: Whether you have an old kayak or are purchasing a new boat, you will want to customize it. Some of the most important aspects of a fish-friendly kayak are a comfortable backrest, rod holders, a paddle leash, paddle holder/clip, an anchor, a cooler, and storage. The challenge in customizing your kayak is putting everything you need within reach while on the water. You will have to determine potential attachment sites. Identify storage areas for tackle, gear and miscellaneous gear. Kayak anglers need to travel light, and you should plan for versatility and maximum storage.

6.  Transporting Your Kayak: In most cases one of the greatest things about a kayak is that it doesn’t need to be trailored. Big foam noodles make an inexpensive & easy way to cushion your kayak. Most noodles have a hole bored through the center that you can use to insert a nylon tie. Commercial foam car top carriers with more foam are available. Vans and pickup trucks are the most convenient ways of transporting your kayak. Another mode of transportation is via a “mothership”. A rigged kayak, ready to fish and strapped to the deck of a larger boat, is a great way to get to distant water.

Most kayaks are light enough for two people to carry. A cart helps if you have to carry your kayak a distance or if it is too heavy. A couple of wheels can turn your kayak into a wagon that can carry all of your gear. If you encounter soft sand, mud, or rough terrain you may need a cart with all-terrain wheels. Commercial kayak carts are available but usually expensive. A cheaper alternative is to make your own. Yakangler.com has several designs of DIY kayak carts.

7.  Kayak Angling Skills and Techniques: These skills range from handling the kayak, paddles, anchors, and other kayak equipment, to how well you access and handle your fishing equipment, especially when varying environmental conditions and opportunistic situations are presented.

Boat positioning: Always have your paddle lying at-the-ready in your lap. Kayak anglers are on the move, casting repeatedly to targets and often changing direction or adjusting position while fishing. You should practice using the paddle with one hand while holding the rod in the other hand.

Drifting Techniques: Generally speaking, you can locate more fish by kayak while drifting. You can control the direction of your drift very easily with a minimum of paddling. Your kayak will never stay pointed directly downwind - it will vary to some degree. You simply change orientation from port (left) to starboard (right) or back again by one backward thrust of the paddle on either side of the kayak.

Fishing Upwind: One the most difficult kayak fishing situations is when you need to travel and cast artificial up current or upwind. The stronger the wind or current, the less efficient the paddler becomes. You can paddle onto matted vegetation if the wind is not too strong. It will hold you in place while you cast before paddling further upwind or current to the next clump of vegetation. A shoreline bank can be used by partially grounding the bow of the kayak as you advance. An anchor or a stick-it pin attached to an anchor trolley will keep you facing your target and your direction of travel.

Sight Fishing: Sight fishing is traditionally done from a raised platform. The low position of a kayak makes it difficult to see below the surface. However, the low perspective that takes away from underwater visibility exaggerates other visible cues to the presence of fish. “Nervous water” appears much more obvious when sitting low. It can be caused by a single fish or a large school. Sometimes fins and tails become visible over deep water as schools of fish often travel and sometimes even appear to sleep or rest at the surface. Tails are more commonly spotted in shallow water, where “tailing” behavior occurs where various species of fish feed on the bottom in water so shallow that their tails stick out of the water. Some anglers want the advantages of fishing from a kayak, but refuse to give up their traditional sight fishing methods where they stand to spot fish. Standing in a kayak is not a mainstream skill. Only the most stable kayaks will allow it.

8.  Fighting Fish from a Kayak: A kayak is a backup drag system for your reel. Even a strong 4 or 5 lb fish can tow your kayak around. If your drag is too tight or your reactions are too slow, the fish will still have a difficult time breaking the line in open water environments. If your tackle is very light, you may need to increase line capacity to allow for longer runs. In open water, a 6 lb test line spinning outfit should have about 250 yards of line or more. On a 10 lb test outfit, 200 yards should be just fine. A baitcasting outfit with a medium to heavy action 7 to 7 ½ foot rod and w 20 lb test line should be about 200 yards of line. [There are many different combinations of rod, reel, and line in use for different species and conditions – yours may vary. –Ed.] The 20 lb line will allow you to be towed in your kayak for hours without breaking. Unless you are planning to go offshore to fish for marlin, swordfish, or bluefin tuna, these three outfits will handle just about anything you are willing to bring next to your kayak - including some hefty inshore sharks and tarpon.


End of Part 2