Kayak Fishing

Kayak Fishing

Kayak Fishing

Fishing from a kayak is in our genes, brought down to us from our ancestors who used this and other similar methods to catch fish over the millennia since the earliest man stood erect on the plains of Africa.

Fishing is possible from any kayak, however the narrower and the more streamlined boats are just too unstable for any serious attempts at fishing.

Although you can purchase stable recreational kayaks specifically outfitted for fishing, I am of the opinion that buying the kayak first and outfitting yourself is preferable. As no two humans are identical, we will all have needs and preferences just a little different to the next guy. It is the accommodating of these differences in the outfitting of our kayak that can often make or break our kayak fishing experience.

If you are new to kayaking I suggest you find an experienced person to get you started so that you truly understand the capabilities of the kayak and of yourself. Ideally you need to get to the stage of you and the kayak being a single entity.

Only once you have mastered the kayak should you consider outfitting it for fishing.

How you setup your rig for fishing is going to depend on the type and location of the fishing you will be doing. You will need different rigging when you'll be fishing small streams or ponds compared to when you're offshore fishing for big game.

The first requirement is to assemble the essential gear. To this end I consider the following as essential: Lifejacket, high quality comfortable seat, rod holders, anchor system, paddle keepers, appropriate fishing tackle.

Second requirement is to mount the essentials correctly. There are many types of rod holder, personally I prefer the flush mount, which can accommodate adapters for the various rod types e.g fly rods vs conventional rods. Ideally determining where to place the rod holders is a two person job. I like to hop in the kayak and paddle out to waist deep water, cast the rod and then determine with the assistance of a friend standing alongside where the most appropriate position for the rod holder is located. Once determined for all holders required and each position is marked for fitting on return to shore. It is also recommended that at the same time you sort out the most appropriate position for your paddle. Often-times when fishing you need to realign yourself with the fish on your hook, in such circumstances it is vital that your paddle is close at hand as it may be needed many times during the fight to land the fish. If there is a current running or a swell it is a good idea to have an anchor of some sort. Generally the choice of anchor comes down to personal preference. From my experience a good anchor is a piece of chain as it is unlikely to get sagged on foul ground and will sink into soft mud/sand bottoms. You adjust your drift speed by letting out or pulling in the anchor line.

Now you can look at the nice to have accessories like live bait tank, cooler to keep your fish in good condition, and off course spare, hooks, sinkers, lures etc. As with larger boats you can even fit fish finders and GPS units. Not forgetting something to store your nibbles (food) in.

Join your local kayak fishing club e.g. North Carolina Kayak Fishing Association you will learn so much from other members.

Remember always tell someone where you are going and what time you will be returning, keep safe and enjoy a great fishing experience.

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