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Kayak Fishing (Guest Article)
by Jeff "Yakfish" Little

On one of my first kayak fishing expeditions, I dumped my boat, ending up in mid 50 degree water clutching my paddle, my rod, my boat, and the log that put me in the water. After struggling to pull myself on top of the log, I glanced around to see how far I was from help. Immediately, I realized that I had lost my glasses and had no way of seeing my way back. I had learned what a strainer was firsthand.

Despite this baptism by fire, I continued to fish from a kayak. I educated myself through whitewater boating courses, swift water rescue courses, and other instances of learning from a mistake. I have taken many beginners out in kayaks and been able to have them successfully land fish. It's something that almost anyone can do with the right guidance and safety precautions.

The following items are all a part of the author's kayak set-up: -Dry bag (at the bottom) -Fish ruler -Deck rigging (holds soft bag on top and dry bag on rear) -Rod holder -Drag chain -Throw bag -Lanyard w/ hook sharpener and braided line scissors -Waterproof camera (These next items are worn by the author) -Skirt -Backpack -Lifevest -Dry pants and top Photo taken at Brunner Island, PA

Most people ask if it is comfortable to sit in a kayak all day. I tell them that I never have problems being uncomfortable. I also tell them that the fact that I remain comfortable doesn't say much. I'm usually so absorbed in the act of trying to deceive a fish that I forget about basic human functions such as going to the bathroom, eating, drinking, breathing, etc.

An angler fishing from a kayak has many advantages over anglers who wade or use other boats. The primary advantage is the ability to get close to a fish in clear water without being detected. Fish are spooked by many things. Most of them relate to vibrations detected through the water. The vibrations could be caused by the hum of a trolling motor, or the thump of a paddle on the gunwale of a canoe. A properly navigated kayak can also put an angler in places that other anglers can't easily get to.

Mobility and accessibility go together. A boat that has the ability to pull into a small eddy and fish the eddy just upstream of it, will help an angler catch fish that would have been missed by anglers who have to quickly float through the same area. The ability to fish smaller waters and limited access areas, bring kayak anglers to water that receives very little fishing pressure. Even in the areas that receive heavy pressure, kayaks can bring someone to niches that are unpressured. Other advantages include lower initial costs, lower maintenance costs, and exercise.

The disadvantages include not being able to bring every possible fishing related article you own with you every time out, not being able to cover a lot of water upriver of where you put in, and of course, dumping.

Choosing the right body style for the type of fishing you plan on doing can greatly reduce your chance of dumping. Generally, the longer and pointier the boat, the harder it is to turn, and the easier it is to paddle in a straight line. Being able to paddle in a straight line is more difficult than it sounds. This is especially true of whitewater kayaks, which are shorter, rounder, and easier to turn.

The first kayak I owned was an Old Town Loon® 138. It measures 13 feet, 8 inches, and requires a great deal of room and effort to turn. This is a great boat for fishing lakes. Unfortunately, I fish in moving water most of the time. So I bought a Perception Axcess®, a whitewater kayak. It is under 10 feet, and likes to turn so much that when I stop paddling, it turns 180 degrees every time. Recreational kayaks such as the Old Town Loon 111®, and the Perception Swifty® are good alternatives to the two extremes. Boat color is also an important consideration. My next boat will be gray, as this color matches what the fish are used to seeing overhead.

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"An angler fishing from a kayak has many advantages over anglers who wade or use other boats. The primary advantage is the ability to get close to a fish in clear water without being detected."

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Kayak accessories and modifications should also match the type of fishing you plan on doing. I have kayak fishing buddies who have gone crazy with kayak modifications, installing small trolling motors, GPS units, and fish finders. Most people can be more than comfortable with a few basic modifications. At the minimum, a fishing kayak should include the following: a life vest, a rod holder, a backpack, a dry bag, and deck rigging.

My favorite modification is deck rigging. It consists of several U-shaped tie downs and a bungee cord, which can be bought by the foot at rock climbing supply stores or hardware stores. The simplest deck rigging pattern uses four tie downs to make a box with an X through the center. If you have trouble visualizing any of this, go to a kayak retailer and look for a touring kayak, as they usually come with deck rigging. The tie downs can be purchased as kits or in hardware bins at kayak shops. I know that it might be hard for you to drill holes in your new boat, but the ability to carry more gear with you will be worth it. It is important to tie a large enough knot in the end of the bungee cord so it will not slip through the tie down and cause injury. I also use a lighter to melt the ends of the cord to keep it from unraveling. A small amount of duct tape wrapped around the end also ensures that the bungee material will not unravel. I have deck rigging for my soft tackle box in front of me and for my dry bag behind me.

Another good way to bring more gear is to wear a backpack. I keep my soft plastics, a flashlight, a Leatherman® tool, a NOAA weather radio, my digital scale, survival items, a first aid kit, and lots of food and drink in my back pack. Most of those items are in Ziploc bags. Always plan on getting wet.

The author fishing the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Notice the gear strapped fore and aft. Jeff uses a Perception Axcess kayak.

In case you do get wet, you will want to have dry clothes to protect you from hypothermia. Hypothermia doesn't only occur during the winter months. I bring a dry bag with an extra set of clothes most of the year. I also keep a lighter and paper in the dry bag to start a fire.

In the winter months, I go a step further. Whitewater kayakers wear drysuits. I tried on a drysuit once, and getting my head through the neck gasket was like trying to fit you head through one of those rubber bands that are used to hold a lobsters claw shut. Instead, I opted for separate dry pants and dry top. They are made from a waterproof material with neoprene and Velcro® gaskets at the ankles, waist, wrists, and neck. These gaskets are not waterproof, but will keep enough water out until you can swim to shore if you dump. I wear fleece pants and top under the dry pants and top, to keep me from feeling like I'm wearing a wet diaper.

Rod holders free your hands up while you paddle to the next hole. Marine Supply stores offer a variety of options. The most practical and lightweight one I have found is made by the marine division of the Tite Lock® Corporation. The model is adjustable to rotate 360 degrees. I have used this feature to troll small crankbaits for smallmouth and walleye. Just be careful when doing this, as I have been smacked in the head with the rod when a larger fish has hit.

One accessory that can increase accessibility a great deal is a kayak cart. The one I use is made by Primex®, but there are several companies manufacturing them for use with kayaks, canoes, and johnboats. It looks like a miniature folding beach chair with two wheelbarrow wheels attached. The wheels are easily removable and the cart frame folds up to be tucked under my rear deck rigging. I often walk my carted kayak up the C & O canal and float down from the put in. This eliminates the need for two vehicles to complete a float trip. Another option is to simply carry the kayak. Most of them weight under 50 pounds.

Many colorful stickers adorn my kayak, making it look like a Nascar vehicle. I sure wish I were sponsored. The most useful sticker on my kayak helps me measure the lengths of fish I catch. I placed it near the water line so I could quickly measure and release the fish. Who do I think I'm kidding? I usually get a few photos of her before she goes back.

The waterproof camera I use keeps me from fibbing. With a photo, there is no need to tell a fish story. However, you can still cheat. I feel no shame in admitting that I hold each fish as far from my body as I can to make it look bigger. I used disposable waterproof cameras until I realized that within a few months of using them, I could have purchased a real one. My first waterproof camera was a Minolta® that took Advantix® film. The camera was only 65 bucks at Walmart®, but the Advantix® processing took awhile and cost a lot more than 35 mm film. I'm currently happy using a 35 mm Canon® waterproof camera.

Skirts are more useful for whitewater fishing. A skirt can keep you from taking on water when you turn hard or get caught on a rock. One of my kayak fishing buddies sews a zipper into his skirt so he can quickly get to his gear inside his kayak. I use a neoprene skirt with a marsupial pouch in front. Depending on what kind of water you plan on fishing, you may not need to use a skirt at all.

Last April during a flood, I launched my kayak into the Potomac River near Fletcher's Boathouse in the District of Columbia. My girlfriend and a fraternity brother accompanied me in search of stripers chasing the herring spawn. I threw my anchor in a place that I believed to be an eddy and the current immediately let me know otherwise. I needed to use my paddle as a rudder to keep the current from whipping me around and dumping me. My fraternity brother ended up freeing me of the anchor in a float by hacking off the anchor line using his Buck knife. Anchors or drag chains have their place in kayak fishing. Please learn when and when not to use them during low, warm water periods. Many canoe fishermen wrap drag chains with bicycle inner-tubes or duct tape to decrease the noise and likelihood of snagging. Drag chains or anchors should be attached to a line that connects to a weaker section of line that will break if the boat is dangerously tethered to the bottom. A float of some kind such as a plastic bottle can be attached to the heavier line so you can go back and retrieve the broken off anchor line.

Other items such as paddle leashes, helmets, glasses holders (Croakies®), felt bottomed wading shoes, hand held bilge pumps, and throw bags can all help in the unfortunate case of an unplanned dunking. The most important way to prepare yourself for an accident is training. Most local Canoe Cruiser Associations offer beginning kayaking courses, as well as swift water rescue courses. While I don't recall every technique taught in the courses I took, I feel that I can handle an emergency whitewater situation, such as a kayaker being pinned on a rock. These courses also teach people a great deal about self preservation.

The author's friend, Randy Fugate, in a Mallard kayak. Randy has his kayak equipped with a trolling motor, retractable anchor system, extra deck rigging, reinforced backrest, rod tie-downs, rod holders, and a fish ruler.

Some of the basic things that you will need to know before you go out the first time are as follows: Go with someone who knows the water. The first time out should be on flat water on a day that is not very windy. You should not attempt to try this for the first time during the cold water period. If you do dump, and you are wearing a skirt, know the procedure for wet exiting. To do a wet exit, pull the skirt loop at the top of the cockpit, push the kayak away from you by putting you hands on the sides of the cockpit, and shoving as you legs pull out of the kayak. When you start to experiment with moving water, always remember to stay parallel with the current, and perpendicular to any drops, or obstacles. If you collide with an object while you are sideways in current, lean into the object. If you lean away from the object, the current will pull you into the water. If you dump, make sure that the boat is not upstream of you, as the current can squash you in between the boat and a hard place. Also, when you dump, float with your toes out of the water feet pointing downstream. An exception to this is if you are floating into a strainer. In this case, you should swim at it fast and pull yourself up onto it quickly. In the swift water rescue course I took, each of the students were placed in the water in situations that showed you the reasons for each of these rules. Please train yourself to be safe.

Using a kayak is a great way to increase your enjoyment of the fishing experience. It can be dangerous, but any one can prepare themselves to do it safely.