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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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9 Kayak Fishing Tips That Will Turn You Into an Expert
Ah, kayak fishing – the sport for those who like to live life on the edge… of a lake. If you’ve ever trolled with an electric motor, you’ll know how much fun that can be. But, trust me when I tell you that fishing with a Kayak is so much better. Kayaking has seriously increased in popularity over the last couple of years.
There’s more than one reason for this rise in popularity, but the number one cause is that the hobby is far cheaper than opting for a boat. You can buy and kit out a kayak with all the latest gadgets for a fraction of the cost of a second-hand aluminum boat.
Additionally, you’ll be able to maneuver a kayak into places that boats couldn’t even dream about. Not only are they cheaper and easier to navigate into difficult areas, but you’ll feel much closer to nature and it’s good for your health, requiring a little bit of exercise.
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Kayak Fishing Tips
So, now that you’ve bought your kayak, how can you become an expert in no time at all?
Keep Close To The Shore
If there’s a current present that you need to paddle against, then you’ll want to be as energy efficient as possible. It can be very disheartening fighting against a current only to realize you’re making very little headway. One way to overcome this is to stay close to the shoreline where the current is less, this means you’ll expend less energy in getting to your destination and you’ll get there faster.
You’ll also arrive at your fishing hole without your arms and shoulders screaming at you, meaning you can jump straight into the fishing without the need for a break. If you want to make your life even easier, you can even [amazon link=”B09BBNHGWP” title=”buy a kayak with pedal operated flippers built in.” /] Your legs are some of the biggest muscles in your body and are ideal for moving you along, so operating these kayaks is very efficient and not at all tiring.
Use an Anchor
You, your kayak and all of your gear are only a fraction of the weight of a boat and outboard motor combined. So, it’s not at all surprising that when the wind begins to pick up, you’ll find you drift much faster than you would be if in a boat. It’s on these days that you’ll find an anchor is an invaluable piece of kit.
Even a relatively cheap [amazon link=”B01MTDKGML” title=”two-pound claw anchor” /] can make a big difference and will keep you stationary on even the windiest of days. Please bear in mind that anchoring in a current requires a bit of forethought and planning.
How to do this safely is a beyond the scope of this article, but an incorrectly placed anchor in a current can easily flip your kayak, so do some research before making any anchoring attempts.
Using Eddies
If you’ve fished in flowing water before, then you might already know about this tip. Fishing from a Kayak in a current is possible, but it does present its own set of unique challenges. The size of your Kayak can actually work to your advantage when working in flowing water, due to the compact size and small footprint, you can position your kayak in such a way that you take advantage of any eddy’s in the water.
Transform your kayak fishing into a game of chess by using eddies. Just like a grandmaster, use the current (your pawn), your kayak (your knight), and the eddy (your queen). In the whirlpool of water, cast your line strategically and watch as the fish, unsuspecting, get lured into checkmate.
This is the art of using eddies fishing; a whirlpool that’s not only a fish magnet but also a sly knight providing necessary cover for your kayak. So, next time you embark on your kayak fishing adventure, remember to use eddies – your secret weapon to outwit those cunning aquatic opponents. Checkmate!
Using Casts to Position the Kayak
This is a neat little trick you can perform. If you’re using baits that provide resistance in the water, for example, a spinner, then you can use the cast and reel into move around. As kayaks are generally lightweight, it doesn’t take much to move them around.
Simple physics comes into play, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This basically means that the force you employ to move your spinnerbait towards your kayak will also move your kayak slightly towards your spinnerbait. If you employ this method in a slowly moving river, casting upstream on every cast, you might just find that you’ll stay fairly stationary, with very little drift.
Use your Feet
Use your head and your feet. What I mean is think about how you use your feet to help maneuver your Kayak. Your feet can quite easily be used as little rudders to help steer your kayak to the right location.
You can also use them to [amazon link=”B0751D77M2″ title=”anchor yourself” /] to a single location when the water’s depth allows you to get a foothold. You can often quite easily use your foot to push the Kayak against something solid such as a boulder, tree stump, submerged shopping trolly… you get the idea. Bonus tip, if your hands are full with other things, a simple push of with your feet is often enough to get you well on your way to another location where interesting fishing things are happening.
One-Handed Skills Part One
If you want to be a master Kayaker, you need to learn how to paddle with one hand only, this will help you avoid many potentially sticky situations.
If you’re enjoying a leisurely snack, holding onto a beer, juggling some tackle or taking a selfie of your face with your [amazon link=”B00FMA9E1O” title=”brand new Kayak” /], then being able to maneuver with your other hand is an invaluable skill.
That’s not to mention the times when you actually catch a fish and things are getting exciting as you slowly drift towards an aggressive Goose.
Putting in the effort to learn this skill will prove your kayaking experience no end.
One-Handed Skills Part Two
Here’s another skill you’re going to need to master in order to be a competent [amazon link=”B093SR8FYF” title=”kayak angler” /], one-handed casting. When you don’t have the stability of a boat or the height advantage offered by a pier working in your favor, then casting can be somewhat tricky.
When you consider how low you are when compared to the level of the water, there isn’t much room for error.
Learning the one-handed cast can help with this, allowing for greater control and balance, even if it does feel a bit awkward, to begin with. Given enough time and practice, the skill will become second nature and help you transition into a Kayaking pro.
Safety is Smart
I completely understand the temptation of packing up your Kayak and heading out to an unknown body of water where it’s just you, the fish and the water. However, I would urge some caution. Make sure you know what the weather is supposed to do that day, but also learn to read the tell-tale signs that the weather is changing.
What I’m saying is be aware of your surroundings, weather can change very quickly, and you don’t want to be battling against the elements in the middle of nowhere. You might think it looks daft, but wear [amazon link=”B093SR8FYF” title=”safety gear” /], more than a few lives have been saved by being dressed for the environment.
If you can, fish with a friend, or at least let someone know where you’re going and what time you should be home. Fishing safely should be your priority.
Learn From Others
Take a look at what other Kayakers are doing and learn from them. If you can get involved with a group of kayak fishers that regularly head out together, then you’re going to naturally soak up their knowledge without even realizing it. Plus it’s a whole lot more fun to share these experiences with other people and not to mention it’s much safer.
There’s nothing better than heading out for a fishing and camping weekend with some friends, just make sure you take something to eat with you as no fishing trips are guaranteed to land you a catch. Consider a top rated kayak for safety and a great experience.
This video has been included for its clarification of the topic matter. Credit goes to Joe Oceanside
So, there you have it folks! You now hold the secret tips for a successful kayak fishing expedition. Remember, whether you’re using your trusty old blow up kayak or showing off on your fancy pedal kayak, the key is in the preparation and patience.
Don’t be that person who gets hyped up about kayak fishing only to return home with a sunburn and no fish. Use these tips, study your location, fish behavior and weather patterns.
The fish don’t know who they’re dealing with, but you do. Proper gear, safety precautions and a sense of adventure are essential.
And let’s not forget, choosing the right watercraft – be it a blow up kayak for those tight budgets or a pedal kayak for the fitness enthusiasts out there. So dust off that kayak, put on your fisherman’s hat and venture into the high seas (or lakes, or rivers). Remember, a bad day of kayak fishing is still better than a good day at work!
Happy fishing, folks!
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