ok I’m not sure if this needs to be here or in the kayaks forum but here goes anyway. I’m interested in learning to fly fish from my yak. I used to fly fish farm ponds around my home town for big bluegill and average sized largemouth. I’m not sure what size fly rod I used or anything. I never really paid attention. I got the thing on a trade and figured I had it, I might as well learn to use it. what length/weight rod should I look for to do some inshore fishing from the yak? any info you guys give is great as always. this is one of the best fishing forums that I’ve been on.
The length/weight is going to depend on what you’re targeting.
If you’re looking to go after the usual inshore suspects (i.e. reds, trout, etc.), an 8 wt. is probably your best all-around option. Sure, it’ll be a little stout for smaller troutsies, but will be enough to handle most anything a red can throw at you.
If you’re still targeting bluegill and largemouth, a 6 wt. will do you just fine.
Like I said, it’s all dependent on what you’re trying to catch.
8 wt for reds, 6 wt for bass & trout, 3 wt for bluegills. I like 8 t 8 1/2 foot rods, I’ve got some longer and some shorter, but it seems I keep picking up the 8 1/2 ft 8 wt most of the time
Who’s ready for a sleigh ride?
www.kayakfishsc.com
All yew need is a cane pole and a worm… Just kiddin… Fly fishing form a yak can be a but trying at times… I like 9ft rods, they help with a steeple cast to keep the line out of the water… but here are a few tips… hell they are even Pro Tips 
- make sure your deck is clear… Don’t try to fly fish from a yak when you have 3 spinning rods standing up behind you, they will get tangled all to heck and back…
- PRACTICE… sit onthe ground in your back yard and practice casting form a siting position. Even if you ahve a stable enough boat to stand it, practice sitting casting too. it’s harder than it looks
- did I mention practice, besides sitting on the ground try sitting in your yak and practicing… yes your neighbors will give you “that” look but when the guys with the white sports coats that tie up in the back just tell them you area fly fishing addict and they will leave you alone… Also casting at night when it is pitch black is a great tool… yes you can;t see what you are doing but you can “feel” a good cast… I know it sounds weird but try it… you’ll see what I mean
- learn to double haul… seriously… learn it, practice it… life will be much easier. I have been practicing it a lot lately and I wish i had learned it sooner
- Wear eye protection… yo should have polarized glasses on any way but I have a pair of oakleys that have a nice scar in the lens form a 2/0 clouser I was practicing wiht… For some reason I never used to hit myself wiht flies all that much but from the yak I seem to do it more… protect the peepers
- Did I mention practice… I know I keep harping on it but the more your practice the better you get. if the fish arent; biting grab a randon fly you don;t think will work and practice away… you might be surprised in what ya stick with that fly
Good luck and hope to see ya on the flats this spring…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
C
i gotta dedicate some time to it. i have trouble putting down something i know how to do that works and practicing something i make a mess with. afterwards im glad i did or i guess i would still be throwing a purple broke back rebel on a zebco. still cant believe they dropped that rebel.
he’s pretty white for a fly guy
thanks guys. I’ll go looking online today since I’m staring outside at 6-8 inches of snow and sleet. looks like I’ll have some time in between occupying my two year old that I can do some online shopping. Thanks again. looks like I’ll set my sights on a 6-8 wt, 8.5-9 ft rod.
This time of year if you have waders on, try sitting on the side of your yak(with your feet in the water) and strip your line in your lap. To me it’s much easier than sitting in the boat and taking a chance that my line might get hung up, plus if I’m up on a mud flat casing the reds…my feet make great anchors.
Mud
Amen Mud… I forgot to tell ya… if ya REALLY want to fly fish from a yak… leave the spinning gear home I struggled with this for a LONG time and now when I go out I only take the fly gear… less fish in the boat for me right now but I still enjoy it and it makes untangling leader from spinning rods a thing of the past… Now with that said THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WIHT SPIN FISHIN… I just am making 2010 the year of the Long Rod for me… Just in the past few weeks my casting has gotten better… I can’t wait for them to start tailing again… I dream about it every night
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
