Hello All “yak Fishers”!
LineSmith here… I’m quickly becoming a veteran of the kayak fishing, but I’d like to hear of new methods, ideas, techniques… I started fishing from a kayak some three years ago after reading an article in Bassmaster magazine and attending a Kayak symposium in James Island Co. Park. I have two close friends that also fish from ‘yaks. We often buddy up and do both fresh and saltwater fishing. My ‘yak is a 16 ft touring sea kayak with two socket type rod holders set flush into the ■■■■■■■■ within arms reach of the cockpit. The holder tubes extend down into the hull forming a Vee at my feet. This allows me to troll with one or two rods while paddling. The only other modification is the addition of a stiff nylon line loop attached across the bow to hold my rod tips when the rods are under the bungee cords during transit. I always secure my rods and paddle with a leash to the deck fittings on the boat. I’ve had my rod go overboard on more than one occasion and the leash saved my investment! Most people ask me where my tackle box is, or where I keep my bait, fish, etc… My tackle “kit” is a small multi compartment plastic box that holds just those lures, hooks, egg sinkers etc that I need for the intended area/fish. I usually pre-rig/tie my hooks on leaders for Carolina rigs and wrap them around a wine cork with the hooks in the end of the cork, stowing the cork in a 35mm film can. A couple of film cans with leaders/hooks of different sizes in my tackle kit and I’m set. My biggest difficulty is trying to go any distance (over a couple of miles) with live bait in a tow-behind bait bucket… Oh yes… I do catch fish!
Papa…
I have an OldTown Millineum 160 for a “ride”. It’s a touring type sea kayak with hatches fore & aft, and full deck rigging bungies to attach things to. Perfect for what I’m doing. I got it with the rudder so I can control it with my feet while holding a rod and drifting with the current/wind. The rudder is also vital when I’m being towed by a hooked fish! I find an anchor unnecessary… tried one at first and then found that it was just in my way. I primarily fish the creeks and marshes for Spottails, trout, flounder… In freshwater (Upper Cooper) I usually target Largemouth Bass, but sometimes bream/shellcrackers on a fly. In all I find it easier to use lures / jigs / flies. I normally carry two rods, a light baitcaster and an 8 wt. fly rod.
So much water, So little time… Paddle Faster!
LineSmith
LineSmith I saw that you said you don’t carry an anchor, I was wondering if you ever have trouble with the current pushing you around when your trying to fish out a certian spot?
JumpinMullet:
You read correctly… No anchor!
I usually position my 'Yak against the marsh grass or even retract my rudder and back up into the pluff mud/grass and cast across and into a feeder creek channel. I almost never find myself in a strong current condition in the creeks or in the upper Wando, Copahee, or in fresh water in the rice fields where I fish. The beauty of a Kayak is that it can go INTO the marsh grass where some flats boats would hesitate to go. When you are IN the grass, an anchor becomes a problem! And… as I mentioned, I often get towed by the fish I catch. I want the ability to follow a hooked fish without concern for an anchor line tangling me up or preventing me from turning with the fish. The first time I hooked into a good sized spottail, I had a home-made anchor down, and I had a @@#* of a time handling the fish AND trying to get the anchor up AND keep a paddle blade in the water so I wouldn’t go wrong side up! If anyone had been there with a video camera, they woulda had a winner for the stupid-things-people-do home videos TV show!
LineSmith
So much water, So little time…Paddle Faster!
I have found that my anchor doesn’t hinder my paddling in any condition. I use a small folding grapling anchor that hangs from my bow. I ran the line through the front handle loop and through two eyes which lead to a jam cleat. With that setup i can drop and pull the anchor on the bow from my cockpit. It weighs almost nothing and works very efficently.
Just a note on anchors. I use an old ski pole for most of my anchoring, take of the basket on the end and it makes a pretty good anchor when you are in water less then about 4 feet (which I usually am). It can also be used in the flats for stalking up on those active reds, it is much quiter then paddling. I have a paddle/ski pole holder rigged up on the side of my yak (two pad eyes, a bungee cord and a small clip (the king used to hold the back side of those wired shelves) to keep it out of the way when not in use.