Anyone Use A Kayak?

[TSmith]

So today I bought a "sit on" kayak and im going to be doing a lot of fishing in it and I was wondering if anyone had any useful hints, pointers, do's, or REALLY dont do's.

[Coldspring]

MO Conservationist Magazine has an article in the latest issue. Not that it tells a lot, just inspiration.

http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2010/06/30.htm

http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/gallery.php?volume=71&issue=6&article=3

[Nolan_Whaley]

I've just recently got a kayak, and have been floating and fishing some. It's a great way to spend a day, afternoon, days, whatever on the rivers or lake coves. I've floated the James from Shelvin to Kerr, and floated flat creek from Jenkins to the SR EE bridge yesterday. So far, here's what i've learned. I have a hard time fly fishing from the kayak, so, so far, i prefer spinning road. Tried fly fishing flat creek yesterday, and I found myself wanting my spinning rod. Really need to be able to float, then stop and wade fly fishing. Spinning rod is easier and i had some limited success on my first trip down the james river mem day weekend.

In both cases, i think you need to try and minimalize gear. For spin fishing, i got a pretty good variety into a small tackle bag, then put plastics in a flat tupperware tub. Fly fishing, a small chest pack was all i needed. We have a small cooler bag that has 2 small pockets on one side. It was perfect for laying a rod between the pockets and then running the bungies across to secure a rod sticking out the back.

Fishing from the kayak can be done with a spinning rod pretty easily. what i do is lay the paddle across my lap, and then fish. i can then hold the rod in one hand, and make small direction adjustments with the paddle with the other hand. If the water is very fast, this gets harder. Probably worst thing i did was try to fish a laydown in some fairly fast water, and got hung up. I had a lot of line out, and some really hard paddling back up stream before i could get to a point where i could break off and not lose tons of line.

Some d-ring clips and a dry bag or dry box to keep keys, camera, anything else that needs to be dry. Everything tends to get a little wet outside the dry box.

I recommend the book: Flyfisher's guide to Missouri & Arkansas by Dan Linbaugh & Larry Kinder. Lots of good information on access points and mileage.

My experience so far as to distance: Can float and fish from kayak 10 miles or so in 5-6 hours. If you are stopping and wading that adds up in a hurry. I'd say a 4-6 mile stretch is a better day trip then.

Great fun, good luck. Lots and lots of places to use the kayak.

[TSmith]

I went for a trial run today and it was a blast. its so nice being able to go places that you couldn't go in a larger boat. I really agree with "keeping your gear to a min" but if you can do that the fishing is a lot more interactive because your sooo close to the water. Today i was fishing with top water poppers and it was a really cool experience to see the fish in the water strike at the lure. It also nice not having a motor noise. However, it would be nice to have a trolling motor but

Im wanting some advice for an anchor to stabilize the kayak in minimal current.

Anyone?

[Wormser]

I added a few things to mine to help make trips easier. I bought a bungee kit online with cleats for 20 bucks and the entire yack now has bungee all over it to keep stuff strapped down. I also added a retracteable dog leash anchor system utilizing a 40 foot large breed leash, 1 anchor and a few cleats to run to the back or front. The leash sits at my side and I can pull or drop the anchor without a mess. Rod holders are another easy mod (mine holds 4, but I usually only bring 2). I recommend mounting them behind you which I learned the hard way. I added the drink holder too using dollar cup holder from walgreens. Here's a link for a bungee kit and you can also use the cleats to run your anchor. I don't recommend anchoring in much current either and if you anchor from the fron you'll spin around.

http://paddlerscove.amazonwebstore.com/Kayak-Bungee-Kit/M/B0015DGT2O.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

[ollie]

Proud to say I have been fishing out of a yak going on 8 years now. Learned a lot of things since then. Hard to just pinpoint one thing though. A lot of it depends on you and what you like. I have never rigged an extra rod holder on mine, although I know lots of people who do. After being in it for at least a season will give you a lot of options you will be able to think of. Another thing I don't have is a paddle leash, worthless IMO. Anchors can be useful, but can also be very dangerous as well. I sometimes you an old plastic coated dumbell that weighs like 5 pounds or something. I only use it on ponds and real slow moving creeks. I wouldn't recommend using an anchor on fast moving streams. Again just my opinion. I know plenty of people who have anchors on their boats. For me, I want my kayak to be light and portable. Main reason is for porting. I hate having to carry a lot of "extra" things with me.

[Nolan_Whaley]

My kayak is a sit on top, and we normally take 2, and they stack. So anything i add has to be removeable.. hopefully quickly. Has anyone made their own rod holder or used the ones you can get from harmonygear.com? I see there is some sort of removeable rail system and then rod holders or whatever can be attached to that? I keep thinking something like that would be handy.. lap may be just as easy. Maybe just a piece of 1x4 or something would be just as good...

Also, has anyone added a skeg or rudder that's removeable? My kayak is 9.5' long, and probably my biggest hurdle is just keeping it going in the direction i want and fishing without having to paddle or adjust course.

[ColeM.]

Fishing out of a kayak is a lot of fun! I have a Native Ultimate and have fly fished out of it for a couple of years now. It opens up a lot of water!

[Nolan_Whaley]

Anything you do to make fly fishing out of the kayak easier? i can do the spinning rod fairly easily.. but seems like i have a lot going on with a fly rod. Any tips you'd share on that? I'd really like to hang into some smallies on my fly rod.

[flytyer57]

I went for a trial run today and it was a blast. its so nice being able to go places that you couldn't go in a larger boat. I really agree with "keeping your gear to a min" but if you can do that the fishing is a lot more interactive because your sooo close to the water. Today i was fishing with top water poppers and it was a really cool experience to see the fish in the water strike at the lure. It also nice not having a motor noise. However, it would be nice to have a trolling motor but

Im wanting some advice for an anchor to stabilize the kayak in minimal current.

Anyone?

Check out Bass Pro or Cabelas for an anchor. I purchased a small anchor that was pretty much designed for those inertube bellyboats. A length of anchor chain could also be used. All you really need is about 3 pounds. Some of the grappling style anchors will not really work in some of these Ozark streams though. They don't do too good grabbing gravel. They also sell mesh bags that you can put rocks in pretty cheap. An eyebolt in a coffee can filled with cement also will work.

Search online for some ideas for anchors. I bought some nylon rope and a couple of caribiners along with a big ring. I mounted the caribiners at both ends of the yak, and I can move the anchor position from bow to stern so I can anchor the way that helps keep the yak in a good position for fishing.