Fishing From A Kayak

[Njardar]

Since I started fly fishing two years ago I've always gone trout fishing at Montauk or the Big Thompson in CO; however, living in central IL opportunities for trout fly fishing are limited, and about four hours away. So, I've been thinking (strike 1)... what can I do to increase my fly and spinning fishing opportunities, and fishing from a kayak came to mind (possibly strike 2?). I love to kayak and while I would not use the 17’ sea kayak I made I would use one our shorter Pungo’s (avoided strike 3 as the Admiral thought it was a good idea). Can someone give me advice on fishing from a kayak and in particular: setting it up the kayak (this is a sit in not sit on kayak), what do you fish for, and any other pertinent advice. My primary use would be at IL lakes such as Sanchris and Lake Springfield. Fishing for smallies come to mind, but I clueless at where to start. Any advice and recommendations are appreciated. Thanks in advance!

- Charlie

[flytyer57]

Get a Scotty rod holder mounted on that yak and you can fish for anything your heart desires. I've fished stream smallmouth, lakes for largemouth, bluegill etc.

Use a rod holder and you can even troll with a yak.

[Wayne SW/MO]

When in a yak you obviously need to keep the line up and a longer rod helps there. Don't overlook the fact that you can leave the yak and fish from shallow water. It's a lot easier to reach an isolated shoreline from a yak and fishing into shore can be very good at times.

[GloryDaze]

Your options are only limited by your creativity with your set up. I mean, if you asked 50 people what their set up was I'd be willing to bet you would get 50 different answers. What I have found most useful is good old fashioned trial and error.

Try this- the first time you go out, take what you "think" you need and go where you want to go and fish for what you want to fish. Spend a little bit of time paying attention to your tendancies: Where you put your rod(s) when paddling, where you put your paddle when fishing, where you keep your scissors, pliers, tackle box, etc.... As you start to experience different situations: Whether you catch a fish and you realize your padddle is laying on your deck and ends up in the water, the winds blowing and you are going in circles, or you want a drink but realize there is nowhere to keep it without it being filled with the drips of water from your paddle, etc... you will start to realize where and how you want things to be organized.

I have two boats, a canoe and kayak and waited an entire year to customize them. This enabled me to experience enough different situations to make a good judgement on what I wanted to customize.

Sorry I didn't recommend anything specifically, but I think with this effort in time, you will realize what you need and what you don't.

[Tim Smith]

Njardar, I spent a lot of time in a kayak in Central Illinois and the kind of fishing you'll do will make all the difference in what you buy.

If you do try for smallmouth, most of the good places will be north and east of you, although the IDNR stocked a reservoir socuth of you (Newton?) with smallmouth and there are also good smallmouth (and obscene numbers of muskie) below Lake Shelbyville in the Kaskaskia. The Corps built the reservoir on top of a good river population that gradually died out in the reservoir and the upstream river as the lake matured. There have been some attempts at restocking above the dam but it will probably be a long time before that makes a difference, if it ever does.

If you get into stream fishing, beware rod holders that hold your rod up at an angle as most of the good smallmouth fishing streams will have substantial amounts of overhanging brush.

On lakes you'll be fighting chop and wind. You'd do well to prioritize comfort in both settings as some of the best fishing occurs during times of year you won't want much contact with the water.

I was happy in a 9.5' Perception on streams (cheap and a little crampy but functional) but I preferred a canoe on most lakes.

The set-up that made me the most envious for Illinois stream fishing was the 1 man kevlar canoe with dual horizontal rod holders, a cable-winch anchor system, 26 pounds total weight and a whisper of a draft.

Google up the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance and check out their forums. They have a lot to offer if you can meet some of the guys close to you (most are around Chicago).

[Gary Lange]

I would look in to the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance as the place to meet like minded folks and get some inside information about Smallmouth Fishing. You are about 2-1/2 hours from the Kankakee River which is a premier Smallmouth Stream and you could easily hook up with some guys that fish that river. When I lived up that way we thought nothing of getting up at 3:30am and driving up towards Rockford for Breakfast and then West to the Apple River which was about 3 hours or so if I remember. The Central area has some Smallmouth also over towards Champaign/Urban area also. The Kankakee can be fished with waders most of the time and the area from the State Park downstream can be waded at normal water levels and holds good populations of Smallmouths.

[Tim Smith]

I would look in to the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance as the place to meet like minded folks and get some inside information about Smallmouth Fishing. You are about 2-1/2 hours from the Kankakee River which is a premier Smallmouth Stream and you could easily hook up with some guys that fish that river. When I lived up that way we thought nothing of getting up at 3:30am and driving up towards Rockford for Breakfast and then West to the Apple River which was about 3 hours or so if I remember. The Central area has some Smallmouth also over towards Champaign/Urban area also. The Kankakee can be fished with waders most of the time and the area from the State Park downstream can be waded at normal water levels and holds good populations of Smallmouths.

Agree with all of that. The ISA fund-raiser/banquet is coming up soon and you could meet people there if you're up for a drive to Chicago. They have Central Region meetings on a regular basis too. They have a very strong catch and release/conservation culture. It's a good organization.

For additional sites, also add the Mackinaw, north of Bloomington and further west.

Near Champaign, the Vermilion drainage is good.

Also, if you want to drive a little further into Eastern Indiana, the smallmouth fishing there is phenomenal.