How do you guys fish rivers from Kayaks

[Haris122]

I went on the Meramec near Kirkwood 2 weeks or so ago with my kayak, and couldn't catch anything. It got me wondering how do you fish stretches of river with a kayak. I was mainly targeting slower spots close to shore with brush or rock piles, and anchoring there to actually have some time to cast or jig. The few times I tried any faster water the anchor wouldn't really stick and I just kind of floated on down the river with anchor in tow on the bottom. I guess my question is, is there any way to effectively fish it without just restricting yourself to slow water and constant anchoring.

[fishinwrench]

Fishing slow baits while adrift doesn't work that good, you gotta either pick your shots more precisely or get out and wade.

Fish faster baits (spinners, cranks, topwater) while drifting and when you catch a few then you can anchor down or get out and wade to pick the stretch to death with jigs/worms.

[ollie]

I normally use the boat just as a vessel to get me to the spots so I can get out and wade the good spots. If I can't wade it then look into wedging yourself up on a bank or rock where you can cast. Also take a rope with attached vise clamp of some kind and you can clamp onto a brush pile or tree sticking out of the water. I have done both and had good luck.

[moguy1973]

First off, that stretch of the Meramec is tough fishing.

That said, try to find eddies that you can put your boat in so it isn't moving much. That will let you focus on fishing rather than keeping your kayak in one place. Use caution when using an anchor in current. Things can turn bad real quick if the anchor catches on something.

[jtram]

The more you do it, the better you will become at it. Do it as much as possible and you will become good at it before you know it. A drag chain can be helpful, but is a hindrance just as often. Keep at it and you will get it.

[Al Agnew]

Can't emphasize that enough...don't use the anchor in fast water! It can be very dangerous.

Wrench is right, don't try to use the slow stuff while drifting. You'll find it nothing but frustrating. Have a rod rigged with something you can fish fast, crankbait, buzzbait, spinnerbait. Then, as you're drifting, be planning ahead, watching what's coming up, picking out the spots you really want to hit with a cast. Put the boat in position a bit ahead of time, so you have time to pick up the rod and make that one perfect cast, because you won't get another shot. Look for eddies to get the boat into to stop yourself long enough to make a few casts. Park the boat temporarily atop water willow beds. Stick your foot out and use it to hold onto a rock or log coming out of the water if it's not too fast and dangerous, or just to drag a foot on the bottom in shallow water. Pick a line in your drift that will keep you a nice cast length away from the bank you want to fish, and if you're going too fast, do some quick back-paddling strokes to temporarily slow yourself down BEFORE you get to the choice spots along that bank. Since you're in a kayak, you might want to carry a very small, short single blade paddle for one handed corrective strokes while drifting and fishing--even a ping pong paddle will work. In the solo canoe I just use the regular canoe paddle one-handed, and probably in a day's float I'll do a whole lot more one-handed strokes without putting down the rod than I will regular paddle strokes.

[jdmidwest]

I always use a weed bed, log, or a rock to anchor to when fishing out of a yak. I usually fish out of a sit on top, so I can hang a foot over pretty easy. Weed beds, or moss works good to slow you down or even stop if the current is not strong.

Many times, I will get out and wade runs before I blast thru with the boat. Not much difference from fishing from a canoe for the most part.

Like Al says, let the water work for you. Eddies are good, as long as you take a shot at them before you park in them. They will hold fish. So will the weed beds.

Watch for snakes in weeds.

[Haris122]

Thanks for the advice guys.I intend to put it to use soon

[David Unnerstall]

Can't emphasize that enough...don't use the anchor in fast water! It can be very dangerous.

Wrench is right, don't try to use the slow stuff while drifting. You'll find it nothing but frustrating. Have a rod rigged with something you can fish fast, crankbait, buzzbait, spinnerbait. Then, as you're drifting, be planning ahead, watching what's coming up, picking out the spots you really want to hit with a cast. Put the boat in position a bit ahead of time, so you have time to pick up the rod and make that one perfect cast, because you won't get another shot. Look for eddies to get the boat into to stop yourself long enough to make a few casts. Park the boat temporarily atop water willow beds. Stick your foot out and use it to hold onto a rock or log coming out of the water if it's not too fast and dangerous, or just to drag a foot on the bottom in shallow water. Pick a line in your drift that will keep you a nice cast length away from the bank you want to fish, and if you're going too fast, do some quick back-paddling strokes to temporarily slow yourself down BEFORE you get to the choice spots along that bank. Since you're in a kayak, you might want to carry a very small, short single blade paddle for one handed corrective strokes while drifting and fishing--even a ping pong paddle will work. In the solo canoe I just use the regular canoe paddle one-handed, and probably in a day's float I'll do a whole lot more one-handed strokes without putting down the rod than I will regular paddle strokes.

Al,

I like that idea of a ping pong paddle or something similar.

[Moswimb8slinger]

Here's a short paddle from Backwater, available at Ozarks Extreme Outdoors kayak shop near Silver Dollar City. It's made for just that purpose.