Do you prefer wading to floating?

[tjm]

2 hours ago, Gavin said:

Floating really isn't that much work. Figure 10-15 minutes to load or unload a boat & gear, and 20-30 minutes to shuttle vehicles times two.. Basically an hour and a half per float trip, unless if you have someone to drop you off upstream.

That just leaves 30 minutes to fish, if I'm not already exhausted by wrestling the boat around.

[Brownie Whisperer]

Been Wet Wading or Brownie Hunting as I call it.... my whole life.... Something special about slipping in and pulling a nice fish out of a hole that maybe hasn't seen anyone in a long time.... 

 

Just started kayak fishing last year..... Still learning..... Gotta say it has its positives.. But the numbers of brownies went way way down..... I just haven't figured out how to handle the dang Kayak and fish efficiently yet..... But since momma wants to Kayak.... Im. Gonna learn.... 

 

 

Looking forward to an All Brownie day via Kayak.... Had many many wading 

[Al Agnew]

On 3/27/2021 at 9:54 PM, Brownie Whisperer said:

Been Wet Wading or Brownie Hunting as I call it.... my whole life.... Something special about slipping in and pulling a nice fish out of a hole that maybe hasn't seen anyone in a long time.... 

 

Just started kayak fishing last year..... Still learning..... Gotta say it has its positives.. But the numbers of brownies went way way down..... I just haven't figured out how to handle the dang Kayak and fish efficiently yet..... But since momma wants to Kayak.... Im. Gonna learn.... 

 

 

Looking forward to an All Brownie day via Kayak.... Had many many wading 

I fish out of a solo canoe most of the time...don't care for kayaks.  But the times I HAVE fished from a kayak, one of the things I did was  bring along a short, single blade canoe paddle.  I use the double blade for simply getting somewhere in a hurry (I also use a double blade in the canoe if I'm going to be paddling upstream, or paddling through a lot of long, dead pools), but when drifting downriver fishing, the single blade is far more precise in keeping the boat in good fishing position.  You can use it one-handed without ever putting down your rod, and make a lot of one-handed draw and pry type strokes that are next to impossible with a kayak paddle unless you use both hands.

Second thing that I learned long ago is to anticipate.  Read the water ahead of you, pick out the spots you absolutely want to fish, and plan ahead to put the boat in position to fish those spots...don't wait until you're on top of them.  And use anything you can to slow or stop yourself.  I'm good at running up to logs and sticking a foot out to hold myself, or getting into little eddies, or running the canoe up onto rocks.

Third thing is the lures you use.  It's tough to fish slow stuff on the bottom from a moving canoe or kayak.  It's one reason I tend to use a lot more fast moving lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

[tjm]

A canoe,  pirogue , small jon, etc.  opens up a lot of good wading water, if it's just used for transport past all the less likely water and anchored near the fun water.  I never could enjoy fishing from a boat though and have no enthusiasm at all for kayaks.

I used to paddle upcreek, stopping to fish until time or tiredness dictated going home then make a straight quick paddle back to the ride, or have Herself drop me up stream and work my way down to my waiting truck.  That added work and time are things that I just don't relish as I age. Wish there were more walk-in accesses.

[Flysmallie]

59 minutes ago, tjm said:

I never could enjoy fishing from a boat though and have no enthusiasm at all for kayaks.

 

I'm hoping a lot more people start to feel the same way.

The biggest issue is that we are getting less walk-in access. There will never be any more than what there is today. 

[fishinwrench]

Fishing from a boat is great as long as I can stand up in it.   I absolutely hate trying to fish sitting down.  On a river/creek I only use the canoe to hop over holes that are too deep to wade through.

[tjm]

Oh yes, standing up is absolutely necessary at least most of the time. 

There is also the  ten thousand ways to get the line tangled on the boat, and paddle, and all the crap required for boat safety.  Stripping basket required.

I think there are reasons why boat anglers often hire "guides" to row and maintain the correct drift. I usually need two arms to handle the boat and always need both hands for fishing. One of my brothers used to be a guide on famous streams out west and he claims that all he knows about fishing is how to row.

[MoCarp]

You can wade and float, best of both worlds....can’t cover water too fast so a days float only a 5th of what you normally bite off in a canoe....pits can be fun, even tubed TR a couple times....

[Al Agnew]

15 hours ago, tjm said:

Oh yes, standing up is absolutely necessary at least most of the time. 

There is also the  ten thousand ways to get the line tangled on the boat, and paddle, and all the crap required for boat safety.  Stripping basket required.

I think there are reasons why boat anglers often hire "guides" to row and maintain the correct drift. I usually need two arms to handle the boat and always need both hands for fishing. One of my brothers used to be a guide on famous streams out west and he claims that all he knows about fishing is how to row.

Yup.  When I'm in Montana, whenever anybody from Missouri visits I know I'm going to be rowing all day.  I don't really mind it, and always plan on stopping at a lot of good looking spots and wading, but I can say from experience that it's pretty much impossible to fish and row.  But after fishing by myself for 50 years from a canoe, I can do very well fishing while paddling.  I may be a world champion one-handed paddler.

 

[BadKarma]

Seeing as I'm a fly guy, wading is my thing. I tried a yak but never could keep my line from tangling on something. I guess I'm lucky in the fact I have my brother pick me up at the walk out and drop me off at the walk in. Then I can take my time and play all I want. I fish mostly water I grew up on and know completely.

I'm trying to talk my brother into a canoe, but so far no luck. I'm getting a little long in the tooth and have a few health issues and am thinking someone to fish with would be a benefit.