Catching Fish From A Kayak

Having been a fisherman all my life and simply because of a terrible adventure on a canoe trip in moving water decades ago, I've mostly shunned any kind of pointy nosed contraption that has a resemblance to a real boat ever since then. I have since had large fishing boats, flat bottoms, small bass buggies, and just about every single other type of fishing vessel you can name other than anything shaped like a split banana that has to be paddled. Until I made the decision that on flat water, under absolutely ideal conditions my family and I could benefit from some family time on small lakes in some kayaks. But little did I know that as soon as I was seated in one of these addicting water knives, I would in no way be the same, nor would my attitude be the same toward kayak fishing.

After a little practice moving a moderate size kayak around on flat water, most people should be able to start practicing a little fishing. At first, when learning how to maneuver in a kayak, not turning over when you sniff, and learning how to move front to back without upending, doing more than just learning to use the vessel is futile. But once you find yourself slicing through the water at surprising speed, you should be able to add a rod and reel and a small bit of tackle to just about any rig to undertake a little kayak fishing. Room in a kayak for this type of activity is the challenge and if you are used to fishing in anything larger with a motor, there is yet another learning curve.

My first kayak was not the big brute I now own and use. It was an 11 foot entry level fishing kayak, and my first time fishing with it was on the White River in Northwest Arkansas. I was lucky in that the water was flat with no current when we arrived and it enabled me to practice using all the new gear that stuffed my kayak from front to rear. It also gave me the experience of setting the hook on some fish without becoming unstable on the water. This was the trip that would determine my future kayak fishing and the deciding factor in my buying a bigger, more stable (and more expensive) kayak that I could customize for my kind of fishing.

After floating and successfully fishing in one of these small, pointy, treacherous looking vessels it is likely most people will want to go back for more. Such was the case for me. And I can't really explain why, that if you have a larger boat, why you would bother, but there's just something about it that takes you and makes you want more. And if people start out in a small Pelican like I did, which performed admirably, they are likely to soon want something bigger if they really are avid fishermen/women. A friend has a Heritage 14' fishing kayak that is rigged to produce the nirvana of kayak fishing. Big, roomy, well rigged, comfortable, and stable but fast. My own choice was a Wilderness Ride 135, a big wide kayak with a pontoon hull that was not rigged for fishing. This just provides opportunities to completely customize a boat for the fisherman.

Once a person has gained some experience, a large kayak like this can be used for a whole day or a week on the water to fish lakes, bays, streams and rivers. And like everything else in this day and age, when you buy the main item, there is a whole world of accessories for you to spend your life savings on to rig it out. I think since buying my Wilderness Kayak, I've bought it again purchasing stuff to put on it. It really doesn't have to be that way, but there are a lot of ways to accessorize a fishing kayak to make it just right for you. Also, having some advance knowledge of the water you are going to fish in a kayak will go a long way towards a more productive, pleasant and fun experience.

In conclusion, I really can't identify what human emotions are involved in kayak fishing being so satisfying. When a person can fish out of much bigger, easier to manage vessels in comfort, it seems like a kayak would be the last choice to fish from. But it is nothing short of addicting to catch that first fish from a kayak. For many people it has been the deciding factor in selling all other types of fishing vessels and making it their sole way of angling. Because when you catch a fish from a kayak it's not about just an individual catch. It's about the total adventure that is fishing from kayaks.