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.

With just a little bit of time on the water getting used to the odd feel of being in a kayak which responds to every breath you take, you should be able to undertake a little bit of fishing. This means taking a good look at your yak and deciding how much gear to take and where to put it. This is best done at home, not when you get to the water. Because after you have gotten comfortable sliding through the water without turning over, then you add fishing gear, you have a whole new set of issues. This is not bad. Just something else that takes some practice to learn.

My first experience was in an 11 foot Pelican fishing kayak. And that experience was on the White River below Beaver Lake dam in Arkansas. Fortunately, there was no water generation below the dam when we first arrived, consequently I only had to maneuver on flat water and learn to paddle and fish, not fight current. That was the way that trip was for the first 3/4 of the trip. But after that first trip which was to be the one that caused me to become a kayak fishing addict, I decided I needed something bigger.

I suspect that most people who try fishing from a kayak will want to come back for more with the activity being mysteriously addictive. At least it was in my case. I can't really tell you why that is, especially if you have been used to fishing out of larger, more comfortable and stable fishing vessels. But the whole experience of fishing from kayaks does something to you that just makes you want more. Having looked over and watched my friend expertly fishing out of a big fourteen foot yak, I decided a more stable vessel was in order, so my choice came from Wilderness systems. I custom rigged a big, wide kayak just for me and it turned out to be a great choice.

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.

Finally, there is just something ultimately satisfying about catching a fish from a kayak. Because of what you do to get to and to catch a fish this way, catching one equals the thrill of catching several from a larger more sophisticated rig. And then there is the intangible part of this type of fishing. You load this vessel by hand into or on top of a vehicle. You carry it or use a special wheel set up to get it to the water. You load it with specially prepared tackle and supplies and use small, personal touches that you have invented just for you in your kayak. Then, you expertly slide back into the water and begin to paddle. At this point you are pursuing fish, but it's not just about the fishing. It's about the whole experience of kayak fishing.