Landing Fish In A Kayak.

[Big C]

How do you guys land fish in your kayaks?  When fishing I stand almost 100% of the time, so I usually just "yak flip" them in.  But one of these times I'm going to flip in.  What's your prefered method?

[flyfisher]

I don't flip in any fish because it is just to much stress on the rod in my opinion.  if i am standing i just lean down and lip them and if sitting i do the same thing....nothing too fancy.  If it is a toothy critter i may use my lip grip if needed.

[Darren.]

I'm with fly. I don't flip 'em in unless we're talking

½ pound and under, and even then not much.

 

I normally lip the bass, or I'll land them with a net.

[Longo]

I agree with Fly and Darren.  Lip grippers and nets are cheap in comparison to the chance of breaking a rod.  Not worth the chance to me.

[yakingfisherman]

For small fish in the 2-3 pound range, I usually just grab my line once the fish are tired out and bellied up next to my yak. For bigger bass or stripers I will never touch my line because of fear of losing my fish. I usually either use my fish gripper or grab them by the mouth if the opportunity presents itself. Landing big ones next to your yak without a net is tricky but I think it adds to the satisfaction when landing a big one!

[faygo1979]

I find that the fish grips or a rubber net seem to be the easiest way to bring them into the boat.  the kayak bounces quiet a bit and I try not to leave over to far to pull them in.

[kikstand454]

I don't stand and fish. ...not in my tarpon! ... but I generally lip the smaller ones and net the bigger ones.

I rarely land a fish with my grips. ... I tend to use them more as a way to tether the fish to me in the water as I get my camera and board ready. Unless they're toothy!

[DogBone_384]

So far I've been able to bring them in and lip them, until I caught my first good sized pickerel, but it was cold out so I had gloves in my bag. Since then I've bought a folding net and a lip gripper 'just in case'.

I live on a peninsula on the ocean but haven't been taken for a ride by another popular bass species.... Yet.

[buzzed bait]

if standing, i typically lean down and lip them.  i feel like you, boat flipping would one day be literally me flipping the boat.  i'm in a ride 135 and feel very comfortable leaning down or even plopping back down in the seat to land one.  if i hook a big one, i may sit down and snag the net, but generally just lip them.