Kayak Fishing In The Wind - Not Again!

[hoosierbass07]

 The last three days have been nice here in Indiana with the temps getting up near 60 to 72 but it has been windy out.  I went out Monday afternoon and it was windy.  I went out again today thinking it would be less windy but there was enough wind to make the fishing time not fun at all.  My fish finder said the water temps around around 52 to 54 and I did not see any water readings below 50 and this was around 3:30pm. 

 

 The worst thing - I see all these fish on my Garmin fish finder and try to catch them but no bites.  I'm fishing deep and shallow.  I don't know if they are bass or blue-gill or crappie but I figure some must be bass.  Jigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits, drop-shot, nothing.  I met a guy on the water who was also in a kayak and he was crappie and blue-gill fishing and guess what? He caught a bass earlier on a crappie jig fishing near the bank.  

 

 Here I am with my fancy Shimano spinning reels with by two nice Fenwick HMG rods and my fish finder and tons of tackle and I get nothing.  The guy fishing for blue-gill and crappie using four pound line - he gets the bass!  Depressing.  

 

 I did learn a few things today - scupper plugs are nice to have and I should have bought some last year.  Also, I tried out my anchor for the first time.  Its not very fun pulling up a two pound anchor that is twenty five feet down.  Also, a two pound anchor does not keep me in one spot.   

 

 Hopefully the raining weather we are suppose to get the next week or so will not fully develop and nice kayak fishing weather will arrive. 

[Jim Mac]

Do you use an anchor trolley? If not, I recommend you do. I use a 5 lb. dumbbell plate, and it's always held my kayak just fine. It's also important to have enough anchor line out. I use at least 3 times the depth.

[Big C]

I always use the wind like a trolling motor.  When it's really windy I use it like an outboard.

[hoosierbass07]

Do you use an anchor trolley? 

 

 

 Not yet but I want to try and set one up.  

[hoosierbass07]

Do you use an anchor trolley? If not, I recommend you do. I use a 5 lb. dumbbell plate, and it's always held my kayak just fine. It's also important to have enough anchor line out. I use at least 3 times the depth.

 

 

   Three times the depth?  That means I would probably have to have 90 feet of line.  

[Choporoz]

He did say, 'at least'.

 

Lots of interweb references to seven times the depth.  100 ft may not be excessive at all.

[Felix77]

When I first went out with an anchor I didn't have enough line and it was one big PIA to stay in place.  Since then I have added much more like and also carry 2 sizes with me in case it gets a bit windy.

 

I tried making my own anchor trolley setup.  I don't have much confidence in it.  I just anchor off one side or the other of my yak and manage accordingly.

[flyfisher]

Anchor trolleys help a lot as it allows the wind to keep you facing the direction you want to be.  I wouldn't trade mine for anything and am going to install another one on the right side of my kayak.

 

As far as length of anchor line goes it all depends on what you need to keep you in place.  I have seen the 3 times your depth analogy before and i don't think that applies to kayaks as much as it does larger boats.  The more line you have out, the slacker the angle of the anchor line is which makes it hold better.  In my kayak, unless it is super windy, I rarely need more than 1.5-2 times the depth of water i am fishing with my 5lb dumbbell plate.  

 

Another option for controlling/slowing down wind initiated drift is to use a drag chain.  

[Darren.]

Another vote for anchor trolleys - one on each side.

 

My next purchase for my yak will be a trolly for the 

left side.

 

Many can get away with a 24' retractible dog leash

and a heavy 24" section of chain, or a dumbbell, or

some sort of anchor. My reservoirs are maybe 20'

at the deepest when flooded.

 

That said, a drift sock is another option. Or, do what 

I did and set up a trolling motor helps a lot

with the wind.

 

However, wind can still frustrate the daylights out of

me, so there's no perfect solution to stay put or stay

sane in windy conditions, LOL.

[DogBone_384]

X2 on the anchor trolley.  

 

My 128T came with one and I bought more for my other kayaks.  The line was too short for some of my ponds so I use 75' now, keeping it in a canvas bag similar to the rescue ropes we have on our apparatus.  It took some practice to get using it down, but after you get the hang of it, it works great!

[A-Jay]

Being able to fish a variety of weather & on the water conditions effectively increases your chances of success quite a bit; including fishing in the wind.

 

Experienced anglers know that at times, a stiff breeze is the catalyst to a long, hot bite and often one or more above average fish.

 

So taking the time to learn how to do it safely & effectively can be worth the effort.  Like most evolutions, having the right equipment & knowing how to use it is beneficial.  I'd recommend a practice session or two that Is Not when you're trying to fish your best spot at the best time - save that for when you have become a bit more proficient, you'll probably do a little better.

 

Some things to consider before you set up on a spot; your position in relationship to the wind (and any current present)  how far you need to cast as well as how far you are able to cast accurately with the baits you plan on using,  the presence of heavy cover; you'll want to set up in a position that allows you to pull a determined bass directly away from it ASAP after the hook set.

 

 Finally, sometimes simply blowing right up in the bank and holding there is a great option.  Though your casting distance may be reduced, depending on the spot, you may not need much.  This eliminates the need to anchor at all, keeps you from blowing over your spot  & spooking fish and provides a very effective / natural presentation.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[flyfisher]

I will very often in windy positions use my stakeout pole to hold my position in shallower water.  Sometimes it gives a different angle of approach to the fish and it does the trick.  Personally i am using my stake out pole whenever i can because it locks you into a more specific place than an anchor and is less hassle.

[hoosierbass07]

  Yeah, I've been looking to make an anchor trolley but I've not picked a plan yet.  I don't really want to drill any holes.  I think my Ride 115 has enough attachments to make it work if I use the front carry handle and one of the bungee attachments in the back. 

[Fishing Rhino]

Anchoring: How much anchor line should you let out?

By Ed Bottrell, Bottrell@eastlink.ca

SMSC Vice Commodore and CYA Sr. Cruising & Powerboat Instructor www.smsc.ca

 

Simply put, it depends on how deep the water is and the expected conditions. Here are some simple ‘rules of thumb’: Short‐term (lunch) in calm conditions

3:1 (length of rode to depth of water)

Overnight in normal conditions

5:1

Overnight or unattended in potential storm conditions

7:1

 

 

The ratio of the length of rode to the depth of water is called the scope, which should increase as we prepare for worsening conditions. The larger the scope, the better the anchor will hold because the angle of pull is just a few degrees off the bottom. However, with scope greater than 10:1 this angle will not change very much. The depth of water is not just the charted depth, but also includes the depth at high tide, and the vertical distance from the waterline to the anchor chock on the boat. If you expect a storm surge or the anchor to dig‐in quite a bit, add those amounts too.

 

http://www.bottrell.ca/BoatDocs/Anchoring-Length%20of%20Rode.pdf

[hoosierbass07]

  Jerbaits from a kayak are not very fun.  I find jerkbaits very user unfriendly.  I got one stuck to the tip of my kayak and I had to craw to the front area to get it undone.  Luckily I installed new scupper plugs that same day so I did not get wet or take on water.  I think my three jerkbaits are staying home next time.  

[DogBone_384]

  Yeah, I've been looking to make an anchor trolley but I've not picked a plan yet.  I don't really want to drill any holes.  I think my Ride 115 has enough attachments to make it work if I use the front carry handle and one of the bungee attachments in the back. 

Just drill away.  If you're worried about how it'll look, or where your measurements are, get some 3M two sided tape and stick the hardware to the kayak.  It'll give you an idea of symmetry and how it'll look before you drill.  Once you're satisfied with your hardware placement mark the holes with a Sharpie.  I have a trolley on each side of my Lure 11.5 using stainless nuts & bolts.  I have no water and didn't sink last year....  

 

Best of luck with your trolley.

[everythingthatswims]

Sometimes when the wind gets really bad I just use my kayak as means of transportation between good banks to fish, then hop out and wade or walk the stretch I want to fish.

[hoosierbass07]

Sometimes when the wind gets really bad I just use my kayak as means of transportation between good banks to fish, then hop out and wade or walk the stretch I want to fish.

 

 

  I'm a bank fisherman and kayak fisherman.  Come to think of it, maybe I should have tried to have found a place to kayak to and fish from bank.  I'll keep that in mind next time it's windy out.  

[atcoha]

I agree, kayak fishing in wind is a downer. I do have an anchor trolley set up, and use it. A stakeout pole is only good in light wind, and shallow water with good bottom that can hold it.

There have been a few times I had to abandon fishing altogether due to wind and tides. I usually fish more out of my kayak in the bays/inshore, where I can drift over grass flats, paddle back, and drift back over.

Get an anchor trolley and do not get any kind of claw anchor for fresh lakes...too many logs/limbs to get permanently hung up on. Make sure you get some sort of float attached to your line and a quick way of disconnecting, a couple of carabiners work fine. 

Good luck!