Kayak in the wind

[the reel ess]

I have an anchor and 20' of thin rope as well as a cleat on the kayak. I don't even take it with me because it's more of a pain than the wind. I just use the paddle and make minor corrections all day.

You can find a weedy place to set your boat to make casts while stationary. If there's standing timber or stumps, you can get yourself stuck in them. This can be a hassle though.

Another option is to have smaller bodies of water to fish. I have reservoirs/ponds from 25 acres to about 2 acres that I've gotten permission to fish. If you have choices you can walk the banks somewhere if it's too windy to paddle.

[Master Bait'r]

On June 3, 2016 at 11:34 PM, MassYak85 said:

I've seriously considered the possibility of adding a trolling motor to mine as well, the back of mine has a perfect space for it. Only issue is Massachusetts Taxachusetts requires you to register your kayak if you add any sort of motor to it. So that has steered me away from doing so. Odds of anyone actually fining me for it are slim to none but still, law is the law. 

 

This is the only reason I didn't get a console motor kayak...  To hell with registering my kayak!!  

Also a big help for me was figuring out which bodies of water around me are better when it's gusty.  Bigger open places or spots adjacent to open fields will ALWAYS have more wind.  A skinny slot reservoir or pond nestled between hills and surrounded by trees will be a far more manageable choice on a windier day, so I typically save them for those times.  

 

One more ore thing about the wind...  It's out to get you.  It will ALWAYS spin you the wrong way, be gusting at inopportune moments and will have timing you'd SWEAR was malicious and conspiring against your every move.  Don't let it get you ticked off.  I swear the days I let it get me mad I beat myself and never catch fish like I want.  Always either be able to shrug it off or call it and head home.  Never let it ruin your day.  

[MassYak85]

5 hours ago, Master Bait'r said:

 

This is the only reason I didn't get a console motor kayak...  To hell with registering my kayak!!  

Also a big help for me was figuring out which bodies of water around me are better when it's gusty.  Bigger open places or spots adjacent to open fields will ALWAYS have more wind.  A skinny slot reservoir or pond nestled between hills and surrounded by trees will be a far more manageable choice on a windier day, so I typically save them for those times.  

 

One more ore thing about the wind...  It's out to get you.  It will ALWAYS spin you the wrong way, be gusting at inopportune moments and will have timing you'd SWEAR was malicious and conspiring against your every move.  Don't let it get you ticked off.  I swear the days I let it get me mad I beat myself and never catch fish like I want.  Always either be able to shrug it off or call it and head home.  Never let it ruin your day.  

I hear you on that last paragraph. I swear, anytime I paddle to the other side of a lake to fish, I am against the wind, and JUST before I head back to the ramp, it switches direction and I have to paddle against it AGAIN. Itr has happened so many times it's ridiculous. Last time I was out I let it get me mad and I called it a day after just two fish. I knew I was going to be miserable if I stayed out so I just went home. Fishing should be fun, and when it stops being that way I am not going to stay out. 

[CenCal fisher]

Thanks for all of the advice guys, it has been informative. I think I'll end up trying out the drift sock and a hand paddle. The past few times I went fishing I went to a higher elevation lake that is surrounded by pine trees which really cut down on the wind.