How do boat fishermen really feel about kayak anglers?

[the reel ess]

If I paid $30K or more for one, I'd probably want to fish some "clean water."

 

Now I don't fish from the kayak anywhere boats can run gas motors. Some of the places I fish, if you put a boat in, the water level would rise. For me, that's the point of the kayak to start with. These are like two different sports to me. I actually have an older boat but don't like to use it.

 

I do encounter some boats using electric motors. Some ask questions about the kayak, some wave, some ignore me. No one has ever said anything rude to me about it. On the other hand, when I used to fish from the boat at the local big lake, plenty of other boaters did and said rude things. It's amazing what they'll do and then tell you it's a big lake. That's why I got the kayak and sought out smaller waters.

[Log Catcher]

I have one problem with people and kayaks. I try to slow down to idle speed to pass them safely and not cause a problem. Usually they won't quit paddling long enough for me to get by them. So I have start picking up speed again to get past them. If they get swamped sorry about your luck.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Log Catcher said:

I have one problem with people and kayaks. I try to slow down to idle speed to pass them safely and not cause a problem. Usually they won't quit paddling long enough for me to get by them. So I have start picking up speed again to get past them. If they get swamped sorry about your luck.

Don't try that in Minnesota...you'll get fined at the least.

 

"Nonmotorized Craft

Nonmotorized craft (sailboats, canoes, etc.) have the right-of-way over motorized craft in all situations, except when the nonmotorized craft is overtaking or passing."

[J Francho]

Just stay on plane and don't get too close. Planing bass boats make less wake than plowing water off plane.

[Choporoz]

Despite the truth in that...facts may not help you if you try to apply that logic through a no-wake zone

[Log Catcher]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Just stay on plane and don't get too close. Planing bass boats make less wake than plowing water off plane.

Guess you missed the part where I said I try to pass them at idle speed and not create much wake.

[J Francho]

What's a no wake zone?  Seriously, though, no wake means NO WAKE.  NO WAKE is probably not an issue for any vessel, powered or not.  My point was, if you are running and overtaking a non motorized vessel, GO AROUND THEM.  Slowing down just creates a big wake, and helps no one.  If you're idling, and you can't pass a kayaker, your boat is probably broken.  My boat idles at around 4 mph.  The fastest I've ever gotten my kayak going is a little over 5 mph, and I was really paddling or pedaling, depending on the boat.  Most often, I'd be moving at 2 to 2.5 mph.

[Choporoz]

One of my favored kayak launches is in midst of half a dozen marinas.  Fortunately,  all no wake.  The bass boats are good....the 45+ footers are good....the weekend 25-30-something footers (maybe age, too) are a disaster in the making. 

 

[Choporoz]

28 minutes ago, J Francho said:

What's a no wake zone?  

Trick question?  Around here, a No Wake Zone is a section of navigable water, in which creation of a wake by a watercraft is prohibited....that's my interpretation...not legal language.    However,  a common interpretation is that you gotta go slow there....I don't think there's a speed limit, per se, but if you try to fly down this busy, no-wake river on plane, you are likely to have the sheriff or dnr called on you....whether you left any wake or not.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Trick question?  Around here, a No Wake Zone is a section of navigable water, in which creation of a wake by a watercraft is prohibited....that's my interpretation...not legal language.    However,  a common interpretation is that you gotta go slow there....I don't think there's a speed limit, per se, but if you try to fly down this busy, no-wake river on plane, you are likely to have the sheriff or dnr called on you....whether you left any wake or not.

Minnesota law is more specific

 

"The most common restriction is slow no-wake speed. Slow no-wake means operating your boat at the slowest possible speed necessary to maintain steerage, but in no case greater than five miles-per-hour."

[J Francho]

11 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Trick question?  Around here, a No Wake Zone is a section of navigable water, in which creation of a wake by a watercraft is prohibited....that's my interpretation...not legal language.    However,  a common interpretation is that you gotta go slow there....I don't think there's a speed limit, per se, but if you try to fly down this busy, no-wake river on plane, you are likely to have the sheriff or dnr called on you....whether you left any wake or not.

You wouldn't be making a wake in a no wake zone, so I don't understand your point as it pertains to boaters' opinions about kayaks, or the effects of a passing boat on a kayak.  It's moot.

[Choporoz]

My point is that, while the three mile stretch of river here is a posted no-wake zone, you may well be ticketed if you try to transit it at 40mph...whether you make a wake or not.  There a race boat that launches where I do many Sundays.  He could do the 3 miles with no wake in about 2 min.  But, instead,  he has to take a half hour, idling a huge wake and rattling windows.  May not be right, but it is the reality. And the river is safer for kayaks because of that reality.

[TnRiver46]

My boat at idle will certainly not pass a kayaker paddling. I know this very well because I join a big float group on Sundays in summer with my motor boat if  i don't have time to run shuttle. When all my buddies launch and start paddling, I can't keep up unless I give it some gas. I have a 50 horse that idles about 1.7-1.9 mph on calm water.  The scenario @Log Catcher presented happens literally every time I try to pass one. I just have to laugh at the fact i can't idle faster than a canoe or kayak and hammer down . Where as when I'm the guy in the canoe or kayak, I pull over out of the way and wave hello. Once again, a little logic goes a long way. there a law that says pedestrians have the right of way but I don't walk in front of dump trucks 

[J Francho]

Again, just go around them.  Jeez.  It's not that hard.  The dude in the race boat should find somewhere else to launch.  Sounds obnoxious, but I doubt he's knocking little boats out of the water putting along at idel speed.

[Hawkeye21]

I go fishing on a boat with others a few times a year by I'm a kayak fisherman.  I'm usually a very self aware person so I'm constantly thinking about what I'm doing and if it bothers others.  I prefer to launch along shorelines and if I have to use a ramp I wait till there are not many around and I try to do it was quickly as possible.  Because of this I have very few issues with boaters.  Most times I have them stop and ask me about my kayak and how the fishing is.

 

I have had a few instances with other fishing boats though and it's usually with fishing spots.  I feel like they think the have right to all spots because they're in a bigger boat.  They'll fish close to me and even cut me off.  It ticks me off but I just go around them or find a new spot.

 

I think there's one thing we can all agree on though, none of us care for jet skis.  They're the biggest nuisance on the water.

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

 

 

I think there's one thing we can all agree on though, none of us care for jet skis.  They're the biggest nuisance on the water.

Yet smallest in size. Oh the irony........

[YaknBassn]

Interesting to see boaters point of view on kayaks.  I've always wondered if I were visible.  I've got a flag, lights for low light, wear bright clothing when on bigger waters, and I've even got small mirrors on my paddle, just give a little extra flash. 

 

I try to avoid even crossing channels.  If I do, I try to make it a quick, straight shot.  It a motor boat is bearing down on me, I move towards the shore.  I want to live to fish another day. 

[Darren.]

I avoid larger boating waters, though I venture into the York River for 

Striper fishing. That said, I stay clear from boats by taking routes around

them and not fishing near them unless there is a friendly exchange and/or

invitation.

 

As for my local waters, they are electric-only, but even so, big bass boats

come out and fish the waters via trolling motor. I've only had one very

bad encounter which I've written about a while back. Otherwise I'd say it

is a generally friendly-or-keep-to-yourself type of water.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

I avoid larger boating waters, though I venture into the York River for 

Striper fishing. That said, I stay clear from boats by taking routes around

them and not fishing near them unless there is a friendly exchange and/or

invitation.

 

As for my local waters, they are electric-only, but even so, big bass boats

come out and fish the waters via trolling motor. I've only had one very

bad encounter which I've written about a while back. Otherwise I'd say it

is a generally friendly-or-keep-to-yourself type of water.

I’ve never got a striper from a kayak but my cousin has and it was 42 lbs!!!! Looked like a farm pig . I also have another buddy that catches them from a gheenoe. That has to be awesome. Like water skiing without gasoline. The biggest striper I have caught was in kayak type water in shoals. I hooked it in a 14 foot v bottom and went for a ride!

[Darren.]

10 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve never got a striper from a kayak but my cousin has and it was 42 lbs!!!! Looked like a farm pig . I also have another buddy that catches them from a gheenoe. That has to be awesome. Like water skiing without gasoline. The biggest striper I have caught was in kayak type water in shoals. I hooked it in a 14 foot v bottom and went for a ride!

Biggest one I've caught was in freshwater -- 14# and about an inch

longer than my bump board (32"). And yes, even that size took me

for a nice ride in my yak.

 

I've got friends who've caught striper in the Chesapeake Bay well

over 50#. A dream.

[Harold Scoggins]

I've never had a problem with other boaters, we get along fine.

[TOXIC]

The only problem I've ever had with a Kayaker is my Brother-In-Law!!  As I said earlier, I go out when in Wisconsin at sunup and before any other powerboats hit the lakes.  The solitude is great!!  I was fishing a bank 2 large lakes away from the cottage we rent every year and having some good luck, enjoying the morning and sipping on my Tim Horton's coffee.  All of a sudden I hear a literal explosion that sounds like it 2 feet away from me.  It actually resonated through my body.  To say I jumped is an understatement!!  I actually screamed like a little girl and I might have wet myself a little!!!  I turned around and there was my BIL sitting in his yak laughing so hard he couldn't breathe!!  He snuck up on me and hand slapped my hull which sounded like a sonic boom!!  He is a yak fisherman so we both fished on down the bank and we still laugh about it every year.  

 

[deadadrift89]

On ‎2‎/‎13‎/‎2019 at 6:17 AM, BoatSquirrel said:

Has everyone else seen guy paddling across the middle of the busy lake in low light conditions with no lights/flag and wondered how he was still alive? 

This is a real and very dangerous problem I've seen more than once.

 

Aggravating as others stated is going between me and bank while fishing, that always amazes me. I've got family and friends that use kayaks and me growing up canoeing I am very mindful of others on water when I'm in my boat 

[Glaucus]

9 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

I've never had a problem with other boaters, we get along fine.

#goals

[Columbia Craw]

I don't have kayak FISHERMAN at all.  On one lake there are dozens of recreational kayakers.  I show courtesy to all.  It's when they use a BOAT launch to set up in groups and settle in groups right in front of the drive on lane that I take issue.  The one thing I never want to say while i'm running on plane, " is that what that bump was."