New to Kayak Angling

[J Francho]

I'm reminded of a steelhead I hooked while fishing from my bass boat, that ran under the boat, and launched itself 50 yards off to the other side.  I thought for sure it threw my spoon.  I lifted the trolling motor, nad frantically reeled up the slack.  It was still there.  It was pretty memorable. 

 

Most bass, even smaller ones can turn even my 14' Commander.  All but my short 6-2 rods make it around the bow of my Hobie Compass.  When I'm fishing vertical, I'm usually pretty deep, so there's often time to react.  Neither way is wrong here - whatever works is best.

 

This net has been VERY good to me: https://www.frabill.com/bearclaw

 

[Talio]

Oh wow!  The bearclaw looks awesome. Does it float?  That would be a little difficult to secure to my boat in a way that I can also get to it while fighting a fish.  I've lost more fish fumbling around for my net than anything else.

[J Francho]

Just now, Talio said:

Does it float?

That's a really good question - I don't know.  Never tested it out.  I doubt it, but it would be easy to add a float or use a tether.  BTW, it folds in half, and opens with a one hand.

[Talio]

That's dope.  I don't have a lot of tie downs in my boat so tethers are a problem I have yet to figure out.  I could probably hang a float there from that triangular ring (here we go with geometry terms again!), but I would worry about the float stopping me from plunging the net into the water at that point.  Either way, Frabill doesn't seem to make junk, so it's definitely an option I'll look into as things get colder.  The colder the weather, the more interested I am in a net.

[Choporoz]

Two hours after sunset one evening a few years ago I set the set the hook on something huge.  Towards the end of a long fight, I got what I assumed was a flathead or snakehead close enough to side of my yak to grab the line to hold it close, so I could get my headlamp on and arrange my tools (grips, spreader, pliers).   As I switched on my headlamp, I was shocked to see the biggest gaping bass mouth I've seen in my life....or since....  in the blink of an eye, she flinched, snapped the line and disappeared.  Since that night I haven't grabbed the line except on 40# or better braid.

Never considered it might be a bass, so I wasn't even thinking about lipping her....haunts me still

[J Francho]

7 minutes ago, Talio said:

That's dope.  I don't have a lot of tie downs in my boat so tethers are a problem I have yet to figure out.  I could probably hang a float there from that triangular ring (here we go with geometry terms again!), but I would worry about the float stopping me from plunging the net into the water at that point.  Either way, Frabill doesn't seem to make junk, so it's definitely an option I'll look into as things get colder.  The colder the weather, the more interested I am in a net.

What kind of paddle board is it?  It would be easy to add a pad eye to anything other than an inflatable.

[Talio]

Aquamarina Drift.  It would be easy, but it's also permanent.  I'm not gonna weld anything to my boat until I have a little more experience and know what I want.  Which means I'm probably just buying a new one next season, but for now...Weeeee.

[J Francho]

There's like 9 places you could connect a net to. Any one of those D-hooks would work.  

[Talio]

You know, I was thinking the same thing when I first bought the thing judging by pictures online and it didn't quite work on that way.  I have 3 D rings, the one forward of the handle wasn't included with mine, two of which are holding the box to my board.  I could conceivably tie a tether to one of those but the straps take up alot of the room and generally don't really work very well.  The last one is way on the back of the boat that I can't reach from the seat.  I'll figure it out at some point.  Chances are I may just use my fly fishing net attached to me.

[kayaking_kev]

I wouldn't worry about rod length, unless you are fishing narrow rivers. I personally care more about handle length, a shorter handle allows for more room to swing to set the hook when sitting down without the handle hitting something like your pfd.

 

I also learned the hard way to never grab the line, I tried once when I hooked a big catfish after fighting it for 45 minutes.

 

A lot of people who buy that kayak also upgrade the seat. Here is a cheap one - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Stadium-Seat-Black/204273238

[Brett's_daddy]

17 hours ago, kayaking_kev said:

A lot of people who buy that kayak also upgrade the seat. Here is a cheap one

Yup, and I did just that. I looked at those Ozark Trail stadium seats but at 20" wide they are too wide to fit in my yak so I reasearched and saw where guys were getting the ones from Costco like this...https://www.costco.com/cascade-mountain-tech-canvas-stadium-seat-2-pack.product.100517577.html, so that's the route I took only I bought a single one and it was on sale for $20. These seats are 17" wide at the base and get wider on the top which fits perfectly in place over the stock seat.

[kayaking_kev]

26 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Yup, and I did just that. I looked at those Ozark Trail stadium seats but at 20" wide they are too wide to fit in my yak so I reasearched and saw where guys were getting the ones from Costco like this...https://www.costco.com/cascade-mountain-tech-canvas-stadium-seat-2-pack.product.100517577.html, so that's the route I took only I bought a single one and it was on sale for $20. These seats are 17" wide at the base and get wider on the top which fits perfectly in place over the stock seat.

Sweet! 

 

It's also nice to take an anchor with you just to have. I don't like using it that much, like others I prefer to drift and cover more water, but there are definitely times they are useful as some have mentioned. I always find when I don't take one is when I wish I had one. Mine is homemade, something I found at a garage sale for 50 cents that was heavy enough and had a hole for me to tie a rope and I prefer it over the one that came with my wife's kayak. It was the grapple style and didn't do a good job of holding unless it was able to grab on to some rocks.

 

Nets are good to have on a sit on top kayak as well, since your up off the water a little higher. I spend most my time in a sit inside kayak on the river and don't even take a net because I can easily reach down and grab them, but sadly 99% of the time they are small enough to fling up.

 

Leashes are a must for your paddle and rods and anything else you don't want to lose, unless you put some floats on them. I don't know how many times I would of lost my paddle without a leash on it.

 

I always have bug spray and a small first aid kit with me also and of course my PFD. I've actually had to use the first aid kit twice this season, so it's came in handy. Chances are greater of catching a hook when working in tighter quarters.

 

Unless you can stand up in that kayak, you might want to bring a cup to pee in, so you don't have to paddle from your spot or out of the middle of the lake to go take a leak.

[Junk Fisherman]

I'm surprised at the number of people who don't use an anchor.  I installed an anchor trolley last winter and started using an anchor this year and wondered why I never had before.  Boat control has been my biggest complaint with the kayak.  If there is a little breeze you get in 1 or 2 casts before you have to pick up the paddle again.  I prefer to get in the area I want to fish and drop the anchor and thoroughly fish the area.  If you get a folding anchor make sure you tie it so you can retrieve it from rocks.  I am on anchor number 2 this summer.  

[J Francho]

9 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

If you get a folding anchor make sure you tie it so you can retrieve it from rocks.  I am on anchor number 2 this summer.  

Tie it like this, then use a couple easy to break zip ties to secure the line to the anchor shaft.  That way, you can get it back should it get stuck.

 

[Talio]

41 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

I'm surprised at the number of people who don't use an anchor.  I installed an anchor trolley last winter and started using an anchor this year and wondered why I never had before.  Boat control has been my biggest complaint with the kayak.  If there is a little breeze you get in 1 or 2 casts before you have to pick up the paddle again.  I prefer to get in the area I want to fish and drop the anchor and thoroughly fish the area.  If you get a folding anchor make sure you tie it so you can retrieve it from rocks.  I am on anchor number 2 this summer.  

You definitely need a drift sock.  It slows that drift waaaay down.  I was having the same problem on drifts.  Maybe 2 or 3 good cast and retrieves before I had to paddle back upwind and drift back.  Then it suddenly dawned on me that if I'm using a similar retrieve on every drift, I'm probably presenting to the same areas over and over again.  The drift sock changes that big time.  Depending on what size you get and how the wind is that day, I can get a dozen casts where I used to get my 2 or 3.  Hook up ratios went through the roof.

[Brett's_daddy]

Would something like this work?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Brocraft-Anchor-System-Fishing-Adaptor/dp/B07C9Z3LC6/ref=sr_1_25?dchild=1&keywords=anchor+for+kayak&qid=1599853074&sr=8-25

[J Francho]

I'm sure it will work.  I wouldn't that thing on my boat, tho - too bulky and in the way.  You're anchoring plastic water toy, nit an offshore rig.  Get a Yakattack Lever Loc anchor trolley, and something to wrap the line around.

 

Drift socks...they work really well.  When deployed properly, which isn't always easy.  They tend not to catch, and fold up on themselves when you most need them.  You will get wet pulling it in.  I have three of them in various sizes.  They were kind of expensive,and I bet I haven't used one in over five years.  Then again I rarely use an anchor either.

[Talio]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I'm sure it will work.  I wouldn't that thing on my boat, tho - too bulky and in the way.  You're anchoring plastic water toy, nit an offshore rig.  Get a Yakattack Lever Loc anchor trolley, and something to wrap the line around.

 

Drift socks...they work really well.  When deployed properly, which isn't always easy.  They tend not to catch, and fold up on themselves when you most need them.  You will get wet pulling it in.  I have three of them in various sizes.  They were kind of expensive,and I bet I haven't used one in over five years.  Then again I rarely use an anchor either.

Oh man, the drift sock troubles.  So I did two things to help this.  First, I tied an extra paracord line coming from one of the straps at the opening of the sock.  If the sock folds up, I can yank on the paracord and it'll get it to open up sometimes.  The second thing I did, was cut a ring out of a 2 liter soda bottle, covered it in hot glue and slid it down till it was snug in the sock.  This keeps it from fully folding in on itself and combined with the little paracord trick, I can usually get it opened.

 

Ultimately, my plan is to cut a wire hanger and put it around the opening so it always stays opened.

[Brett's_daddy]

3 minutes ago, Talio said:

Ultimately, my plan is to cut a wire hanger and put it around the opening so it always stays opened.

When looking at these this is an idea that bounced around my head too...why not make a semi-flexible frame that keeps the sock open all the time. There has to be a way and it shouldn't be too hard I would think (famous last words...lol).

[Talio]

11 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

When looking at these this is an idea that bounced around my head too...why not make a semi-flexible frame that keeps the sock open all the time. There has to be a way and it shouldn't be too hard I would think (famous last words...lol).

Well they're a lot of clutter this way is the issue.  Generally, you could just roll it up and stick it somewhere, but once you start giving it rigidity, it kinda needs to lay out on your boat somewhere and a lot of bass fishermen just won't like that.  I have a giant blank space on the back of my boat behind my seat, so it's not an issue.  I actually believe they specifically designed my boat for this.  I have a D ring all the way on the back of my boat and I have no idea why they would put it there if not for a drift sock.  So it's a compromise for folks with really busy kayaks, but mine just isn't.  It's literally a stand up paddle board with outriggers and a cooler with a seat back on top.  So what I do doesn't always work out for everyone.

 

Edit:

Let me put it this way.  Unless drifting is going to be your primary form of fishing, it's probably not worth messing with.  There are a lot of compromises to drifting.  Sometimes, you just can't get the boat to go where you need it to go and the sock just doesn't want to play nice some days.  But if you don't have proper electronics on your boat, which I do not yet, it's probably the only way you're going to be able to really cover deep water expanses effectively.  I'll usually start out by flipping into shallow cover for an hour or so and if that's not working, I'll usually be able to pull at least two or three out of the deep stuff just by riding the wind and throwing a chatterbait.

 

I actually got the idea for this from the competitive fly fishing world.  They do a thing called Loch Fishing where they chuck out a sinking line with a bunch of flies on it, stick the rod in a holder and strip the line back as fast as they can with both hands.  I figured I could just do the same thing with conventional gear and a chatterbait.  The reason you don't see this so much in bass fishing is because keying in on deep structure with electronics is simply more effective.  You can pinpoint your presentations to high percentage areas.  But without them, you need to cover water with a lure that can do varying depths.  If you try it with a square bill or deep diver, you'll almost never be at the right depth.  A lipless crank or chatterbait you can kill at anytime and it'll sink right back down to the bottom.

[GTN-NY]

Hmm...

I use a drift sock every time I’m in my kayak. Never had a problem with it folding up. I keep it about 6’ off the back. When I want to pull it in I just paddle backwards till it’s alongside me and hook the strap with my paddle and bring it in. I think my 36” sock was under $30. 

[Bankc]

I definitely recommend the drift sock, eventually.  But I'd get the anchor first.  Being able to anchor can be a safety issue.  I was once stuck out on the water when some high winds kicked up.  I was trying to paddle back to the ramp, but didn't have the strength to make it all in one go.  I had to paddle really hard to overcome the wind and waves.  When I stopped to catch my breath, the current took me back to where I started.  I quickly figured out I had to make a sprint, drop anchor, catch my breath, pick up the anchor, and then make another sprint, etc.  It was kind of scary, and it still took me about an hour to travel maybe a quarter mile.  Having to anchor in such heavy winds and waves was not ideal.  But if you anchor off the front (not the side), then when waves crash over your bow and you just get wet, instead of flipping the boat.  The weather here is unpredictable and can change instantly.  But the good news is that I learned how to survive in bad weather, and learned the limits at which I am comfortable kayaking (15mph winds tops, though I can survive in at least 30 mph).  

 

I poked some holes in the rear opening of my drift sock and lined them with brass grommets.  I use a carabiner to control the size of the opening, which has an effect on the speed of my drift.  I usually hold the drift sock near me and open it up in the water.  Then I slowly let the line out.  I don't have issues with it staying open that way.  I don't worry about collapsing it to pull it back in.  I can easily pull myself and the kayak on a rope.  I usually have to do that when I want to pull the anchor up anyway.  

 

Just be careful with a drift sock.  It can grab on stuff and when it does, cause you to lose your balance.  Just keep an eye out for it.  The hardest part about using a kayak is having to keep your head on a swivel at all times.  At any moment, you can get surprised by a large boat's wake or submerged tree or a boater not seeing you.  Danger can sneak up on you in a matter of seconds if you lose consciousness of your surroundings.  It's not so bad once you get used to it.  After a while, your head just naturally scans the environment non-stop.  You're always looking for danger and better places to cast to.  

 

With that in mind, I'd start off on a smaller body of water.  Preferably one where motorized boats aren't allowed.  The waves are usually smaller, and the traffic is slower.  It'll help you to learn to keep your head on a swivel, without punishing your too hard for mistakes.  

[J Francho]

Drift socks are also fun when the breeze shifts or dies down, and they sink into the weeds.  I'm just not a fan.  They always caused more problems than they solved.

[Boomstick]

I have a 7'6" flipping rod I use for flipping and pitching and a 7'4" frog rod, but most of my other rods are 7'2" and under and I feel that's the perfect size for flipping in a kayak.

 

I would also suggest a YakAttack BlackPak (or similar, the BlackPak is my rod and tackle storage of choice), a YakAttack Leverloc Anchor Trolley and an Anchor Wizard.

[schplurg]

On 9/10/2020 at 12:25 PM, Choporoz said:

Two hours after sunset one evening a few years ago I set the set the hook on something huge.  Towards the end of a long fight, I got what I assumed was a flathead or snakehead close enough to side of my yak to grab the line to hold it close, so I could get my headlamp on and arrange my tools (grips, spreader, pliers).   As I switched on my headlamp, I was shocked to see the biggest gaping bass mouth I've seen in my life....or since....  in the blink of an eye, she flinched, snapped the line and disappeared.  Since that night I haven't grabbed the line except on 40# or better braid.

Never considered it might be a bass, so I wasn't even thinking about lipping her....haunts me still

Yep, most of my lost fish are from grabbing the line, and I have plenty of video evidence to show it.