Standing and fishing in a kayak

[Bass Junke]

I know there are a lot of guys that stand and fish on their kayaks, I do. What does everyone do when they catch a fish while standing? Who can land a fish while still standing? I have caught a few fish while standing and managed to transition to a seated position without loosing the fish. My concern is when I have larger bass on the line, if that fish gets some leverage while I am sitting down, it doesn't take much for an adult bass to spit out a hook. 

[J Francho]

I kind of crouch, and waste no time getting to the fish.  This is a larger northern pike I'm landing.

[Bass Junke]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

I kind of crouch, and waste no time getting to the fish.  This is a larger northern pike I'm landing.

Nice. I think I can do that.

[schplurg]

I haven't caught one standing yet but I've wondered about it. I think I'd sit down to deal with the fish once landed, if not before while fighting it. My seat is easy to get in and out of for me. 

[flyfisher]

Depends on the situation but generally I just lean down and grab it.  I have sat down when I thought I had a larger fish on and never noticed any leverage advantage to the fish nor can I recall losing a fish when moving from standing to sitting or vice versa.  

[Darren.]

Caught a 14lb striped bass while standing, but my Native 

Ultimate is kind of a hybrid kayak. The fish pulled me at least

75 yards before I knew what it was as the res does not stock

striper. Anyhow, kind of back and forth between my legs by

flexing my knees to keep balance .... if that makes sense?

[michaelb]

I usually sit down. It takes balance and practice to not crash. I sit when the fish is at the boat and you do have to keep pressure on the line. Easier to put the rod down and lip the fish and remove the hook. Plus i only sat on the kayak for the first 15 yrs so i am use to that.  

[Bluebasser86]

I try to stand if I hook a big bass while I'm sitting, then I'll crouch or kneel to net them. It's easier to control them from a standing position than it is while sitting for me, but I've also lost a few good ones trying to get up during the fight. 

[Koz]

I stand to stretch and sit to fish. I'm afraid that if I tried to land a fish while standing I'd rip one of my legs open on one of the pedals - or trip over one and fall in!

[the reel ess]

I never stand. I don't really want to. If I did, I'd get a jon boat with a casting deck or add one to it. I actually do want a jon boat someday. About 14-16', casting deck on front, trolling motor, trailer. 

[GTN-NY]

I stand to fish all day. If I’m flipping jigs anything under 2lbs I just lift it in. 
otherwise I sit to land

[TnRiver46]

Haven’t crossed this bridge much but I would imagine you do it the same way you would if you were standing on the deck of a fishing boat 

[Bass Junke]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I try to stand if I hook a big bass while I'm sitting, then I'll crouch or kneel to net them. It's easier to control them from a standing position than it is while sitting for me, but I've also lost a few good ones trying to get up during the fight. 

Wow that is a response I didn't think I would read. One of the things I like best about fishing out of a kayak is being so close to the water. I love bringing a bass over to the left side of my kayak and landing her 6 inches off the water. Never gets old.

[CountryboyinDC]

If I'm in current and not anchored or don't have the drag chain down, I sit and try to get the paddle in my lap. Otherwise I try to just bend down down and lip it or get my hand under the belly.  When I'm fishing where there's also snakeheads, I'll bring a net.  The snakeheads go into a net, and I guess a big enough bass could too.  I don't necessarily sit to net them, but I do sometimes.

[YoTone]

when the fish gets close i sit in the seat and grab it from there

[schplurg]

19 hours ago, Koz said:

I stand to stretch and sit to fish. I'm afraid that if I tried to land a fish while standing I'd rip one of my legs open on one of the pedals - or trip over one and fall in!

 

Ya I'm worried about falling in as well! I"ve barely fished from a yak though, and this new one is so stable. I guess I'll wait and see what happens when I finally do catch one standing up.

 

I think my back would be happier if I sat down and grabbed it. I try to avoid any awkward angles or overreaching with the back. Anyone ever hurt their back just turning the wrong way in the shower? When you've had injuries one of those little innocent movements will get you sooner or later.

 

Can't wait to catch my first fish standing up in a yak! If I fall in I promise to share the video.

[LrgmouthShad]

Recently started standing in my kayak to fish. Pretty much do it always now unless real windy. I crouch, same as others, to land the fish. Better control over fish and hook sets while standing for me

[J Francho]

6 hours ago, schplurg said:

I think my back would be happier if I sat down and grabbed it. I try to avoid any awkward angles or overreaching with the back. Anyone ever hurt their back just turning the wrong way in the shower? When you've had injuries one of those little innocent movements will get you sooner or later.

Somewhere in my late 40s this became a big issue.  I do not reach for things awkwardly at all for just that reason.  It takes several trips to the chiro to reverse whatever it is I did.  Middle age sucks in this regard.

[dickenscpa]

11 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Somewhere in my late 40s this became a big issue.  I do not reach for things awkwardly at all for just that reason.  It takes several trips to the chiro to reverse whatever it is I did.  Middle age sucks in this regard.

Ditto! I'm a gym rat played baseball in college, kickboxed and BJJ pretty much all my life - never had a back problem. I was carrying a china cabinet from basement level garage with concrete floor up stairs to my mother in law's kitchen. It was one of those where the top separates from the bottom. At the top of the stairs was a landing and 90* to my left was the door. My wife's sister took her shoes off and left them on the top at the landing. I was carrying the top part and couldn't see my feet. Stepped on her shoes and fell to the bottom and hit concrete with a cabinet on top of me.

 

I didn't break any bones but for a period of time my back hurt. I hit the gym 6 days a week, kayak fish and shoot archery competitively as well as bow hunt. Never a concern using my back - HOWEVER, I can turn funny to pick up a glass of water and be on my knees.

 

It's the weirdest, most mindless things that will catch my back. Sometimes I can start to turn and do something and can almost "feel" like my back is about to catch and if I stop and slowly back up and start over I'm ok.

 

***More on topic, one of the allures of kayak fishing to me is the ability to sit and fish and still be close to the water and lip the fish. I sit in my "Bill Dance" chair on my bass boat but when I catch a fish I have to get up and kneel down. I've had 3 knee surgeries those days are done. I have very good balance and fish out of a Hobie PA so when I want to stand and work a jerk bait or stretch my legs it's no issue, but I prefer to sit.

[J Francho]

4 hours ago, dickenscpa said:

I hit the gym 6 days a week, kayak fish and shoot archery competitively as well as bow hunt. Never a concern using my back - HOWEVER, I can turn funny to pick up a glass of water and be on my knees.

I don't do the gym, but I still go skateboarding (halfpipe and bowl), play drums, kayak, etc.... BUT reach for something over my shoulder and I might be in pain for a week.

 

Not bad for almost 50.

[TnRiver46]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

Somewhere in my late 40s this became a big issue.  I do not reach for things awkwardly at all for just that reason.  It takes several trips to the chiro to reverse whatever it is I did.  Middle age sucks in this regard.

Yep. I started having spams around 10 years ago after cutting firewood. Loaded down a whole truck with big logs no problem at all. Went to close the cattle gate and it just hit me really weird and I could barely stand up. Never been the same since, and it’s always sneezing or turning around quickly that triggers the spasms. Or when you step on a rock that moves and the muscles do a quick twitch, oooooo I hate that 

[Krux5506]

19 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't do the gym, but I still go skateboarding (halfpipe and bowl), play drums, kayak, etc.... BUT reach for something over my shoulder and I might be in pain for a week.

 

Not bad for almost 50.

I do all those things too J, perhaps not as much as I'd like though. My daughter is almost 3 and she's gotten super good at riding this 3 wheeled scooter thing so now to keep up with her I'm back on my skateboard. Felt goofy at first riding around my neighborhood every night with her and the neighborhood kids (or parents for that matter) not knowing what to make of a dad who skates but now it's just fun and she gives me the excuse to get back on it. 

 

 

 

Anyway for the actual topic at hand...I really just stand up to stretch and cast a few times but if hooking into something big I think I'd just sit right back down. I really don't like standing and having no control of how my kayak is drifting, since every time I'm out there it's windy. Standing does give you a nice vantage point though on a yak, I just hate drifting off course

[J Francho]

15 minutes ago, Krux5506 said:

I do all those things too J, perhaps not as much as I'd like though. My daughter is almost 3 and she's gotten super good at riding this 3 wheeled scooter thing so now to keep up with her I'm back on my skateboard. Felt goofy at first riding around my neighborhood every night with her and the neighborhood kids (or parents for that matter) not knowing what to make of a dad who skates but now it's just fun and she gives me the excuse to get back on it. 

 

Old Timer Session starts back up at BFS on 10/10.  I'll be there.

http://www.breakingfreeskatepark.com/

[Smalls]

I'll either sit back down, or kneel, depending on exactly where my net is, really. It's easier for me to kneel if my nets up front.

[bulldog1935]

On 9/22/2021 at 10:24 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Haven’t crossed this bridge much but I would imagine you do it the same way you would if you were standing on the deck of a fishing boat 

 

That's a sure way to go swimming - like comparing a car to a skate board.  

Very Different roll centers.