Standing and fishing in a kayak

[TnRiver46]

7 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

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

Very Different roll centers.  

 

I was more referring to the landing. Swing the fish in, if it’s big crouch down to lip/net it 

[Bass Junke]

We should title this post baby steps with baby bass. I went out Saturday morning and it was a true multi-species day. Ended up catching 1 average sized pickerel, a nice crappie, a tiny bluegill, and finally a very tiny bass 4". The bass I was standing and fishing a drop shot. I set the hook standing, crouched to land the fish, and stood to unhook and release. A success but like how I started this baby steps...

[king fisher]

I stand if I am anchored, or slowly drifting a large area, where constant boat control is not needed.  Much of the time I am sitting down, because I am constantly using the pedals, and ruder to change position.   Small fish I land standing, big fish I sit down.  If I am fishing in trees, I am sitting.  I want to be able to start backing up as soon as I hook a big fish in timber.  Otherwise the bass will pull me in to the trees, and get wrapped on a limb.  I lost a DD that way once, and am not going to let it happen again.  I don't use a net, I prefer to play the fish until it is easy to land by hand.

[Bankc]

It's not something I've ever really thought about.  It just kind of comes naturally.  But I think I squat down and then lean back into the chair.  I'll usually reel all the way in so the rod is almost pointing directly at the fish, and then slowly pull the rod back with one hand to maintain pressure on the fish to give me time to sit.  I do this a lot for one reason or another (like if I have to grab a net or something).  

 

My kayak is a Lifetime Yukon, so it's far from the most stable.  Add to that that I have a 65lb battery on one side in the rear and a trolling motor hanging off the other side just behind me.  So I'm pushing the maximum weight limit, and the weight isn't very well balanced either.  But I've never tipped it over or fallen out.  The key is to not lock your knees and maintain your balance with your hips.  Just practice pushing it to it's limits and sitting down and standing up.  Eventually, your body will learn what it can do and what it feels like, so moving around in it because very natural.  When I first got it, I was often finding myself in those scary situations where you almost fall out.  But over time, you adjust.  Now that kayak feels like pontoon boat for me.  

[Alex from GA]

I watched my buddy land a 7+ standing in an Ocean Kayak Caper.  I first met him going down a class 1+ standing and thought he's nuts.

[Standard]

16 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

I watched my buddy land a 7+ standing in an Ocean Kayak Caper.  I first met him going down a class 1+ standing and thought he's nuts.

 

I've got a friend who goes down the Mays ledges on the Brule in Wisconsin standing on the gunwales of the rental canoe.  Crazy good balance.

 

I prefer standing and fishing.  I picked up an Ascend 12t from Cabela's last year, and it was alright.  Not the most stable and the seat was pretty low to the deck, so getting up and down was interesting.  Picked up a Jackson Bite FD this summer and it's sooo much better.  Super stable for standing, and the seat is higher so it's easier to get my old butt out of it.  Only issue I have is when I'm floating the river and paying too much attention to fishing.  Some of those rocks are sneaky, but haven't fallen out yet.  Had a couple of forced sit downs, though.