Flipping from a kayak

[KSanford33]

Is it possible to do this without standing? Despite the fact that I’m still a reasonably ok athlete, I look like Bambi on ice trying to stand up in my kayak. And it’s not the kayak; that thing is a tank. 

[Deleted account]

Flipping challenging, but doable, pitching, no.

[flyfisher]

on flatwater unless you are blindsided perfectly sideways by a large boat wake it is extremely difficult.  On moving water, yup it can absolutely happen.  On my kayak when I first bought it, as I do with all my kayaks, I go out with nothing but me and the kayak and figure out stability.  I had a hell of a time trying to flip it.  I eventually did but I fell out of it a bunch of times first.  And none of the flips or fall outs was while I was seated.

[KSanford33]

2 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

on flatwater unless you are blindsided perfectly sideways by a large boat wake it is extremely difficult.  On moving water, yup it can absolutely happen.  On my kayak when I first bought it, as I do with all my kayaks, I go out with nothing but me and the kayak and figure out stability.  I had a hell of a time trying to flip it.  I eventually did but I fell out of it a bunch of times first.  And none of the flips or fall outs was while I was seated.

Very good info, but I meant flipping as in lobbing a bait into heavy cover. Thankfully neither of my kayaks have ever been remotely close to flipping over. 

[VolFan]

If your seat sits a little higher, yes. You can pitch some too, it’s just going to be a shorter proposition, more sidearm sling than vertical pendulum. Who cares what you call it if you get it to work?

[casts_by_fly]

what kayak are you in?

 

I stand full time, so have never tried sitting to pitch.  I've got a decent side arm pitch so I can see it maybe working, but limiting.  You could get a set of standing rails like the Hobie type that attach to tracks.  I'm also field testing a product now that is scupper hole mounted and a balance aid.  Just installed it but not been on the water yet.  I don't think I will need it myself, but what you're describing of your own fishing it might be a winner.

 

https://www.steady-stick.com/

[KSanford33]

I fish out of a SeaStream Angler 120 pedal. It's definitely stable, but if you've ever tried to stand on an exercise ball, that's what it feels like when I try to stand up. You really have to keep your weight balanced evenly between your two feet, otherwise it gets to rocking.

51 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

what kayak are you in?

 

I stand full time, so have never tried sitting to pitch.  I've got a decent side arm pitch so I can see it maybe working, but limiting.  You could get a set of standing rails like the Hobie type that attach to tracks.  I'm also field testing a product now that is scupper hole mounted and a balance aid.  Just installed it but not been on the water yet.  I don't think I will need it myself, but what you're describing of your own fishing it might be a winner.

 

https://www.steady-stick.com/

 

[Choporoz]

Practice.  I pitch seated just fine.  I don't flip.

 

In fact, had an interesting experience a few weeks ago.  I was casting from a distance into a beaver mess with light weight and working it out fine, but not getting any takers.  I got snagged and moved in up to the brush to get free.  

  Before I backed way off, I pitched in close and got a couple decent fish.  I can only figure that it was the more vertical drop that did the trick....despite the fact that I had moved in almost on top of them.

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, KSanford33 said:

I fish out of a SeaStream Angler 120 pedal. It's definitely stable, but if you've ever tried to stand on an exercise ball, that's what it feels like when I try to stand up. You really have to keep your weight balanced evenly between your two feet, otherwise it gets to rocking.

 

 

got it.  I've been on some sit on tops that are similar.  My autopilot is steady as a rock, so I don't have the problem, but I fished standing up in a smaller sit on top when we were on vacation and I was fly fishing.  You had to keep your wits about you.  if you really want to get into standing, a grab bar would help a lot.  They aren't cheap, but they will help you keep your weight centered.

[Bass Junke]

I cast with my left hand. So sitting in my kayak I cast right and pitch left. I cannot pitch right at all while seated. 

Pitching from a seated position works, takes a little practice. Standing is better. 

[Darth-Baiter]

I think it can be done.  Some YouTube guy even punches from a seated position. 
 

im not great at it.  I need to stand up.  I practiced in my driveway standing.  I should have sat on a tiny stool. Apparently. 

[flyfisher]

4 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

what kayak are you in?

 

I stand full time, so have never tried sitting to pitch.  I've got a decent side arm pitch so I can see it maybe working, but limiting.  You could get a set of standing rails like the Hobie type that attach to tracks.  I'm also field testing a product now that is scupper hole mounted and a balance aid.  Just installed it but not been on the water yet.  I don't think I will need it myself, but what you're describing of your own fishing it might be a winner.

 

https://www.steady-stick.com/

I would definitely steer clear of a product like that one.  Scuppers aren't designed, except Hobie, to withstand forces on them and they will crack.  This product, while a good concept for thsoe who need it, will flex those scuppers and crack them for sure.

[BassNJake]

Practice at home sitting in a chair with your feet propped up like in a kayak

You'll use a sideways arm action to pitch

(I gotta do this to get around my trolling motor)

Flipping is another thing entirely

 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

43 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

I would definitely steer clear of a product like that one.  Scuppers aren't designed, except Hobie, to withstand forces on them and they will crack.  This product, while a good concept for thsoe who need it, will flex those scuppers and crack them for sure.

I generally agree with you and expressed that concern to the creator initially.  We had some back and forth emails and phone calls and he put me on the tester list. I just mounted it this week and will test it out. It’s a clever design and I’m less worried about scupper holes based on what I’ve seen. 
 

 

[Koz]

16 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

I fish out of a SeaStream Angler 120 pedal. 

 

 

Nice ride ?

 

I don't stand in mine. Everywhere I go I'm battling boat wakes and as I get older my stability isn't what it used to be. I'm also worried that if I hook up with a fish I'll end up banging my shins on the pedals. There isn't that much room with the drive in the way.

[Captain Phil]

I flip and pitch sitting down.   I started doing this when my back trouble started about 15 years ago.   It took me some time to perfect this, but it's natural for me now.  I see fishing this way as an advantage.   Sitting lower, I am less visible to the fish.  I tried Kayak fishing a number of years ago.  I enjoyed it because I could fish places where I couldn't launch a boat.   It was hell on my back, so I sold it.   At my age now, I couldn't get in a kayak much less fish in one.  When I read your post, it gave me a chuckle.   What would it be like to hook a ten pound bass flipping from a kayak?   You would be in for some cartoon ride!!

[WRB]

You loop or roll accurately setting using standard length bass rods.

Tom

[Hammer 4]

If I can flip from a FatCat float tube, flipping from a yak should be a breeze, as you sit much lower in a float tube..Just takes a bit of practice.

[Bankc]

You can do it.  I do find it harder than flipping or pitching from a bass boat, because you're standing level with the water.  So I usually have a bit less line out when I swing the bait forward.

 

However, I typically do something else entirely that you can't do in a bass boat.  It's a sidearm cast, but not a roll cast, from the seated position.  I'll let out about a foot of line off the tip and dangle the bait about 3" above the water.  Then cast out with my rod remaining parallel to the water the entire cast.  It takes a bit of practice, but you can get the same soft landing as you would with a pitch or flip.  The downside is, you lose a bit of accuracy.  But you can regain most of that with practice.  

I prefer doing it that way, as I'm often seated to control the kayak because I'm often constantly moving while pitching or flipping a bank.  The only times I really stand to pitch is when I really want to pick apart a large chunk of cover, or if the wind is blowing parallel to the bank and I can just drift along it (usually with a drift sock to control speed).  This avoids the constant getting up and back down.  

[Bluebasser86]

I pitch and flip from my kayak no problem, just more arm angle than in a boat. 

[KSanford33]

53 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I pitch and flip from my kayak no problem, just more arm angle than in a boat. 

What do you mean by arm angle? Like, more sidearm than vertical? Thanks BB.

[Bluebasser86]

Yes, for pitching especially, my arm ends up more sidearm. 

[VirginiaKayakBasser]

I have an Old Town Big Water 132 PDL and I don't feel comfortable standing to fish.  I even put pontoon stabilizers on it and it's still too wobbly for me.  I know I would be in the water with a hard hook set or bass boat wake.  I can do some short pitching/flipping while seated, but stick to casting pretty much.  I fish mostly cypress lined creeks and lakes with little floating vegetation so accurate casting work fine for me.

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, VirginiaKayakBasser said:

I have an Old Town Big Water 132 PDL and I don't feel comfortable standing to fish.  I even put pontoon stabilizers on it and it's still too wobbly for me.  I know I would be in the water with a hard hook set or bass boat wake.  I can do some short pitching/flipping while seated, but stick to casting pretty much.  I fish mostly cypress lined creeks and lakes with little floating vegetation so accurate casting work fine for me.

I've heard the Big Water aren't super stable. I'm in a Sportsman 120pdl, standing and fishing is easy in it.

[KSanford33]

2 hours ago, VirginiaKayakBasser said:

I have an Old Town Big Water 132 PDL and I don't feel comfortable standing to fish.  I even put pontoon stabilizers on it and it's still too wobbly for me.  I know I would be in the water with a hard hook set or bass boat wake.  I can do some short pitching/flipping while seated, but stick to casting pretty much.  I fish mostly cypress lined creeks and lakes with little floating vegetation so accurate casting work fine for me.

I got my first kayak last year, a Lifetime Teton, and since I wasn't sure about its stability, I got a set of pontoon stabilizers as well. I didn't think they added much to the stability, they just made it slow.