Using a paddle board for bass fishing

[Luke Barnes]

My wife has a kayak for recreation and exercise and we were talking about adding a second, larger kayak so I could use one for fishing. 

 

Yesterday my wife gets home from her friend's house and her friend had given her a 10'6 inflatable paddle board with the oem pump. Once she inflated it I was amazed at how big it was. It is wider than I thought and made me think, it might make a decent fishing vessel! It looks way more stable than her kayak because the bottom is flat and there is so much deck space. 

 

Has anyone fished using an inflatable stand up paddle board? 

[Fishingmickey]

I have seen it done with a milk crate rod hold/gear storage and a small ice chest for a seat. Might be dang sure everything floats before you try it out.

FM

[casts_by_fly]

It is possible, but not optimal.  I've paddleboarded quite a bit and a light chop will start to make you tippy.  You need to be pretty good on a board.  Any place with boat wakes is going to be an experience, let alone wake boats if you have them.  Everything will need to be waterproof, leashed, and stored at all times.  I've fished out of a 2-person sit on top cheap kayak when on vacation by treating it like a paddleboard and standing (I was fly fishing for bonefish on the flats and needed the height visibility).  You'll need the milk crate to sit and fight fish as standing to fight them will be a challenge on a paddleboard.  Long story short, take minimal gear, do it in warm weather/water, and keep everything in an buoyant dry bag.  You'll have challenges but on a smaller water you might like it for a bit.  It won't compare to fishing out of a stable stand up kayak though.

[Luke Barnes]

16 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

It is possible, but not optimal.  I've paddleboarded quite a bit and a light chop will start to make you tippy.  You need to be pretty good on a board.  Any place with boat wakes is going to be an experience, let alone wake boats if you have them.  Everything will need to be waterproof, leashed, and stored at all times.  I've fished out of a 2-person sit on top cheap kayak when on vacation by treating it like a paddleboard and standing (I was fly fishing for bonefish on the flats and needed the height visibility).  You'll need the milk crate to sit and fight fish as standing to fight them will be a challenge on a paddleboard.  Long story short, take minimal gear, do it in warm weather/water, and keep everything in an buoyant dry bag.  You'll have challenges but on a smaller water you might like it for a bit.  It won't compare to fishing out of a stable stand up kayak though.

One thing is I plan to use it sitting down. I don't plan on standing up at all. I like the milk crate with rod holders idea and having some sort of seat and not just sitting on it cross legged would be most ideal for me. 

[MN Fisher]

These guys make paddleboards specifically for fishing...inflatables and solids. Accessories include rod-racks, crate tie downs, manual anchor pole holes and others.

https://www.boteboard.com/collections/fishing-paddle-boards

This is just one example of their models.

Just now, Luke Barnes said:

One thing is I plan to use it sitting down. I don't plan on standing up at all.

They also have a seat that mounts to the board.

 

[casts_by_fly]

55 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

One thing is I plan to use it sitting down. I don't plan on standing up at all. I like the milk crate with rod holders idea and having some sort of seat and not just sitting on it cross legged would be most ideal for me. 

 

Kneeling and paddling is a decent option on a SUP.  You get 4 points of contact with the board so you're very stable and you have full articulation of your waist and core.  Just sitting down criss-cross apple sauce will wear you out quickly.  Sitting on a milk crate to paddle might get tricky as your center of gravity is pretty high.

 

I'd never advise someone to do what you're suggesting, but since you have the board already you might as well try it.  A proper fishing kayak is is a much better solution though.

 

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

These guys make paddleboards specifically for fishing...inflatables and solids. Accessories include rod-racks, crate tie downs, manual anchor pole holes and others.

https://www.boteboard.com/collections/fishing-paddle-boards

This is just one example of their models.

They also have a seat that mounts to the board.

 

That thing is decked out!! I didn't realize there were fishing ready ones. Thanks for the info!

[Darth-Baiter]

i think it is very popular in Florida?  the canals and stuff.  

 

i am flirting with death and wetness in my kayak.  i need tiny walls

[Luke Barnes]

52 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Kneeling and paddling is a decent option on a SUP.  You get 4 points of contact with the board so you're very stable and you have full articulation of your waist and core.  Just sitting down criss-cross apple sauce will wear you out quickly.  Sitting on a milk crate to paddle might get tricky as your center of gravity is pretty high.

 

I'd never advise someone to do what you're suggesting, but since you have the board already you might as well try it.  A proper fishing kayak is is a much better solution though.

 

So sitting kneeling on your knees is the best non standing position it sounds. Once i get to the spot i want to fish i plan on fishing either sitting down or standing up. I have never fished from a kayak either so I'm new to all of this!!

[casts_by_fly]

20 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

So sitting kneeling on your knees is the best non standing position it sounds. Once i get to the spot i want to fish i plan on fishing either sitting down or standing up. I have never fished from a kayak either so I'm new to all of this!!

 

Have you stood up in a kayak or on a paddleboard?  I've done both quite a bit and everyone is different.  You need good ankle/hip mobility/flexibility and also good core strength.  Obviously you need decent balance too.  Its not even close to standing in a regular boat.  On top of that, every kayak is different.  Some have good primary stability (i.e. stays flat as you shift around).  Some have good secondary stability (will rock a little but once it hits a certain angle it stops tilting and takes a massive effort to flip.  A paddleboard is a different animal all together.  All require a lot of time on the water to get comfortable.

 

You'll want to wait until the water is into the 70's at least and a good sunny day before you experiment.  Start in sandy shallows with nothing in the boat/SUP until you really get the feel for it.  Push the limits of standing on an edge or tilting the craft so you can see just where the breaking points are.  Only after that will you really know how comfortable you are in it.

 

For paddling a SUP, standing is the normal position.  It isn't fast, but SUPs aren't meant to be.  Kneeling is much more stable (lower center of gravity and 4 points of contact).  When I'm teaching a friend to get on a SUP that's what I start with.  then you can squat, then stand.  

[Darth-Baiter]

SUP's are stable!!  i do have a friend that is going to try to bowfish carp from his daughters SUP.  sounds like a blast.  i can try from my kayak,  standing up is no problem.

 

 

[Choporoz]

Like a Diablo Amigo, but about a hundred pounds lighter.

  Never saw anyone try to fish from inflatable SUP or kayak, but I do know someone with a Diablo.  It is a barge.

[Darth-Baiter]

there is a youtuber that got her million subscribers fishing off a SUP.  

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Have you stood up in a kayak or on a paddleboard?  I've done both quite a bit and everyone is different.  You need good ankle/hip mobility/flexibility and also good core strength.  Obviously you need decent balance too.  Its not even close to standing in a regular boat.  On top of that, every kayak is different.  Some have good primary stability (i.e. stays flat as you shift around).  Some have good secondary stability (will rock a little but once it hits a certain angle it stops tilting and takes a massive effort to flip.  A paddleboard is a different animal all together.  All require a lot of time on the water to get comfortable.

 

You'll want to wait until the water is into the 70's at least and a good sunny day before you experiment.  Start in sandy shallows with nothing in the boat/SUP until you really get the feel for it.  Push the limits of standing on an edge or tilting the craft so you can see just where the breaking points are.  Only after that will you really know how comfortable you are in it.

 

For paddling a SUP, standing is the normal position.  It isn't fast, but SUPs aren't meant to be.  Kneeling is much more stable (lower center of gravity and 4 points of contact).  When I'm teaching a friend to get on a SUP that's what I start with.  then you can squat, then stand.  

I've never been on a kayak or paddle board before. So I'm new as it gets. 

[WRB]

Rent a paddle board in the summer when you can wear a swim suit when you fall off ?‍♂️!

Tom

[VolFan]

How’s your core strength and balance? Are you too heavy? Can you swim? 
 

They’re great platforms but you have to accept that you are going to get wet in waves and that big wakes are a huge adventure, depending on angle. They are great for small rivers, canals, flats, and big creeks where the on/off ease can really be exploited for wading. Big lakes and open ocean…not so much. Great tool, it just depends on what you’re asking it to do.

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I've never been on a kayak or paddle board before. So I'm new as it gets. 

in that case, wait until the water is in the 70’s or more and the air in the 80’s. You’re going to fall off a bunch, so don’t bring gear. You’re going to get soaked through so bring some towels and a change of clothes for the ride home. 

[flyfisher]

If it is designed for fishing it is more than doable and I was about to the pull the trigger on one until my kayak was warrantied and i got a new one out of the deal.  You can absolutely fish and fly fish out of one and I still may pick one up for simple trips and motoring upriver.  

[Koz]

My first thought? I hope you enjoy swimming. And that you're good at diving for your gear ?

[Bankc]

In Oklahoma, and I know it's less windy in the Tulsa area than where I'm at in OKC, I don't think this would be a very good idea.  Mainly because of the wind and waves.  I occasionally see people out on paddleboards around here, but they always stick to the coves and you'll see them fall off all of the time.  They don't cut through the water, so any waves will rock you hard and any wind will blow you around like crazy.  They tend to spend more time swimming than paddling.  

However, you've already got one, so it might be better to focus on where and how you can use it.  If you can find any small ponds that are protected from the wind and won't have motorboats or big waves on them, I could see this working pretty well.  Like others have said, you won't want to bring much with you.  And standing and trying to set a hook or fight a fish would probably be a bad idea.  A kayak has a hull that digs into the water, so it's got some "grip" to brace yourself against.  A paddleboard will slip out from under you pretty easily.  But get down on a seat, and you'll lower the center of gravity, and make that a bit easier to handle. 

 

So under the right circumstances, I could see it having it's uses.  It would certainly be easy to transport!  I'd say take it out without any fishing gear and see how it goes first.  That'll let you know if it's worth sinking money into to make it more fishing friendly.

[Tatulatard]

I watched a bass pro video about using a stand up paddle board to fish for bass.  It was 30 min of him falling off it.

[Bass Junke]

Vibe has made 2 fishing paddleboards. Their new model the Cuberra looks pretty cool. 

 

https://vibekayaks.com/products/vibe-cubera-120-hybrid-kayak?variant=40224342474930

 

Not for me, I would definitely be kicking combos into the water left and right. 

[Luke Barnes]

I definitely don't think a paddle board is ideal that's for sure. But it was free and I don't gave a vessel of my own.  I could use my wife's kayak but it's pretty short. She got one that was super wide but is only 8' long so just seeing my options. 

[flyfisher]

On 1/10/2023 at 3:20 PM, Bass Junke said:

Vibe has made 2 fishing paddleboards. Their new model the Cuberra looks pretty cool. 

 

https://vibekayaks.com/products/vibe-cubera-120-hybrid-kayak?variant=40224342474930

 

Not for me, I would definitely be kicking combos into the water left and right. 

That is the one I was about to get until i got the warranty news.  I have met a few people on the river with them and they all really like them.  I don''t think I would want it for all time use but as a specific purpose I think they would be great.

This was the other one I was looking at 

https://www.crescentkayaks.com/product/stand-up-paddle-board-sup-plus/

 

[Luke Barnes]

On 1/11/2023 at 3:54 PM, flyfisher said:

That is the one I was about to get until i got the warranty news.  I have met a few people on the river with them and they all really like them.  I don''t think I would want it for all time use but as a specific purpose I think they would be great.

This was the other one I was looking at 

https://www.crescentkayaks.com/product/stand-up-paddle-board-sup-plus/

 

That's really nice looking. 

 

For my size I think after everyone's input, I'm going to stay away from the SUP for fishing.