First kayak experience and tips

[JayMac89]

Hey guys, so made an impulse buy yesterday. Long story short, i got a jon boat for free, never brought it out. Issues with getting it legal and all that. So still beating the bank. Went out and bought a kayak yesterday. Lifetime tenton angler 100. Cheap enough to figure out if i like the kayak thing. Well today i took it out. Only about an hour or so. Definitely was not fully prepared, this was an impulse buy after all.

 

I had fun. No fish, but i was more trying to figure things out. The kayak is light, was able to throw it into the truck, carry it to the water. In and out no problem. Actually had to leave due to a work situation, got to shore and was loaded up and home in 15-20 minutes. Including getting back to the ramp. Granted, i live 5 minutes away. Felt stable enough, no standing on this thing. But felt good. 

 

Now for my questions. So wind was calm. 5mph tops. Water was glass. When i put the paddle down and made casts, i would slowly just spin, making it tricky to target the lay downs i was fishing. I'm fully aware that there will be a learning curve. But my question is, is this normal? Is there a technique? Or would an anchor be the call here? What i ended up doing was coming in at an angle anticipating the rotation. And i just rocked with it, threw casts in the opposite direction while i rotated back around to target the lay downs. But i can see it being a frustration when I'm more accustom to the kayak and just want to fish.

 

All in all i had fun. Already got some ideas for what i want to add to make things easier. Nothing major. Just maybe a rod holder up front (i got to stock behind me), the stock paddle holder works but looks cheap so would add one of those. And i need to figure out some storage around the seat for pliers and what not. And tether everything. Im excited to get back out there, but would love any input on the show rotation situation. Thanks in advance!

 

[padlin]

I canoe so it’s a little different but I couldn’t go out fishing in a breeze without an anchor of sorts. After a while you learn where the wind will push you so you an anchor appropriately. For a yak an anchor trolley would help a lot whereas I can tie off from either side, front or back in the canoe, but I don’t know that I would invest the $ in a low end yak. I have a taco paddle holder in the Bass Raider with a little bungee that keeps the yak paddle in place from YakAttack that works real well.

[Alex from GA]

Attach an 18" length of 3/8" chain to an anchor line and run it out of the front or rear handle of the kayak.  Put a clam cleat on the gun wale of the kayak to hold the line where you need it.  I use a carabiner in the handle for the anchor line to slide on.  I don't bring the anchor in the kayak just secure the line with the clam cleat and paddle away.  Cheap and easy to rig.  Use 3/16" rivets on the cleat not 1/8ths.

[casts_by_fly]

Small and light kayaks that are easy enough for you to handle are easy enough for the wind to blow around easily. If you’re fishing a higher resistance bait like a crank bait or bladed bait then you’ll end up pulling yourself along at times. That’s actually pretty handy for going down the bank without having to paddle or motor at all. Different rod angles will make you go in different directions, so play with that. If you hook a fish it will pull you to it as you’re reeling it in. Just know that will happen. 
 

A small anchor is great if you’re working the same area.  Like others said, an anchor wizard or equivalent will make it easier for you.

[JayMac89]

Thanks guys. I did notice i could kind of manipulate the rotation based off my cast angle. Like i said, i know there will be a learning curve. Was just curious if this was a common problem or just somthing that's part of kayak fishing. Seen a ton of information on upgrades, but almost none on the actual technique when it comes to kayak fishing. 

 

I bought this thing just to not break the bank in case i didn't enjoy it. Not going to go crazy. But i think an anchor is somthing I'll be adding. This might seem like a silly question, but if i dropped an anchor, wouldn't you still rotate... the anchor would just be the pivot point? 

 

And thank you guys for the input. I didn't get much time today but i enjoyed myself. I'm sure more questions will pop up. 

[Darth-Baiter]

light kayaks blow around like a paper bag in a windstorm.

 

you'll get good at it.  my friend can occasionally, one arm with the paddle to repositions himself while he is fishing.  he has crazy ET length fingers so he can reach around the rod and work the reel handle with his middle finger.  he flicks the handle and gets it to reel, while he is moving the rod up and down, hopping the bait, and then his other hand works the paddle for a stroke or two.  

 

i cant even watch him without getting all worked up and confused.

 

having said that.  he has since bought a big giant NuCanoe, with a motor. 

[Bankc]

That's par for the course.  Boat control in a kayak is pretty difficult and time consuming.  But you'll get used to it.  Anchors do help tremendously but are also a bit of a pain to use.  Plus, when you anchor, the wind will blow the kayak around your anchor point, and it can spin and face your kayak the wrong way depending on which direction the wind is blowing.  That's why a lot of kayakers use an anchor trolley or two with their anchors, so they can keep a good position and direction, once adjusted for the wind and current.  Sometimes, anyway.

 

What I'll do, as noted by others, is retrieve your lure so that the drag created by your lure helps to keep your kayak positioned.  I'll also "paddle" with my rod tip in between casts to keep me on line.  Just little movements to correct coarse and prolong the need of bigger movements with your paddle.  

 

I also will use a drag chute or drift sock to control the speed of my kayak as the wind blows it around.  And I'll often try to set up so the wind blows me in the right direction.  Often times, with, let's say a north or south facing wind, I'll find a bank that runs parallel to the wind, and let the wind carry me from one end of the bank to the other, and just fish along the bank as I drift.  You often fight the wind or current in a kayak, but sometimes you can use it to your advantage.  

[JayMac89]

Thank you guys. I don't plan on doing much, but I'm grabbing a anchor trolly and installing it before the next outing. Just found out what they were today. May not be perfect but anything to help give me a little more control. 

 

I really enjoyed the kayak thing. Can tell it'll be a challenge, but that's what makes it fun to me. 

[RedRob]

Dual trollies and anchors on kite reels. this makes so you can anchor from any point and point the direction you want. Lifetimes seats suck. look in to aftermarket seats. I have a 14ft sit on lifetime that I've had for over 10yrs. It's just as good as one that would have cost 4 times the money. I use it for short distance under 2-3 miles. and high mountain lakes that don't permit motors. for even shorter distance I use and inflatable pontoon. one thing about the pontoon you can put a set of fins on and hold your position and not have to put my rod down. learning to backhand cast and over the shoulder cast. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flyfisher]

Good advice on here already so of course I'll add my .02.  Wind is the worst thing a kayaker has to deal with but you eventually learn to use it to your advantage.  You are correct that an anchor will become the pivot point and you will then face into the wind so prepare for that when anchoring up.  Another great item that I use more than my anchor when on flat water is a stakeout pole through my anchor trolley.  Allows me to anchor quickly in up to about 7' of water and position myself how I want.  Now my kayak I can stand and pretty much face whatever direction I want so it isn't a major concern.  

I will also second the anchor wizard set up.  The chute makes things easy and prevents wear from the anchor line being drug over the nose of the kayak and the reel locks the line down well.

 

Great idea to not rig anything permanent yet until you get a feel for what YOU want on YOUR kayak.  Lots of people new to the sport rig their boats based on what other people do and their problems but not their own.   I have been kayak fishing for 2+ decades and I still go out 4-5 times before I permanently rig anything.  I will also add that track systems allow a lot more flexibility in rigging so consider that when you begin to make the kayak yours.  

I'd also think about possibly saving some money up, selling the kayak and jon boat, and getting a more fishing friendly and longer kayak.  That 10'er is gonna spin and be a bear to handle in any wind.  

[Bazoo]

I am new to yaks, having never had one or been in one, so I am following this with enthusiasm. I think a yak would be perfect for some of the places I want to get, especially the area where people lose lures!

[JayMac89]

Had my third outing this morning. I'm loving it. 

 

I did install an anchor trolly. World of difference. Still spin around, but at least in one spot. 

 

Iv also learned, pretty well if i do say so myself, to paddle with one hand while i got the rod in the other. And oddly enough, could never backhand cast on the bank. In the yak, not a problem. Using that to throw quick little casts to my right side to manipulate the yak in the direction i want. 

 

I really appreciate the advice from all you. First outing felt like i was doing more paddling then fishing. Third outing, with much stronger winds, complete opposite. Actually felt like i was doing to much fishing and not enough moving around. 

 

Very glad i got a yak. It's so awesome going to all the spots i couldn't reach from shore. I can see the underwater structure/cover, finding new spots to check while out. Can see my bait much better. Whole new experience, i love it. 

[Koz]

Fishing in a light paddle kayak is night and day from using an actual fishing kayak, especially a pedal kayak. What you will learn is what you hate about kayak fishing, and that can help if you ever decide to upgrade to a purpose built fishing kayak.

 

You can try anchor trolleys and they may help, but you're also adding more weight o the kayak and creating more work. When I tried a paddle kayak I found myself spending more time in anchoring and repositioning rather than actual fishing.

 

With my pedal kayak I can fish and move at the same time or keep myself angled and in place while jogging the pedals and bumping the rudder while I am fishing. If yu ever kove to a pedal kayak, make sure it has instant reverse and not switched reverse.

 

That being said, if I had to do it all over again I would have spent more money on an Old Towne kayak with the spot lock trolling motor.