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Hi Everyone,
Just got my Wife a kayak for her birthday so she can go out with her friends doing the summer. She has one of those school jobs that allows her only to work 10 months out of the year.
Now my question, I've been looking at this thinking maybe I can use it go fishing with, does anyone use a kayak to fly fish from?
Thanks,
Alan (salmonguy)
Alan
I fish out of a 12' Currrent Design. I use it both on rivers and small lakes. It does take some getting use to. One of the challenges in moving water is controlling your boat while you cast. But other than that I have had no problems.
Dave
Salmonguy, I just received mine today, 13'6" hobie Quest Fisherman. I have never been in one but Gil sucked me into it http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif. I put a fishfinder/gps combo on it, rudder and an anchor. It will make its vigin voyage to the Fish-in in March.
I'll use it in the salt, ponds,lakes and rivers.
[url=http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/:56f62]http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/[/url:56f62]
Try it, I think you'll like it
Philip
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Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
Search the archives here...there were several threads on kayak fishing last year. And one of the regular article writers had several stories about fishing out of his kayak (Jim Hatch I think).
I fish out of a Hobie Outback and love it.
I got started after some fishing buddies kicked my butt going upstream on a slow spring creek in northern CA. They weren't putting out any real effort in their kayaks and I had a trolling motor on 4 (it overheated if I tried '5')...we were heading upstream and I couldn't come close to keeping up.
With my Outback, I can leave them in the dust and still have my rod in my hands (foot-powered kayak). http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
Hobie has a new model due out later this year. Longer and narrower than the Outback. That will make it much faster but a wee bit less stable. Perfect for salt-water fishing (that's the intended target according to the guy at a recent fishing show that was displaying it).
There are now something like 5 models of the Hobie foot-powered kayaks. 3 of them are intended for fishing. The Outback was the first (and is now the middle-sized of the three), then the Sport, and now the upcoming salt water long one.
They also have a tandem. I saw a guy fishing from one of the tandems a while back. He fished from the back seat and his wife sat up front reading as they went around the lake enjoying a great afternoon together. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
I have an old 12'Percepition. The only thing I ever added to it was a bungie line along the side to hold my rod when I shove off and land.
I use it mostly in protected salt water but I have been out in seas higher than my head. No worrys.
I have so much fun paddling the thing that sometimes I forget to fish.
Don't forget your PFD and maybe a leash or two for your paddle and fly rod. Oh, and a compass too.
In all the years I have had my kayak, I have never once been in it without my PFD on.
Philip, be careful if you use that anchor in rough water. It can cause you to flip.
I don't carry one myself.
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I never lost a little fish
yes, I'm free to say
It always was the biggest fish
I caught that got away
...Eugene Field
I to have a Hobie Quest Fisherman with fishfinder, rudder and an anchor trolly. Got it last March and love it. Fished out of an Old Town Loon for several years , no comparison.
Rudder is the big difference for boat control while casting.
What kind did you get?
Steve
[This message has been edited by flyman9 (edited 16 February 2006).]
[This message has been edited by flyman9 (edited 16 February 2006).]
Been kayak fishing for a couple of years now. Went through a couple and still have four. Though pretty much only use the Hobie Outback now.
The KFS site is the best for any info or ideas ya need to get started. Don't be afraid to ask anything there; you'll always get an answer.
Don't forget to troll a fly behind ya while you're moving!!!! You'll love it.
Thanks for info dudley, I won't use it in ruff water for sure now.
I agree on KFS web site, tons of info and they shipped it to me for only 49.00.
Fishertim, what line do you use for trolling and how far do you go down with the line 15' ?
Philip
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Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
I don't fish out of a kayak myself (just canoe, pontoon, or drift boat if I can afford it) but a friend in Maine has a great time on one in the saltwater. He likes to use it for Stipers and refers to a good hookup as a "Nantucket Sleighride". Sounds like a way to avoid the bridge toll on your next trip off PEI. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
Brian
I recently found and bought a Dagger Bayou kayak. I have a 16' Jon Boat which is too big to fool with when I am alone, and a U-Toob that takes forever if I am trying to get anywhere. I fished for years out of my canoe and my back won't take it anymore so I bought the kayak. This will be my first season with it so we will have to compare notes and share lessons learned.
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Clint
I feel closer to HIM when I'm fishing.
I fish out of a Ocean Kayak Prowler 13. I think kayaks and fly-fishing are perfect for each other. I fished out of a float tube for a while, but did not find it was very comfortable and slow to get to prime spots. Kayaks are quiet and you can go places most larger boats cannot. I ended up buying two so I could take a buddy along.Everyone I take out wants to go buy one after the trip!
Norm
Vocelli, Come on down!! Would love to take you out on them!! If you get a chance to try one, I guarantee you, you will prefer it to float tube fishing!
Norm
Here is a pic of how I rigged it up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...A/11176ff3.jpg
I fish out of a Hobie Mirage Outback and love it. Super stable, extremely quiet and the peddeling system that keeps your hands free for fishing can't be beat. Great personal fishing craft!
Jim Smith
I use a Pungo 140 to fish with and love it. It is an ocean going Kayak and is very stable on the water. The kayak is so much easier to fish with than a canoe. Wind very seldom has any influence on it and drafts so much nicer. I carry a 24-inch emergency paddle in it and it is what I use to maneuver the kayak while fishing. A one hand short stroke will move 10 t0 20 feet on the river or lake without any real effort.
It is very stable and I have yet to fall off of it, but it can happen. I fish year around and just wear waders and cold weather clothing. You can buy a dry-top to keep you from getting wet if you fall in.
I went fishing at the San Juan river two weeks ago and was wading close to the bank when I stepped in a hole I didn't see. It was cold enough outside to have ice forming on my guides. I went in deep enough to get my clothes wet and fill my left wader leg with water.I got out of the river easy enough(was quiet embarrassed as there were other anglers around), I thought I wouldn't make it back to the truck that was about a mile away, I was freezing! I started hiking out and the water on my clothes soon heated up to body temp. I emptied my waders and fished the rest of the day with wet clothes but wasn't cold.(will have spare clothes next time)
I think if you wear waders and dry top, you will be comfortable on a kayak year-round and safe even if you fall in!(P.F.D. also)
Norm
hey you guys pls be careful with anchors in moving water. Too many horror stories I have heard. Good luck to you and happy fishing.
One point to be made here is that there are sit-on-top kayaks (which may be wet and cold in certain weather) and sit-in kayaks (which with a skirt are nice and dry and warm in cool weather. I have fished out of one for 3 years (Old Town Otter) and will not go back to a canoe. They are faster, hold everything (which actually stays drier than in a canoe) and have a proper seat & back for comfort. Closer to the water for releasing fish, and as mentioned are hardly affected by the wind on the drift. And they are easier to paddle upwind. As long as you only cast to about 45degrees to each side they are perfectly stable.
I fish out of 4 different ones: a Heritage Nomad II, a Heritage Sea Dart MKII, a Kiwi Stealth with a 46lb thrust trolling motor, and a Mokai 6 hp jet powered kayak. Each one has it's good and bad points. I use the Mokai most....I'm out for fish not exercise http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
If I was going to get another it would be the new 16' Hobie with pedal power though I would worry about the fly line tangling on the pedal mechanism. Saw one at the KFS display at the Somerset NJ fly show.
DEcevR - when you're playing a fish and it dives under the front near the pedals, just push either foot all the way forward.
That folds the fins against the bottom of the hull and should prevent most tangles.
I've never had a problem with my line getting caught in the drive system while fishing...and only once while trying to land a nice trout on some non-fly fishing gear (sometimes I sin while 'yaking...caught that one while trolling a kastmaster as I was heading up river to set up for the evening hatch...troll with naughty gear, fish with the real thing once I arrive). :-)
That fish dove under my feet when I tried to net him and I was worried he'd tangle me up.
Now, when I'm fishing, one foot is forward so the fins are out of the way. It's a trivial adjustment to make to my sitting/fishing position.
I've caught fish directly off the side of my 'yak multiple times (within literally a foot or two of the side of it) so I'm not worried about it spooking the fish (and mine is the bright red color).
Vocelli - for really cold weather, you can get a full dry suit or one of those dry tops with two layers at the bottom. One layer goes inside your waders, one layer goes on top...seals it nicely in case you fall over board.
As for stability. I've crawled out of my Outback in the middle of a reservior (during a self-rescue lesson that was part of a kayak safety class I took before buying my own yak). The Outback did NOT tip over and I'm 6'1", 240 lbs!
I crawled right back into it on the first try without even getting close to making it tippy.
The others in that class were all using traditional touring kayaks (those long skinny fast ones) and they all repeatedly tipped over trying to get back in. Self rescue is important to know - check your local kayak shops to see if any offer a basic/intro/safety class.
Around here, the local parks require a PFD if you're on the water. Check your local reqs or just wear one anyways. I don't like those clunky old orange ones we all had as kids...there are much more comfortable ones that fit like a vest (floatation spread all the way around).
You might need a larger size vest though to cover it (or be cheap like me and use your current one but don't button it up so it doesn't matter that it's too small).
I'm going to try a chest pack soon in place of a traditional fly fishing vest. I think it'll reduce the bulk a bit and force me to bring fewer distractions. Fanny/hip packs don't work as well with the sitting position of the Hobies (feet are slightly raised during peddling to keep your center of gravity lower).
Out here (Silicon Valley area), one of the local kayak shops rents a wide variety of models by the hour/day/week and they're set up right on one of the local reserviors. So, it's easy to try a bunch of models on the water for an hour at a time.
KFS has some demo days...if there's any chance you're close enough to make it to one. If not, maybe some closer shop has something similar? Demo days are pretty common out here and with several kayak shops, that adds up to lots of opportunity to try 'em for free or darned close.
Old Geezer,
In sw I use asinking line most of the time and will let out enough line to get it down near the bottom usually. In fresh I let about 20ft out, usaly w/ a popper or a woolybugger. Poppers work great at kayak trolling speed.
Thwack,
You ought to check out the Mangrove Wade Deep Fanny Packs. I have 1 for SW and 1 for fresh. Holds all I need and I wear it either on my lap or just hook the belt around the seat strap. They're waterproof and so far have floated when dropped! Got my from Burfish.com. Don't believe any of the sponsors carry them.
FisherTim - thanks! I'll check that out. I'd been avoiding fanny packs figuring they'd be uncomfortable (because of the Outback's feet position while pedaling). That's why I was investigating chest packs (and I found a clearance special on a name brand nice chest pack...roughly half price so for $29, it's worth taking a chance).
I'll look into the one you suggested as well.
One other suggestion for anybody starting out in a kayak...get a net with a much longer handle. I've spooked fish when trying to land them by using a short handled net (the normal stubby handle length that you see in the ads hanging down the back, hooked to the top of a fly vest).
The yak tips slightly towards the fish as I lean in to scoop it up and that can spook them into another run (sometimes right under the yak). It doesn't tip enough to be even close to dumping you, but it doesn't take much to spook your fish.
For about $20, I found a net locally that has a handle that's easily three feet long...
Now, if I could just get out on the water and try it out, I'd know if it helps. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
I am purchasing a yak this spring for fishing starting in April. I think it is an excellent idea and really enjoyed it last summer. Also very convenient to throw on top of the jeep and go!
I do, I do
Fishertim, thanks for the info. All critiques on jak fishing is appreciated. Better to be a hero before than after a mishap.
The Geez
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Excus my spelling and gramma, I hooked Mondays and Fridays so I could Hunt or fish.
I was referring to the line getting tangled in the pedal mechanism on deck not the fins below
Ah, sorry...line gets tangled on me more than on the pedals. The pedals are far enough away you'd have to be really slinging your line as you strip it to snag on the pedals.
Every little bump on your vest, shorts, etc will snag if you're not paying attention.
I try not to have tons of slack line in my lap. One way to do that is to let the excess hang off the side in the water.
Another is to fish closer to the yek (instead of dead drifting my entire line out and then working it back in....let less of it dead drift or even better, don't anchor...let the drifting fly get ahead of you a reasonably ways, then dead drift the kayak behind it)