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Fishing Rivers & Streams from a Kayak

Have you ever found yourself wading along a fishy stretch of creek only to have your upstream progress halted by a deep hole surrounded with high-cut banks?  Alternatively, have you ever been motoring up a river in a johnboat only to be held-up by a shoal or scattered rocks?  If you have ever found yourself in either of these situations, your frustration may have been bolstered by an angling kayaker floating past you and catching the fish you are after.

There are several reasons why one might adopt a kayak for fishing rivers.  A kayak is likely the least expensive watercraft on the market, and therefore a relatively low-cost option for anglers looking to add a boat to their arsenal.  Further, lightweight and versatile, a kayak can take you places that would otherwise be impossible to fish either on foot or in a larger watercraft.  A kayak is an ideal alternative to tearing up a river in a loud boat or tramping "through the buggy shrubbery, rub elbows with poison ivy," as Alan Kesselheim of Canoe & Kayak Beginner's guide writes.  No other watercraft lets you stealthily glide in to where the fish are like a kayak. 

"We've seen marvelous innovations in fishing kayaks," writes Scott MacGregor of Kayak Angler, as many manufacturers are offering fishing specific kayaks or at least versions of their standard offerings outfitted for kayaking.  Even so, a great number of folks who fish from a kayak do so from a standard model with little or no modification. All the advantages of kayak fishing, the myriad options available to anglers looking to purchase or outfit a kayak, and the development of kayak fishing tournaments such as the Extreme Edge Kayak Fishing Tournament Series, have put kayak fishing on the map as a sport of its own.

Those tough-to-fish rivers, streams and creeks are among the most appealing places for kayak anglers to dip their paddles.  Kayak anglers often use their watercraft to fish those spots neither anglers on foot nor in larger boats can access.  One run down a serene river with low fishing pressure, no loud boats making heavy wakes, and a steady current to move you along is all it takes to hook most anglers for life on the joys of kayak fishing.

Preparation

The first thing anyone should do before tearing-off down a scenic river is to learn everything you can before giving yourself over to the current. Other paddlers, DNR websites, the USGS, and folks loitering at local bait shops and kayak stores are powerful resources.  Doing your homework can make your life easier in terms of finding the best put-in and take-out points.  It can save your trip or even your life by keeping you clear of rapids, spillways and other problematic points along the river.  Scout as much of you planned route as you can by car, and keep an eye on the USGS reported flow conditions in the days and hours prior to your trip.

When fishing from a kayak, you will have to prep more than just your lure collection.  Make sure you have safety gear such as a bilge pump, a paddle float, and a throw line stored securely but handily. Don't leave home without a paddle leash, and figure out how best to stow your rod when you need your hands to be free.  When fishing rivers form a kayak, it is often advisable to use shorter, lighter tackle when possible.  A 4.5ft rod will be less trouble than a 6.5ft rod when navigating in, around, and under trees or low-hanging branches.

Dress for success. Remember, it is not a matter of if you will turn your boat over but when.  If you are wearing waders and plan to be in and out of your boat, Rob Lyon of Kayak Angler, suggests wearing "a waist belt that you can cinch up when you approach dicey water."  If you will be in warmer water, you can never go wrong with swim trunks.  Even if you wear nothing else going down the river, make sure you always wear a PFD that fits you well.  Fishing specific PFDs make your experience all the better and are available at local canoe & kayak shops.

Equipment

Manufactures now offer a host of kayaks outfitted specifically for fishing. Many of the Sit-on-top variety are popular with those who fish open water, such as the saltwater flats off the Florida Keys. Many inland anglers and those in cooler climates like the Midwest still lean toward traditional sit-in style kayaks.

Perhaps the most exciting innovation for kayak fisherman comes by way of the Native Watercraft Ultimate line of boats.  These odd-looking amalgamations between a canoe and a kayak offer voluminous (if not necessarily dry) open cockpits with easy access to tons of stuff.  The Magic 12, also by Native Watercraft, offers a stable and maneuverable sit-on-top option for fishermen.  Native offers a huge selection of fishing accessories such as rod holders, fish-finder mounts and cup holders for their entire line of boats.  Even old standbys such as the Wilderness Systems line of boats are available pre-outfitted for fishing from the manufacturer.

One should hold the phone for a moment, however, if fishing rivers will be the primary use for your kayak.  "When it comes to outfitting," writes Rob Lyon of Kayak Angler, "river kayaks are more a means to get to those out-of-the-way fishing holes than a boat to be tricked out to fish from." Rob continues, in his article Take it to the river: Use your kayak to fish remote creeks, rivers and streams others can't, "Too much fancy gear on deck will just get in the way.  Beyond an anchor and perhaps a single rod holder, it is always best to add these accessories as you feel you need them based on experience."

Well designed models such as the Magic 12 by Native Watercraft often offer a slot shaped just right for a milk crate full of stuff, such as a couple sections of PVC pipe with slits cut down one side zip-tied onto the crate to drop your rods in.  Again, even when designing your own accessories such as this, think of the things you have to paddle under in a small stream as you decide on the angle at which your rods will be stowed.

Technique

Keep in mind that when fishing shallower rivers, you may often find it best to beach your boat along shore or a sandbar and wade a bit to fish.  Also, when going down stream, it is sometimes handy to actually turn the boat backwards and face the bow upstream.  The movement of your kayak downstream will keep nice action on your lure and let you work a large stretch of bank without reeling in.  This way, you can focus on putting finesse on the lure.  Once your boat comes to a rest, just continue working the bait by reeling it to you.

For more tips and advice, feel free to contact us anytime! info@sunandsnow.com