Kayak fishing is a very underrated sport, not to mention a way to get actual, fresh food. It has started to become a lot more popular in recent years, so if you find yourself suddenly interested in it you should know that you are not alone! Any type of fishing is a fun day out for everyone, and with plenty of material online on sites like Northpolevoyages on how to get started with getting great catches, anyone can develop a passion for it, kayak or not! Kayak fishing is an excellent pastime, but before you learn how to fish from a kayak you must be wondering why kayak fishing is so popular in the first place. You should know that there are actually a lot of advantages associated with kayak fishing. Here are some of them:
#1 More Locations
Kayaks allow you to access remote parts of the water where traditional boats can’t go. This helps you get access to different and often exotic kinds of fish.
#2 Easy Maintenance
Kayaks are a lot easier to maintain than regular boats. This helps you in two ways. Firstly, it saves you a fair amount of money, and secondly it helps you go fishing a lot more often than you would have otherwise.
#3 Easier to Sneak
One of the biggest problems associated with fishing is that it is often difficult to catch fish because the boat ends up scaring them and making them flee. Kayaks allow you to paddle a lot more gently, thus helping you sneak up on the fish.
#4 Fish Your Way
Kayaks are extremely versatile. You can fish in a lot of different ways using them, no matter what your preferred technique is.
#5 Better For The Environment
We are all becoming a lot more conscious of our impact on the environment. Kayaks are a lot better for the environment than motorboats, so you can fish without worrying about the negative impact that you are having on the ecosystem.
Now that you know why kayak fishing is so great, you need to choose a kayak.
What Kayak Should You Choose?
There are two basic types of kayaks that you can choose from. These are:
#1 Sit On Top
A lot of people say that these are the best kayaks that you could possibly go for. One of the reasons for this is the fact that they are a lot more stable than your standard kayaks. In fact, some of the kayaks in this category are so sturdy that you can even fish standing up if that is the sort of thing that you are used to.
There are a number of other advantages to this type of kayak too. First of all, they are quite spacious. You will not face any trouble storing your gear or anything like that, especially if you want to store it in a way that would make it easily accessible for you. You will also enjoy the benefits of added security. This is because of the fact that a hollow kayak is far less likely to sink. This is a great advantage to people that are wary of the potential dangers involved with the process of kayaking. Overall this type of kayak is the best fishing kayak under 600 that you can get.
#2 Sit Inside
After hearing about the myriad benefits of sit on top kayaks, you might be wondering why anyone would want to buy a sit inside model. Well, there are actually some benefits that this style of kayak has that are unique. They can benefit you in a few different scenarios where a sit on top kayak might not do very well.
For example, if you are fishing in areas where it is extremely cold, sit in kayaks can be a huge source of warmth. If most of your body is going to be inside the kayak, it will not be exposed to the elements. This can help you fish for much longer periods of time, something that is essential if you want to start fishing as much as you can so that you can take advantage of fishing season while it still lasts.
Sit in kayaks are also almost as stable as sit on top variants, since this version of a kayak sits low in the water which means that the overall body remains stable. However, sit on top kayaks win out in terms of deck space, which is why people still tend to prefer them.
Kayak Fishing Tips
#1 Focus on One Handed Skills
One handed casting is the first skill that you should focus on. This is a skill that pretty much anyone that wants to take part in kayak fishing needs to learn. This will allow you to control your kayak even after you cast a line, which can really boost your overall success rate. Apart from casting, you should try and focus on one handed paddling as well. This is what will turn you into a master kayaker because of the fact that it will enable you to keep your kayak going even if you have a tasty prize on the line. It will also help you keep your cool in such situations.
#2 Mind Your Feet
If you want to maintain control of your kayak while you are casting a line, your feet can really help you in this regard. They can help you steer the kayak and maintain the speed to some extent, something that can really take your fishing skills to the next level.
#3 Always Have an Anchor
A lot of kayakers think that having an anchor can cause problems because of the fact that it will make it difficult for you to get any real speed. However, anchors can be useful in a lot of situations and are safe to use as long as you avoid using them in strong currents.
#4 Don’t Hesitate to Stick to Shallow Waters
The whole point of kayaking is that it allows you to fish in places that most other people won’t think to fish. If the current is too strong, you could always just go closer to the shore. You will still have a fair amount of control over your Kayak, and this will also allow you to stay safe in dangerous situations.
Interesting article. I wonder what your thoughts are on inflatable kayaks vs. rigid plastic kayaks? It seems like inflatable models are more affordable and easier to transport, but the hard body kayaks are tougher and more durable.