Few things compare to the feeling of quietly gliding through the water to a secluded area while keeping an eye out for any movement on the surface that could indicate the presence of large fish. The massive range of gear options and steep learning curve of kayaking may seem intimidating at first, but with the kayak fishing guide, you’ll realize that it’s one of the most accessible hobbies available.
Kayak Fishing Guide and Tips
Kayak fishing has gained worldwide popularity in less than a decade. Anglers capture various sports fish from kayaks, from saltwater coasts to interior lakes and streams. If you’re new to kayak fishing, the following pointers will assist you in achieving great rod-bending action.
Inshore kayak fishing is the beginning of an incredible trip that will keep you up at night if you genuinely like it. It can be harrowing, frustrating, exhausting, and exhilarating, but one thing remains constant: It’s worth it. Consider starting a fishing journal to document your memories for posterity, or print out maps and highlight any hazards you’d like to remember for your next trip.
Read more: Best Fishing Kayaks For Big Guys
Benefits of Kayak Fishing
A kayak’s stealth and quiet paddling make it ideal for fishing in shallow water. Many are solid enough to stand on, which is preferable to sitting for sight-casting and underhanded casting. Compared to most sit-in kayaks, SOTs are also easy to outfit with fishing attachments. Paddling is quiet, and being low to the water allows you to approach fish more quietly. A kayak also uses relatively little water.
Find Or Make Your Kayak Unique
Maintain easy access to tackle, pliers, a landing net, water for trolling and carrying different combinations, and mount rod holders on a kayak. GPS/sonar device aids in the detection of fish and enhances navigation. Popular equipment includes a shallow-water stake, an anchor trolley with an anchor or drift sock, and a rudder.
Read more: Top 5 Best Kayak Seats
Fishing Techniques
Use easy-to-fish lures that are adaptable. This cuts down on retying and rerigging, allowing you to make more casts each day and capture more fish. Backtrack with a tiny jig, drop-shot, or other finesse bait after catching aggressive fish to entice additional bites from less active ones. Before leaving a region, switch methods to target other species.
Extra Guides
Invest in a light paddle for added comfort and a leash to attach to the kayak. Carry a whistle or other sounding device to signal the presence of motorized boats. Use single-hook baits with barbs pinching down for quick hook removal. Wear a life jacket at all times.
Further reading: Best Trolling Motors For Fishing Kayaks
Safety in Kayak Fishing
If you don’t appreciate the force of the ocean, you will pay the price. Our unique plastic boats are both beautiful and dangerous because of their simplicity. This expression emphasizes the thin line that separates a beautiful day of fish from a terrible day. Even with today’s technology and forecasting data, things may still go wrong, and you must be prepared.
Life Jackets
High-end PFDs may save your life in any situation, and the high-end ones on the market currently (like the Old Town Lure Angler) have storage and amenities to make your day safe and enjoyable.
Read more: When Should You Discard A PFD? – PFDs Maintenance
Weather
Make your plans for the day based on the weather, particularly the wind. Use Windy, Windfinder, FishWeather, or another reputable software to ensure the predicted wind won’t create problems. Please pay attention to the tide and the wind since they affect each other. If a summer thunderstorm develops, you’ll need to know where to go if the launch is too far away.
The temperature of the water
I suggest a dry suit to pair with your PFD if you fish in locations that receive a substantial winter but still want to be on open water. Drysuits are waterproof outfits that can save your life and make you appear like a very fantastic fighter pilot. Use the 120 Rule to help you decide whether or not to wear one.
Read more: Best Fishing Kayaks Under 500
Radio VHF
Bring a weatherproof VHF radio for distress calls, weather alerts, and general communication on all boats. Channel 9 is created to allow recreational boats to communicate, while Channel 16 is the worldwide distress, safety, and calling channel. When kayak fishing, I have my VHF set to Channel 16. It adds an extra degree of security, and there are sometimes intriguing talks to be heard.
Boat Lights
If waves from the boat wake come in, position the bow of your kayak at a 45-degree angle and paddle over the top. Motorized watercraft are required by law to give way to non-motorized vessels. Thus they will usually spot kayaks and yield. Boats must have white lights visible from all directions, a red light on the port (left) bow, and a green light on the starboard (right) bow.
Read more: Kayaking At Night: Can You Kayak At Night?
Fog at the Beach
Stay away from waterways where boats are likely to pass. If at all feasible, return to the land or extremely shallow water. If you can’t get to the beach, look for a rock, buoy, or other structure to float alongside. These are usually indicated on navigation charts and will be avoided by boats.
Other kayak fishing safety items
A kayak angler’s helmet protects them from striking rocks if they are suddenly pushed out of the water. Outriggers are inflatable flotation devices that are attached to the kayak’s exterior. First Aid Kits -. A first-aid pack is essential whether you’re kayaking alone or in a group. Kayak navigation lights – Increase the likelihood of being noticed at twilight, morning, and night.
Read more: 10 Best Kayak Lights For Night Fishing
Obtain Liability Coverage
The KBF Event Liability Insurance for Kayak Bass Fishing covers a third party’s injury or property damage claims. The cover encourages the safe and financially responsible organization of freshwater fishing competitions in the United States. In rapids, on the other hand, your kayak, like you, may take a beating. Non-motorized boat insurance protects you in the case of property damage or physical damage to your dinghy, tender, rib, or rowboat. You never know what could happen if you carry eyeglasses, cameras, or other portable electrical gadgets on your kayaks.
Read more: Do Alligators Attack Kayaks And Kayakers?
Gather The Required Fishing Guides Gear
Let’s speak about the fun part: fishing while we’re on the subject of enormous catches. The diversity of catchable species is one of the finest advantages of saltwater fishing.
Net
A pair of pliers that are corrosion-resistant. Rinse them after each journey and lubricate them sometimes to keep them from rusting. Line-cutters are a bonus. The rubber keeps the fish safe, and tangled hooks are simpler to remove from the rubber mesh than from ordinary netting.
Lip-grippers
In the salt, catching toothy animals is part of the game, and one tango with some sharp chompers will remind you of the importance of lip holds.
Knife
The author says that a knife is my go-to weapon, and I use it for various tasks, including cutting lines, chopping bait, and dispatching a fish to bleed out before it becomes supper. Things happen in the world, and a knife is one of the essential tools I use to deal with them.
Sunglasses
Accessorizing kayak fishing is fun, and every angler is different. A nice pair of sunglasses is the missing piece of the equation. When staring beneath the water, you’ll be shocked at how much of a difference they make. Furthermore, they are beneficial to your eyes. The intense sun bouncing off the lake might harm your eyes over time.
Read more: Are Inflatable Kayaks Safe?
Tackle
A kayak guide must carry a minimum of two rods and reels per fisherman due to the range of fishing circumstances. Regardless of the fishing circumstances, your gear selection should be relatively straightforward. A free-spool stray-line rig and a fixed-spools soft-bait rig are two options for the correct blend. However, you may always add to your rod and reel collection.
Lures
When kayak fishing, you may start with a small selection of lures that give various presentations to reach multiple areas of the water. As you strive to develop new fishing approaches, you’ll need resistant baits like chatter baits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. When a fish pounces on your appeal, and your line sizzles off the reel as it goes off, it’s a satisfying experience.
Fly Tackle
It might be challenging to incorporate fly gear into your kayak fishing. Fly rod weight is the most crucial factor to consider. Speckled trout, redfish, stripers, bluefish, croakers, and white perch rods should weigh 6-9 ounces and be 7-9 feet long. Surprisingly, a heavier rod may be easier to use than a lighter one.
Read more: Kayak Weight – How Much Does A Kayak Weigh?
Freshwater Equipment
You’ll need a pair of freshwater fly rods and reels to catch fish from the kayak. A monster bass, for example, may move you sideways in a flash, putting you out of position or flipping you over. Consider how bringing in a fish will affect your location.
Others
Rain gear, duct tape, pliers, sunscreen, toilet paper, and other items you’ll need for outdoor work. Include a cooler, refreshments, and a first-aid kit since you never know when an emergency may occur. A waterproof camera would be an excellent option for capturing your customers’ catches.
Read more: Can You Put A Trolling Motor On A Kayak? How To Put A Trolling Motor On A Kayak?
Guide for Choosing The Best Fishing Kayaks
A kayak is, first and foremost, an essential piece of equipment that will begin you on the way to becoming a kayak fishing guide. The most excellent inshore kayaks will have hull characteristics and features that will keep you safe while also giving you the best performance on the water. Touring kayaks are not the same as white water kayaks, but the kind of kayak you pick depends on your skill level and the paddling you want to do.
Read more: Best Kayak Fishing Rods [Top 8] – Rod For Kayak Fishing Review
Hull Design
The hull of the most incredible saltwater kayaks will have some rocker – or curvature – to it, enabling them to operate effectively in rough and wave conditions. To cut through waves and currents, your kayak should have a noticeable bow – this allows it to cut through wind and wave action.
Propulsion
A pedal or powered kayak is an excellent alternative to a paddle kayak if you want to cover more land and spend more time with your line in the water.
Read more: How Fast Is A Pedal Kayak? How Fast Can Pedal Kayaks Go?
Sit on top kayak
Inshore fishing is safer with a sit-on-top type kayak. Water may be taken over the bow of this kayak and quickly drain into the scuppers. Kayaks with a seat on top are more stable and roomy.
Rigging
Inshore fishing is safer with a sit-on-top type kayak. Water may be taken over the bow of this kayak and quickly drain into the scuppers. Kayaks with a seat on top are more stable and roomy.
Paddles
Thousands of strokes are required for kayak angling, and the paddle you pick will significantly influence your success on the water. Here are four things to think about while selecting a kayak paddle. The length of your paddle is determined by the length and breadth of your boat. A paddle with a bent shaft or a feathered blade performs better.
You are reading: Kayak Fishing Guide
Becoming Kayak A Kayak Fishing Guide
A part-time kayak fishing guide will not make you wealthy, particularly if you paddle and target common fish in public waters. High-end resort salmon guides may charge $500–$1000 per day, but a regular recreational guide will have to be less expensive. Next, make sure you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Even with limited availability, this means preceding weekend family activities and out-of-town visits.
Do You Want To Be a Kayak Fishing Guide?
Being kayak fishing guides is a lot of effort for little pay, but other bonuses make it worthwhile. Being there when a four-year-old catches their first fish is an unforgettable experience. You’ll meet many fascinating people and create contacts in the kayak fishing charter industry. Most importantly, your efforts will contribute to the development and strengthening of the local community.
Need to Obtain the Required Certification
The American Canoe Association (ACA) provides a kayak training curriculum recognized as the leading paddlesports education program. Paddling abilities, technical competence, rescue capacity, interpersonal skills, group management, and teaching ability are all current and adequate for certification. The teacher may teach the newbie paddler about paddle boat safety and information in a land-based situation. After completing the course, the instructor can only teach up to the certification level in their discipline.
Read more: How To Get Out Of A Kayak With Bad Knees?
Does Your Fleet Have Enough Boats?
Determine how large a group you wish to guide at once before proclaiming yourself a guide. For example, with five fishing kayaks, I advertise that I can take four people at once. Arrive early to the launch to set up the kayaks and equipment before your customers arrive. You must go above and beyond to meet a client’s specific requirements.
Improve Your Kayaking Techniques
You’ll need to acquire suitable kayaking methods from an expert to perfect your abilities as a professional kayak fishing guide. The following basic strokes will assist you in developing good form when you enter the water. For a more efficient stroke, grip your paddle. The forward stroke is for traveling straight on, slowing down, and backing up using the reverse stroke. Also suitable for scooting your kayak sideways is the draw stroke.
Forward Stroke
To prepare for the forward stroke:
- Double-check how you grip the paddle.
- Wind your body around one side of the boat and submerge your blade.
- Rotate your body and press on the shaft with your upper hand as the edge slides behind you.
- Maintain a near-vertical position and a constant amount of immersion with the blade.
Reverse Stroke
Wind your body and completely immerse your blade on the boat’s side close to your hip during the drop phrase. For the power phrase, rotate your body as the edge travels in front of you. Rep the process, this time immersing the out-of-the-water blade near your hip on the opposite side of the boat.
Read more: Canoe vs Kayak
Sweep Stroke
To begin the sweep while turning the boat effectively, submerge your arms at your feet. Swing the blade in a broad arc toward the boat’s stern. After the paddle has passed the cockpit, apply some pressure to your body’s rotation. Finish the sweep by slicing the blade out of the water when it gets behind the cockpit.
Draw Stroke
The draw stroke comes in handy when propelling your kayak sideways, particularly when approaching another boat or pier. Position your paddle blade horizontally by rotating it. Reach out and touch the water approximately two feet away with the blade’s head. Lower your hand and pull it straight towards you while keeping it submerged in the water. If your paddle hits the side of the boat, don’t pull it out of the water because you might tip it over.
Category: Blog
Source: https://ecpaddlesports.com/
