The Ultimate Guide To Kayak Fishing in 2020

A lot of fishermen have switched to kayak fishing for a number of reasons. In this article, we are going to get down to the bottom of why it is the better choice. In fact, it’s become such a big thing that a kayak fishing community has formed.

It is composed of fishermen who only use kayaks. For those who are not too familiar with kayak fishing, here are some commonly asked questions:

How will you choose the best kayak for you?

There are many types of kayak so you will struggle to know which one is for you. Basically, any type of kayak can be used for fishing. In fact, if you have a lot of time on your hands, you can turn your old kayak into a fishing boat.

The two types of kayaks are a sit-inside kayak and a sit-on-top kayak. The latter is better for fishing purposes as you will have loads of space to store your fishing gear. In fact, there will even be space for drinks which is perfect for a hot sunny day.

On the other hand, sit-inside kayaks are a popular choice when the weather is cold. The boat serves as a second sweater. You will experience a lack of deck space which means you will be forced to do a short fishing trip. That is not a bad thing at all since you can come back on another day.

One way or the other, you’re going to have to decide between a short and long kayak. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. Long kayaks tend to last longer but you will have a hard time maneuvering around it. Meanwhile, short kayaks are easy to maneuver but it is slower. You can choose something in the middle like a kayak that is between 10 to 13 feet.

Kayaks are known for being a great workout for your upper body. Now, there are many types of kayaks that come out where you don’t need to use your arms to paddle. There is the pedal kayak where you will need to pedal for it to move. It is very similar to a stationary bike so it is good exercise for your lower body. Also, there is the motorized kayak where you use a motor similar to a motorboat. For this type, you just need to sit back and relax.

Why use a kayak for fishing?

It won’t matter what type of fish you are aiming for, using a kayak is the best option. It takes a lot of time to adjust to it but it is worth it as a kayak has been used for fishing purposes for many years. If you use a kayak, you will burn even more calories because you will paddle it to your preferred position.

The first advantage of using a kayak is you can say goodbye to worrying about your boat breaking down in the middle of nowhere. You will rarely need to have a kayak repaired because it is sturdy. Another benefit is being able to sneak your way into the fishes’ territory without them hardly noticing. Thus, you will be able to catch your preferred fishes with ease.

There are some areas that are not allowed for boats to wander. Good thing, that won’t be the case for kayaks as you won’t find much signs that say kayaks are not allowed. Another advantage is that it does not make use of a motor so it is environmentally friendly. In addition, a kayak can easily be customized to your preferred design.

What are the safety gears needed for a kayak trip?

Just when you are excited for your next kayak trip, there is a chance it will be a disastrous one if you were not able to bring safety gear. One item you must bring is a whistle in case you get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Of course, you should also bring a first aid kit since you never know when you may cut yourself.

Another thing you must bring is a flashlight so you can see when it gets dark. In addition, you must bring sun protection clothing so you won’t suffer from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Last but not the least, you must bring flares so you can signal your friends in case you get tired to paddle your kayak.

What are the best kayak fishing accessories?

It is essential to put kayak fishing accessories in your kayak. Otherwise, what will you do out there? The first one is definitely a paddle for you to go in the right direction while in the kayak. It would be best to invest in a durable paddle so you won’t have to worry about buying another one for a long time.

The next item to keep in mind would be rod holders so you will have an easy time fishing. The type of rod you select will completely depend on your reel type. The best option would be to go for high profile brands. After all, they made a name for themselves by manufacturing great products.

Seats

If you’re planning a long fishing trip, it is important for the seats to be very comfortable. The kayak may come with seats but they may cause lower back pain. You can always upgrade to more comfortable seats.

Paddle Leashes

The paddle is the most important part of the kayak. Thus, you can’t afford to lose them in the sea. To prevent that from happening, purchases leashes for paddles.

Anchor

When you want to fish at a certain point in the sea, you must throw away your anchor. Thus, this is one item you really need. Of course, you will need a trolley system to go along with it as it should be attached to the kayak.

Cooler

The fishing trip will get exciting when you bring a cooler with you. There is nothing like relaxing out in the water while drinking a cold soda. It would be a great idea to buy a cooler that has a lot of space so you can store a lot of drinks and food in it.

Tackle storage and organization

You’ll need to have a box where you will store all your accessories. This is not an easy task as you will definitely need a lot of things. Good thing, there are tactics you can imply so that a lot of things can fit in your storage.

Dry bag

This is where you must store all your personal belongings especially mobile phones. You never when they’re going to get wet. After all, accidents can happen and keeping your electronics unprotected is a very big risk. Thus, you must put all your belongings in it so you won’t have to go home worrying whether your electronics are still working.

Kayak cart

It can difficult to get your kayak to the ocean from your vehicle. This is what a kayak car is for. It is like carrying a disabled person from a point to another point. Once it served its purpose, you will probably forget all about it. Of course, you will need it again to carry the kayak from the ocean back to your vehicle.

Drift chute

The purpose of a drift chute is to slow down the speed of your kayak. It is like stepping on the breaks halfway when you’re driving a car. There are many reasons to slow down your boat. You may be arriving to your fishing point or you’re near the shore.

Fish Finder

How great would it be if you have your very own fish finder? This gadget will make it easy for you to find the fishes you’re looking for. Most are equipped with a GPS which would make it even easier. You will now know where to head in order to find the fishes you’re looking for. This gadget is very useful as you will be able to save a lot of time.

The best places to go for Kayak Fishing

You can’t just pick a random lake to go kayak fishing. If you do that, you may not be able to catch anything. Good thing, using a kayak allows you to fish just about anywhere. It won’t matter what type of water is there. You just need to bring the necessary fishing accessories and you’re good to go.

It is definitely better to fish in Stillwater compared to moving water. You may have a hard time catching fish when you fish at water with a current. It would be best to start at freshwater lakes are they’re full of fish species. Different rivers in the United States contain different species so that would depend on what specie you are hunting for. In fact, that is part of the challenge.

It would be a splendid idea to look at reviews on the Internet made by fishermen about the places to fish. Good thing, there are a lot of reviewers on the Internet who are unbiased in their reviews. They really take the time to make reviews based on their experiences. They even point out all the good and bad points about each fishing spot to let everybody know. Thus, you will be very confident in making your decision.

In conclusion, kayak fishing is here to stay. The sport will only get even more popular as time passes by. If it is not known in all countries, it will definitely be in the future. In fact, it does not even take long to learn it. Don’t be surprised when you decide to go kayak fishing and there are a lot of people already at the lake. Once you’ve decided to become a kayak angler, we hope you learned a lot in our guide. We are very confident you will have a fantastic start and that’s already have the success.

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