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THE (EVEN MORE) COMPLETE KAYAK ANGLER / / 20 SKILLS EVERY KAYAK FISHERMAN SHOULD KNOW
1» Make a Virtual Downrigger Want to pull tiny jointed floating Rapalas down 10 feet for fall brook trout, or larger spoons to 40, 60 or even 80 feet for big summer lakers? How about running the magic 15- foot contour when mid-summer smal- lies start to move deeper? Use a Fish Seeker (
davisnet.com). Tese inex- pensive devices are essentially a diving wing that pulls lures down to specific depths unreachable by conventional trolling. When a fish hits, they release and flip over to stop diving. To convert your favorite medium- action baitcast outfit into a virtual
downrigger, attach the Fish Seeker to your main line and clamp a line counter onto your rod. A baitcast reel with a clicker helps to control the line feed and keep hands free to paddle. Use mono line to help the diver bounce over obstacles without tripping the release. Use the included chart to set the diver up for the desired depth. Don’t be afraid to bounce bottom. Big fish tend to hit right after the diver bounces bottom. Use a lighter leader than the main line so you don’t lose your Seeker if your lure snags.—Paul Brittain
3» Camp
Out Overnight We’ve all heard, “Take only what you need, nothing you don’t.” Tis is the rule when camping out of a kayak. Don’t forget the water: at least two gallons per day for saltwater trips. Bring canned foods, meats and soups—and Pop Tarts; they have as much energy as a Powerbar and are way cheaper. Take only the fishing
gear you need. Don’t take the cobia rod if you’re targeting trout. Don’t forget a toothbrush and toilet paper to keep both ends clean. Do your homework before you go. Check the tides; you don’t
2» Fly Cast from a Kayak
Fly casting sitting down is challenging. Common problems include slapping the water on your backcast and wrapping line around everything in your kayak. If you’ve been scaring fish rather than catching them, try these tips:
1. USE YOUR SPACE. Being close to the water is not the problem. It’s all about space. Use space more efficiently by keeping the rod tip at the water. Tis helps you start your cast sooner (see photo left), meaning you can stop the rod earlier on your backcast and keep the line from touching the wa- ter. Lean forward and straighten your arm towards the bow on your final few strips before the pickup to add both distance and accuracy.
2. STRIP LESS. Try to make only one backcast for every fishable cast. False casting is fine for getting line out, but once it’s out (unless you’re using sink- ing line) leave it there by only stripping (fishing) a short distance, three or four feet. Ten pick up, make one back cast, and shoot the length you just stripped in. Less stripped line means fewer tangles and your fly will spend more time in the water.
3. LET THE ROD CAST THE LINE. Casting is all about accelerating the rod tip to a stop, not the speed with which you pick up the line. Start your cast very slowly and refrain from moving your wrist until the end of the cast—and even then only slightly. Your elbow and shoulder should only be used to move the rod forwards and back, not change the angle. Turning the rod over early in the casting stroke causes both wind knots and weak casts. Remember, the caster loads the rod and the loaded rod casts the line!—Greg Bowdish
38… KAYAK ANGLER spring 2009
want to paddle into a current after a stormy night and a long day of fishing. Make sure you are paddling to an area that has a camp-able spot with low-tide access. Research maps, charts and Google Earth for a sandy landing. Te last thing you want to do is camp on the marsh. It looks like dry ground but it is a muddy mess. Tere are plenty of threats—
storms, mosquitoes, wild boar, ga- tors and the Deliverance types—but the one troublemaker that is almost guaranteed to cause camping chaos is raccoons. Tese masked bandits will steal everything that is not tied down. In dry areas they will bite your water bottles and drink your supply. Every evening, I mark my territory. Tat’s right. I make a pee barrier around my campsite. Believe me, it works.—Kevin Whitley
4» Fish Like an Olympian Tink you can just jump into a kayak for the first time and cast for several hours and not hurt yourself? Tink again. Like any sport, kayak fishing requires conditioning. To get into shape quickly try simple exercises in and around the house. Do abdominal crunches on the floor. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or run up and down the bleachers at your local school. When picking something up off the floor never bend from the lower back, instead squat. Mow the lawn up a hill. For bicep curls, tricep kickbacks, and front and lateral raises, walk around the house with a dumbbell in each hand. And for cardio, get on a bike, jog around the block or chase your wife around the bedroom! Better yet, just go fishing more often. —Joel Lucks
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PHOTO: KEVIN WHITLEY
PHOTOS: GREG BOWDISH
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