LIP GRIPPER [S K I L LS]
WADE YOUR WAY TO WINTER SUCCESS S
MAKE A BIG SPLASH AND HOOF IT FOR MORE HOOK-UPS BY JOHN DONOHUE
ometimes our tricked-out kayaks serve us better as transportation than fishing platforms. In fall, Florida anglers are off of our rides as much as we are on them. Many days we paddle to knee-deep grass flats lit- tered with potholes, then jump off and fish on foot. That’s right, we go wade fishing. Even in water less than waist deep, prep- aration is essential. Follow these tips for a happy off-kayak experience.
GET WET
If the water’s warm, you can wet wade. Slip on board shorts and a pair of booties with firm soles and go.
THE BEST SUIT YOU’LL EVER BUY Once temperatures drop, waders are a must. Stocking foot, breathable models are the best option. Watch out for built-in boots. They run large, risking ridicule when they sink into soft mud and your foot pulls half-
way up the leg. Windmilling your arms only goes so far. Breathable waders help vent steam on days the temperature spikes once the sun is high in the sky.
PACK RAT That kayak is a floating tackle tray yet you’re leaving it behind. Learn to get by with just the tackle you can stuff into a zipper-top plastic bag. Don’t forget a spool of leader material. Watching your buddies slay them as you trudge back to your kayak to retie can severely alter your mood. A pair of pliers with a line cutter is another must. This en- sures a safer and easier release of the fish, as well as the ability to retie without return- ing to your kayak.
MARSH-WALLOW Know the terrain you are dealing with be- fore jumping in. Most Florida inshore waters have fairly easy to navigate bottoms of sand
or harder mud. A few areas—Jacksonville comes to mind—are plagued with soupy-soft marsh mud. On anything other than an oys- ter bar you may end up sinking to your waist. It’s no joke if you are by yourself and the tide is coming in. A quick poke with a stake- out pole should help evaluate the bottom, but seeking a little local information before heading out never hurts.
ON THE STAKEOUT Secure your boat before walking away. A stakeout pole through a scupper hole will staple it in place. If your paddle is not on a leash, strap it down. Chasing your kayak or paddle as it blows across a flat is neither productive nor fun.
JOHN DONOHUE hung up his skates after a 25-year, semi-pro hockey career and since then has been tirelessly fishing the waters of Southwest Florida. When he’s not hoofing it, he’s riding a Hobie.
SKIL LS | FISHING HOLE | FOOD | RIGGING | TACKLE | TACTICS
Hoof n’ hook-up. PHOTOS: DAVID MCCLEAF
www.kayakanglermag.com… 21
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