TONY LAI
MASTERS T
FLATS
THE BOATS EXPERT ANGLERS USE TO CRUSH FISH ON THE FLATS STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOSE CHAVEZ
he flats: for anglers from coastal Virginia all the way west to Texas, those two simple words conjure a vision of mile after mile of shallow, tidal waters spiked with oyster beds, grass mats, cuts and
passes. And gamefish, perhaps the most perfect on the planet: redfish, trout, snook, tarpon and flounder. They charge in with the changing tides, sometimes patrolling in mere inches of water, always alert to ambush unsuspecting prey. In this arena, the stealthy, go-anywhere kayak is the ultimate fishing
weapon. But what boat is best on the flats? With so many to choose from, there’s no right one. The trick is to match the kayak to the angler’s favored fishing style. What’s your game plan?
STAND AND FIGHT Many flats casters prefer to stand tall while they slowly work their way across a flat. They choose wide platforms that make standing less of a balancing act, allowing the angler to focus on the task at hand, whether it’s poling silently into position, reaching for a rod or making a great lure presentation to a cruising fish. The tradeoff is that these kayaks are slower. They catch more wind and push more water than their sleeker counterparts.
SPEED DEMONS For the power fish crowd, nothing’s better than a boat with get up and go. They are meant to search large bodies of water in a short time. Standing in these narrower platforms requires a well-developed sense of balance. Rather than making an awkward standing cast to spooky fish, hopping off and wading the vast, shallow flats is often the best option. These boats track well and cut through wind and water with ease. Their narrower profiles push less water making them less noticeable in some instances. Due to their longer footprints, accessing equipment can require a bit of stretching but nevertheless they carry everything needed for success.
A FINE FLATS FOURSOME
To get an idea which boats the pros prefer on the flats, Kayak Angler as- sembled an expert, salty crew. These guys are purely partisan, sponsored anglers who are the biggest fans of the brands they represent. It was easy to get them to gush on the particular strengths of their fine rides. It took some doing, but we also got them to reveal how they get around any grudgingly acknowledged disadvantages. This isn’t an exhaustive list; rather, they are examples that get it done on the flats. —Paul Lebowitz
32 …KAYAK ANGLER EARLY SUMMER 2012
This Ocean Kayak pro has decades of experience chasing fish anywhere there’s water. With many tournament wins un- der his belt, including as a kayaker fish- ing against powerboaters, Lai’s angling skills command respect. Lai carries two rods on the flats, a 6-foot, 6-inch G. Loomis medium-fast IMX for the Spook Jr, and a 7-foot medium-fast GL3 for throwing D.O.A. Shad Tails. For reels, Lai prefers Shimano Stradic spinners spooled with 8-pound Power Pro and 20-pound Seguar fluoro- carbon leader.
CAMERON SCHURLKNIGHT This Hobie staffer has been fishing since birth, and the time on the water has paid off. With many major tournament wins, he is always a force to be reckoned with. Schurlknight carries two rods, a 7-foot, 4-inch Shimano Crucial medium-fast for the MirrOlure Little Jon and a 7-foot, 4-inch Shimano Compre medium-fast for the Sebile Stick Shadd. For reels, Schurlknight is another Shimano fan. He uses a Stradic and a Saros 3000, each spooled with 10-pound Power Pro and tipped with 20-pound Seaguar fluorocar- bon leader.
SPENCER GOODWIN This Native Watercraft staffer is a born and raised Floridian who has spent more time fishing a flat than most couch potatoes spend in their living rooms. This investment is the foundation behind his successful tournament record and Tam-
paBayKayakCharters.com guide business. Goodwin carries two TFO tactical
series rods. A 7-foot, 3-inch medium- fast rigged for soft plastics and a 6-foot, 9-inch medium-fast for MirrOlure Mir- rOdines. His go-to reels are Shimano spinners, a CI4 and a Stella paired with 10-pound Suffix braid and 20-pound Seaguar leader.
JASON STOCK
This Wilderness Systems staffer and full time guide has run Jmsnookykayakchar-
ters.com for seven years. Tournament wins… check, TV appearances… check, magazine covers… check. If it involves kayak fishing, Jason has it covered. Like the others, Stock uses two outfits on the flats. His rods are a 6-foot, 6-inch medium-fast St. Croix Legend for cast- ing the Heddon One Knocker Spook and a 7-foot medium-fast St. Croix Legend for finessing the D.O.A. Shad Tail. Both rods are paired with Shimano Stradic spinners spooled with 15-pound Spider- wire Invisi-Braid topped with 20-pound fluorocarbon leader.
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