EAST COAST
Striped bass hang in the shadows. PHOTO: KAYAK KEVIN WHITLEY
NIGHT FISHING? LOOK INTO THE LIGHT
Like a moth to a flame, bait and gamefish are attracted to bridge and dock lights after dark. Many times, gamefish will hang in the safety of the shadows waiting for a victim to pass into the light. When targeting these fish, keep the kayak in the dark and present the bait so that it swims naturally through the light. Dark colored lures are best. Always try to match the size and shape of the bait on which the fish are feeding. A slow sinking lure will stay in the kill zone longer. When the water is clear, fluorocarbon leader can make the difference between getting bit and getting skunked. –RIC BURNLEY
WRECK ANCHOR
Fish love structure: prey hide in it and preda- tors hunt around it. To secure the kayak over a wreck, reef or rockpile, use a grappling an- chor built out of coat-hanger wire melted into a lead sinker. There are several ways to build a wreck anchor and several models are avail- able online. Tie the anchor to a 50-foot piece of ¼-inch nylon rope with a bowline knot. To run the line to the bow or stern, rig the kayak with an anchor trolley.
1. Approach the structure by paddling into the wind and current.
2. Paddle past the mark, stop, and drop the anchor. Drift back until the anchor tines lodge into the structure.
3. To secure the kayak to a piling or a dock, paddle past the support and throw the an- chor in front of it. As the kayak drifts back, the line will constrict around the piling.
4. Use the anchor trolley to run the line to the bow or stern. Avoid anchoring in rough water or strong current that could flip a kayak.
5. Once the anchor sticks, pull in line to situ- ate the boat over the reef.
6. Take in line, let out line, or tie the line off to a different point to adjust the position of the kayak.
7. To retrieve the anchor, take in any scope, then pull hard to straighten the anchor tines.
8. Re-bend the wires and drop the anchor on the next spot. –RIC BURNLEY
DIGITAL EXTRA: To watch Kayak Kevin Whitley demonstrate how to use a wreck anchor, go to
www.kayakanglermag.com/0031 or download the Kayak Angler app.
PIMP MY CRATE
Kayak anglers give the milk crate new life. From rod holders and tackle trays to camera mounts and stereo sound, the rigging and stor- age possibilities are limitless. One of the better designs belongs to paddle fishing filmmaker Kayak Kevin Whitley. Whitley starts with a square crate and uses a hack saw to cut six inches off three sides. The fourth, taller side becomes the back of the crate. Kevin uses zip- ties to mount three plastic rod holders inside the back of the crate. On the outside, more
zip-ties lash his video tripod and two more rod holders. The left and right side of the crate host pouches that hold cameras and other gear. On the front of the crate, Kevin affixes a shower radio. The whole unit sits above his tankwell on two ¼-inch steel rods. There’s space below for more stuff or to carry bait. — RIC BURNLEY
2012 SKILLS GUIDE
www.kayakanglermag.com… 43
A wreck anchor keeps an
angler in the rough stuff. PHOTO: RIC BURNLEY
Kayak Kevin’s crate packs
everything but the kitchen sink. PHOTO: KEVIN WHITLEY
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