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LIP GRIPPER


A HYBRID KAYAK RIGGED WITH A COUPLE DRY BAGS AND A BOX OF TACKLE IS EASY TO TOW


WHILE WADING UPSTREAM. PHOTO: MIKE CLINE


11 River Rules [TACTICS]


FISHING THE LAST MILE FIRST


KAYAK ANGLERS GO AGAINST THE GRAIN TO BEAT THE CROWD


I


t’s a beautiful Saturday morning at the height of Montana’s trout sea- son. Hordes of anglers are gearing up to float one of the state’s most productive and popular sections of water. I’m getting ready to launch my kayak on the same river. However, I’m all alone. Where are the crowds? I’ve left them far behind. When fishing a swiftly flowing river, the usual strategy is to launch at a public access point and drift down- stream to the next public access point. But I’ve discovered a way to beat the crowds. I launch my kayak at the take-out and then wade and paddle upriver. This way I beat the crowds and fish the last mile first. When deciding where to fish, I first


choose a launch that is five to 10 miles downstream from the next ac- cess point. This way, I know I won’t see other anglers floating through until at least mid-day.


Since I will be paddling and wading


up river, it is important to keep rigging and gear to a minimum. A 12-foot hy-


38…KAYAK ANGLER


brid kayak (I use Native’s Ultimate 12) is ultra-light and allows me to easily en- ter and exit the boat as I go from wad- ing to paddling. I carry a small dry bag for my personal gear and another dry bag holds tackle. I added three Scotty rodholders and affixed a fly patch to the kayak’s deck with superglue. A lightweight carbon fiber paddle gets me where I need to go without adding much weight to my kayak. The most important piece of equipment is a tether that keeps me connected to the kayak as I wade upstream. To make the tether, I use a length of high-quality three- millimeter nylon cordage that is a couple feet longer than my kayak. I attach one end around my waist and the other end is tied to a pad-eye on the bow. Before each trip, I carefully check the tether for weak points. If the life-line breaks, my ride home will be swept downriver. With


the kayak tethered to my


waist, I can wade upstream through riffles and shallow water while pull-


ing the kayak behind me. When I hit deeper water, a river crossing, dead- fall, fence or rockpile, I hop in the kayak and paddle past the obstacle. When I reach fishable water, I exit the kayak and fish upstream on foot. Using this technique, I can travel farther upstream than if I was simply wading on foot. And my kayak acts like a big fishing vest, enabling me to carry several rods and a large selec- tion of tackle. The best part? I don’t usually see other anglers until I’ve already covered the best water. At the end of the day, I jump back in the kayak and quickly float back to the take-out. Fishing up river may take a little more work, but fishing the last mile first can be very productive, even if it is a little lonely.


Mike Cline is a retired U.S. Air Force officer


living in Bozeman, Montana. He has fished the last mile in Montana, Virginia and Alabama with canoes and kayaks since the early ‘90s.


FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES TO SAFELY FISH A SWIFT RIVER


1] Studded wading boots provide the best traction on rocky gravel, slippery mud and rocks.


2] Wear gloves so the tether doesn’t cut into your hands.


3] Hold onto the tether while wading to gain extra stability and better leverage.


4] Don’t drag or force the kayak through obstacles.


5] Always enter the kayak with it facing upstream.


6] Verify the depth of the water with your paddle before getting out to wade. Clear water can be deceptively deep.


7] Exit on the upstream side of the kayak.


8] When ferrying the kayak across the river, head for shallow water where you can get out and rest.


9] Avoid crossing a river up-current of a deadfall or rocks. If you lose power mid-stream, you could be swept into the structure.


10] Always secure all gear to the kayak with a leash. Entering and exiting the kayak and paddling in swift water increases the risk of capsize.


11] When attaching rope to yourself in moving water situations, be sure you have an escape plan that includes a quick-release system.


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