SUPer DUSTIN DOSKOCIL
Dustin Doskocil is a professional photographer from Austin, Texas. He fishes from his SUP in lakes and backwaters around the Lone Star State.
SKILLS
» Choose a SUP with integrated D-rings or tie-downs. If your SUP doesn’t have these, use an adhesive D-ring or hook available from paddling outfitters.
» Strap down all of your gear with bungees. Leash rods to the board. Leave enough air in a dry bag that it floats.
» Strap a small cooler to the SUP for storage and a convenient seat.
» Before purchasing a SUP, rent a board and a take a lesson. The instructor will teach you how to paddle safely and more efficiently. Also, you can test out the board and your balance before committing to the sport and board.
» Stretch muscles before paddling. This improves power, flexibility and balance.
» In addition to wearing a PFD, SUP anglers should also consider wearing a helmet. Head injuries are common on SUPs, especially in rocky areas.
» Carry an extra fin in case you break one in shallow water.
» Foam core and fiberglass boards are fragile. A polyethylene or inflatable board is better suited for the abuse of kayak fishing.
» To paddle into a headwind, sit cross legged in the middle of the board and choke up on the paddle.
» A fanny pack full of tackle is easy to reach and you won’t lose it if you fall overboard.
58…KAYAK ANGLER
FLATWATER JAMES SPICA JR.
James Spica Jr. fishes over 100 days each year with fly and spinning gear in both fresh and saltwater. He is a graduate student at Emerson College and editor of Michigan Trout Magazine.
FIND CURRENT
To find oxygen and food in a still pond, fish will congregate around any source of current. To find moving water, look for leaves or sticks drifting on the surface or current seams and rips. Creeks, inlets and outlets are also a good place to find moving water in a still pond.
PROBE STRUCTURE
To find structure without a depth finder, look for isolated areas with calm water that might signal a sunken object. Structure can also create current rips on the surface. Look for discolored water or boils that indicate a change in depth. Fish may not want to leave the structure, so tempt them by dropping a jig into the reef and jigging it frantically to imitate a baitfish that realizes it’s in the wrong place.
TOPWATER TIPS
The best times to use a topwater lure is during dawn and dusk or on a cloudy day. This is when fish are more likely to feed on the surface because the glare on the water means they don’t have to worry about being scooped up by a bird of prey. Nighttime is also a great time to work topwater lures, especially in dock lights. Surface lures also make it possible to fish over snaggy, shallow bottom. When working a topwater lure, start by making as little commotion as possible. On the first few retrieves, make short tugs spaced far apart to create small ripples on the surface. If this doesn’t get attention, turn up the volume.
GOING DEEP
On a bright, hot, still day, fish will escape to cooler, darker, deeper holes in the lake. This is a good time to go deep with big-lipped plugs, drop-shots and jigs. Work the lure slowly along the bottom with short hops or jerks. Bright colored lures will get attention in the deep, dark water. Many anglers focus on the structure along the lake bank, but venturing out to the middle of the lake in search of deep-water structure can pay off when the sun is high and the fish are down.
LESS IS MORE
To move quickly and easily between ponds, choose a lightweight kayak with minimal rigging; leave the fishfinder, full-size crate, external rod holders, cooler, quiver of rods and any unnecessary gear at home. I bring a water-resistant backpack with a dry bag inside it, two rods and a small milk crate. Bring a cart to wheel the kayak between ponds. Or, attach a 10-foot section of half-inch rope to the bow to drag the kayak from one impoundment to another. If you can carry your kayak, rods and paddle together, you’re rigged right for pond hopping.
PHOTO: JAMES SPICA JR.
PHOTO: LISA DENSMORE BALLARD
PHOTO: DUSTIN DOSKOCIL
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