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Fishing the River


running cold and clean from Oh Be Joyful Valley, and we fished it a lot. And we fished all of it, except one mysterious stretch that left the road and disappeared in deep aspen, then reappeared several miles later near the highway into town. We figured it might be worth investigating


Take it to the River I


LIVED IN THE ROCKIES for a while, and there was a river just out of town called the Slate. The Slate was a good trout stream,


and had a couple of mid-sized fishing kay- aks that we’d brought out with us from the coast. The Slate ran low and chattery when we rolled up our bags and tents in trash bags and pushed off from a forest service camp in the upper Slate River Valley. It turned out to be a great adventure with some of the best dry fly fishing we’d ever seen, proof of the kayak’s potential to access some great fish- ing on remote or overlooked waterways.


CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE So what exactly is river kayak fishing? Not necessarily fishing out of a kayak, but more a style of fishing, a form of fuller, perhaps more grand, fishing experience. In the Pacific Northwest, we use our fishing kayaks on boney high desert rivers in late summer and fall, and we pretty much have the river and the fish to ourselves. In extreme low water, or between sets of un-navigable rapids, the kayak goes where the raft, the dory, some- times even the canoe, cannot.


CHOOSE YOUR BOAT While not designed for running rapids, fish- ing kayaks are generally maneuverable, sta- ble and forgiving. Most quickly self-bail and are easily remounted. They are perfect for a river’s shallow water and tight spaces. Look for a kayak that is stable and easy to get in and out of, and that is short and has a lot of


22… KAYAK ANGLER spring 2008


USE YOUR KAYAK TO FISH REMOTE CREEKS, RIVERS AND STREAMS OTHERS CAN’T. BY ROB LYON


rocker (upward curve in the bow and stern) for maneuverability. Bring along a long float- ing line for both the bow and stern, so you can walk, line or drag your boat around shal- low and rocky sections.


PACK UP Those hatches and tank wells, they’re there for a reason. Fill them up with your camp- ing gear for an overnight float fishing ad- venture. If you pack light, the typical fishing kayak will haul a week’s gear. Rivers put kayak hatches to the test, so pack your gear in drybags or garbage bags inside a nylon stuff sack just in case.


BATTEN DOWN When it comes to outfitting, river kayaks are more a means to get to those out-of-the-way fishing holes than a boat to be tricked out to fish from; too much fancy gear on deck will just get in the way. Since you may have some obstacles to reckon with, take the time to button up the boat. Cinch things up, se- cure loose items on deck and in those tackle trays. Don’t leave your rod sticking up in the holder. Make a rod holder from a PVC tube and lash it to the deck. Break down the rod while it’s still strung up and slip the two seg- ments into the tube, then secure the end with a bungee strap.


DRESS RIGHT On the river you should be dressed for wad- ing at the very least, and in cold or rough waters, for capsize. In hot weather, shorts (nylon or neoprene) might be all you need; in cold weather, waders keep you comfy and ready to fish. Wear a waist belt that you can cinch up when you approach dicey wa- ter. For cold water, a drysuit adds an extra margin of safety.


THE LEAPFROG METHOD:While there are times when we fish out of the boat as we drift downriver, it is more much common to pull ashore and work a drift on foot. To fish downriver, try leap- frogging boats; for example, pull up on a sand bar to work through a fishy looking run downstream. Your buddy, upriver, will pick up your boat when he passes by. Then he’ll drift downriver and leave it at a convenient spot for you, saving you a hike back upstream.


WHITEWATER SAFETY: Whitewater is your friend, the gatekeeper that keeps larger boats out. Set your sights on shallow streams with easy class 1 and 2 whitewater. You can bump down these easy rapids and wade your boat through shallows. Portage anything harder—class 3 and above with rocks, ledges and waves large enough to flip you. Before you go, find out where all the rapids, dams and waterfalls are. Pull ashore in plenty of time to scout anything you’re unsure about. In and around whitewater, wear your PFD and a hel- met, and carry a rope throw bag and a knife. Taking whitewater kayaking and swiftwater rescue courses will help you discover and safely push the limits of where you can and can’t go.


kayakanglermag.com


Go to kayakanglermag.com to see our test of top river-fishing kayaks.


PHOTOS: STEVE THOMSEN


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