7 Awesome Kayak Fishing Tips and Hacks All Yak Anglers Must Know

Imagine fishing in the many under-fished waters with your best baitcaster on a kayak! Yep, your kayak lets you access some of the best fishing spots in the remote waters. No wonder fishing off a kayak has become a rage nowadays.

The kayak has played an important role in bringing protein for the Inuit. It was made with a wooden frame covered with sealskin. It had a small hole in the center for the kayaker to sit. The Inuit hunted various sea animals from their kayak.  Today, the kayak has undergone major transformations.

The modern kayaks vary considerably from the traditional ones. The traditional “cockpit” has been replaced with a seat. The seat is important for the modern kayak fisherman. It gives you an elevated area to fish from.

But as many a new kayaker would realize, fishing from a kayak is a different ball game altogether. The narrow strip of a kayak makes fishing challenging. The merest movement could destabilize your boat! But still, it’s well worth learning to fish from a kayak.

Here are 7 Awesome Kayak Fishing Tips and Hacks All Yak Anglers Must Know-

1. Master the one-handed cast

If you are used to fishing from a stable boat or the bank, mastering the one-handed cast will make a world of difference to your kayak fishing. Remember, even the littlest movement you make can wobble your kayak. Even the best and the most stable kayak will not have too much room to allow a two-handed cast!

Experience kayak anglers cast one-handed almost every time with both baitcasters and spinning tackles. So, gear up accordingly. Use lighter combos of rods, jigs, and lures. Fine-tune your fishing tactics to allow for working one-handed from a precarious position.

2. Learn to paddle with one hand

It is always great to have one hand devoted to paddling your kayak and the other, to fishing. All experienced kayak fishermen are good at maneuvering the kayak with a single hand. If you are fighting a fish, it’ll be a good idea to strap the paddle to the forearm with the other hand.

With some practice, you will be able to maneuver the kayak with one hand to avoid obstacles and get into advantageous positions. You will also learn to move the kayak by using the fishing rod as a paddle as you gain more experience.

3. Don’t neglect the feet!

Kayaks are narrow. You’ll be surprised to know that many experienced kayak anglers use their feet to rudders to steer. Your feet also work as a great anchor while fishing in the shallows! You can cling on to a tree stump or a log with your feet. You can use your feet to redirect your boat from a log or that jutting rock while both your hands are busy!

4. Steer by casting

Baits like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits offer some resistance. This can be used to steer your kayak. Your kayak is so light and buoyant that even the resistance due to reeling in will pull your boat towards where you cast! This will give you ample scope to make those subtle movements to position your kayak to where you want it to be.

5. Learn to harness the eddies

Many would avoid eddies while fishing. But your kayak is short and light enough to entirely sit in the eddy! This will prevent the boat from moving downstream. Once there, you can fish in the corresponding current. You don’t even have to paddle when tucked into an eddy or just behind it!  

6. Use an anchor

Many think that an anchor is space-hogging and cumbersome. But it comes into its own, especially in windy conditions. A 2 to 4-pound anchor will hold most kayaks in place and allow you to concentrate solely on fishing. You must be extremely careful while anchoring in a current. Strong current can push your boat underwater.

7. Stick to the shoreline

The shoreline is your friend in windy conditions. Most experienced kayakers hug the shoreline rather than making headway into the wind. The relatively calm conditions near the shoreline will help you do more fishing than paddling.

Parting thoughts

While the above points will give a head start to your kayak angling experience, it is important to fine-tune your paddling skills. You’ll automatically learn the nuances of angling from a kayak the more you do it. Landing the fish- a moment that all anglers cherish is slightly tricky on a kayak.

Get the fish as close as possible while ensuring the line is tight, keep the rod as far away from the fish as possible and use your other hand to net the fish. Even the most experienced kayaker has had his share of thrills and spills. Don’t let that deter you.