surferman
02-11-2009, 05:24 PM
Skills: A Paddle Runs Through It
How to fish from your personal watercraft
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2000_5/pics/L-FishSkill.jpg
While it may not offer the same romantic image as Brad Pitt wading the shoreline, fishing from paddlecraft has always been a great way to enjoy the sport. But there are some skills specific to fishing on, rather than in, the water. Here are a few tips to help you track and tackle the big ones.
From a canoe
If you've ever had a fish on the line while sitting in a canoe, you know that landing it can sometimes be a touchy affair. Lines get tangled, hooks catch on sweaters and fish flop around inside the hull.
It doesn't have to be that way. Canoeing and fishing are intertwined with a rich history. This wouldn't be so if the craft didn't perform some fishing function. Whether you're angling for panfish on a private farm pond or tracking bonito in the saltchuck, with a little practice and attention to detail you can turn your canoe into highly effective fishing station.
There are three basic principles to keep in mind when fishing from a canoe: proper storage of tackle, casting methods and appropriate fish handling.
Silence is the golden rule when it comes to fishing from a floating platform. Canoes are no exception. Without making minor modifications, your canoe's hull acts like an amplifier, blasting irritating sound waves toward the fish.
Consider placing a sleeping pad on the floor of your boat. A lightweight, closed-cell foam is an ideal sound-absorbing material. Also, use soft-style tackle boxes instead of metal or hard plastic and suspend any storage containers from your seat or from the thwarts. Lastly, make sure your paddle strokes don't strike glancing blows off the hull.
As for access to gear, try to provide a separate tackle bag for each angler in the boat. Communal items such as a landing net can be centrally located. You also might want to incorporate a quick release system for the net so you don't have to worry about accessing it when the time comes to handle your catch. As for rod storage, most people pin theirs against the wall or put them on the floor. The rod can also be secured and protected by installing a solid foam block over the thwart, with small bungee cords for the tie-downs. The foam blocks also make a superb place to dry your flies or lures.
From a sea kayak or sit-on-top
Fishing from a sea kayak or sit-on-top is a little tougher than fishing from a canoe. Rudders can tangle your line and the low cockpit seating position puts you in an awkward position for casting. But these boats can also put you into some of the best fishing territory around. They're lightweight, highly maneuverable and quiet. If you're serious about fishing, get a wide-beamed boat for extra stability. If your kayak is tippy and you don't want to purchase another one solely for fishing, consider buying a pair of sponsons (inflatable pontoons that attach to the side of the hull) or an outrigger for added stability. If you opt for inflatable sponsons, keep your lure away from them; one errant cast could deflate both the sponsons and your ego.
Most kayakers store their fishing rods by lying them on the bow or stern deck and securing them with elastic (or they use a break-down rod). To organize your gear, wear a chest pack, large-capacity fanny pack or use a deck bag secured across the bow. All of these options give you immediate access to tackle and tools, and none pose a problem with comfort, convenience or paddling technique.
If you're angling for small to medium-sized gamefish, use your boat as part of an effective drag system. Allowing the kayak to be pulled around is not only fun, it helps tire out your quarry and will take some the heat off of your line. With bigger fish, try not to give a broadside profile of your boat to work against. The results could cause you to capsize. Rather, aim the rod straight down the bow, steer with your rudder and let the fish work against a more dynamic drag system.
From a raft or driftboat
Every year, whitewater buffs float over thousands of trout that are off limits to those fishing from shore. And these neglected fish are often bigger and wilder than those in more accessible stretches.
To access these fish you'll usually be in either a raft or a dory. The techniques for reading the river and finding the fish are the same. The main difference is that in a raft it's harder to stand on the spongy floor and you have to be a little more careful with your hooks. Dories are also inherently louder so you have to be more careful when it comes to hitting rocks and climbing around inside. The big plus to dories (or driftboats, as they are often called), other than providing a more stable platform for fishing, is that they are much easier to hold in water than a raft. Because they have more rocker, dories don't sit very deep in the water, making them more maneuverable. But a raft takes a beating better in low water (and won't sink if swamped).
Luckily for whitewater buffs, some of the best fishing occurs after rapids. Big swirling tail-outs below rapids are probably the best bet, as opportunistic trout lay in wait for stunned minnows and bugs after their own run through the rapids. So slide out your rod as you slide out of the rapids and get a line in as soon as you can. Try casting your flies and lures against deep rocky banks, behind boulders and up eddy lines. For fish, these locations provide cover, shelter from the current and easy access to food. Use the eddy current to drift back upstream if a particular eddy line proves productive.
Fishing from a raft can also take the bite out of the flats. Long, slow sections after rapids invoke memories of laborious rowing or paddling into stiff headwinds. It's not so arduous if you're dangling a line. Spinning lures, nymphs and streamers will work, but in many situations, trout will be rising to feed on the surface.
--Hans Berend, Ken Hanley and Tom Bie
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2000_5/article_74.shtml
How to fish from your personal watercraft
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2000_5/pics/L-FishSkill.jpg
While it may not offer the same romantic image as Brad Pitt wading the shoreline, fishing from paddlecraft has always been a great way to enjoy the sport. But there are some skills specific to fishing on, rather than in, the water. Here are a few tips to help you track and tackle the big ones.
From a canoe
If you've ever had a fish on the line while sitting in a canoe, you know that landing it can sometimes be a touchy affair. Lines get tangled, hooks catch on sweaters and fish flop around inside the hull.
It doesn't have to be that way. Canoeing and fishing are intertwined with a rich history. This wouldn't be so if the craft didn't perform some fishing function. Whether you're angling for panfish on a private farm pond or tracking bonito in the saltchuck, with a little practice and attention to detail you can turn your canoe into highly effective fishing station.
There are three basic principles to keep in mind when fishing from a canoe: proper storage of tackle, casting methods and appropriate fish handling.
Silence is the golden rule when it comes to fishing from a floating platform. Canoes are no exception. Without making minor modifications, your canoe's hull acts like an amplifier, blasting irritating sound waves toward the fish.
Consider placing a sleeping pad on the floor of your boat. A lightweight, closed-cell foam is an ideal sound-absorbing material. Also, use soft-style tackle boxes instead of metal or hard plastic and suspend any storage containers from your seat or from the thwarts. Lastly, make sure your paddle strokes don't strike glancing blows off the hull.
As for access to gear, try to provide a separate tackle bag for each angler in the boat. Communal items such as a landing net can be centrally located. You also might want to incorporate a quick release system for the net so you don't have to worry about accessing it when the time comes to handle your catch. As for rod storage, most people pin theirs against the wall or put them on the floor. The rod can also be secured and protected by installing a solid foam block over the thwart, with small bungee cords for the tie-downs. The foam blocks also make a superb place to dry your flies or lures.
From a sea kayak or sit-on-top
Fishing from a sea kayak or sit-on-top is a little tougher than fishing from a canoe. Rudders can tangle your line and the low cockpit seating position puts you in an awkward position for casting. But these boats can also put you into some of the best fishing territory around. They're lightweight, highly maneuverable and quiet. If you're serious about fishing, get a wide-beamed boat for extra stability. If your kayak is tippy and you don't want to purchase another one solely for fishing, consider buying a pair of sponsons (inflatable pontoons that attach to the side of the hull) or an outrigger for added stability. If you opt for inflatable sponsons, keep your lure away from them; one errant cast could deflate both the sponsons and your ego.
Most kayakers store their fishing rods by lying them on the bow or stern deck and securing them with elastic (or they use a break-down rod). To organize your gear, wear a chest pack, large-capacity fanny pack or use a deck bag secured across the bow. All of these options give you immediate access to tackle and tools, and none pose a problem with comfort, convenience or paddling technique.
If you're angling for small to medium-sized gamefish, use your boat as part of an effective drag system. Allowing the kayak to be pulled around is not only fun, it helps tire out your quarry and will take some the heat off of your line. With bigger fish, try not to give a broadside profile of your boat to work against. The results could cause you to capsize. Rather, aim the rod straight down the bow, steer with your rudder and let the fish work against a more dynamic drag system.
From a raft or driftboat
Every year, whitewater buffs float over thousands of trout that are off limits to those fishing from shore. And these neglected fish are often bigger and wilder than those in more accessible stretches.
To access these fish you'll usually be in either a raft or a dory. The techniques for reading the river and finding the fish are the same. The main difference is that in a raft it's harder to stand on the spongy floor and you have to be a little more careful with your hooks. Dories are also inherently louder so you have to be more careful when it comes to hitting rocks and climbing around inside. The big plus to dories (or driftboats, as they are often called), other than providing a more stable platform for fishing, is that they are much easier to hold in water than a raft. Because they have more rocker, dories don't sit very deep in the water, making them more maneuverable. But a raft takes a beating better in low water (and won't sink if swamped).
Luckily for whitewater buffs, some of the best fishing occurs after rapids. Big swirling tail-outs below rapids are probably the best bet, as opportunistic trout lay in wait for stunned minnows and bugs after their own run through the rapids. So slide out your rod as you slide out of the rapids and get a line in as soon as you can. Try casting your flies and lures against deep rocky banks, behind boulders and up eddy lines. For fish, these locations provide cover, shelter from the current and easy access to food. Use the eddy current to drift back upstream if a particular eddy line proves productive.
Fishing from a raft can also take the bite out of the flats. Long, slow sections after rapids invoke memories of laborious rowing or paddling into stiff headwinds. It's not so arduous if you're dangling a line. Spinning lures, nymphs and streamers will work, but in many situations, trout will be rising to feed on the surface.
--Hans Berend, Ken Hanley and Tom Bie
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2000_5/article_74.shtml