extra tips for the beginner

Kayak Fishing Tips

Kayak fishing is quickly becoming one of the most popular methods for catching fish, and for a lot of good reasons. From being able to move on the water with complete stealth, to being able to load the boat up on the weekend without having to deal with gas and insurance, the reasons that people are picking up kayak fishing are endless. Since there are so many anglers wanting to grab a fishing kayak, and start ripping lips, more and more people are looking for kayak fishing tips to help them have a more successful day on the water. Thankfully, from a seasoned kayak fishermen myself, I have the ultimate kayak fishing tip for you.






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Kayak Fishing Tips - Safety

One of the most important aspects of kayak fishing is staying safe. It doesn't matter if you are fishing on a remote swamp pond, or if you are dealing with the ferocious waves on the big blue, you are going to want to make sure you have the proper safety equipment, and are practicing the best safety techniques at all times. Make sure that you know the safety regulations on the body of water that you intend to fish, as you aren't necessarily required to carry ocean kayak fishing gear while you are fishing on remote farm ponds.
The essential kayak fishing tip for safety is to wear your life vest. You never know what is going to happen, and it will always happen when you least expect it; this is usually when you're not wearing your life vest. You could flip your kayak, and hit your head on a rock, or even be run down by another boater that doesn't see you. A lot of people are going cheap with their fishing kayaks, and one manufacturer in particular uses a shade of green that is completely invisible on the water. For this reason alone, you must make sure you wear your life vest.
If you are planning to be around other boaters on the body of water you are fishing, you are also going to want to rig a bright orange flag, as well as some metallic reflective tape to the flag pole to help other boaters notice you a lot easier. This could mean the difference between life and death, make sure you use it!








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Kayak Fishing Tips - Rigging

Once you have gotten the safety aspect out of the way, and are using your life vest at all times, as well as using a reflective flag pole to alert other boaters of your presence, it is then time to begin rigging your kayak. Some essentials are rod holders, a fishing crate, anchor trolley, paddle leash, and some bottles of water. The water is essential on a hot day, because being out on the reflective surface will drain your body, causing dehydration and headaches unless you are drinking enough water.
Having the rest of the gear, like rod holders, a fishing crate to store your tackle box, and lunch box, as well as an anchor trolley and paddle leash will help you ensure that you have a successful day on the water. These items will help make sure that your gear stays attached to the boat, as well as being properly organized and within reach, should you need to access it quickly.



Kayak Fishing Tips - Gear / Tools

With the safety, and basic rigging out of the way, you are going to want to put a few tools on the boat that are must haves for any fishing trip. These few items will help make sure that you can get yourself out of a pinch, should you find yourself in one. They happen all the time when you load enough gear down onto such a small craft, and then head out for a few miles away from your starting point. Once you get that far, it is up to you to solve any problems, and these few tools will help make sure you can get through them much more quickly.
Lip Grippers - There are a lot of methods for grabbing fish from a kayak, but from personal experience, by far the best kayak fishing tips, is to take a pair of lip grippers with you. I have caught more hooks in my hand than I can count, because of fish being foul hooked, and me reaching down into the water to grab them. Trust me, the hooks are sharp when they are going into your own skin.

Pliers w/ Cutters - For times when you are using braided fishing line, or even heavier pound test line, you are going to want to avoid using your teeth. Having a pair of needle nose pliers, with a sharp cutter on them will help break through this thicker line. The needle nose pliers will also ensure that you are able to remove the hooks from the mouths of toothy fish, without being put at risk.






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Kayak Fishing Tips - Angling

Now that you know what type of gear to load down with you, the next course of action is to figure out how to properly go fishing from a kayak! Because of the extreme light weight of these watercraft, you are going to have to make sure you take a few things into account while you are catching fish.
Casting - When it comes to casting distance, you are going to want to practice your technique for a little while before you begin sight fishing. When you are sight fishing, casting accuracy is key to catching fish, and if you have a bad technique, you are going to end up finishing the day with a goose egg. Casting from a kayak is a lot different than casting from land or a boat, and must be practiced to ensure accuracy.

Setting The Hook - When it comes time to set the hook on a fish you've caught, you are going to want to make sure the nose of your kayak is pointing towards where the fish is at. This is going to allow the energy in your hookset to travel the length of the boat, instead of being dispersed into the water. This one technique provides 100% solid hooksets every time, guaranteed.

Keeping Your Fish - If you are wanting to keep your fish that you catch, you are going to want to make sure that you bring along a cooler packed with ice that you can keep them in. If you don't do this, the sun will bake them, and by the time you get back to the truck at the end of the afternoon, you aren't going to want to eat them. If you are fishing in saltwater, make sure that you properly store the fish, to keep blood from draining into the water. Sharks are easily attracted by fish blood.

Good article, another tip is to bring a sharp knife, and tether it somewhere like on to your belt loop. You never know when you will be in danger and have to cut an anchor line quick. Or you might get somehow tangled in braid or netting and need to act fast.