By Scott Norton
A new sport in fishing is becoming a staple in Western North Carolina. More and more, you see people fishing from kayaks. Of all the ways to fish, why fish from a kayak?
Let’s start with the different categories of kayaks. You have a sit-on-top or a sit-in kayak. You also have a peddle-driven or basic paddle kayaks. All have different weight capacities and this is where you need to pay attention.
Starting out, if you decide you are going to have a lot of add-ons, you may want to consider a high capacity sit-on kayak. If you are a minimalist and you travel lightly, a sit-in kayak is the one for you. Each one has its own advantages. The sit-on provides ease in getting in and out of the kayak. They are very stable and most, you can stand up in. They hold lots of weight capacity so you can pack lots of gear and tackle for all day trips. The drawback is, they are fairly heavy.
The sit-in kayaks are good for short trips and are easy to carry from vehicle to fishing spot. They take little effort to paddle and are very fast. Sitting in a kayak keeps the sun, wind and rain off your legs. The length is good for tracking straight and the short ones maneuver nicely in tight places. Short ones are great for rivers and long ones are better for lakes or open water.
Okay… Now let’s talk about rigging. All fishing kayaks come with some kind of basic setup, most likely with rod holders. You may have a kayak that has none of these options but you will want to set it up to fish. Lots of products are available on the market at stores like Walmart, Dicks Sporting Goods, Field and Stream and Diamond Brand. Another great place to get ideas and research is YouTube, where product reviews are available on all sorts of kayak related items.
Give a lot of thought to setting up your anchor. You can buy a kit that has everything you need to set up your system, or you can design it with a simple, cheap trip to the hardware store. You’ll find that an anchor is a must for a kayak without a pedal drive. Your hands have to be free to fish and this will remedy the problem.
Now that you have everything ready to go, we need to figure out how you will transport your watercraft. This is what really separates kayaks from boats – the sheer convenience of transport. If you have a car, they have products to mount it to the roof. Trucks are even better. Just throw it in the bed and go. With SUVs, a utility trailer will get the job done or put it on a roof rack. Lots of fishermen find themselves going fishing by themselves, so the ease of transportation will make getting to the water effortless.
When you have reached your destination, make sure you planned ahead and checked the rules and laws for the area you planned to fish. Always keep a PFD or a life jacket and a first-aid kit with your kayak. You will also have state and local licensing to consider as well. All these must be planned ahead so you can enjoy your trip without having to leave when you get there because of poor planning.
Kayak fishing can be very exciting and for the anglers who feel they were born to fish; this sport may be your calling. You can make it to places where boats dare to go and very few people have been, so be adventurous and explore new places. “Having fun” is what this sport is about and now you have the way to take it as far as you can go with it.
Scott Norton Scott Norton is a native to Western North Carolina. Born in Asheville, NC. He is a long time avid hunter, fisherman, and weekend warrior.