by Dan Carns
If you are new to kayak fishing one of the first things you will learn, that all kayakers know, is that you and all your stuff are going to get wet! Try as you may to stay dry, you are surrounded by water, dipping your paddle in the water, dragging lures, bait and hopefully fish into your kayak. Water shoes are a must here in SW Florida as we are surrounded by potential hazards, most notably the oysters that inhabit all saltwater estuaries. I wear quick dry pants and fast drain shoes, as I love to get out of my kayak often to wade fish. Some things can tolerate getting wet while others (smart phone) could be costly if submersed. Saltwater is especially corrosive to virtually everything you bring so special care is needed when youâre done. Everything, including your kayak, all nylon seats, ropes, and all your gear should receive a fresh water flush, including those old sneakers or shoes. One simple mistake I see a lot of people make is putting a wet salty lure back in their tackle box that will later corrode everything it can. Always have a place to put used tackle, rinse it off at home and reload it once itâs dry! Those wells that have hatch covers are never dry, so donât expect anything to remain dry in them, use big Ziplock bags or better yet get a water bag for them. These are the kind that you fold at the top and have a clasp to lock out the water, they come in many sizes and in the event you manage to dunk yourself and your kayak, your valuables will be dry and float.
The biggest issue youâll run into is water, especially saltwater, getting into your fishing reels. As kayak anglers, our gear is particularly exposed to the elements. There is not a lot of room in a kayak and your fishing rods are probably going to be right in your lap, between your legs, while youâre paddling around and water is going to drip off your paddle directly onto your reels. Also, admit it or not, weâve all dipped our reel into the water while untangling the line or some other awkward maneuver. While performance is the primary reason for buying a reel, as a kayak angler you need to take into account how resistant to water intrusion that reel is. There are countless reels to choose from but the best water resistance Iâve found is in the Penn Spinfisher V. While this reel is designed to resist a dunking, some care is needed when youâre finished using it. I use a very light misting of fresh water (not a full-on hosing), spray Reel Magic or another line and reel conditioner after every use, towel dry afterwards!