Kayak fishing is an exciting and growing hobby that offers a blend of two already enjoyable activities: fishing and kayaking. However, as with any outdoor hobby, there are certain Do’s and Don’ts to follow that can make the difference between an enjoyable day outdoors and one that makes you wish you had stayed indoors. Particularly since kayak fishing involves water, there are a few more safety concerns to be aware of than with most hobbies. The following guide will help you make the most of your next kayak fishing expedition.
Before you begin any physically demanding exercise program, like kayak fishing, you should make an appointment to see your doctor, just to make sure things are fine in your body. This is especially important to do if you have any known health problems, or even just suspected ones. Kayak fishing is a sport that can be both relaxing and strenuous at once, and you don’t want your body to fall apart while you’re on the water, particularly if it’s a long paddle back to shore.
Be sure to take beginner’s kayak lessons if you plan to start the sport of kayak fishing. You don’t want to have some kind of injury, or even simply discomfort, when you paddle, just because you did not learn a proper paddling stroke, or because you had ill-suited or poorly adjusted equipment. Basic courses don’t take much time to complete, and the prices required for a course will be much cheaper than the potential bills for medical help or equipment repair and replacement should something go wrong.
Remember to Try Before You By, particularly when you want to purchase your first (or any) kayak. It is not a good idea to buy a kayak before paddling it simply because it looked like a good deal, or because the person selling it to you convinced you that he or she had paddled across Lake Michigan on it. If a kayak doesn’t fit you (and kayaks are not one size fits all), it will be the wrong kayak, and no amount of savings can turn the wrong kayak into the right one. Buy right from the start by trying it out in advance.
Similarly, before you buy a kayak for fishing, think carefully about how and when you plan to use it. There are different models, styles, and sizes of kayaks, and they will all handle a little (or significantly) differently. You should have an idea of how different kayaks will perform in the environments in which you intend to use them. This doesn’t mean you should never consider buying a fishing kayak online or used. However, before you do, you should still have some experience piloting several models of kayaks; you would do so for a car, and you should do so for a kayak.
When you do buy your kayak for fishing, be sure to buy one in a bright, florescent color. The best colors are yellows, oranges, and very bright greens. These colors are best because they are most distinct against the water. If at all possible, do not buy a blue or gray kayak; these will blend easily into the water around you. Similarly, a white kayak is not the best choice, as they become difficult to spot once the water begins to chop or spray in higher winds. Your kayak color should not be a fashion statement; think of safety first.
Finally, have fun! Kayak fishing is an enjoyable experience. As you have likely learned if you are interested in kayak fishing, or if you have done so before, there is plenty to learn and plenty of fun to be had for kayak fishers at all levels of proficiency. Keeping the above tips in mind will help ensure you have a fun and enjoyable time out on the water without making some of the more common mistakes made by aspiring kayak fishers.