KAYAK FLY FISHING TIPS

March 15, 2015

Casting from a Seated Position

When casting from a seated position, think in terms of a casting plane that is higher on the back cast than the forward cast.  This helps deal with the possibility of slapping the water on your backcast or snagging the back cast on marsh grass in a small creek.  Slapping the water behind you will reduce line speed and not allow your rod to load to its fullest potential. 

Avoid this by starting your back cast slowly and accelerate smoothly as your line begins to leave the water.  Stop the rod on the back cast earlier than you normally, flipping the line high like flipping pancakes with a spatula.  Maintain a firm wrist and make an abrupt stop on the backcast no further than the two o’clock position.

Before casting, make sure your fly rod tip is in or at the water surface and move your casting arm forward a bit further than you normally would.  Make sure your line is straight.  A fly line without slack means a much more effective casting stroke.

Keep in mind that fly casting from a kayak rocks the kayak, sending out a ripple (pressure wave).  The wave alerts fish to your presence and makes them wary.

Do not rely on power to get more distance.  Removing slack, accelerating smoothly to a stop, and using arm movement efficiently are the secrets to casting distance while seated in a kayak.

Casting from a Standing Position

Casting from a standing position offers a high vantage point to sight fish and locate structure; it also enables one to make longer casts if necessary.  Practice standing under controlled conditions, without your gear.  Once you’ve perfected standing, practice standing and casting – do it in shallow water.  Standing, paddling, and casting will eventually become second nature.

Maintaining an Open/Clean Deck

The cockpit should be free of clutter and objects that can snag line.  Paddles, pedals, rudder controls, tools, etc. will tangle with your line.  Combat this problem as follows:

Clear the deck.That allows you to drop the line between your legs on the deck without snagging anything.

If you cast right-handed, clear the gunnel on the left side of the kayak– no paddle storage on the left; no electronics or rod holders on that side; no anchor trolley; nothing to stick up even slightly to obstruct the line.

If you cannot fit all of the line you retrieve on the deck drop it into the water on the left side of the kayak. The floating line will follow your drift in the kayak.  Sinking line will occasionally go under the boat but usually that is no problem.

When fly fishing from a kayak, keep it simple and bring only your rod, a box of flies you expect to use over the course of the day, a set of clippers, a set of needle nose pliers, and a landing net.

Stripping

Spread your legs to create an area to strip the line; this avoids tangles of the gear around you.  No stripping basket is necessary, just strip the line on your lap making sure you have nothing to catch the line as you cast.  Carry a stripping basket if you want to wade a flat.

Or, strip your line down into the water.  This keeps the line well out of your way, but still gives you access to it – uncoiled – when you’re ready to set the hook.  It also helps to minimize the number of tangles that you get inside of the boat.

Or, see Steve Moore’s Kayak Hack Fly Fishing from a Kayak with tips on fishing in a kayak from a kneeling position using knee pads and creating a stripping basket using a cheap tarp.

When stripping line, hold the reel at about chest level, so you are stripping in a reasonable length of line per strip.

Hook Setting

Use a strip to set your hook, not your rod.  You may use a combo of both, but be heavy on the strip action as it imparts greater force to the line than the fly rod.  When fishing for smaller and more sensitive mouthed fish like trout or sunfish use a rod lift, but larger, harder-mouthed fish like redfish and bass need a good strip set.

Fighting the Fish

Fighting fish with the fly rod from a kayak requires a bit of adjustment.  Don’t strip the fish in, leaving a pile of line of the deck.  Instead, pull in the fish on the reel to avoid tangling a flopping fish in the line. To get a fish on the reel, pinch the line under your middle finger to maintain pressure on the fish, while using your pinkie to keep pressure on the pile of line as you reel it in. Larger fish will take out the entire pile of slack line as they run; your job is just to keep the line flowing through the guides until the fish is on the reel and taking drag.  Remember to keep pressure on the fish.

Keep your rod pulling away from the fish and use the side-to-side fighting technique, pulling in the direction of their tail.  If the fish runs right, pull your rod to your left side so he has to fight the rod, not you.

Anchoring

Bring an anchor, and hook it up to a trolley.  An anchor trolley lets you reposition the boat so you’re always pointed straight at your target, and have the best position for generating the most power on your hookset.

Trolling

Trolling a fly, though not recognized by the IGFA as a way of fly fishing, is a great way to locate fish instead of using a fish finder.  The pace of paddling and the currents created by the kayak cause the fly to move in a seductive way that fish can’t resist.  Troll line using clouser.

Wading

Being seated in your kayak may be stealthier than wading.  A boat drawing only a few inches of water blends well into the surface whereas two feet kicking up bottom may easily spook the fish.  On the other hand, by wading, you are less likely to spook fish by banging the boat and/or creating a ripple (pressure wave). 

Helpful Links

Fly Fishing Tips and Hacks, Steve Moore

Fly Fishing from a Kayak, Greg Bowfish

Kayak Fly Fishing Tips, Joe Mahler

Fly Casting Techniques, Rich Santos

How to Fly Fish for Trophy Fish in Lily Pads, Damon Bungard