Kayaks and Fly Fishing

Author: Jack Denny

Some things just go together like apple pie and ice cream, it seems like kayaks and fly fishing are just two activities that go hand and hand. Being an inshore fisherman, surf and small boat fishing, I’ve always felt that fishing should be fun and no big production, too much preparation seems too much like work. The tin boat was fun and I caught a lot of fish but I sold it because it took too much time away from fishing. Hauling the boat around meant a trailer and launching somewhere, which would mean lines waiting to load up after a day of fishing at the ramp. As time went by things escalated, there was of course maintenance to be completed after each trip and at year-end winter preparations had to be completed like raising the trailer off the ground and covering the boat. Then there was licensing of the boat and trailer, plus insurance and storage was a big problem.

I sold my tin boat after about 15 years and went back to shore fishing only this time with a fly rod. I was happy to take fish within a few feet of the water’s edge and under the rods of conventional fisherman from time to time. Fly fishing provides thrills even with school size fish. When the bait is tiny and too small for spinning rods, the fly rod is the best way to take fish on an artificial. Yet, there are days when conventional tackle would be the only method of taking fish because breaking fish are just too far offshore to reach by fly. Then there are days when even the best caster can’t reach the fish from shore. Everyone just sits and hopes the fish would move closer. There is a chant we all say out loud…”Just a little closer….just a little closer…come on, you can make it…come on in…”. They’re just had to be ways to get out on the water and take fish yet keep things simple; enter the kayak!

As a personal watercraft, the kayak has fly fishing written all over it: easy to transport, easy to launch, plenty of room to carry gear and then a big plus -almost no maintenance. With a few simple modifications anyone can personalize a kayak to meet their special needs. A rod holder, a compass, lights for night fishing and even a fish finder for finding those hidden reefs or depressions where fish feed during the day. Kayaks have stealth capabilities to sneak up on fish as they crash bait without putting them down unlike powerboats that often do so as they come up to the action. In shallow water you can paddle in and observe stripers feeding right against the shoreline with their backs out of the water.

Freshwater fishermen will find that fish barely know they are around, sometime surfacing right alongside you as you float into quiet waters. With beaches and shorelines receiving more pressure from commercial and private development, access is becoming a problem. The kayak will opened up new fishing grounds that even boats can’t reach because of water depths that are measured in inches; or hazards, like rocks that would rip a fiberglass hull or lower unit to pieces. Back-bays that have no access due to wetland protection or private ownership can be fished with ease. Little creeks that wander back into lagoons where bait can be trapped are fished in peace and quiet often with spectacular results. Nature seems to allow kayaks to move in without alarm; their quiet approach results in viewing birds and animals normally scared off by motorboats. This only adds to the experience of fly fishing…any fishing actually.

Getting started is easy, after your purchase of the kayak and some basic safety gear like a personal floatation devise (PFD), proper clothing for cold water fishing (notice I didn’t say cold weather….always dress for the water!) a whistle and a mirror for signaling you can start fishing right away. There is plenty of help on the web for outfitting your kayak but rod holders seem to be the first stop. Scotty makes a very good rod holder along with RAM and I Fly, all offered through Kayakfishingstuff.com. You can even make your own if you like to create and build your own accessories. No stripping basket is necessary, just strip the line on your lap just making sure you have nothing to catch the line as you cast. Carry a stripping basket just in case you want to get out and wade a flat or special shoreline.

One thing I find handy to have is a lip gripper and there are several on the market made by Berkley, Boga or the new Rapala style. The lip gripper allows for quick hook removal and release, which helps keep the fish’s stress level down and a better chance for recovery. Plus fish with teeth like bluefish, pike and others are kept at a safe distance. Kayaks offer plenty of storage space for a fly rodder, bring along a stripping basket as mentioned above, some drinks in a small cooler, drift sock for slowing down the drift, electronics like GPS or fish finder, sun block and other accessories. 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. I’ve been able to glide right into busting schools of teen sized bass as they herded small bunker into tight pods. Powerboats in the area just put down the fish as they came upon the action but I was able to come within 5 feet of breaking bass without disturbing the school. Bluefish have hit the side of my kayak during a blitz and baitfish sometimes land inside trying to flee from the marauding school of choppers. Kayaks allow for a controlled drift and methodical working of a shoreline without alarming your quarry.

At the end of the trip a kayak can be just hosed off and stored till the next time. Easy to use, safe, stealth capabilities and almost no maintenance make a kayak a great choice for fly rodders. And, FUN…let’s not forget that, kayaks are fun to use, just use a bit of common sense and error on the side of safety always.