Some information for beginners

Kayak fishing interest you ? Here are some precautions and « advice » to avoid some disillusionment or dangerous situations.

First point: the choice of the kayak

It is often a delicate choice.  Indeed, each kayak has advantages and disadvantages and therefore will need to make a compromise with the sea conditions encountered, of the type of fishing, of his fluency in a kayak…

1. SIT or SOT : there are two types of kayak: the SIT (traditional kayaks) and SOT (Sit On Top). The main difference between these two types of kayak is the ease to go back alone in the kayak after a capsizing. Indeed, it is easy to go back alone in a SOT, while back only in a bridged remains sensitive even with training. For a beginner who would like to especially fishing with kayak, a SOT is to reference as first kayak.
2. Stability: it is an important to a fishing kayak.  A stable kayak will be more secure but in general it will be less maneuverable and slower.
3. Manoeuvrability: generally, a short kayak will be more maneuverable than a long kayak.  The need for a manoeuvrable kayak will depend on your type of fishing.
4. Speed: it is more or less important in fonction of distances in one fishing day.

I tried to summarize information in a comparison of several kayak http://pecheenkayak.free.fr/tableaufinal.html . These opinions are subjective. Nothing beats a headwind test.

Fishing kayak equipment

Iit is more necessary to cast away. Therefore, prefer a short rod with a lightweight reel and you can fish a long time without problem. After that, everything will depend on your types of fishing.

I would advise you also to crush the barbs of your hooks (especially your triple). Indeed, to planting a hook with barbed is one thing but the same thing  2 miles away of the coast, is not the same thing. Also, you will limit time when you realease your fish and fish will go water less injured.

Your clothing

How to dress to kayakfishing ? The equipment of kayakfisherman is essential to take pleasure with fishing by kayak.  With good conditions, a shorty and a polar licra is enough but in conditions of mid-season, a long-john (bib neoprene) and a drytop will be the minimum. If you practice diligently and during all the season, waterproof equipment will be very confortable. Also, don’t forget a hat and sunglasses or polarizedglasses .

Your first sortie…

I will insist on a point very important. Please, in your first trip with your new kayak, put water in a calm zone and capsize you voluntarily. Once the water, go back in your kayak, you will see, it is’nt difficult but it must be a minimum of method. And it is better to find this method at 10 m from the edge than in full current 2 miles away…

I also advise you to attach permanently at your rod and your paddle. Also, remember to check weather and tide schedules before leaving for sea. Remember that the wind and the current can make delicate a day of kayak fishing.

Carry his kayak…

It seems not important at the beginning but a material not suitable to transport his kayak on the car and the kayak fishing can transform in bad day. There are a lot of method to transport his kayak with his car: trailer, Gallery, with full of tricks to put his kayak on his roof car.

Then, think a choose a robust trolley, you will find full information on these pages : post carriage.

Guillaume

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