There are many ways to enjoy the outdoor sport of fishing. You can fish from the shore or a dock, or you can take to the water in a boat. While many types of boats offer specific advantages to anglers, canoes and kayaks have an appeal that motor boats lack. They also require some additional considerations.
Water Safety
Any time you operate a boat, it is important to observe some safety rules. Always wear your personal floatation device, or life jacket, when operating your kayak or canoe. Do not stand up in the boat. If you capsize, stay with your boat until help arrives. Paddle directly into or away from the wakes of larger, faster boats to avoid tipping. Do not operate your boat while under the influence of alcohol.
Equipment
Choose the fishing equipment that is most appropriate for your boat. Kayaks are small and have limited space for rods, tackle and other fishing gear. Consider bait and tackle containers that can be tethered and left to float alongside your stationary boat, which are compact enough to store inside the boat when moving. You do not need a long rod for casting. Instead, bring a small fishing rod and move your boat slowly and gently into close range of the area you will fish. Because kayaks and canoes are lightweight, you will not need a heavy anchor to remain in one spot. On calm waters or under light winds, use a plastic milk jug filled with sand or pebbles, attached by a rope and lowered into the water to anchor your kayak or canoe.
Kayak Guidelines
Kayaks are small and maneuverable, but they can be difficult to balance due to their small size. If you are inexperienced, recruit a partner to fish nearby in another kayak. Eat before kayaking to maintain your energy level and bring drinkable water with you. Paddling a kayak can be physically demanding and you may become tired or dehydrated quickly if you fail to take these precautions.
Canoe Guidelines
An experienced canoeist can pilot a canoe alone, but two people paddling have more control over the boat's speed and handling. The more experienced paddler should take the stern, or rear of the boat, and the less experienced rider should sit in front, at the bow. Pack your equipment evenly throughout the canoe to avoid compromising the boat's balance. Because there is more room for storage in a canoe, you can bring larger rods and wider selections of bait and tackle as well as food and water.
Advantages of Kayaks and Canoes
Because these boats are much more silent than motorboats, they are useful in catching fish that spook easily due to sound, such as bass and northern pike. The small size of a kayak also allows you to reach shoals and calm areas that are partially blocked by rock formations or sand bars. You can also pass through weed beds without any worries of a motor becoming tangled and hindered by weeds.
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