In the realm of canoeing and kayaking, the concept of edging is as commonplace as the paddle itself. Yet, its importance is often underestimated, relegated to the subconscious actions of the boater. By focusing our attention on edging, we can not only refine this skill but also harness its full potential. From simple turning to the most complex techniques, edging adds zest to everything. You can literally make you kayak dance to your tune (I mean moves) by practicing this technique. Leaning and Edging – The Difference It is better to get your basics right before trying to master Edging.…
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This is, for some reason, one of the most addicting fishing techniques for inshore fisherman today. Don’t believe me? Just go out to Lake Pontchartrain’s multitude of bridges or the hundreds of rigs in the gulf and you will find two things: those that fish live bait and those that jig artificial. I mean if a guy is willing to put his plastics next to a guy using live bait he must be insane or as I have learned over the years, the thump is mightier than the shrimp. Let’s start by defining deep jigging, it is in my opinion…
Shoal bass are one thing, but shoal bass on the fly is something else. Fly fishing for shoal bass brings forth a different element to shoal bass fishing. It’s like fishing with conventional tackle while blind folded with one arm tied behind your back. The fly rod isn’t the most efficient weapon of choice for shoal bass, but it might be the most heart pounding for an already difficult gamefish. Known for their hard fighting ability and powerful head shakes, shoal bass can tame the heaviest of bass fishing equipment. When fishing for big shoal bass, I go heavy. It’s…
It was windy when we first arrived in Islamorada, but the wind worsened as each day passed. By the third day the wind was too much to attempt to kayak fish so we decided to head elsewhere. After reviewing the wind forecast we decided that heading south would be our best bet to get out of the wind. We had our sites set on a few spots located in and around Sugarloaf Key. On the map there were a lot of mangrove islands around the key and we were hoping one of those spots would give us some fishable water…
Unlike lake fishing, river fishing accesses usually don’t involve double lane concrete boat ramps that are clearly marked on a map with a corresponding letter or number. River accesses take a little more work to find than reaching for the nearest guide map. In order to find river access it takes a little scouting. What is Scouting? Scouting involves doing your homework by researching different areas or different rivers through multiple resources and with your own two eyes. Scouting takes place both at home with books and the internet, and on the river itself. Scouting is a part of river…
Many of us have certain rituals we perform, specific items we take along, or sayings we follow in order to have a successful day on the water. This can range from wearing a lucky clothing item like a hat, shirt, etc. to spitting on your bait to ensure it catches a fish. It can even include a saying “Fish bite least when wind blows from the East, but fish bite best when it blows from the West.” Many of these we hold dear come from our own personal experience. For example, I caught my personal best fish while the wind…
Rivers and streams offer equal opportunity for play and danger. How well you control your kayak determines whether you spend your day in the sunny, warm air or under water in a cool, oxygen-free environment. The first skill you need to master is reading the river. River features are like instructions for disarming a bomb. They’re best read ahead of time. Always be looking a few hundred yards downstream. With technical rapids, scout from shore by starting with your destination and working back, noting hazards and eddys where you will rest and regroup. If a rapid appears beyond your skills,…
Kayak season has finally arrived. The weather is a perfect 70 degrees, a few puffy clouds float lazily in the sky. The water ripples gently in response to the perfect current. Time to launch the season. Are you ready? But what happened? When you sit in the kayak to test your foot pegs, you almost get stuck in the cockpit. Did your kayak shrink? Unlikely. But you got a bit weaker and heavier over the winter. It’s time for some kayak fitness to get yourself in shape for the kayak season, and the best place to start is with strengthening your core.…
As the weather starts to warm up, it’s time to start thinking about what you’ll need to wear when kayaking in colder water. Even though the air temperature may be mild, the water can still be quite chilly, so it’s important to dress appropriately. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best cold water clothing for kayakers and provide some tips on how to stay warm while out on the water. Underwear Wearing the right underwear is important for any activity, but it’s especially important when kayaking in cold water. You want to make sure…
Dry bags are a special type of bag that is designed to keep items dry in water. They can be used for any number of things, including kayaking and canoeing. Dry bags usually come in different sizes, but it makes sense to get one large enough to hold all your valuables. The best way is probably to get several smaller ones since these fit together nicely and make it easier to organize your gear: this also prevents you from having too much space inside the bigger ones and not using them at their full potential. Features to Look for in…