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.…
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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…
Kayak anglers pursuing bass in the Southeast are liable to catch several different species depending on where they are fishing. In my area on the Chattahoochee River we have largemouth, shoal bass, and spotted bass. The spotted bass is a firecracker of a fish that strikes hard, jumps a lot, and is incredibly strong. Spots, as most of us call them, are voracious feeders, and when you catch them they will often have full bellies and be spitting up shad or crawdads as they fight. If an angler is attentive, they will usually notice a group of spots following along…
When the redbud and dogwood trees are in bloom, the striper and hybrid bass run on the Chattahoochee River will be in full swing. Any pile of rocks with current ripping around it will be a likely place to catch them, but areas directly below dams will concentrate fish and anglers. One of the best known of these is between downtown Columbus, GA and Phenix City, AL. Anglers will line the bank on the Alabama side, and be all along the river walk on the Georgia side. Add multiple boats and a sprinkling of kayaks, and it can get pretty…
Most anglers grew up chasing some sort of panfish with a cane pole or rod and reel. Some of us still enjoy chasing a mess of them from time to time. Beautiful colors, fun to fight, and excellent table fare are just a few of the reasons not to neglect these fish. My favorite panfish is the redbreast sunfish. It is a river bream that can be found in deep runs, shallow riffles, and small tributaries all over the Southeast. These territorial sunfish will attack anything that gets near their nesting area, and catching them on bass-sized lures is pretty…
Many kayak anglers head to the Gulf Coast through Alabama or Georgia, and never realize what a special fishery they are passing through. One of the greatest bass species that can tighten a line is only found in the Southeast. The shoal bass, called “shoalies” by those who love them, are beautiful brown bass that will leave an angler weak in the knees. The shoalie loves moving water, and can be found in a foot of water or less much of the time. Rapids do not bother them, and the haunts they frequent would make a rainbow trout proud. They…
Living in the heart of what may be considered the best freshwater fishing on the planet, there are many opportunities throughout the season. They start at ice out sometime in March, and continue to when the water freezes in December. Since I only started fishing seriously just about four years ago, I still have plenty of water and fish to discover in the area. I have selected five specific locations that will give a kayak angler opportunities to catch a wide range of species. Windsor/LaSalle, Detroit River – April/May, October/November Unless you fish the hard water (ice), March can’t come…
My first experience with a sit-on-top kayak was a terrifying one. With no help or information, I bought one on sale at a big box store and headed to the water. It was a 12’model with four scuppers near the bow and two beneath the seat. I was excited as I drove to a neighborhood lake for the maiden voyage. The water was cold and muddy as I readied the kayak for launch. I waded out a few feet and turned to sit down into the seat. This is where things turned from a fun experience to a learning experience.…
Your PFD, Paddle, and kayak are base line essentials for a day on the river. Of course, your PFD should be worn at all times. That goes without saying. I just received some safety data from the American Canoe Association and last year 75% of all canoe and kayak fatalities involved individuals who where not wearing their PFD’s. Remember your PFD cannot save your life if you are sitting on it or have it stowed someplace in your kayak. Ware it zipped and buckled the entire time your on the water… I do. I wanted to take a look atÂ…