Getting into kayak fishing? Here are 8 expert tips for success

#6  TROLL AS YOU TRAVEL

I’ve never been a huge fan of trolling, so I was surprised to find it remarkably enjoyable in my kayak. I’m not suggesting you troll exclusively (unless, of course, that’s your jam). Instead, toss out a line any time you’re on the move, but not actively fishing. You never know what might happen. Most kayaks comfortably chug along at two to four miles an hour, which happens to be a pretty good speed range for trolling.

I always troll between fishing spots, usually with diving minnowbaits, since I know how deep they run. I catch a ton of bonus fish doing this, and I learn a lot, too. I’ve caught fish in totally unexpected places, as well as species that weren’t even supposed to be in the lake. Also keep an eye on your sonar. Unlike the powerboats blazing past, you’re moving slow enough to spot details others may miss, such as submerged weeds and uncharted structure.

#7  WORK WITH THE WIND

The most common question I get from novice kayak anglers is how to deal with wind. That’s because if you fight the wind in a kayak, you will always lose. First, if there’s more than a 25-kilometre wind, get off the water—being out there is both unsafe and unpleasant. In moderate winds, however, it’s still possible to effectively fish a weedbed, shoreline or other structure. The trick is simple: cast downwind. To do this, set up so you drift past the spot, leaving your hands free to cast or jig.

If you’ve got a rudder, set it to help control your drift. Even if you need to occasionally pick up the paddle to adjust your direction, you’ll only lose a cast or two. When largemouth fishing, for example, I often drift long sections of shoreline, then troll back to the beginning and do it again. On good days, this can be productive in both directions. You can also use a drift sock to control a long, open-water drift, which is handy for vertical jigging over walleye or lake trout.

The ridiculous and frustrating alternative to this drifting-and-casting technique is to cast, then paddle upwind past the same spot, make a couple of casts, then drift back, and paddle up again, over and over. It’s the angling equivalent of Sisyphus eternally pushing his boulder up the hill.

#8  EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES

Canada is blessed with such a variety of waters and fish that kayak angling opportunities here are as good as—if not better than— anywhere in the world. Every season, I see more and more fishing kayaks on the water, as well as on trailers and car rooftops. Yet, serious sportfishing from a kayak is still pretty new. In a way, we’re all pioneers, pushing the envelope a little, trying our luck with new tactics, places and species. And we definitely haven’t exhausted the possibilities, especially in this vast land. Instead, we keep finding better and better kayak fishing opportunities just around the next headland or river bend. And there are many, many more waiting to be discovered.