Any advice for a newb with a kayak?

[CMJeepster]

Originally Posted by bubbasdad

[LIST=1][*]PFD- ALWAYS on, not worth the risks for some unrestricted movement

This without question!!! Having been a professional high adventure guide with hundreds of yak miles under my PFD, the first thing that always got packed, worn and checked at the start of every day was each persons' PFD. Remember that it needs to be snug so that if you enter the water it won't slip up over your head and float away. (I always wear mine to ensure that someone finds my body should something happen to give my wife piece of mind. Grim, but true.) I don't care how hot it gets, WEAR IT!!!

As for other suggestions:

- Don't put yourself in any compromising situations. Know your abilities and strength / stamina.

- Always tell someone where you're going and approximately how long you plan to be gone, even if you go with a friend. (See recovery of body above.)

- Use a paddle leash to keep the paddle tied to the yak. Having one will improve the odds of recovering should you spill. Swimming a yak to a spot to be able to recover isn't easy or fun.

- If you're on a moving body of water and you spill, keep the yak downstream of you to avoid getting pinched between it and any objects.

- Be prepared to cope with the weather. Wear appropriate clothing, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. Have drinking water with you and maybe a small snack in case you need an energy boost or get stuck somewhere and need to hunker down for a while.

[UglyStick]

I too cannot over stress the importance of a PFD. I use auto inflating PFD's on my big boat in case I ever got thrown at speed but for when I'm fishing my yak I still use an inflatable PFD but a manually activated one. The vest is so thin it you barely know you're wearing it and if you take a casual dump it won't activate but it's there to save your life when and if you need it.

I also 2nd the suggestion of fishing your yak for awhile before you decide where you want to mount rod holders, electronics, etc.

[thyer]

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/...l#incart_river

[UglyStick]

Respect the river...

[mondofish]

Originally Posted by ScowardNJ

Start off with 2 beers on your first trip, then gradually work your way up with experience. Always remember where you parked your car. Some fish have teeth so have a roll of electric tape washing around in the water in your hull to stop the bleeding, duct seal works in a pinch. When you see a boat, flag them down and ask for a tow, it's way easier than paddling. When your ass bone goes numb from sitting too long, its a good time to practice "in water re-entry" to get some sensation back. Avoid dropping pissed off pickerel on the pile of lures laying on the deck between your legs. If your surf launching, bring a helmet for the ride back in when you fail miserably at attempting to ride a wave back into shore and drive your head into the sand bottom in 6" of water. Get cell phone insurance.

That was great lol!

[mondofish]

Thanks all for the advice. PFD has already been purchased and will be on all the time. I plan on fishing Spruce Run and Round Valley on calm days for now. Eventually would like to move up to fishing Raritan Bay. Again thank you.

[phil]

Originally Posted by thyer

There's so much truth to all these replies, even the joking ones. Here's what I've learned over my 10 years kayak fishing. Your 11.5 may be short for bigger water especially salt, be careful in high wind and waves. Wind sucks.

1. Start simple, keep gear to a minimum and learn what works and what doesn't. this also helps a new comer when they dump in the water (keeps gear loss to a min )
2. Start small, small lakes or real slow moving river
3. Get proper sized paddle, for a SOT with 33"beam an adjustable 230-255 is best. To short will result in early fatigue.
4. Buy a fishing PFD to keep the small gear secure and for quick access, pliers, forceps, snap swivels, line nippers.
5. When fishing in cold weather buy dry paddle pants because you will get soaked
6. Not a requirement for all but I find that a rudder is a great addition to a fishing kayak because you can control your direction in most cases when hands are tied up with fishing rod.
7. When approaching your cast point, slow down well before and gently stop kayak with paddle, early on you will find that you run over where you are fishing before you can get a cast or two because of momentum.
8. Practice self rescue. Now this is something that I haven't done myself and with 10 years experience I know that I am due for an unexpected swim one of these days. Go to a boat launch (not during busy time) walk yourself out and practice self rescue, learn what works with your SOT, paddle float, rescue rope (used as a foot step) etc.
9. Don't forget to enjoy yourself.
10(late addition). Don't be afraid to trim down the handles on your fishing rods. When wearing a PFD larger rod handles will hit the vest causing you to have to hold the rod out further resulting in early fatigue. My ultra light and medium rods the handles were fine but my med-heavy rod I trimmed about 2 inches off of the butt section. But again start simple and learn what works and what doesnt for you.

Salt water
Flag kit
Marine Radio
Flare to shoot at boats passing too close, or spare rod with 20ounce weight on it.
Paddle partner
Do not go out in ocean until you are able to paddle 75% power for 30-45mins without break. Endurance is very important. Tides, wind, waves.

all good advice, just to add to that, do yourself a favor and get a hobie if you fish saltwater. as the saying goes, there are 2 kinds of kayak fishermen, those with hobies and those who wish they had bought a hobie

[Ken Lyons]

Hobbies are great in the salt but they can't back up. Fishing bridges or jetties can be problematic. In fresh water you will do a lot of paddling. There are other choices.