Kayak fishing has always been very popular. Kayak can be used as a boat or any fishing vessels comfortably. What makes them the most popular are their cheap cost and low maintenance.
If you prefer quiet nature while paddling, kayaks are the best option for you. But there is a question that pops up in every paddler’s mind.
Is Fishing In a Kayak Safe?
Well, I would say it is safe if you follow its safety measures. Sounds diplomatic, right? Still, you have to remember that every fishing vessel has both its’ positive and negative sides. You just need to know about them regardless of treating them the same.
So you need to know what type of challenges you can face while fishing in a kayak to avoid any kind of danger in the water. As it is only for a single paddler, it depends only on you how you carry both the kayak along with your fishing activity.
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Challenges you may face while fishing in a kayak:
Paddling:
Well, I know it seems pretty silly but still you should remember that you will be safe unless you lose your paddle. Yeah, that’s true as kayaks won’t give you extra space for storage you got to be careful about your paddle.
You may need to use different methods of paddling while you go fishing. Practising different methods of paddling can ensure your safety in odd situations.
Fishing on a long string:
Sometimes beginner fisher struggles to catch the hooked fish and they create a bigger fuss to get it on the kayak.
If you fish on a long string you are less likely to get the fish without the struggle. You need to reel close to the rod to slack the fish so that you can get it on the kayak.
Weather:
Well, what can be more challenging than disastrous weather? If you have ever gone fishing on bad weather you must know that the water behaves in strange ways on bad weather. You will find yourself completely stunned if you are on the water.
As kayaks are lightly weighted compared to other water vessels, they can be pretty unsafe on bad weather. Make sure to know the weather forecast before leaving for fishing on kayaks.
Fogs, mists or heavy rain can cause you reduced visibility. Even wind can be very dangerous if you don’t have the skill to navigate on changing winds.
Angling nutrition:
Paddling kayak can become very challenging if you don’t have proper angling nutrition. Your energy can be drowned if you take anything that absorbs water from your body such as chips, beef etc.
I know these are the thing that can cheer you up and make your fishing experience more fun, but what will you do if your body does not cooperate with you?
So eat healthy before going on fishing on kayaks.
Choosing clothes:
If you wear something heavy while fishing on kayaks-chances are your kayak will flip. Heavy clothes can make it challenging to manage the kayak. Try to wear something light and normal on the water.
Choosing your clothes according to the water temperature is also important. Cold water requires wet suits whereas in hot weather requires long-sleeved clothes to protect your skin from the sun.
Flipping kayaks:
It is a normal thing when you kayak. Your kayak can flip for various reasons and it is not possible to always avoid flipping especially for beginners. So you need to know what to do if your kayak flips so that you can flip it back when needed.
The best way to deal with it is to flip the kayak purposefully while practising and knowing how to flip it back with hands-on experience.
Keeping safety measures:
You should keep safety measures with you while fishing on kayaks. Kayaks cannot give you enough room for every type of safety equipment that’s why you need to be very tactful while keeping these things. Different water areas will require different types of equipment.
Your weather forecast will also help you know what you need to carry. PFD, knife, VHF radio, first aid box, duct tape, float plan and if possible keeping an extra paddle can give you enough safety.
Lack of practice:
Everything requires a certain amount of practice. Kayaking is not as easy as it seems. You may think that you can fish on boats or other kinds of water vessels then why cannot you do the same with a kayak? Well, the balancing and tactics it requires can only be learned through practice.
Your lack of practice can make it difficult to handle the kayak while you fish.
Also Read: Best Sit On Top Kayak Under $300
Conclusion:
Fishing in a kayak is exciting and fun. Most people threaten their safety by ignoring the basic measures for kayaks. Any challenge while fishing on a kayak can seem simple when you are on the ground, but it can turn into life-threatening cause for your oddity.