RIVER AND CREEK FISHERMAN ?

[Bill Ingersoll]

I was just wondering how many on this board are fishing moving water ? As much as I kayakfish large flat water, I find yakfishing rivers & creeks more fun from a kayaking point of view, less crowded, and many times better fishing.

I like both (flat & moving) but mainly just read about flat water yakfishing,rigging yaks for flatwater, yak reviews for flatwater,etc on these boards.

Lets do a little "yak'en" about moving water now & then (rivers & creeks). Trout, Smallmouth,Pike,Muskie,Walleye,etc. All good fishing, peaceful compared to the all the rec. power boaters etc. on flat water. Enjoy the outdoors.

[Bill Ingersoll]

I was just wondering how many on this board are fishing moving water ? As much as I kayakfish large flat water, I find yakfishing rivers & creeks more fun from a kayaking point of view, less crowded, and many times better fishing.

I like both (flat & moving) but mainly just read about flat water yakfishing,rigging yaks for flatwater, yak reviews for flatwater,etc on these boards.

Lets do a little "yak'en" about moving water now & then (rivers & creeks). Trout, Smallmouth,Pike,Muskie,Walleye,etc. All good fishing, peaceful compared to the all the rec. power boaters etc. on flat water. Enjoy the outdoors.

[JonS]

When I fish freshwater the places I generally go don't have power boats or anyone else in many instances. I like rivers alot too. I don't do it as much but I've hit a few as have others on the forum. We're planning a Delaware float trip next month too.

baja55@optonline.net

[Smalliesmoker]

Bill...unlike most posters to this board, I yakfish only fresh water and most of that time is spent on flowing water. I may one day venture into the salt arena but not with my present kayak. I find the posts on saltwater yakfishing interesting and you can never learn enough on the subject. I have fished Mt. Lake, Merrill Creek and Spruce Run from my yak. I have also fished many non-local big water lakes but nothing is as fulfilling as floating new water or a new stretch of home waters. I am a regular to the Delaware, Lehigh, Susquehanna, and Juniata Rivers. I don't know the feeling of pounding the salt in a yak, so I can't give a fair comparison between the two. I just know the great satisfaction I get from flowing water and freshwater fishing. I'm by no means an expert on yakfishing flowing water but I have floated all of the rivers listed above and know of many nice floats. If you'd ever want to get out on flowing water feel free to e-mail. If you would just need some info for any of these flows, post or e-mail and I'd be glad to share knowledge.........<>< Mike

<>< Mike

[Bill Ingersoll]

Thanks Mike..........B.I.

[Bernie]

Havent fished many different rivers but ive hit the Black and Moose quite a bit near home.Did the Peconic alot back when i lived on LI.They usually are much less crowded than the lakes with easy access/ramps.Thats another nice thing about yak fishin.Much easier getting around in flowing water.Rowing a jon boat up stream is not fun.

[river rat]

I got a couple of 9.5 ft rec kayaks a couple months ago to fish small rivers & creeks. I feel like this will give me a way to enjoy some of the smaller waterways closer to home than some of the larger rivers I have been fishing with small power boat. I have been checking out lots of info on this & other paddling sites looking for tips on rigging & just general info that would speed up the learning curve to get the best of fishing from kayaks. Seems there are a lot of salt water anglers but little info about fishing moving water. So far I've had good success using the yak & flyrod in some local farm ponds. Moving water has some real challenges. There is a wide range of rivers available nearby, most fairly slow moving. Some are good sized with some good wide open stretches & others smaller & twisting & turning with lots of downed trees in them. I'd sure like to hear some tips & share what I'm learning as well with others fishing in moving water.

[pmjasper]

I've fished rivers with my kayak and have gained access to some areas that the shorebound angler could not. The rivers I concentrate most on are the Manasquan and the Passaic, here in NJ. I plan on adding the Delaware to the list next month. Believe it or not, I find one of the most important aspects of river fishing is boat/kayak control. If you are constantly correcting your kayak or drifting through productive holes you're going to limit you catches. Don't be afraid to beach the kayak or drop the anchor and fish for awhile. The kayak gives us access to some great waters but you don't always have to be in the kayak to fish effectively. Use the kayak as a tool to find areas not so easily accessable to the shorebound guys or large boat guys and then stop and fish it thoroughly. I think that is about one of the biggest things I see with river kayak fishermen....they have the mentality that the must constantly drift and blow through productive areas only to drift through more productive areas. If you're on a strict timeframe you can drift and pick up fish here or there. Better yet fish a smaller section and fish more thoroughly and you'll have better river fishing results. I know I stressed this point numerous times but it really is very important when river fishing. In a lake you can paddle back to that productive spot but in a swift moving river, you'll have to hope to find the next good hole after you pass one up.

[river rat]

pmjasper, control is one of the major challenges I was thinking of. My best success on a river has been when I've done as you suggested & actually either tied off or gotten out & fished an area from the bank. I would like to get some ideas on control while drifting as well because sometimes I try to hit a nearby river after work & time is limited. I've read so many cautions against anchoring & even tieing off seems a little risky but most of the waters I'm fishing are pretty slow moving compared to what I envision from many of those post cautioning against these things.
Also considering experimenting with a drift chain.
I guess it will just take some time & experimentation to find what works on different rivers.

[Big D]

Fishing still water from a kayak is fun, but I much prefer a river. I grew up near the Susquehanna in central PA, and have always enjoyed rivers. I've fished from a canoe in the Susquehanna, the New River in VA, and the Shenandoah in VA. I've fished from a kayak in the Potomac River and Goose Creek in VA, and am planning to get to the Shenandoah and trying to convince some folks I know in PA to guide a trip on the Juniata and the Susquehanna a little farther south of where I grew up and have had an offer for the New River for when I can get away long enough to make it down that way. Even if the fish aren't biting, you can count on a great paddle when you're fishing rivers or creeks. Take binoculars, because the bird watching is always terrific!

- Big D

"Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Mark 1:17

[bassmanpete]

Moving water is an awesome place to yak and fish. Sure you can never completely eliminate the danger involved, but there are ways to minimize it. I fish the Potomac, James, Susqy, Shenandoah, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, and other smaller rivers for smallmouth exclusively from a yak. Great fun, good exercise, and great fishing.

I'm no expert, but a few words of advice.

1. Wear a skirt if you fish from a SIK. A yak full of water doesn't manuever very well in rapids.

2. Learn to read moving water. You should be able to recognize the downstream pointing V in a rapid and take that path. Upstream pointing Vs indicate an obstruction in the river. Great to fish around, but not to paddle or float over.

3. Use eddies to fish from. Any obstruction in the water will create a calmer pocket in the river below it. Not totally slack, as the water actually flows in reverse in the eddy, but many times the current in them is significantly less than in the swift chute through the ledge. You can park in an eddy and fish it or other nearby water. Enter these areas at a 45 degree angle to the flow of current. Exit by paddling upstream to build speed, then doing a sweep stroke and turn. Speed helps here.

4. Learn to paddle one handed. Serious smallie fishermen I know can paddle with one hand and fish with the other to hold position in slack water. Anchoring is the other option. Usually in an eddy this is safe, or in deep slow water. If you drop anchor and the rope is throbbing or the yak is moving from side to side, you probably shouldn't be in that spot. A 3LB dumbell is more than sufficient to hold most guys in any place that ought to be used to anchor.

5. If you are really serious about river yak fishing, take a swift water rescue class or whitewater paddling class from an ACA certified instructor. They will cover more than you willl ever need to fish from a rec yak in these classes, but if you ever do have an awkward situation, you will know what to do.

Above all else, if you flip stay upstream of the yak and float through swift water with your feet downstream and up to avoid entrapment in rocks or debris below the surface. Swim to an eddy or slack water and then worry about recovering the boat. Gear comes third.

Bassmanpete

[Ricky]

I watched a 3 foot pike swim under me while kayaking the lower Flathead river. It has also recently turned into a world class small mouth bass fishery. The water is clear and moves right along. The best part is it has been over 80 degrees the last few days !! null

[JonS]

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baja55@optonline.net