Fishing kayaks have a wider beam for stability, and can be traditional or sit-on-top designs. They can be equipped with fishing accessories and safety gear, and are a cost-effective alternative to motorized boats. Kayakers should always wear a personal flotation device for safety.
An angler’s kayak is a type of kayak used for fishing. Generally designed to be used by a single person, most fishing kayaks have a wider beam, the wider side-to-side kayak measurement, than recreational or racing kayaks. This increased width contributes to the stability of the kayak, a critical consideration.
Kayaks were first developed by Arctic people thousands of years ago, and were used for transportation and hunting. Improvements in kayak design over the centuries have been in the area of the materials used; The basic design of the traditional kayak has remained unchanged. The usual position for a kayak paddler is seated in a cockpit with legs extended in front. Traditional kayaks employ a spray canopy that can be adjusted to fit comfortably around the paddler’s waist, keeping the paddler’s cockpit and lower body dry.
A spray rig, especially if it’s adjustable to provide a snug fit, can restrict an angler’s movements, and cockpit-type fishing kayaks are generally designed with much larger openings for ease of movement. Another very popular kayak design is called a “sit on top” (SOT) and does not have a spray deck. The SOT kayak is also very popular for general use, and is essentially a molded paddleboard that the paddler sits on while paddling. Its only real drawback is that it does not protect the paddler or other contents of the kayak from the spray of water that often characterizes the kayak. SOT kayaks designed for fishing often have built-in dry compartments to overcome this drawback.
One of the reasons kayak fishing has become so popular is that while it offers the angler the mobility denied to those who fish from shore, it is not as expensive as fishing with a motorized boat. Kayaks are also much lighter than motor boats and can be launched from shore by just one person. Similarly, an angler’s kayak can be transported in the bed of a pickup truck or mounted on top of a car, eliminating the need for a trailer.
Modern fishing kayaks are generally made of plastics such as polyethylene or fiberglass. Plastics are preferable because they are stronger than fiberglass, especially in a collision or when the keel has scraped underwater obstacles such as rocks or sharp logs. Most angler kayaks are specially equipped with fishing accessories like rod holders and live bait tanks, as well as watertight storage compartments. Some are also equipped with electronic equipment such as fish finders.
However, it is not necessary to purchase a specially equipped angler’s kayak. Handy anglers can install rod holders and guides, as well as stabilizers and other stability devices, themselves. Similarly, accessories like anchors and rudders can be built for a kayak and installed by the angler.
However, some kayak accessories must be purchased. Kayak seats provide critical support, but are difficult to manufacture in a home workshop. Trowels are also generally beyond the purview of most DIYers.
Anglers often prefer to cast while standing, rather than the sitting position required by the kayaker. However, standing in a traditional or SOT kayak drastically changes the center of gravity of the loaded craft and significantly reduces its stability. Many kayak manufacturers offer double-hulled fishing kayak models – these catamaran configurations, which are essentially two kayaks connected together, are much more stable. Another approach to improving a kayak’s stability is to add one or two stabilizers, special rigid flotation devices attached to the sides of the kayak, or leaf springs.
Safety should always be a primary consideration for anyone fishing from a kayak or other personal watercraft. The most important safety piece of equipment for a kayaker is a personal flotation device (PFD). These devices are designed to buoy an adult and work best when actually being used by the kayaker. When disaster strikes and a kayak capsizes, throwing the occupant overboard, there often isn’t time to grab a flotation device that’s sitting in the cockpit. It is absolutely essential that anyone kayaking wears a PFD whenever the boat is in the water.
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