Tips for Shallow Water Kayak Fishing

Fishing kayaks work great in almost any conditions, but they really shine in shallow water, because they can get into places power boats can't, and their stealth lets you sneak right up to the fish. Even still, shallow water kayak fishing has its challenges. So in this video, we are going to look at five shallow water kayak fishing tips.

Safety

 First off, a note about safety. Even though the water might only be a few feet deep, you should still wear your life jacket when fishing the shallows, because you're inevitably going to cross channels of deep water. On top of that, you'll have to expect that you'll be exposed to power boats, which move quickly and sometimes unpredictably.

Know the Area

 The second shallow water fishing tip is to know the area and keep navigational tools on hand, like charts, maps, and a GPS unit. Not only will these tools help you to get home at the end of the day, but they're invaluable for coming up with a plan, or identifying key features like deeper channels where the fish will likely be more prevalent.

Sunglasses

 The third tip for shallow water fishing is to have a good pair of polarized sunglasses on hand. Not only will they keep your eyes protected, they make a world of difference when you are trying to see fish below the surface. Standing in your kayak also makes it a lot easier to see fish. And so if this is something you'd like to try, make sure you get a sit-on-top kayak that is designed for stand up fishing. Just keep in mind, standing also increases your profile on the water, which makes you more visible to the fish. Sometimes, if you're dealing with spooky fish, your best option is to sit down, and look, and listen for more subtle signs of their whereabouts.

Anchoring

 The fourth tip, is to use some kind of anchoring device, because one of the biggest challenges you'll face in fishing shallow water is managing your boat position in the wind. Although you can use a traditional anchor and rope, the best shallow water fishing anchor systems are stakeout poles that drive into the ground. Because they're quicker, quieter and easier to manage.

Stealth

 The final shallow water fishing tip is to be as quiet as possible, whether you're paddling or fishing. In particular, any banging against your kayak is sure to spook the fish. As you become a better paddler, you will naturally make less noise. But one of the best things you can do is to place silent traction foam on any part of your kayak that tends to get knocked with your paddle.

So there you have it, five tips to improve your shallow water kayak fishing.