Salomone: The kayaking angler

Fly fishers choose from a unique variety of watercraft for their angling adventures.

Rafts and drift boats provide platforms that require a team approach. The choices for the individual angler who wants to embrace a float fishing experience are equally varied. Individual watercrafts are designed for specific applications. Float tubes excel for angling in stillwaters while Water Master one-person rafts perform well when fishing in swiftwater. When it comes down to versatility, a kayak can cover any type of water for fishing.

Kayaks came into the game when I was in my late teens. Paddling a kayak and fishing made me feel swift, sleek and stealthy. I could cover water easily. Casting became second nature. The fish didn’t even know I was there until it was too late. Kayaks gave me and my brothers the ability to push beyond mere panfish. We found Northern pike lurking amongst the lily pads in Wisconsin. There were unreachable largemouth bass in Ohio now within casting distance. And we may have gigged a few frogs along the way, too.

Sitting in the water felt natural to my angling progression. Kayaks possess an undeniable attraction. Relying on muscle, technique and resilience, kayaks are paddle power cool.

There is a learning curve to embrace. Always wearing a lifejacket should go without mention, but it still is a necessity to remind anglers. Kayak angling increases the risks associated with paddle sports. Invest in a quality personal floatation device. Fit is critical to function. An improperly worn lifejacket will not perform as needed.

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Kayaks are relatively inexpensive when compared to other types of watercraft. Used kayaks are regularly listed for sale in the classified ads. But a whitewater rodeo trick boat won’t assist anglers. You’re looking for a more touring style boat with a wide cockpit for access to gear, which has proven desirable in my kayak angling. Sit-on-top kayaks have gained popularity over the years and I use them regularly in Florida. There is a necessity for a bungee cord or something to secure packs, tackle or a small cooler.

Kayaks handle freshwater as easily as saltwater. Traveling throughout the United States has given me a huge amount of opportunities to venture forth with a rod in one hand and a paddle in the other. But understanding the existing hazards steers me away from situations where I may be in harm’s way. For instance, I do not kayak and fish in the freshwater in Florida.

Over the years I have lost both peacock bass and largemouth bass to alligators conditioned to associate a struggling fish with an easy meal. For that reason I do not fish from a kayak in freshwater in Florida. I will use the vessel in brackish, mangrove water but I shy away from the Everglades.

Kayaks have morphed into extravagant angling vessels. One adaptation I have grown fond of is the addition of pedals to a kayak for locomotion. Angling-specific kayaks have incorporated pedal-driven technology. Much like the motion on a bicycle, pedal-driven kayaks free up your hands for fishing while simultaneously maintaining maneuverability. While the majority of my kayak angling has been with a paddle in hand, pedal-driven kayaks have proven to be game changers.

Pedal-driven kayaks increase the cost and begin to eclipse the simple beauty of angling from a kayak. They are considerably heavier to transport. The way I see it, any kayak increases my angling fun factor, pedal or paddle; that goes for stillwaters or flowing waters. When I am traveling, if I can add a kayak into the angling opportunities, even better.

Casting can be a difficult component to conquer. Not many anglers have practiced casting from a flat, sitting position. Stopping your cast near vertical allows the weight of the fly line to load the rod. With some minor adjustments, fly anglers will be casting with proficiency quickly. Kayaks place the cast closer to the water, which gives the low-seated angler the ability to sneak a line under tree branches, beneath docks and through the mangroves.

Kayaks are excellent tools for sliding around Nottingham Lake — with a fly rod in hand for those anglers who want to practice fishing from a kayak.

Freshwater, saltwater, cold water, warm water — any water — is good water for fly fishing from a kayak. The kayaking angler opens up a new facet to a familiar sport.

Michael Salomone moved to the Eagle River valley in 1992. He began guiding fly-fishing professionally in 2002. His freelance writing has been published in magazines and websites including, Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, the Echo website, Vail Valley Anglers and more. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori; two daughters, Emily and Ella; and a brace of yellow Labrador retrievers.