Kayak Paddling 101

Kayak paddling can leave you frustrated and exhausted or invigorated after covering a ton of water with little effort. I was like most beginers when I first started to paddle. It took a few classes to teach me the propper technique for kayak paddling. There is your main stroke and several other strokes that I had to learn and practice to become efficient at kayak paddling technique.

The best part is by learning these techniques for kayak paddling you are sure to cover more ground with less effort and look like a pro while doing it.

How to master the main Kayak Paddling Stroke

The main stroke is used about 99% of the time in kayak paddling. I’ve seen some paddlers out on the water working really hard to get nowhere. The biggest mistake I see with kayak paddling technique is the sloppy arms. These paddlers look like there arms are flapping around – both elbows bent. Try these kayak paddling tips:

1. The stroke is more of a push than a pull. You will use less effort concentrating on pushing your arm that is out of the water straight. One arm should be straight and the other bent.
2. Get the paddle in the water as far out ahead of the boat as possible. You are not moving if the paddle is not in the water.
3. Keep a tight core
4. Rotate your body slightly with each stroke so that your arms are not doing all the work.
5. Brace your body with your feet. Put your whole body into each stroke.
6. Hand position should be slightly wider than your shoulders.

The picture above has it all. Good arms and tight core make Kayak Paddling easy

Kayak Paddling 102 – Advanced Strokes

The reach stroke extends your paddle out in a vertical plane making turning easy. To execute this stroke you start the stroke with the paddle as far out in front and away from the boat as possible and pull towards the rear of the boat. This is a good stroke for long turns

The back paddle will turn you quickly while staying in the same spot. To execute this stroke place the paddle blade behind you and close to vertical. Pull forwards on the paddle and you will start to turn.

Feathering is a kayak paddling technique where you set your paddle so the blades offset. To execute a stroke with a feathered paddle you will turn the paddle with your wrists to keep the blade that is out of the water parallel with the water. This kayak paddling technique is great on windy days. You would be surprised to see how much drag the wind will create on the paddle blade.

What about Paddling and SUP?

Many of the kayak paddling techniques apply to paddling and SUP. The only difference is the single blade. The strokes are the same with two hands on the paddle. Keep a tight core and remember the push / pull stroke. Get the paddle in the water as far in front of the board as possible.

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Fishing Tackle can Make you or Break You

This mess looked like the section of my garage floor where I leave all my loose tackle. When I fish tournaments I am fanatical about keep my fishing tackle organized. At the end of the day I well take all the lures and leaders off the rods and make sure they are put away. I leave every rod with a snap swivel on the end. Unfortunately my fishing tackle organization  does not carry over well into my recreational fishing.

Organize your fishing tackle and fishing gear and you wil catch more fish.

I finally stepped on my last lure when I walked out of the garage this morning. After it got stuck on my shoe and I dragged it to the truck I promissed myself that I would organize my fishing tackle. Organized fishing tackle will help you catch more fish. First strip all the rods back to the snap swivel. Whenever I get lazy and leave fishing tackle and lures on my rods I will, against my better judgement, start fishing with them. I know how every day is differnent and your fishing tackle will vary depending on conditions. My Free Guide to Lake Fishing even has a chart to tell you fishing tackle and lures to use in different situations. 

The next step is to organize my boxes. I fish mainly from my SUP and use a fishing crate to hold my fishing tackle. I fish both freshwater, mainly for trout, and saltwater. This leaves me with two entirely different sets of fishing tackle. By cleaning all the rods and cleaning my mess on the floor it saves me money by restocking my boxes. Spending time when you are not on the water organizing your fishing tackle will also give you an idea what needs to be replaced – before you run out on the water.

For a complete list of fishing tackle for fishing for trout from a kayak or SUP check this out.

I work with 3 or 4 plastic boxes. I will use a smaller box for terminal tackle – swivels, snap swivels, hooks and beads. A larger box is used for weights and trolling gear like flashers and dodgers. Then I either use one or two boxes to keep my lures organized. My boxes for lake fishing and saltwater fishing are similar in size. When I want to make a change they take about the same amount of space in my fishing crate.

I know that when I am organized I will fish better. I will take the time and evaluate the water conditions and choose the right tackle and lures.

For a free guide to evaluate lake water conditions check out our quick start guide to lake fishing

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Apps for Fishing and Fly Fishing

My iphone has several apps for fishing on it. I’ve tried many. Of course I’m a sucker for trying free apps for fishing but I usually delete them pretty quickly. The pay for apps for fishing range from .99 to the he Orvis fly fishing app which costs  a hefty $9.99 .

The apps for fishing that I currently have on my phone are:

• WindAlert – Shows the windspeed and direction from searchable locations. Either enter your curent location or where you want to go and the app will display all weather recording stations nearby. It shows current speed and gusts as well as predictions.
• Oakley Surfline accesses wave height and swell for ocean areas. Similar search function to WindAlert. I use this app to get an idea what kind of water conditions I can expect. Valuable on the West Coast where there can be a swell on calm days.
• Fishing Calendar - Giive So-lunar information on a calendar view for specified locations. Page detail shows the minor and major fishing times for the day as well as an oaverall rating. The app has data recording sections for pictures and notes.
• More Apps for Fishing are available at the Itunes store. There are a ton of games but also some apps for fishing.

How to use our Pocket Guides on your Iphone

Each page becomes a High Definition full screen image and best of all you  can zoom in on any part of the page for even better detail.

The First picture is a full page screenshot from my Iphone. The second is a zoomed in version from the same page. The zoom resolution was excellent.

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Lower Scotts Flat Lake is a little know and quiet spot below the better know Scotts Flat Lake.  The lower lake is below the damm and winds downstream for a couple of miles before it ends at its own damm.  It is very scenic with a lot of wildlife.  The lake can be accessed by turning right on Scotts Flat Damm Road.  There are signs that there is no “Scotts Flat Lake Access” and that the road is dangerous.  There is access but the road is dirt for most of the way.  It can be accessed with 2wd vehicles unless the conditions are wet.

There is no trailer access to get anything larger than a very small boat in so it is a perfect spot for kayaks and SUPSs.  The lake is frequented by many float tube fly fishermen. The lake stays quiet with most of the shoreline activity around the dirt ramp.  I will be stocked occasionally but not as regularly as the bigger lakes.

Lower Scotts Flat is one of my favorite summer spots.  I have caught fish on wolly buggers trolled from a fly rod as well as conventional spoons and lures.

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Lower Yuba River Fishing Reports

The Lower Yuba River is a tail water trout fishery.  It starts at the release of Englebright Reservoir and continues downstream.  There is limited access to the catch and release area which is north and east of  Parks Bar Bridge.  The bridge is the best access.  

Flows vary out of the damm and the river is hard to fish above

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Rollins Lake – Trout Fishing

Rollins lake is a good trout fishing lake.  There gets to be a lot of water skiers and boaters in the summer, but the rest of the year is quiet.  

There are 3 access areas.  Greenhorn access is the closest to Grass Valley off Highway 174.  It is a well marked turn.  There is a campground at the end of You Bet Road which is 8 miles on a winding road.  This turnoff is before the Greenhorn access turn.  Orchard Park is near Chicago Park and puts you in near the damm.  There is another access off 174 just outside of Colfax.  All three have campgrounds.

Here is one of my trolling routes starting at Greenhorn access.  It was about a 5 mile paddle.

This lake is at an elevation of 2,100 feet in the Gold Country of the Western Sierra near Grass Valley, California.  The lake has a surface area of 900 acres, with 26 miles of shoreline.  This is a great lake for sailing and water-skiing with many coves and long stretches of open water. Fishing is good from boat or shore for a wide variety of tout and warm water species. Four campgrounds are available, contact information is below.

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Englebright Lake Fishing

Englebright Lake is a great lake for trout fishing. The best times are late fall, winter and early spring.  The lake has a lot of skiers in the summer making it hard to fish.  DFG stocks the lake on a regular basis from the day use area.  The houseboat marina holds a lot of fish after the lake is stocked.

Englebright Lake is nestled in the scenic Sierra foothills east of Marysville. Constructed for the storage of hydraulic gold mining debris, Englebright Dam is a concrete arch structure. It spans 1,142 feet across and is 260 feet high.

The dam is in the steep Yuba River gorge known as the Narrows, holding back a 9-mile long lake with a surface area of 815 acres. The lake is unique in that it offers boat-in camping only.

Englebright is located off highway 20 east of the parks bar bridge.  Turn onto Moody Flat Road and look for a left turn in a few miles.  There is a day use area before you reach Skippers Cove Marina.  The day use area is good for kayaks and SUPs, but it is a long walk up a steep hill for a trailer.  Use Skippers Cove if you have a larger boat.

The marina has several rows of houseboats that hold fish.  Troll up and down the rows and you should hook up.  I have marked fish deep here but any attempt to fish them has resulted in snags on the mooring lines.

I have had good luck on the points across from the marina and trolling parallel to shore.  Here is a common trolling pattern that I will use.

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Mexico Trip 2/2012

Beach camping – SUP – Kayaking – Fishing – Snorkeling In Mexico!!

A Mexico road trip – camping on the beach, paddling my SUP, snorkeling and fishing.  I couldn’t turn that down. I took 9 days off and flew into Puerto Vallarta to met up with some friends that had driven down.  It was great to do it this way as we had all our gear.  I had my fishing and diving stuff as well as my SUP.  Having our own camping, fishing and diving gear allowed us to plan our own adventures and not be subject to tour groups and guides.  It also got us into some smaller and more secluded places that the groups don’t go.  We camped on the beach for 6 of the 9 nights I was there.

 Here is a map of our trip on the west coast of Mexico.

Next stop was Chamela Bay.  We camped at a fish camp off Punta Careyes which is south of the bay on its own cove.  The swell and tidal surge coming into the cove made it hard to paddle.  The next day we headed up to the protected bay and paddled out to one of the islands islands that forms a protective reef.  Snorkeling was fair as the tide was coming in.

Check out the house on the hill in the picture below showing the cove at Punta Careyes.  It has a twin on the point across the way.

We stayed there for two nights and then headed down to La Manzilla.  This was my favorite spot on the trip.  The town is pretty cool and has everything you need – except fishing tackle.  The bay is marginally protected.  There are several good snorkel spots that we found and likely many more in the rock coves.  I paddled every day and fished the beach in the morning.  Fishing was good and we were told it was slow the week we were there.  I caught a large parrot fish off the beach and a 3′ trumpet fish off my SUP.  We took a panga boat trip one morning and landed Jack Crevalle up to 30# and a few small Albecore.   There is a string of campgrounds on the north end of town.  We stayed in a beachfront spot with the yellow bathrooms.

Next was a day trip inland to the capital of Colima.  There is an 11,000 foot active volcano there.  The locals say it burps every couple of weeks.  The top was hidden by clouds when we visited.  Colima is a major busy city I would prefer to stay away from but we needed a bank.  From there we headed to a small authentic town called Camela.  This had a great square with restaurants that keep bringing you food.  Seriously, you sit there and they bring you plate after plate of appetizers. Another small town called Nogueras was a few minutes away and has the Hedalgo Rangel Museum – well worth the stop.

Heading back to Puerto Vallarta we stumbled across a small town called Boca.  It is at the end of the mountain road and the beginning of the Banderas Bay.  We stayed in a private residence here.  The town and views were nice but it is a cruise port spot so very touristy.

After all the talk and worry about crime we say none.  The closest we came to trouble was a group of teenage girls with a rope across the road near some speed bumps (topos).  They would pull up the rope as cars slowed for the bumps and try and sell stuff.  We followed advice and drove during the day only.

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Mexico “Torros”

Panga Trip – February 2012

While down in Mexico we fished a panga out of La Manzilla.  We did a 4 hour trip with our Captain Denardo and Jesus.  It was a slow for the first hour as we trolled the south end of the bay.  After trolling over to the north end we started getting hits of small “torros” which are Jack Crevalle.  They hit hard and are fun to catch.  After boating about 8 of these we hit on a large school and got these 2 big ones that are about 30# each.

The word was the fishing was slow because of low water temperature.  It was overcast most of the week we were there and I think this held down the temps.  The water we were in often holds Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish and Marlin.

We hooked up on several small Albacore as well

We trolled fast with blue and white and pink and red lures.  Rock formations like the ones above held most of the fish although the large Jacks were caught by sighting a school in open water.

I also did some surf fishing and trolled off my paddle board.  Had some small successes including a 3′ trumpet fish off the SUP.

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Catching Fish is on thing – Landing Fish is another

Catching a fish from a small craft is easy compared to landing it. I’ve had many fish from a 20# Mahi Mahi to good sized trout break off at the boat because I either couldn’t land them or didn’t know how.

Landing a fish from a kayak or SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) is challenging. Small boats are inherently unstable. They will tip over at the slightest imbalance. It is important to keep your weight centered throughout the process. You need to learn to use your weight to counter the fish. Be cautious while leaning.

There are three things going on when you are landing a fish: the fish, the rod and the net of gaff. You must synchronize all three to have a successful outcome.

It is awkward to use a long handled net or gaff in a small boat. Too short a handle and you will need to reach for the fish and this will upset your balance. A good compromise is a 12-16″ handle. This will allow you to lean away from the fish while still reaching it. This size will store better and require less leverage to use. A gaff is more appropriate with many saltwater species. Anything with teeth or spiny fins will cut through a net.

When the fish strikes you need to continue to paddle to help set the hook if you are trolling. Once the fish is securely hooked, reel in slowly keeping constant pressure on the line. If slack is allowed the fish can swim off the hook. Keep the drag loose enough so the fish can pull line off if it makes a run. To tight and they will break off.

As the fish is brought to the boat keep about 6′ of line out. This will allow you to raise the rod tip to almost vertical while leaving the fish in the water. You should be able to move the fish around by moving the rod tip.

Get the net ready and switch the rod to the left hand. With the net of gaff in your right hand scoop or gaff the fish. Lean to the side opposite the fish to counterbalance the action of bringing the fish in. Take it slow. Set the rod in a safe place and you can either release your catch or get it into your fish box.

A billy club is effective for the tough fighters. A quick smack and the fish is out. You don’t want an active fish to cut you up while in a vulnerable position. Fish tend to flap and fight more when landed than when they are in the water.

A little caution and organization can make this process go smoothly.

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