ThePaddler 64
Lure fishing is easier, both in terms of the actual fishing and in bait collection. It is so easy to set off with a rod and line and a small box containing a selection of lures, circumventing the need for labouring to collect bait or the messy business of putting the worms on the hook – even if they are very effective at procuring fish. As the kayak angling trend continues, the appeal is being discovered by keen coarse anglers and the various technical methods of catching freshwater fish are being employed, even if it means anchoring the kayak from both ends to prevent the kayak from swinging in the wind. Fly fishing is a very popular way of fishing from the kayak in freshwater, trout, pike and perch are the main species targeted, but chubb will also happily take a fly in the summer, as they hide under an overhanging tree or a deep back eddy. Tackle for fly fishing is even more specialised than that for spinning or lure fishing, different tackle is required for pike than for the smaller fish. Using a rod and outfit classed as 10-weight is the responsible way of fishing for pike. They are big fish but are quite delicate and a prolonged fight on light tackle will almost inevitably result in a dead fish, even if it is released seemingly happily, unfortunately the fish often die days later. Using suitable tackle will allow the angler to play the fish harder, get it to hand faster and released with less stress. It is beholden on all anglers, however casual they may be, to have the welfare of the fish as a priority.
It is beholden on all anglers, however casual they may be, to have the
welfare of the fish
as a priority.