Last winter, I was looking for an inexpensive spinning reel for chasing Stripers on the kayak. By inexpensive, I in no way mean cheap. These reels would be expected to stand up to large fish and salt water fishing from a kayak for at least a few seasons. To fit my requirements, they would need to have a smooth enough drag so the fish can turn and run without pulling hooks, but be stout enough to keep the fish from running back into the rocks.

Have you ever been bewildered by not finding fish where they should be, only to realize later, with a resounding “Duh!” where you went wrong?

GreenFish, the first lifestyle fishing brand dedicated to promoting a lifestyle of sustainable fishing, recently launched a line of apparel for the freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing communities. GreenFish is a business with a philanthropic mission: increase awareness of sustainable fishing techniques among anglers and partner with multiple non-profits that are pro fishing and pro conservation to help them accomplish their goals.

 

The second part of "How to Kayak Fish the Oregon Coast" brings us to Depoe Bay.  DB, as the locals call it, is a small hole cut out of the cliffs, making it the world's smallest navigable harbor. Because DB is so small, and there’s no river feeding into the harbor, it’s easy to drop in a kayak at the $2 boat launch, head through the 50’ x 300’ “hole” and find yourself in the Pacific Ocean without even thinking of dealing with a surf launch. But then the question hits you – How do I fish this place?

Let me introduce you to the Oregon Coast. This had begun as a tutorial on a specific fishing area, but has quickly expanded. This first part is focusing on the gear that we use here in the PacNW when bottom fishing on the coast.  We’re going to be targeting Rockfish, Lingcod, Cabezon and Greenling.  Bottom fishing on the Oregon Coast is an excellent, often fast paced fishery. So let’s get started with the tackle.

Finding fish is one of the most important skills you can have in order to be a successful fisherman. It doesn’t really matter what sort of lure, fly, or bait that you use. If you aren’t on fish, you aren’t going to catch any.
It also is helpful if you know a bit about fish behavior. Understanding fish biology and how water temperature, conditions and tides affect where they live, where you can find them, and what they feed on.

Forrest Short said kayak fishermen who fished this past week in the Chesapeake Bay, the James or the York River were greeted with a heavy dose of Red Tide. That being said, saltwater fishing was very slow, with only a few reports of small croakers and flounder caught. However, on the freshwater side, things could not have been more productive.

Oh thank the good Lord that Spring is here from the Carolina's to the Florida keys.. After a long Winter we can now look forward to Spring, and that means better fishing. As the water and the fish start to warm up the bite gets better by the day. Everything from Redfish in the back country to Tripletail off the beach, the bait shows up in big numbers up and down the coast triggering a non stop feeding frenzy. This is by far the most exciting time of the year to be a YakAngler, the weather gives us days at a time of five knots and less of wind and smooth backwaters as well as the opportunity to launch your Yak from the beach and paddle out past the breakers.

What is Cow Creek you ask? It's that mythical place you tell a buddy you went when you don’t want him to know where you were.

That’s where we went this past Saturday. With the weather the best its been in a very long time, my friend Dave, Buc and Rik headed out of the treacherous launch that is Cow Creek. Only the brave dare launch from there. Once out on the water, Dave took the lead with a nice redfish and trout caught on a Mirrolure Mirromullet.