Have Paddle Will Travel

Striper Tackle

2007-03-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

One of the main things that one has to contend with when fishing for striped bass around hydro electric dams is the current. Not only does this effect your boating but also too your choice of lures. Now as a matter of preference I am only going to review the techniques of artificals. There are three main water collums that have to be searched through: top, mid depth and bottom, with mid depth being the trickiest. Another aspect to keep in mind is the size tackle you plan on using, and if for no other reason the size of the lure will ussually call on larger gear. Ussually at least in the meduim to medium heavy class in bait casting and spinning tackle. For sit in kayaks i ussually opt for bait casting over spinning. I find it easier to use in the cramped quarters of a sit in kayak.

Lets start with the top water scenerio, most of this will call on the factors of water clarity, light penetration and wind. On sunny days a sub surface approach may prove more effective that a pure top water approach while on a calm hazy day a Zara spook may be the cats meow. As a rule the more light penetration the less inclined the fish are to strike top water baits, although there are exceptions.

Wind may perhaps lend a factor of its own, on windy days lures like poppers or chuggers may prove less effective than a prop bait like a Devil's Horse. This is because prop bait is better able to simmulate the acticvities of the bait fish. While on a dead calm day a popper may be much more effective.

On those wonderful in-between days try a zara spook type of bait they are known to capture bigger fish. Keep in mind that the best time to fish any lure is when the fish are blitzing.

We will go with mid depth next time.

Winter Kayak Fishing

2007-02-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

During this overly cold time of year those of us in the South still have the advantage of unfrozen lakes, rivers, and creeks to fish. The only problem, however, is that the ever fluctuating water levels occassionally results in unfishable conditions in areas where water is continuosly flowing.

That being said, it is generally best to opt for either patience to wait for the water to stabilize in level or to find an area where the water level is regulated. Now of course, this really depends on where you are fishing. Florida flats anglers, this may not apply to you. But for the rest of us that prefer to pursue various species of bass (largemouth, spotted, and small mouth), one place to look is to the dams in your area.

Often these areas provide great winter habitats in the tail waters for a variety of fish because of the warm water run off from the hydro electric turbines. The water is warmed as it moves through the dam, and when it comes out your left with water that can be up to 20 degrees warmer than the surrounding water. This will help to stimulate algae growth and microbial activity that will attract bait fish in droves! And when that happens the predators will follow in earnest!

The biggest draw to this area that these big predators have is in the massive numbers of shad that will flood the area. This will attract every thing from dinner plate crappie to 20+ pound striped bass! Another factor to take into consideration is that these fish (like you and I) will seek the "heater" when its cold outside.

Where do I need to be?
Now the biggest thing to keep in mind is that as a kayaker you must obviously remain in the tail waters below the dam (this is also where the fish are) due to safety. Here, if you are caught in the current it will take you away from the dam to a safer local.

Great, but how am I supposed to fish in that current?
Yes, it is difficult to maintain a decent position in the current below the dam, so my suggestion is this: take a window weight, nine pounds is more than enough, and to that tie a rope and towards the end attach a buoy. This way you can maintain your position by being anchored, and if you lose your anchor, you're only out a few bucks. Due to the fact that there are no cleats on the "anchor" it will generally come out of the rocky bottoms below the dams.

What do I do when a big fish hits?
Well that is the beauty of the buoy! When a large fish strikes, release the anchor rope from your kayak and battle the fish in unabated by you anchor and its line. Once the fish is landed you can return to the buoy and retreive your anchor and resume fishing.

How do I fish there?
Well, that really depends on your style of fishing and is species selective. We'll cover that next time.

Please feel free to add any questions or comments on the material.
Oliver Ridlle

Keep in mind that in under two months ThePatagonian.com will debut and we are still looking for authors for articles in your sport!

Hey! Gotta sec?

2007-02-06T14:36:00.000-08:00

I have just began my journey Kayaking in the past year and the experiences on the water have prompted me to want to create a website for that sport. The kind of web site that encompasses every facet of kayaking from white water to ocean touring.

Personally I fell in love with it on the fishing spectrum and to be honest I have never enjoyed any other type of craft as well as I have the kayak. It lends a sense of adventure to the whole thing. I have been an adament angler for years and the kayak opened whole new doors.

One of the the problems I was presented with when it came to the idea of a web page for kayaking was that I really did not have enough know how to make that dream a reality. So the with that thought in mind, myself and a couple of friends began a journey of creation and with their combined intrest in the areas of Rock climbing and Mountain biking, it was only natural that we begin working together. That being said we began to labor on a site for every individual outdoor sport enthusiast, ThePatagonian was born. In two months we will launch this site ready to be used as a resource for all outdoor enthusiasts. But we had one problem, we had a definate lack of authors to go with the ideas for articles.

Thats where you come in, we need your help, to create this site we need your expertise rather it is begining or expert. Everyone has something to share, eveyone has that question they never asked or that idea they want to share, I am asking you to share it.

I'm Oliver Riddle,
and I'm on a mission!