Just curious if anyone trolls when they are paddeling and what their setup is? After a season or two of thinking and experimenting, this is what I've come up with. 1. I've found window sash cord to be the best line as it has some stretch in it, and coils nicely on the spray skirt when not deployed. Very supple and doesn't tangle easily. Even with the stretch, I've found that a small length of bungie (3" by 3/16") tied somewhere in the middle of the line takes enough of the shock of a striking fish not to broach me. (You can substitute for this with a low tech slip knot tied somewhere between the cleat and fairlead for shock and strike detection). You may lose fish, but this is a safety consideration for me if something bigger than a barn door hits my lure. These lines are from 30-50 ft. and have 15 lb. monofiliment leaders of 10 ft. or more, with a foot of wire leader ender attached to the mono leader by a swivel. Terminal tackle varies, but is usually the bright, shiny, "candy bar" type of lure with treble hooks. 2. I originally used a fastex buckle system as a quick release (when something hits bigger than you want and starts towing you backwards) but found it didn't release easily under pressure. A cam cleat works better (one of the reasons for using sash cord though it may take some searching to find a cam cleat this small: sash cord is arond 1/8" diamater). 3. The problem with a cam cleat is that a running fish may veer off at an angle, pop the angle of the cam cleat, and your fish and rig are gone. So, I have a fairlead system about 2 ft. back of the cockpit, on the back deck, consisting of a fastex buckle pair to which a sailmakers brass ring has been spliced into with marlin. This fairlead keeps the angle to the cam cleat constant, keeps the line as I'm trolling fairly much on the back deck and not under the stern, and if I do snag onto a tasty prize, once it's played out, I swivel back, grab the line with my right hand, transfer to left, then swivel back and release the buckle. Haul in! This is not perfected yet as the ring tends to droop a bit and when an emergency release of gear is needed, the line goes through with a "ping" as it struggles to exit (I tie an S knot in the boat end of the line to get a grip on it). Something more rigid is certainly called for. But, it works. Sorta. I don't notice any more drag with the sash cord and lure than with a slightly mis-trimmed rudder, and the benefits of having, occasionally, fresh bass on the barbie, just by paddlewing on, outweigh the drag and the snagging of kelp. Any trollers out there?! -Nick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Sorry for the multiple posts....new computer here and lots of bugs to be worked out. Sorry! -Nick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Where are you fishing? What size fish? Have you tried a float on the line? The thought of loosing a fish could make me get real foolish. If the line had a float it might be a little easier to let it go and try to chase it down. All the kayak fishing I've heard of (it's not a common subject) involves various types of rods. I didn't think I'd feel to comfortable fooling with a rod and paddle in a 22 inch wide boat. Duh.............why haven't I thought of or heard of a hand-line? Any other kayak fishers ou there? How do you do it? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Where are you fishing? What size fish? Southern California coastal, usual keepers are 2-3 lbs. > > > Have you tried a float on the line? The thought of loosing a fish could > make me get real foolish. If the line had a float it might be a little > easier to let it go and try to chase it down. > Possibly a float would tire a fish out but even if you could chase it down, but if not, you've created a hazard for propelled watercraft. > > All the kayak fishing I've heard of (it's not a common subject) involves > various types of rods. I didn't think I'd feel to comfortable fooling with > a rod and paddle in a 22 inch wide boat. Duh.............why haven't I > thought of or heard of a hand-line? > I ran into a website awhile back about a magazine called "Kayak Fisherman" but didn't bookmark it. Most of the photos on the site were of rods, lots of folding boats, but some skinny hardshells too, so it is being done. I don't think I try it in my 23", at least not without sponsons. -Nick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sat, 22 Apr 2000, Nick Von Robison wrote: > I ran into a website awhile back about a magazine called "Kayak Fisherman" but > didn't bookmark it. Most of the photos on the site were of rods, lots of > folding boats, but some skinny hardshells too, so it is being done. I don't > think I try it in my 23", at least not without sponsons. I've fished from my wife's nordkapp using a 6 foot spinning rod. I did it as an exercise in can this be done. I paddled into a local bay and just did some casting. Not sure what I would have done if I actually hooked something ;-) The toughest part was her boat has the small ocean cockpit and it was a good trick to access the tackle box in the rear hatch to change lures... Bart Hauthaway has published a bunch of articles about catching striped bass from his kayak, keeper striped bass (36" at the time of the article in Atlantic Coastal Kayaker). kirk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/21/00 9:22:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time, vaughan_at_jps.net writes: << Any other kayak fishers ou there? How do you do it? >> One day I swiped an abandoned "noodle" (cheap, round $.99 float) from the pool at my old apartment, sawed it into 8" lengths and sliced a V shaped notch about an inch down into the center of the sections. Tied some mono on, attached a wire leader with a quick release swivel and voila, nice cheap functional trolling rig. i put it under my deck bungies with the bungy passing through the V part. This is both somewhat shock absorbent and easy to pitch and recover if something big hits. I have used it extensively along the gulf coast but still havent had anything hit. I think I need some more length on the line. It is still exciting to know that you have the potential to catch something while paddlin'. Almost had a heart attack when i paddled through an unsuspecting school of Jack Crevaille at Horn Island this past week. Robin New Orleans. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 06:59 PM 4/21/00 -0700, Nick Von Robison wrote: >Just curious if anyone trolls when they are paddeling and what their >setup is? > >After a season or two of thinking and experimenting, this is what I've >come up with. > >1. I've found window sash cord to be the best line as it has some >stretch in it, and coils nicely on the spray skirt when not deployed. >Very supple and doesn't tangle easily. Even with the stretch, I've >found that a small length of bungie (3" by 3/16") tied somewhere in the >middle of the line takes enough of the shock of a striking fish not to >broach me. You can get some 1/4 rubber tubing that is used as a "shock section" for your trolling line that'll work better. Tie your line to a 3-way brass swivel. You can clip on different lead weights to one section of the swivel to get your lure down to "just the right depth". Tie about six inches of rubber tubing to the other end of the swivel then tie on a few feet of leader, then your lure. I haven't done much trolling from my kayak but when I had a recreational kayak I used it fairly often in the local streams for flyfishing. One of the things I found really useful was a small hand paddle that I took from the plastic oars from a cheap 2 person inflatable boat. The biggest problem flyfishing from a kayak was being blown around in even a small breeze and using the small hand paddle I could manoever around and orient the boat to where I wanted to cast without picking up the kayak paddle. I also found it useful once I had a fish on. During the spring there are some huge carp that come up into the tributaries here. They're a lot of fun to catch on a 5 wt. flyrod. I had one drag me several hundred feet upstream before it finally broke off. I never did see the fish, but I've hooked and landed others in the 10 pound range. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Trolling is fun and rewarding. I've gotten more fish in Baja than anywhere else. We were using Kleppers there, so they were stable and it was easy to take care of the fish as well. Fishing out of my Dawn Treader can be a balancing act, esp. when the line goes under the boat, etc, or gets hooked! Andree Hurley Viewit Dot Com - ICQ# 27469637 Web Sites for Specialty Businesses - http://www.viewit.com/ On Water Sports - http://www.onwatersports.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In years past I used to troll a fair amount for fish but success ruined it for me. 'Twas usually in the context of a trip and the desire to cover some miles that I'd catch a fish and be stuck with a flipping slime package that I'd then have to drag in the water boatside, pin under a deck bungie in the sun, eat on the spot sashimi style, or land and cook right away - all options less than desirable at the time. I used a spool type line holder which I'd attach via quick release elastic to the front deck bungies that provided some "give" response to a striking fish and made it immediately obvious when a fish was on the line. A steel leader helped avoid lost lures but there were times when, lureless, I caught fish on makeshift baits such as a piece of blue rubber band impaled on a bare hook and even on a small seashell fragment with hole that I slipped over two hooks clipped to the same leader so that their points faced opposite. LarryKoenig Baton Rouge,LA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I almost always troll when I go for a paddle. There have been too many times I've paddled over a fish boil and regretted that I hadn't brought my rod/reel with me. I usually keep it simple to enjoy the paddle as well. I troll with a 6 foot rood and reel. The rod butt is held down under the fore deck bungies and the rod lies straight back along the sheer line. I keep the drag set light and the "clicker" turned on. I can then hear a strike or a snag. I tether only the gear I want to keep. This is a little cumbersome, but I've saved my investment many times. I've caught a lot of beautiful calicos and sand bass along the So Cal coast and once I tied into a 30 minute fight with a thresher shark. It was a lot of fun. Take care jim gabriel *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>>Just curious if anyone trolls when they are paddeling and what their setup is?<< You can find my thoughts and technique on fishing from a kayak at; http://members.aol.com/kiayker/fishing.htm Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:13 PDT