Rod N Paddle Kayak Fishing

Fish determine their own habitats, making kayak fishing a pursuit that demands unique expertise, and rewards foresight, flexibility, mental clarity, stealth, and patience. The ability to glide quietly through shallow waters, reach secluded spots, stand upright, and paddle silently while executing crucial casts is vital.
I find when kayak fishing that I think more about what I am doing, and instead of just casting around and hoping that something bites, I minimise my casts, pay more attention to my surroundings, looking for tell tale signs and then targetting my casts.
When you get this right, it can be rewarding, and very addictive.
Cast On. Bill Dunn
(Photo credits Jason Shelley)

Many people believe the fish stop biting as winter arrives. Obviously the water tempretures lower, causing the fishes metabolic rates to decrease.
What this means is that as things cool, the fish behavior changes.
The issue tends to be more pronounced in the fresh water systems in NSW and other southern states where Redfin and Golden Perch tend to become much harder to catch, and in the case of the Redin, many believe they either die off, or go some place else.
They don't, they are still there, you just need to rethink how you approach targetting them.
Soft plastics are probably the most versatile lure platform you will find, and ideally suited to encouraging fish to come out and play.
Redfin Perch are relative easy targets, with pretty much any lure during spring, particuarly small models as the sometimes launch into frenzy attacks on almost anything you throw, making you wonder where they went just 6 months later.
Answer is quite simple really, the fish tend to move slower and feed less, so slow down your presentations.
Soft plastics make this real easy to do, simply by going for a lighter jig head, but you can also change the shape of the lure, and even its inherent buoyancy by using a plastic that has a higher salt content. All of these options make it fall through the water slower, giving the fish more time to jump on.
Sometimes thats not enough, slow down your retrieve, and when you think you have slowed the retrieve down, slow it down again - lighten the lure, use longer leaders or straight through mono or fluro, it can all help.
I usually secure the jig head to the line with a loop knott, this gives the lure more freedom of movement, more action and therefore more enticing.
The colour of the lure also makes a difference, start with 3 or 4 natural colours, nothing wacky or fancy.
I also resort to painting jig heads and keeper shafts, usually red, white or black/charcoal. I find that there are days when the colour makes a difference.
In winter I also tend to break out the 'beetle spins', these are jig heads with small blade and swivel attached. The blades jig heads do two things I like, they sink slower than the same weight jig head with no spinner attached, and the blade creates an action and a vibration through the water.
I can not tell you how many people have said to me over the years, that th
ey have never caught a fish on a soft plastic lure.
Once I show them how, soft plastics quickly become integral to their fishing.
So, instead of packing your gear away over winter, don the warmer clothing, head to the lake or river, slow down and learn to feel for those soft ticks on the line, and watch your line for movement, then strike and hold on.
Cast On. Bill

During my travels with my wife through Western Australia's south west region, we have been enjoying the scenic views and local flavors. While on the road, I have occasionally found time to indulge in fishing with my travel rod, but after a 10-day period without any bites, I was starting to wonder - I am now pleased to report a success, which will enable me to return home content. 😁

Following on from my earlier Youtube video that talks about the advantages of fishing structure, this video focuses on the highs, as well as the lows. Click the link here, and please like/dislike comment and share -it all helps. Link 》 https://youtu.be/7XwLzVh-440?si=Z1yJ27Z7nDckarIC

My wife walked into the garage the other day ... the only difference was the 4 kayaks in 'her' carpark spot, I mean, seriously does this really need a discussion.

While it is true that most kayaks will handle heading offshore, just like they will handle a river, lake or creek - mainly because at the end of the day, they all float after all.
What's also true is that they do not do all of those things well. For example, in a small flowing river or creek, a shorter more manoverable paddle kayak is more what you want, and for offshore you want a longer kayak, wether paddle or pedal, and not too wide or it will be barge like in the swells, and not flat bottomed, you want more of a V hull shape - because you will want the directional properties that come with hulls of this nature.
I recently picked up a 2017 Wilderness Systems Fishing Kayaks Thresher 140 (14ft) that had been little used, for less than you would pay for a cheap big box basic kayak.
Wilderness made these things specifically for ocean use, it is laid out for fishing, with mounting and storage options all over it, a large rectangualer centre hatch between your legs, that would take fish, or rods, a very comfortable seat and although lighter than my other yaks, it is still pretty beefy, solid enough to take serious knocks, this is no light weight pretender. It paddles easily in the swells at 6kph, is fast on flat water and capable of long distances at a steady stroke rate, with positive rocker of the hull - making it easier to maneuver those big swells.
Interestingly, a kayak designed for small flowing creeks and rivers would be similar in design, except shorter, a little narrower, less storage and much lighter.
Stroke on 😁 Bill Dunn

A quick grab n go paddle down the end of the street this afternoon, certainly helped clear the brain, oh and I almost forgot, there was also this