Kayak anglers drift to still waters
CHATTING WITH ROBERTO BRIONES, WHO STARTED KAYAK
ANGLERS ASSOCIATION OF THE OUTAOUAIS
I
t takes only a few minutes to discover why kayak
angling is exploding in popularity.
You dip your paddle into the water and slide almost silently onto a quiet, shallow river flat to begin
casting. The line tightens, slices through the water
across the bow and moments later you hold the
scrappy, chunky fish which inhaled your spinner and jig
combo.
For me, that “quiet, shallow river flat” was along the
Rideau River not far south of downtown Ottawa. It was
early May. The fish was a black crappie (most of the
more-sought-after species were out of season).
Hooked. Not the fish. Me. Along with many, many
others.
Folks like Roberto Briones, who recently formed
the Kayak Anglers Association of the Outaouais. In
two months, its Facebook group swelled to about 100
members … and is still growing.
“First of all it’s a very ecofriendly way of fishing,”
says Briones, who joined the kayak fishing crowd three
years ago. “It’s an affordable way of fishing, and I love
doing it. I switched from a bass boat to a kayak and I
don’t think I am ever going back.
“You don’t have to worry about boat launches,
launching fees – gas for the boat or a towing vehicle.”
This sudden popularity has created a stampede of
companies moving to fill the specialized needs in the
22 | FISH, HUNT RIDE
wake of all those kayaks. From the boats themselves
(both sit-on-top and sit-in styles) to paddles, electronics and a myriad of accessories for fishing decks and
gear racks, outdoors stores and paddle shops are paying lots of attention to kayak anglers.
Obviously, the biggest decision you’ll face is the kayak itself. Most anglers opt for “sit-on-top” ’yaks which
generally offer wider beams (more stability), easier
access, more storage area and the ability to stand up
while casting or scouting the water.
A “sit-in” kayak is generally faster, allowing you to
cover more water with less effort. They offer more
protection from the elements and splashing water – a
big asset if you want to extend your fishing from early
spring to late fall. They also double as a great touring
boat if it won’t always be used for fishing.
Jackson, Wilderness Systems, Old Town and Pelican
offer models at prices ranging from about $600 to well
over $2,000. If you opt for a sit-in model, the respected
Canadian firm Clearwater Designs (it’s just outside Belleville) offers a popular model with a fishing package.
Like any substantial purchase, this one rewards time
spent researching, reading customer reviews and “try
before you buy.”
“Definitely,” says Briones. “You don’t want to end up
spending $1,500 or $2,000 on a kayak that you won’t
feel comfortable fishing out of.” Many smaller stores
DON
WILCOX
www.fishhuntandride.ca