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Kayak Fishing Exploration
Floating down a section of river that you have never wet a line in before can be a rewarding kayak fishing experience. Kayaks are the perfect vessel to access some of the most scenic and least pressured waters around. By doing your research ahead of time, you can make sure that you have a safe and productive trip.
Anglers who neglect to do a little research before they launch their kayak may face some challenges. If you bite off more than you can chew, you can find yourself looking for the take out in the dark. You should also know what river hazards or portages are on the float you plan on doing. Once you leave the put in, you have committed to the float, and should be prepared for what lies ahead of you.
An angler who knows where to look has a wealth of information at his or her disposal. Several rivers have been featured in fishing guide books, such as Bruce Ingram’s books, “The James River Guide”, “The New River Guide”, and The “Shenandoah and Rappahannock River Guide”. David Hart’s “Fly Fishing Virginia” is also a great resource for Virginia and some West Virginia waters. For smaller rivers and tributaries of the larger watersheds, look for a paddler’s guide book. In Virginia, the late Roger Corbett authored a comprehensive paddler’s guide book named “Virginia Whitewater”. Edward Gertler has similar books for Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Whether it is a fishing guide book or a paddler’s guide book, it will be able to tell you the access points as well as the distances of available float trips. When fishing a river or stream for the first time, plan a float trip that has the same number of miles as the number of hours you plan on fishing. Once you get to know a section, you can fish it slower or faster, but one mile per hour is a good exploratory speed.
Besides distances and access points, a guide books will tell you if there are any hazards on the float, such as rapids or strainers (for example a tree in the water that can hold you under). You should know your own abilities as a paddler, and choose a float that does not exceed what you can handle. Beginners usually have no trouble with flatwater floats up to Class 1 rapids. For handling Class 2 or greater rapids, consider taking a paddling course to improve your boat handling skills and river safety knowledge. Other good information that guide books provide include gradient (number of feet that a river drops in a mile), points of interest such as local history on the float, and shuttle services available.
An old saying goes, “you can never set your foot in the same river twice”. What it means is that the river is constantly changing depending on recent weather conditions. Even if you plan on floating a section that you have been on before, you may end up on a river that is much swifter than the first time you floated it. By checking the USGS website http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis, you can obtain the real time data on state wide stream flow data. The USGS gauges monitor how high the river is, and how much water is flowing past the gauge. This information can give you an idea of what the river looks like without driving there and looking. Some gauges have guidelines for safe boating. For example, Virginia’s Rappahannock River Fredericksburg Gauge says, “The Friends of the Rappahannock recommend that river levels greater than 3.2 feet at the Fredericksburg gauge are unsafe for recreational use.” These types of statements are useful for exploratory trips, but it’s a good idea to make a record of river levels following each trip. A record of previous levels and the conditions you encountered can aid you in future trips on the same or adjacent sections of that river.
Outfitters and guides can also provide a wealth of information. With a quick phone call, canoe liveries can look out their window and tell you what clarity the river has, or if the river level is at a safe level for a float trip. On smaller waters, it is a good practice to check the gauges on nearby rivers to get an idea of if the section in question is safe for floating. Guides may not be willing to provide specific fishing location information without you booking a trip. However, most guides are familiar with what river levels are good for fishing, and may give you a range of levels that are safe.
Topographical maps, such as the DeLorme’s Atlases available for each state, are essential for exploratory trips. These maps show features such as boat ramps, carry in access points, and all of the roads that can be used for shuttle routes. Some of the dirt roads on the Atlas may not be on less detailed maps. The topographical lines on the maps show changes in elevation. If many lines are close together and cross the river together, expect a major rapid to be there. Besides major rapids, features such as rock bluffs, wide river plains, and rock gardens can be predicted by someone who is familiar with how to read these maps. When looking through the DeLorme’s Atlas, there may be a fish symbol with a number on the water you are researching. Look in the front of the Atlas for a chart that will tell you the species of fish that inhabit the area.
Despite your best efforts to research a float trip for a safe trip, things beyond your control may become a problem. Packing your kayak with a few items will help you in case of an emergency during your float. Almost all whitewater kayakers carry a throw bag. Even if you only plan on floating a section that has a few Class 1 rapids, a throw bag is essential gear. Buy one and become familiar with the technique needed to deliver a rescue line to a paddler in distress.
Even when paddlers wear their life vests at all times, strainers, hydraulics, or boat pinnings can pose a problems. You can learn to handle these emergency situations as well as learn the proper technique for using a throw bag by enrolling in a swift water rescue course. These classes are conducted by the American Canoe Association or different chapters of the Canoe Cruiser’s Association.
Other safety gear that you should have on board include: a dry bag with a spare set of dry clothing, a first aid kit, sunscreen, a spare energy bar, plenty of water, a small flashlight, and a lighter. With these items, you are better equipped to deal with situations such as hypothermia, dehydration, and injury. Cell phones are also good to carry, but may not work in low lying areas such as rivers and streams, so come prepared to deal with the situation yourself.
GPS units have changed the way many outdoor enthusiasts enjoy their hobby. One way kayak anglers can use them is to use waypoints to mark access points. If your take out is marked with a waypoint, you can check your progress throughout the trip. If you are only half way through the float and it is late in the day, you will know that you need to pick up some speed.
Some of the most productive float trips around are those that require planning and effort to complete. It is because these float trips are either overlooked or have difficult or unpublicized access points that they fish so well. Doing some research beforehand makes sure that you do it safely. The research prior to exploring new waters can also yield information that may not be public knowledge. But remember, if you find a gem of a float, you did the work to locate it. Don’t give up that location knowledge easily. If you do, you may be doing even more research to find unpressured waters.
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