G
Gannon
Wanted to start a thread for kayak fishing on the Columbia. Looking for advice on locations, stories, and maybe start getting some people together to go out and fish. Winter Steelhead should be getting good and I should be on the water soon, once I make my new rod holder and find a new anchor.
+1 to what rogerdodger said about NWKA.
FYI, there is a "Inflatables / Kayaks" forum under "Boats and Motors" forum which is under "Fishing in General". Not much action there but it does exist.
I fished the Puget years ago, I'm stoked for the winter steelhead run, got to put some fish on my tag.
just a question about the kayaks, want to do it but hobie is a little out of my price range, question is, is hobie the only company that makes the kayaks with the foot pedals?
hmmm not for mens))
Kayaking in columbia can involve significant risks and hazards, such as collision with power boats, hypothermia and much more.
It can get hairy out there,I recommend at least paddlers have skills in current and waves, know rescues, have a spray skirt, and wet suit or dry suit.
not just the Columbia, have you ever seen the Siuslaw on a weekend day in September?
most fishing kayaks are self draining SOT (sit on top), so spray skirt doesn't apply, but very important is a tall orange ATV flag and since I go out in early low light/foggy conditions, I also have a white LED boat light on the back of mine...and a handheld floating VHF radio is nice to have.
the boat wakes are not a danger on coastal rivers (no barges like the Columbia has) but I have an issue with other boaters that do not know the rules: within 100 feet of an anchored or manually powered boat you are limited to 5mph. so think about the 10 yard markers on a football field, 3 of those get you to almost 100 feet, if you are going to pass within that distance of a kayak/canoe/driftboat using oars, you must slow to 5mph. last I checked the ticket was just over $400 dollars, so worth taking note of. (FYI- the 5mph limit is 200 feet from a swimmer, surfer, wading angler, dock, floating home or boathouse.)...
cheers, roger
within 100 feet of an anchored or manually powered boat you are limited to 5mph.