Kayak fishing

[Noahk]

Has anyone on here tried fishing for steelies or salmon out of a kayak? I’ve fished for trout out of a cheap inflatable kayak a couple of times but I also have a hard shell sit in type boat I’d like to try out for steelhead and salmon. It’s nice and stable and I was going to mount a couple of rod holders on it. I was thinking it would work well to get to areas that aren’t otherwise accessible and then just fish from shore or for the larger rivers that are best fished from a boat rather than shore. If anyone has any experience or advice I’d love to hear some.

 

[The Nothing]

Where you planning on fishing? SIKs can be good fishing craft if you know how to handle it. SOTs are most commonly used for fishing, and I feel that's primarily because most don't know how to handle a kayak

 

[Noahk]

I'm trying to figure out where would be the best place to fish out of it. I'd like to try the Willamette in and around Portland but really I'd be up for just about any where. I'd love to hit the Clackamas, Sandy, Trask, or Wilson but I'm not very familiar with them and I want to make sure I can paddle them safely, especially since I'd be alone. I'd like to do some lake fishing in the summer too. Where do you usually fish? Looks like you have a pretty nice boat there.

 

[The Nothing]

I fish everywhere i can.. all over the coast, Willamette, Columbia, Puget Sound, and lakes. The small rivers are going to be very tough. Larger rivers are generally easier. Trolling the Willamette for springers would be a great introduction

My biggest thing, however, is being dressed for immersion. you'll eventually end up in the water, and you never know when that is going to be. fishing waders and a dry top are sufficient and will keep you alive.

 

[Noahk]

So will the dry top seal well enough around the waders to keep the water out if/when I fall in? Or do you wear a belt also? I also have a wetsuit but I'd much prefer to wear the waders. Do you generally wear a life jacket or just have one in the boat? How much weight do you generally troll? Any suggestion on rod length and action? Thank you very much for all the info!

 

[The Nothing]

I like the added safety of wearing the belt too. The combo works great an will keep you safe. I always wear my vest because you never know what is going to happen. I've been in the water once and it was the result of a rather silly situation.

I troll with my 7'8" mh salmon rod and use however much lead I need to keep on the bottom - usually 5-8oz. In the end it's just like trolling out of a boat

 

[Noahk]

Great, thank you very much for all the advice!

 

[daehleets]

This summer i hope to be saltwater fishin around the newport area out of a yak, anyothers have some pointers as far as brand gear ect?