I am jealous of beginner anglers. I miss my novice days; every outing was an adventure into the unknown. My first attempts at kayak fishing were gong show affairs with tangled lines and lost paddles.
Eventually I crossed a threshold from I-don’t-know-what-I-don’t-know to realizing all the skills I need to know. The big, wide world of kayak angling became clear, like a fresh wind blowing away the fog, and I realized I had a lot to learn. That’s when the light switch flipped and I was hooked on the sport.
Why Kayak Fishing Is Good for Your Brain
At first look, kayak fishing seems like a simple equation: kayaking + fishing. After years as a fishing guide, I frame the sport as learning + do-it-yourself ingenuity.
Kayak anglers tend towards the do-it-yourself mentality. Way back in the beginning, anglers had to DIY their recreational kayaks into fishing kayaks. Even with today’s decked-out plastic battleships, anglers get creative when customizing their kayaks. No two fishing kayaks are the same.
I still have my original kayak to-do list tacked to my workshop wall. Fish finder, rod holders, tackle storage, lights, cameras: most of the projects are crossed off. But the tinkering never ends.
My latest addition is a SpinRX anchor pulley. By combining the anchor pulley with a swivel clevis link, the SpinRX prevents my anchor line from twisting and tangling. Adding the new gadget makes my fishing experience better and I’m even more excited to go fishing.
People always ask what I like about kayak fishing. I don’t usually tell them the truth, because it sounds lame. But I love learning new things. I read fishing books, scour YouTube, experiment with new tactics, keep notes, rig and re-rig. I study maps and fish-stocking lists, make predictions based on weather charts, and learn new fly tying techniques. I’m always looking for a better way to fish from my kayak.
Does all the effort help me catch more fish? Well, I catch more fish now than I did when I started fishing. But is success measured in the number of fish on my stringer?
Two summers ago, I decided to learn how to cast my fly rod with my left hand. I’m right-handed so relearning to cast was a fascinating exercise. There is a lot going on in a fly cast, with subtle applications of power and sharp stops. After 20 years of burned-in patterns with my right hand, starting over with the left was laughable. I could actually feel parts of my brain working. This is neuroplasticity science in action.
Neuroplasticity says learning a new skill fires connections on the brain superhighway creating new neural pathways that make me smarter and keep my brain young and sharp. When I was a novice kayak angler, everything was new. But after years on the water, kayak fishing allows me to keep learning new things and growing my brain. Will I catch more fish with my bigger brain? That doesn’t really matter, because I will be happier and healthier.
Embrace the learning process. | Feature photo: Barry Beck
