I spent my whole life around the water. Before I was out of diapers, my father had me in the boat. When I got married, our first priority was adding a boat to the family. Money was the biggest problem—back then we considered flavored potato chips a luxury.
The solution was a well-used Coleman canoe. The old green rig didn’t require fuel or maintenance and created great family memories.
Sage Advice from a Kayak Fishing Guru
After I graduated from technical school and got a decent job, we upgraded to an Old Town Guide 147. When we added a baby boy to the fleet, I added a snap-in seat to the canoe. Following in Dad’s footsteps, I had Ethan in the boat before he was out of diapers.
By the time he was four years old, Ethan could paddle the canoe by himself. I tied one end of a 50-foot length of rope to the canoe and the other end to a tree and then let Ethan explore the world within the scope of his safety line.
By nine years old, Ethan solo paddled the canoe on a camping trip with friends and I realized he was ready for his own rig.
After searching online, I found a used sit-inside kayak and a cheap paddle. When Ethan hit the water for the first time, he came to life as the captain of his own vessel.
Then my wife Angie took Ethan’s boat for a spin. Lo and behold, she loved it, too. Watching my former canoemates discover the freedom of commanding their own kayaks,
I realized we would soon have a fleet of plastic boats.
After 18 years and dozens of kayaks, I have learned a few lessons. We all start somewhere. Humble beginnings are still beginnings.
First, choosing a kayak can be overwhelming. There are affordable kayaks that will get the job done and the used kayak market is flooded with boats.
Second, do research and test drive a few models. My first kayak purchase was a complete failure because I didn’t understand how to calculate weight capacity. I returned the boat right after my first trip. A good paddle shop saves months of research and a pile of buyer’s remorse. A brick and mortar store will often have deals on trade-ins and last year’s models.
If you are outfitting the family, do everyone a favor and purchase the best boats available for each member of the team. I can’t count the times I’ve seen Dad pedaling ahead in a premium kayak while Mom and Junior splash behind in beater boats.
Next, take time to learn how to paddle. Even motorized and pedal kayaks need paddle skills. Especially if the motor or pedals malfunction.
Most importantly: don’t neglect safety. Always prepare for the worst. Learn to self-rescue. Understand how the water and weather conditions change.
My last tip is just do it. Live the adventure and make awesome memories. Some of the greatest times of my life have been in a plastic boat. Not to mention the mental and physical health benefits of kayak fishing. And nothing builds bonds like experiencing an adventure together. Don’t get caught up just in the fishing or the kayaking part of the sport, enjoy the whole experience.
Make fishing fun and kids will jump on board. | Feature photo: Chris Funk
