No matter how much you think you know, there is always more you can learn. Whether it’s picking up a new paddle stroke, trying a new technique or going after a whole new species, there’s always room to improve your skills and become a better angler. We reached out to seven kayak fishing pros to find out what most “know-it-all” anglers can still stand to learn.
7 Expert Tips for “Know-It-All” Anglers
1 Become a Mentor
Nothing left to learn? That’s not possible, there’s always something to learn. If you really feel that way, try taking out someone new to the sport. Be the teacher or mentor that you had when you were starting off. Watching a new angler succeed and feeling their excitement will remind you that it’s not always about the big fish, trophies and tournament wins. Remember why you even started in the first place.
— Rob Choi, Old Town and Kokatat pro staffer, artist, and owner/operator of angling‑addict.com
2 Learn from Your Skunk Days
My grandfather used to tell me, “Nobody knows it all and only a fool pretends to.” There is an ever increasing tendency to expect instant results every time we go out fishing. Fishing is not like that. Sometimes we get red letter days, sometimes we get skunked. That is the nature of the game; we think we have it figured out and then we go and get skunked.
Don’t be ashamed of the days you don’t catch, these are the days that you can learn the most from. To me a good day fishing is a day where I learn something new, another piece of the puzzle that constantly changes.
— Gary Robinson, aquatic biologist, angling journalist, photographer and Palm Equipment pro staffer
3 Try Something New
You can always branch out and go after a new species you know nothing about. That’s what I love the most: going to a new body of water and targeting a species that’s completely foreign to me. It’s always challenging, but that results in a much more rewarding catch when you finally put the pieces together and find success.
Throw a dart at a map and go try to catch something new. You might even surprise yourself and find a new favorite species to chase. Hook a bass guy up with a redfish and it just might change his life.
— Robert Field, host of Field Trips with Robert Field, NRS and Accent Paddles pro staffer and fishing guide at Los Buzos Resort
4Talk to People
Instead of being an elitist and ignoring the guy sitting on the bank bait fishing, anglers could learn a lot from talking to them for just a few minutes. While we’re out there for sport the bait fishermen are out there for a meal, so they’re not messing around. They know what the fish are eating, where the fish are and how to catch them. Just a few minutes of talking with them can give you the insight you need to hook up.
— Pat Cohen, Jackson Kayak and Werner Paddles pro staffer and professional fly tyer at rusuperfly.com
5 Always Have a Plan B
Even top kayak anglers should have a Plan B when their A Game is not on. Searching for cutthroat trout while trolling in a local lake can be a daunting task in the summer months. The water is warm and the fish can go deep or just disappear. I used to cut my days short on the water if the fishing was crappy. Now, I always bring a couple spinning rods rigged for bass fishing. It’s easy to change gear if the trout fishing is slow. It’s also a great opportunity to let my client rest their legs from long pedaling trolls. And targeting a different species of fish is always fun.
— Brad Hole, Hobie Fishing Team & Top Gun 2016/17, owner/operator of Kayak Fishing Washington, and pro staffer for Kokatat, RAM Mounts, Dakota Lithium, BooneDox, St. Croix Rods, Daiwa Fishing, Mack’s Lure and EGO Slider Nets
6 Learn How To Paddle—For Real
Where’s the paddling in kayak fishing? With kayak anglers looking to be the best, there sure isn’t much emphasis on paddling efficiency. Forward and backward strokes get the job done but try adding a sculling draw, to your arsenal to maneuver your casting position in tight spaces. There are so many different paddle strokes that you could learn, which means you’ll never stop learning, which is what it’s all about.
— Mark Vlaskamp, former Marketing Director at YakGear, freelance writer and owner/operator of canoevibes.com
7 Don’t Forget Where You Started
Remember that you started somewhere and should be willing to help those who are starting out. There is no greater feeling than helping someone develop a skill or knowledge and see them start to “get it.”
I spent a long while at a ramp last week with a gentleman and his son and their new boat. They were as lost as a duck in a desert with that thing and couldn’t even get it to the water. I helped them back it down and crank it up afterwards, all while going over safety features like kill switches, bilge pumps and PFDs. It cost me some time from my trip, but they were safer and smarter when they left and I made new friends in the process.
I watched my dad time after time help folks in need either with knowledge or muscle and now that I am a tad more knowledgeable I can do my part. If you “know it all,” help a brother out!
— Chris Funk, Jackson Kayak, Bending Branches and Ram Mounts pro staffer and Kayak Angler contributing photographer
Think you know it all? There are so many different paddle strokes that you could learn. | Feature photo: Courtesy of Perception Kayaks
Number 6 – the biggie if you want to call yourself a “kayaker”. Learn the proper kayaking skills or else your simply a fisherman who uses a quasi-kayak-like platform from which to fish. And always: Be Safe; Be Smart; Have Fun!