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Three tips to fly fishing the backcountry By Rob Lyon

Day fishing trips are the realm of most kayak fly fishermen. But inside each of us is an adventurer ready to paddle away from the pressures of everyday life, even if only for a weekend. A backcountry kayak trip is more than a way to expand your fishing horizons; it’s tonic for the soul.

One of a longer trips’ best attributes is a steady seafood diet. Odds are you can dredge up something to eat pretty much wherever you paddle. Besides fish, there are crab and oyster, mussels and clams, barnacles and abalone (see sidebar). Cooking the day’s catch over a driftwood fire brings back a simpler way of life, and all you need to get started are these three tips, basic camping skills and a love of adventure.

1. Troll a fly or lure. You’ll be covering plenty of miles, so take advantage of it. I troll an un-weighted fly, but trolling bait or lures from a spin-casting rig is just as effective. Think of the fly or lure behind your boat as a search tool: use it to locate fish, and then let the fun begin. Sometimes the first sign of fish is the rod bucking violently in the holder and the shriek of the reel yielding line. A strike means fish are around—a school perhaps, or simply a fertile spot begging to be worked.

Trolling won’t slow your boat, but there’s always a chance of a snag. If you fish in areas with debris or kelp, consider rigging a weed guard. And always reel in your line when you expect dicey paddling; some sea conditions don’t give you the luxury of turning around to deal with your tackle.

Many species respond to surface-trolled flies. On a three-week kayak fishing expedition in the Northwest last fall, we caught Coho and King salmon and black rockfish on tandem-hooked bucktails trolled at the surface. On the East Coast you’d likely hook into blues, while in the Gulf you could expect redfish, speckled trout and jack crevalle. In Southern California it could be anything from kelp bass to bonito or barracuda.

2. Explore--but don’t ignore—your limits. Kayak fishing has two distinct elements—kayaking and fishing—and for any given outing, you should know the relative proportions of each. Day trips in calm water peg out on the fishing end, but in the backcountry the needle swings toward kayaking.

Dress for the water. Cold water can be a killer without protective clothing. Prepare for the worst-case scenario and carry appropriate rescue and emergency communications devices. We use VHF radios in remote waters, but a cell phone in a protective case is an option if you’ll have reception. Keep it on your person in case you get separated from your boat.

Carry the minimum amount of tackle on deck. You could take a tumble in the surf at any time, and you’ll want to be streamlined when the headwinds pick up. Anything goes when you’re fishing close to your launch, but when you paddle into the wilderness you’ll appreciate a light load more than accoutrements.

You can never tell when a mill pond might turn into a maelstrom, so keep track of the fastest, safest routes to shore or sheltered water--outs]i we call them. Track them as you paddle along the coast so if you must take refuge from the weather, the decision as to where will be easy. Carry marine charts and know how to interpret them; you’re next out could be right around the point ahead instead of half a mile back.

Look for points and islands creating lee shores; often you can sneak ashore without surfing waves like the Big Kahuna. Sometimes, however, there is no way to avoid the surf zone, so practice in warm water with moderate surf. Also practice self-rescue and navigation; most retail shops, clubs and outfitters can refer you to ACA-certified instructors who can get you up to speed. And always paddle with a friend or a group and leave a thorough trip plan with someone before you go.

3. Go topless. In challenging kayak fishing situations, a sit-on-top offers several advantages over traditional, sit-inside sea kayaks. First is stability. To fish from a kayak you need a boat that is stable without having a paddle in the water, and sit-on-tops provide that. A great selection of sit-on-top fishing kayaks is now available (see page TK), but only a handful combine fishing performance with the storage capacity and seaworthiness that multi-day expeditions demand. Three of our favorites: the Heritage Pro Fisherman 17, Paddleyak Fusion and Wilderness System’s Tarpon 160. You don’t need one of these to test the expedition waters, of course. Take an overnight trip in your current kayak; if that leaves you wanting more you can step up to other models.

One last thought before you chase the fish deep into Neptune’s realm: Kayak fishing on open water is like dancing with a drunken giant. Your job is to keep a sharp eye on your partner and stay out from underfoot.

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