Kayak anglers can hitch a ride

Load your kayak into a powerboat to fish hard-to-reach areas

The vast majority of kayaks are human-powered, be it via paddling or pedaling. As a result, their range is generally limited to closer areas within that access limit. This can be a blessing or a curse. The blessing is that without the ability to range far and wide on a day trip, kayak anglers learn areas more thoroughly and fish more time than they spend traveling. However, it can also be a curse, such as summertime when trout move to the outer edges of the coast taking them out of range except for some specific areas.

Using a powerboat for transporting the kayak provides kayak anglers the ability to fish far away areas they otherwise cannot reach. Some anglers that also have a powerboat routinely load a couple of kayaks in the boat and travel to distant areas and launch the kayaks to fish out of. However, if you don’t have a powerboat, perhaps you have a friend that does. In this instance, see if you can hitch a ride on one of their trips.

The big key is to keep the gear simple and as bare bones as possible. This way, the kayak can easily and quickly be launched without impacting the anglers that are going to fish from the boat. Once at the preferred spot, you can get the yak geared up and in the water in just a couple minutes. Another benefit of this method is that the kayak angler can also act as a scout boat. Stay in communication with a VHF radio or cell phone if service is available. That way, if either the boat or the kayak get on some fish, one can move closer to the other as necessary.

Accessing prime spots

This time of year, the rocks lining the MRGO east of Hopedale, La., are prime spots for trout and reds, but it is virtually impossible to get that far in a kayak. Even with the increase in the use of electric motor-powered yaks, the range is still much too far. However, a recent trip to the “Long Rocks” proved fruitful fishing from both the powerboat and kayak. The trout were big and hungry, and we took turns sharing the kayak. While the boat was on anchor, the kayak angler was able to fish up and down the rock jetty while the boat anglers were stationary. When the bite at the boat spot slowed down, a simple text had the boat move about half a mile down to join the kayak angler who had located a hungry school of big trout.

It should also be noted that there was some obvious head scratching when I passed a couple of anchored center consoles that were surely wondering where I came from in the tiny kayak, knowing that it is well over a 10-mile run from the nearest marina in Hopedale, La. I wasn’t saying anything.

Mothershipping

If loaded properly, many boats still remain fishable even with the kayak loaded on board. When storms ran us off the open water of the ship channel, we made a move into the marsh to wait out the weather. Anchoring up on a point with incoming water, the three anglers still had room to comfortably fish and add a few more reds to the box.

Generally termed mothershipping, bringing a kayak or two along allows anglers to kayak fish areas that are otherwise unreachable. The unique thing about the rocks is that they run along both sides of the channel. The north side is called the Short Rocks and they run for about 3 miles. The south side, or Long Rocks, run over twice as long and have a cut through the jetty closer to Breton Sound. You cannot fish all of this area in a single day.

The water is generally cleaner and with the open connection to Breton Sound and the Gulf, it is also saltier than the reaches further inland. It is a unique opportunity to fish this area by kayak along with the safety and support of the powerboat. The rock jetties offer some wave buffer, but the channel is wide with open water along both sides. Therefore, wind can play a big factor, and these trips should only be taken on light wind days.

Sharing the kayak

Celeste Valotta is a relatively new fisherman. She had only been in a kayak once before and never for fishing. However, she eagerly took her turn and fished within sight of us. She started her morning landing her first ever redfish, a 29-inch brute. After weeding through some small trout and a bunch of ladyfish, she also landed some nice keeper trout. James Kellum also took a turn and caught the largest trout of the trip at 21 inches.

After the success of this trip, more are planned before the end of summer. Additionally, come early spring when the trout start moving around the barrier islands like Breton, plans are to take the kayaks to fish while the water is still a little too cold to wade fish. Using the kayak provides the ability to carry a little more gear, no need for waders to stay warm, and for some of us that have a healthy fear of wading with sharks, the kayak offers peace of mind.

If you are an angler with a kayak and a powerboat, you are missing out on some great fishing adventures if you don’t combine the two. If you just have a kayak, talk to your friends with boats and see if you can load yours up and tag along. You won’t regret it.

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