Where to keep my hook while paddling on my kayak?
Hey everyone, just to preface I know pretty much nothing about fishing. I recently got a cheap rod to mess around with when I'm kayaking because my yak has rod holders. When my rod is in the holder and I'm not fishing (ie when I'm paddling) should I let out some line so the lure is skimming the surface of the water? Or should I reel in so that the lure is at the top eyelet? Or should I let out a couple feet of line and loop the hook on one of the lower/mid eyelets and reel back in so it's a bit tight? Thanks for your advice!
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by tooCheezy
FS Digest wrote:
Hey everyone, just to preface I know pretty much nothing about fishing. I recently got a cheap rod to mess around with when I'm kayaking because my yak has rod holders. When my rod is in the holder and I'm not fishing (ie when I'm paddling) should I let out some line so the lure is skimming the surface of the water? Or should I reel in so that the lure is at the top eyelet? Or should I let out a couple feet of line and loop the hook on one of the lower/mid eyelets and reel back in so it's a bit tight? Thanks for your advice!
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by tooCheezy
Hey everyone, just to preface I know pretty much n... (
show quote)
If your rod has a hook keeper just above the handle on the rod itself, I’d put it there, if not, I’d hook it on the first guide(largest) above the rod handle.
That's what I would do^^^
Or you could just get a pack of hook keepers from eBay or some place. They also make a wrap for lures. I took a price of thin cardboard and covered it in duct tape and put some Velcro on it to keep it closed and around the the rod. Just some suggestions. Before that I just hooked it to the frame of an eyelet. Lol
If you don't have the keeper mentioned use the support/foot of the guide and not the circular part of the guide itself. I hope this makes sense, you don't want to damage the circumference of the guide, as it will damage your line later as it travels through. Or if the water is clear of obstructions ya might wanna slow troll, while you navigate about . Good Luck....
Are you fishing or yaking? Fishing--- why not troll?
Yaking--- leave the pole at home.
If your rod has a line/hook keep then i would secure the hook or lure there. If no line/hook keep, the I use the first guide on the rod to hang the hook/or lure there. Just Sayin...RJS
The gist of it is, if you leave that hook hanging loose while you paddle somehow,sometime it's going to end up in your arm.
All great answers from the group regarding what you do with your hook or lure :-) I have been kayak fishing for about 15 years now and LOVE IT. I started off with a paddle kayak back in 2005 and after a couple of years of trout fishing from it, I upgraded to a Hobie pedal kayak back in 2009. Pedal kayaks are great for trolling. You can't beat them!!! Your reaction time to setting a hook is much faster when you get a bite because the pedal kayak is hands free and you do not have to deal with a paddle in your hands. You can be trolling by pedaling and eat, drink or tie a hook or lure to your other rod if you are using more than one rig.
Hope you never get hooked, if you know what I mean!!! LOL!
Elefantdude: I am sorry to disappoint you but if you are a serious fisherman and fish a lot, sooner or later, you are going to get hooked. I believe there's a high probability and that probability increases over time. I have been hooked 3 times as far as I can remember and one of these times had to go to visit the doctor to have the hook cut out because it was lodged against the bone and there was no way to push it through and cut it off. Just Sayin...RJS
Troll. Just add a rubber center wrap on weight a few feet above your lure to keep it in the water rather than skimming. You can not paddle faster than the fish. It could lead to your PB.
I usually have 2 rods with me while kayak fishing, When moving from 1 spot to another I leave 1 rod out trolling, you never know when something will bite. The other rod I always secure the hook to the hook keeper. Better to be safe then end your day early with a hook in you somewhere.
Just an FYI. I keep a bunch of 3/4 inch square cut up foam noodle tubes in easy access (usually my pocket). They are great to cover hook point if I have more than one single hook or mini jig or dropper fly on my line. I use them for running from place to place with rods in rocket launchers. They work great when loading rigged gear in the truck to move a well. It prevents punctures in body and clothing. And it helps prevent tangles.
HenryG
Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts
bknecht wrote:
If your rod has a hook keeper just above the handle on the rod itself, I’d put it there, if not, I’d hook it on the first guide(largest) above the rod handle.
The hookkeeper is a small u shaped piece of wire that is attached to the rod just for this purpose it can be anywhere from the top of the handle to the bottom if the rod look carefully for it most rods built nowadays have them I explained this because you have mentioned knowing very little about fishing and hookkeeper was something you never heard of
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