Paddle Only Kayak Fishing

Just curious, are there enough non-Hobie kayak fishermen in the PDX area to warrant a seminar on using your paddle to its best advantage?  I'm thinking of a fairly general seminar that'll cover tricks and techniques for fishing from a paddle kayak.  This would be aimed at beginners thru intermediate kayak fishermen.

What do you guys think?

-Spot-

I'm interested for sure.

What are "paddles"?? I do have this one kayak that was my first love... but now its a pain in the back end since I use these really long sticks that take up my hands and get in the way of the fishing whenever I am moving....

...............sorry, I jest...sort of...

I think its a really great idea since like anything else, I was amazed at the efficiency and different techniques for control by those with experience.  I would do it even though I run mainly Hobies if I were in the area. 

Yeah, I think some Hobie riders would benefit from this too.  I mean, they already have paddles on board and a paddle should be another tool at their disposal.

I was out crabbing last week when a Hobie rider missed a buoy.  He proceeded to turn the rudder over hard, but all that happened was that he did donuts around the buoy with it just out of his reach.  I just laughed and told him to use his paddle!

-Allen

Kind of off topic: I am amazed at how many hobiephiles don't use their paddles for ingress/egress through the surf. As a soon-to-be hobie owner I fully plan to have my paddle in-hand as I cross the waves; I just wouldn't feel in control without it.

On topic: I'd be interested. My single is a paddle kayak and I think it would be great to learn some new stuff and meet people. Count me in.

I would be interested.

Yes! Would be even better with some pool-time 

In the highly unlikely event that I am in the PDX area when it's going on I'd definitely stop by.

Cool idea. Gonna cover stroke mechanics (giggity!), draws, and bracing, too?  I think that sort of stuff would be pretty valuable to a lot of newer members. Even some of us less new folks could benefit from this...

My idea was to cover fishing techniques that incorporate the use of a paddle but I could definitely expand on that idea to cover some basic mechanics and maneuvering techniques.

Some things I'd like to cover are:
- Kayak Set-up for paddlers
- Trolling
     Deploying Gear
     Dealing with Wind
     Paddle Hook-sets
- Paddle only bass techniques
- Paddle only bottom fishing techniques
- Deep water Anchoring
- Fast water Anchoring
- Lateral movement

Sounds like there's interest in:
- Bracing
- Paddle Strokes

Let me know what else you guys would want and I'll see how it all fits together.

-Spot-

Tips like this?

"When paddling without a rudder and when using a downrigger, choke up on the "off side".  What I mean is to allow for a longer paddle on the side that the downrigger is pulling you towards.  This allows you to keep a natural paddling cadence, with the longer side providing automatic adjustments to pull you in line and it provides more force than the weaker side."

 

-Allen

Tips like this?

"When paddling without a rudder and when using a downrigger, choke up on the "off side".  What I mean is to allow for a longer paddle on the side that the downrigger is pulling you towards.  This allows you to keep a natural paddling cadence, with the longer side providing automatic adjustments to pull you in line and it provides more force than the weaker side."

 

-Allen

Don't give away all my secrets Allen!   

-Spot-

Perhaps you could also introduce paddlers to the advantages of thigh straps when paddling in and out through surf, and when paddling in big waves?  I have been whitewater kayaking since 1985, and am used to being able use a kayak's thigh braces to control the boat in big water.  When I encounter big waves in a sit-on-top paddle kayak, I feel a bit like a marble rolling around on a plate, at risk of rolling off the edge.  So I have outfitted my 13' Trident with thigh straps, and keep the straps in the kayak.  If I'm out on a lake and the waves get big, I get out the thigh straps, clip them in, and feel a lot more secure.

Tips like this?

"When paddling without a rudder and when using a downrigger, choke up on the "off side".  What I mean is to allow for a longer paddle on the side that the downrigger is pulling you towards.  This allows you to keep a natural paddling cadence, with the longer side providing automatic adjustments to pull you in line and it provides more force than the weaker side."

 

-Allen

Don't give away all my secrets Allen!   

-Spot-

Wait a sec ... I thought it was MY secret!   

BTW, this technique works well when quartering into a wind too!

-Allen