thigh-straps

Too few kayak fishermen know about and USE ...!!!..."thigh straps" (to gain "edge control') of their boat.

Query the I-Net for product availability and photo-what-they-look-like.

The straps MOUNT on each side (to clip-in mount-points at the "rails" of your boat) forward-at-the-level-of-your-feet....and.....to-the-rear-of-your-butt.

You USE the straps....by adjusting them so that BOTH straps....come to the    i n s i d e    of your knees.

NOW VISUALIZE....if you "pinch" ypur knees together...!!!...the straps "come toght"    NOW CRITICALLY VISUALIZE that when those straps "come taut....YOU GAIN "EDGE CONTROL" OF YOUR BOAT."

Only....with "Edge Control"....are yoy NOT just "a bug sitting on a bark-chip"......

You HAVE (more than once) in re-entering the beach from the ocean...been forced sideways....and then capsized.

With Edge Control of your kayak....however....you can use your knees....PINCHED HARD TOGETHER to "lift" the shore-side rail of your kayak...while LEANING Hard..!!!!...and bracing with your paddle....to the Ocean-side of your boat.

The "broken wave"...will sweep you and your boat...all the way to the sand....w i t h o u t...forcing your boat into capsize.

The technique I am describing....is-in-fact....a more "regular-and-reliable-way....of re-entering a beach....than attempting to "surf your boat" back to the sand.

The kayak-design that is "most suited" to this technique.....are all those "Sit On Top" designs....pretty-much-flat-decked.....with minimal center-depression.

Correct "Mount Points" for thigh straps can be absent....in which case the Boater must install them him/her self....using VERY STOUT "blind fasteners".

If every single one....!!!...of all your previous "re-entries" From Ocean...to Beach....has resultted in an embarrasing "yard sale" of gear/boat/ paddle...and you....Then Understand.....that the use of thigh straps (and learning to use them) can/will Turn Your Entire Ocean Kayaking  Experience.....a r o u n d....!!!!....forever.

Thanks, but will they work with a mirage drive?

Thanks, but will they work with a mirage drive?

I've added anchor points for thigh straps to both my Ocean Kayak 13' Trident and to my Hobie 13' Revolution.  I'm a long-time whitewater kayaker, and know the control over your kayak which is provided by the thigh pads, hip pads, and foot braces in a whitewater kayak, or thigh straps in a sit-on-top kayak.  Obviously you can't use thigh straps when pedaling a pedal drive kayak, but I always take my Mirage Drive out and paddle when going out and back in through the surf zone.

I'm thinking we have a 'bot in the house. First asking for fishing reports on the first post and now? Thigh straps... I could be wrong though...

Fred "True" Trujillo

Fred (polonius) Trujilo...no, no "bot" here...
Just knowledgeble boater... an active kayak angler since 1972...who'se seen too many SOT "yard sales"...and who'se been fishing the ocean from before SOT's were ever thought of.

Then welcome to NWKA! I shall await a proper introduction as is customary.

Fred "True" Trujillo

Fred (polonius) Trujilo

Lol -- shots fired! I thought the organization of your post was a bit strange (the use of all caps, the '....', the spacing, etc), and I did wonder if it was reposted from somewhere. On the other hand, you're discussing a topic that is surely not well known amongst kayak anglers. Just providing feedback, maybe contextualizing where Mr. Fred was coming from. 

an active kayak angler since 1972...

I'd love to hear more about the platforms that you've fished off of over the years, etc. When did you first use an SOT, and when did you first use one for fishing?

Over-generalize much?  We know about thigh straps.  We understand them.  We had an exceptional kayaker on the board - he's still active on NCKA - who started a long discussion on thigh straps, and we have out own pmmpete who has discussed them several times.

Sheesh, guys, SEARCH is your buddy before making assumptions. 

Born 4/15/1939 at St. V's hosp...OR...I am "a native Son"..despite that Oregon charges me $100-a-year for an out-of-state Fishing License.

ADMIRE ..!!!..the SOT-boat design (bought 8-foot Ocean Kayak for my wife)...as being way-more practical for fishing than my whitewater or "Sea Kayak"....but in '72 there were no SOT boats....I have adapted my "decked" boats to fishing.

Annual Vacation-boat Odell/Waldo/Gold .. lakes ... Pacific City... Nehalem/Tillamook/Nestucca/Siletz/Willamette .... Lincoln City, Neskoin, Manzanita beach-surf .... Salmon River mouth...!!!!...../Cascade Head/ Cape Meares

At age 83...160 lbs...I know my luck...to remain strong and able.

Love my boats....love my adaptations of them for fishing...love fishing....love Oregon-as-it-was....DISPAIR....of Gov's Gavin Newsom...Kate Brown...Jay Insley....Dispair at "the introduction of wolves"....protection of White Sharks and Sea Lions.... Dispair of some N. Y. Times journalist-who-wants-to-be-Governor...

ANYONE who rejects Nuclear Power...is a NON-Environmentalist..!!!...

If someone would just tell me if that Public Launch at Depot Bay is reliable-to-be-open...ALL my questions & needs would be satisfied.

If someone would just tell me if that Public Launch at Depot Bay is reliable-to-be-open...ALL my questions & needs would be satisfied.

Welcome.  Yes the ramp at Depoe Bay has been open every time I have tried using it and there is a fish cleaning station right there. A word of caution that it does fill up quickly, especially on weekends and even more on all depth halibut weekends.  Overall, it is a great place to launch.  Have a VHF radio on channel 80 to communicate with the Coast Guard to verify “the hole” is clear because it is narrow and generally one way traffic at a time.

Thanks, but will they work with a mirage drive?

Yeah, looks like mainly for paddle kayaks. I've been over enough to know I just want the least amount of things to deal with as possible. I ditched all of my lanyards after my last go round.

Good to know there's somebody older than me out there.

I once caught a thigh strap on the fly at a wedding reception.  It was an interesting evening.

Nice intro Juddsmith! 

I agree with you about the thigh straps.  I used to take my Cobra F-n-Dive out surfing regularly.  That was an epic surfing yak!  My Ocean Kayaks faired reasonably well without the straps but I'd bring them on more challenging days.  Haven't tried them on my Hobie yet but I don't think that even thigh straps will help a Hobie surf.  There's just no rocker on them so they tend to dive and pitch pole.

-Mark-

Spot, it's not clear to me if you used the thigh straps on your Cobra. If you did, I'm curious what kind you used because I'm thinking of getting some for my Fish and Dive. It surfs pretty good as you know, but if straps would help, I'd get some. Your thoughts?