General tips on fly casting from the yak.

One thing you realize right away when you sit in the yak with fly fishing (FF) in mind is that it's very different from any kind of stand up or drift boat FF you may have done in the past. This post is meant for all of us who have made the mistakes or found some great tips that help make KayakFF work, available to our bruddahs here at NWKA. So feel free to tell your story of how you almost gave yourself a woolybugger earring and how we can keep from doing it ourselves.

Z

I'll get the ball rolling. One thing you notice when sitting in the yak, is that since you're so low to the water, keeping the fly in the air and not skipping along the surface like a wakeboarder is not easy. So first thought to remedy this is a longer rod... 10 ft? I've found even w/ a longer rod it's not much help. You really need to adjust your casting form to keep the fly soaring.

I've found that raising your entire arm and casting w/ the rod higher is the best solution. It may take some time for this to feel comfortable since some of us may have been told to keep our arm close to our bodies but with some practice it starts to work. Also, to help a little more, casting a little sidearm helps to keep the fly out of the path of your head in the the case that you do let it drop. It has saved my head, although my paddle has taken a few beatings..

This is even all even more important when you have a weighted line since it drops out of the sky that much faster. In this case I like to keep the rod moving in a semi-oval pattern. What I mean is to have the rod a little sidearm on the way back and a little more overhead on the way forward. This keeps the tension on the line just a little bit longer to keep it flying. I also give a tiny snap to my wrist when changing directions to give it a little extra zing.

Z

I think a longer rod does help.  Guys fishing from float tubes sit even lower in the water than us, and the general system for them is to go with longer, slower action rods.

I use a 10 foot long, 5wt Temple Fork with a medium action when I fly fish for trout from the kayak.  The medium action is easier to load without using a lot of muscle, which really helps. 

Have to confess, though, that I've caught more fish trolling a wooly bugger behind the kayak on a sinking line than I have casting to rising fish.  May just be my crappy casting, though

I think a longer rod does help.  Guys fishing from float tubes sit even lower in the water than us, and the general system for them is to go with longer, slower action rods.

I use a 10 foot long, 5wt Temple Fork with a medium action when I fly fish for trout from the kayak.  The medium action is easier to load without using a lot of muscle, which really helps.

Fair enough. Different yaks usually sit differently than each other in the water but lower.. more power to 'em!

 
Have to confess, though, that I've caught more fish trolling a wooly bugger behind the kayak on a sinking line than I have casting to rising fish.  May just be my crappy casting, though

You just need more time on the water.. 

Z

I've noticed I cast better when I dangle my legs, which causes me to sit up straighter.

-Allen

I think a longer rod would help, too, though I don't have any longer than 9'.

I've found that raising your entire arm and casting w/ the rod higher is the best solution. It may take some time for this to feel comfortable since some of us may have been told to keep our arm close to our bodies but with some practice it starts to work.

I always teach people to extend their arms because it helps even on land, especially to clear the bushes behind us. In any case, using your arm extended does extend the effective length of the rod.

I habitually keep my elbow at, or above, my shoulders.

Have to confess, though, that I've caught more fish trolling a wooly bugger behind the kayak on a sinking line than I have casting to rising fish.  May just be my crappy casting, though Smiley

It always helps me to be on top of the hatches- once I'm dialed in, I can catch way more than with a bugger.

Sounds like you are teaching people the "Steeple Cast".  Good skill to have... instead of a backcast that rolls out behind you, your cast rolls behind and up. 

FYI, the greatest fly fishing book ever written is a book of cartoons called "The Curtis Creek Manifesto."  Anyone just starting out (or just a little rusty) should pick one up.

the greatest fly fishing book ever written is a book of cartoons called "The Curtis Creek Manifesto."  Anyone just starting out (or just a little rusty) should pick one up.

I've heard this from a lot of long time FF'rs. And @ $7.95 I will be checking it out. Thanks 3W!
Z

Best fly fishing illustration ever...

I'm a long time fly fisher, but new to kayaking this year. It's a blast! Here are a few things I discovered in my first year of kayak fly fishing.

I think it's important to learn the double-haul cast, so you can shoot a lot of line with a relatively short backcast. This cast requires a lot of practice, but once you get the timing down it really helps when casting from a yak.

Allen's tip on dangling your legs over the side is a good one, not just for fly fishing, but for keeping your center of gravity low so you don't capsize.

I usually cast, but when I feel like trolling, I like to go backwards. You go slower, and can react to strikes a lot better.

Tom

Great tips right there Tom B.

Learn the double haul ... I'm just getting used to casting a fly rod again after many years of absence.  Would love to learn the double haul at some point.  Anyone have any good pointers for it?

And backtrolling ... you betcha.  I have a hard time trolling slow when I'm going foreward.  At BAMIII this year I started trolling backward, not sure why, but I did, and it does indeed slow me down.

-Allen

Here's a good explanation and video of the double haul.

http://www.sexyloops.com/flycasting/doublehaul.shtml

It's typically done to gain additional distance, something that isn't really necessary when fishing from a kayak. When fishing from a yak, back-cast 25-30 feet (short enough that your line doesn't hit the water), then tug on the line during the forward cast to "load" the rod, stop the forward cast and release the line, and (if everything goes well), shoot a 40-60 feet cast. It takes a while to learn, but worth the effort.

Tom

I'd advise practicing it in your back yard with a beer (assuming you have a big enough yard), or while wade fishing on a local lake or river, before attempting it in a kayak.  I'd expect the learning curve will be a lot steeper if you are starting out from a boat.

When I was fly fishing more seriously, I'd practice casting in the yard after work in the evenings.  Set up a "target" (usually a white plastic plate), tie on a brightly colored piece of yarn instead of a fly, grab a beer, and practice placing my fly on the plate from various distances.

Got a lot of smart-aleck comments from the neighbor kids, but I was pretty damn accurate in placing flies by the time stonefly hatch started on the Deschutes.

I went out for the first time this past weekend and found that my line would occasionally get caught between the yak (T13A) and the tail of the bungee situated rear of the carry handles.  It was more of an inconvenience than anything, but I'll tape them down on the next trip.  Any recommendations for tape?

I went out for the first time this past weekend and found that my line would occasionally get caught between the yak (T13A) and the tail of the bungee situated rear of the carry handles.  It was more of an inconvenience than anything, but I'll tape them down on the next trip.  Any recommendations for tape?

Do you even use that bungee?  Take it off!!!

-Allen