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10-12-2018, 04:29 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 401
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Musings on the Learning Curve
As often comes with the itch to fish, I've been thinking about fishing a lot lately. Over the past year and some change, I've been really happy to get back into fishing after about 10 years of hiatus. I find it meditative in a very meaningful way, and it fulfills a need I have to step outside of my comfort zone like only the surf zone north of LA seems capable of at 5:30 in the morning. I've also enjoyed this community quite a bit over that time. I appreciate the resource and those who contribute to it. Before most trips to new locations I find myself keyword searching old threads for anecdotes on technique, or just vicariously enjoying the success and camaraderie of others in their reports. As with anything worth doing, I've found the learning curve of kayak fishing has been both worthwhile and challenging. I guess I'm also stubborn with lessons, and find I'm well aware of things I could be doing better before I make a habit and improve significantly in practice. Thus I subject you to a list of things from the past year that have consistently interfered with my hooking and landing fish... they've become veritable mantras for me at any given time, and I still forget them regularly. I write this as a letter to myself, and in front of you that you might find some beneficial lesson, or perhaps just amusement at my expense
I.... think that's about it. I've long held that acknowledging and examining shortcomings in good humor is a pretty effective way to shortcut the learning curve. Feel free to share your own musings here if you like, or simply revel in my own Last edited by ProfessorLongArms; 10-12-2018 at 04:35 PM. |
10-12-2018, 04:46 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,526
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Well?
Lets see if the Sewer Boys will get this party started? Jorge? When fishing for yellows, practice counting one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three when you start your day and through out. Minimal 3-4 second count is what I would recommend. Do not down play the Carolina rig. When taking a break from paddling / trolling and you are drifting or standing by idle, this is a great go to rig. Keep the sibiki taught. When you get a hit wind very slowly and others will follow suit. Do not just dead stick the sibiki waiting for it to load up with more baits after your initial hook up. You will have a cluster hump every time.
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10-12-2018, 04:59 PM | #3 |
Brandon
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,345
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If you get bit on a flyline mackerel and you are over anxious and miss the hookset, put the bait back in freespool. There are usually more than one yellowtail competing for your bait. The aggressor takes the first bite, but if he misses the hook, a second one will eagerly take a look. This has happened to me a bunch of times. One ended in my PB yellowtail at 44lbs. Maybe the one that bit was a 20lb fish like the one my buddy had caught that day. I’m glad the small one spit the hook!
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10-15-2018, 08:01 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 571
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The sabiki - I have found that having a sabiki rod is a life saver. Use a heavy weight on the end = less tangles. But what takes it to another level on a kayak is shortening it and taking off 2 hooks. If you load up, managing 4 baits is way easier than 6.
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10-15-2018, 08:38 AM | #5 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,891
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Quote:
If by Sabiki rod you mean the Ahi bait stick (hollow tube), I am 100% in agreement. I got it for pier fishing, but it is great for boat and kayaks. |
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10-15-2018, 03:46 PM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,856
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Quote:
I use circle hooks 99.99% of the time so I rarely if ever need to set a hook and because I usually fish with a sinker on my line I always have my drag pre-set. it's rare that I fly-line but if I do I set the drag with just enough tension to allow the bait to run if it needs to and also allow the fish that is taking the bait to run. If my clicker goes off on my fly-line rod it usually takes 3-5 seconds before I can grab the rod out of the rod holder, set the drag and set the hook. I don't sit there and count, I just follow the same sequence of events and set the hook. As far as my sabiki rods goes................only dead stick your sabiki rod if you want to spend the next 15minutes untangling your shit.
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10-15-2018, 08:11 PM | #7 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 401
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Quote:
It’s less about in the water and more about on deck.... I usually pin the weight with my foot and pull taught... just without fail, one ends up in an inconvenient spot. |
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10-16-2018, 10:37 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 571
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Ahh I see. I have a slightly different technique because I got tired of having bait unhook&disappear under my seat.
So using heavy lead keeps the line pretty straight, having only 4 hooks makes it more manageable. But what I also do is use a dehooker right over the bait tank to avoid bringing the whole rig into the kayak. Turn my body, put a foot in the water for balance and then pull the sabiki against the side of the kayak over the bait tank. IMO its a game changer because you get better bait this way- they spend less time out of the water and you also don't touch them on the way into the bait tank. So the slime coat stays on. Just make sure that side you do this on is clear of anything hookable. Bungees, ropes etc. I do loose a few while i'm unhooking though every time.
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2018 Hobie Outback 13 I do not fear the storm as it will teach me how to sail my ship. |
10-16-2018, 10:43 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 401
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Huh... i’m going to have to give this a shot. I also might need to get a tiny de-hooker, as the one I use is way too big for the size of hooks I have.
My attitude has always been to get the string of fish over the boat as quickly as possible, before they start falling off the hooks (tiny hooks with minimal barbs) That said, I’ve never had a shortage of Spanish in the kelp... if anything I’ll probably end up with too much in my tank, so I’ll give this a go. I’ve noticed when I use a bigger one with no ahi stick, they stay on much better, but I have had to cut entire hooks off and deal with them later when they catch on anything. |
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