22 Thursday Jun 2017
Posted in Field Reports, Kayak Fishing Posts
Topwater fishing, late May. The clock said noon but it was still early morning in the cove. Contrary to popular belief, bass will strike all day on topwater in low light, depending on circumstance and presentation. Stealth is essential; I was in 4 feet of water and the cove was only 30 feet wide. A single paddle bump on the kayak would have spooked every fish.
04 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in Bowfin, Kayak Fishing for Bowfin, Kayak Fishing Posts
Tags
amia calva, Bowfin, jordan lake, Kayak Fishing Posts, Kayaks, Landing a big fish, living fossils, rough fish
Battling an angry, powerful fish from a kayak can be a nerve-rattling experience. Anglers must first contend with the thrill of the fight and the steps required to land the fish. Those steps include adjusting the drag setting on the reel, preventing the fish from running into and being wrapped on underwater structure, and any number of other movements (such as holding the rod in one hand while using a landing net with the other). In some cases, a large fish can haul a kayak into dangerous water.
Small, less bruising fishes such as Bluegill, Crappie or White Bass may not prove a great test of strength or kayak management but the motions required to land the fish remain the same. My topic here is how larger sport fishes – Alligator Gar, Muskellunge, Steelhead, giant Largemouth Bass or Bowfin – amplify the mechanics of landing a big, angry fish by requiring added strength as well as attention to detail. And all these movements are amplified, sometimes to deafening volume, by a tangible risk of physical harm to the angler and the fish.
What will happen when I pull this large fish into the kayak, and its powerful jaws, teeth or tail are in my lap?
17 Friday Jun 2016
Posted in Kayak Fishing Posts, Writings
Tags
birth of a sport, chad hoover, kayak, Kayak Bass Fishing, kayak fishing national championship, Kayak Fishing Posts, Kayaks, kbf, Kentucky Lake, paddle sports, paris tennesssee
Here is my latest article, courtesy of Pacific Standard magazine, on the state of my favorite sport.
https://psmag.com/kayak-bass-fishing-birth-of-a-sport-1f82bd804768#.b98r81sy8
Posted in Kayak Fishing Posts
Tags
Bass Fishing, Bowfin, Henry Veggian Kayak Fishing, Kayak Fishing Posts, Kayaks, primitive fishes
Kayak Fishing offers the advantage of stealth to the angler in the boat. A kayak can navigate water that a bass boat or even a john boat cannot enter without running aground or scaring fish – assuming the angler is quiet and controls the vessel. To fully enjoy a kayak as a fishing platform, an angler must be willing to explore, learn new techniques, have strong paddling skills and take safety precautions. For these reasons and others, kayak fishing has been my preferred style of fishing since 2011.
I was first introduced to the sport by an officer of the UNC Fishing Club who worked at a large kayak dealership in Greensboro, N.C. in 2008. I began to practice, seek out new waters and later, fish in tournaments (primarily for Largemouth Bass). Over the years, I’ve compiled a strong record in competition. Here are a few highlights:
I. Tournament Kayak Fishing Record
