Kite-Powered Kayak Fishing

Skipping live baits or hardware under a Kite-powered kayak using a Caught in Flight kite is exhilarating! Kites plus wind equal power as anyone can see as that surfer under the kite glides across the tips of the waves at beach side. That sport is called kite boarding and if one can do it on a board, why not a kayak? One the flip side to this is angling under a kite, where the kite and line become 'outriggers' as a bait is propelled across the surface of the water, under the kite, like the kite boarder; trolled out (kite skipping) until a bite occurs. Kite powered kayak fishing is using the kite to propel the bait out across the waters surface, or slightly under popping the surface occasionally, while powering the kayak just as one would do when trolling along the shore in a power boat. When kite fishing is performed from the land or a power vessel two rods are used. One is a kite rod, generally a short stubby stoker, and the other the fishing rod connected to the bait or hardware. The kite rod has either a kite reel attached or a conventional reel of which can hold at least 500 meters of 200-pound test kite line. Using this two-rod set up is not practicable when in the confines of a kayak. It can be copied but it is better if a hand wind (yo-yo system) is used on the kite and a cleat is fashioned in front of the cockpit for securing the kite. Kite-powered kayaking is best done in a boat with a stern rudder (if there is no rudder a paddle will replace the rudder), a cleat forward of the cockpit and a single-line kite. The cleat tethers the kite, giving one a hands free operation and keeping the center of pull forward as you do not wish to be pulled sideways. When kite fishing from a kayak winds are a key factor. Not just any kite will do as a kite with cells, vents and a drogue are needed. Wind speeds in the ten to fifteen mph range will propel both you and the bait. If you were to troll your bait behind the kayak or canoe, at best paddling speed, you might hit two mph. Under a kite, both you and the bait are powered around five to seven with no effort on your part. With the proper kite, a kayaker can maneuver up to 45 degrees downwind, as a sailboat does in its tacking. A general rule to kite size is bigger kites for lighter breezes and smaller kites on strong windy days. A point to remember and to heed with caution is if there are white capping across the surface, do not use a kite as power.

A kite without a drogue is compared to a kayak with out a paddle; you are at the whims of the current. On the other hand, a sea anchor, another type of drogue, must be used in order to launch the kite or stop your craft, should you fall out! The first steps in launching the kite is to place out a sea anchor, one that is around 17 inches in diameter. Placing enough line to the sea anchor to hold it in your lap while it is tied to a stern handle and not in the water. Deploy this drogue from either side of the craft and as the slack retrieves the kayak will move forward until a taunt line is present. Once the sea drogue is filled, it will be upwind at your stern with the bow pointed directly down wind. This drogue is essential for deployment of the kite, and for safety. Without it, the kayak will turn side ways to the wind and capsizing is possible. After the kite is launched, the sea drogue will be pulled in by a hand over hand movement, carefully winding the line in a counter-clockwise circle and placing this coil at your feet between your legs on the flooring or bottom of your craft. The sea drogue is removed from the water, rolled or folded and placed in your lap. The sea anchor or drogue now is a dead man switch, should you become separated from your kayak. When I am yaking along the Gulf coast of Florida , I carry one with me wither kite fishing or not. If I should become detached from my vessel, it will slow down or stop as this dead man switch deploys and the drogue fills.

After you have deployed your sea drogue, secure or fasten the paddle to the boat. Do not let your paddle tether out on a paddle leash, if you do, it will act as a type of rudder and forward motion will cease. As the drogue plays out, the kayak will all but slow down or stop forward movement. Unwrap your kite and clip it to your kite line. Attaching your fishing line and leader directly at the kite on a secured out rigger clip. This is similar to an out rigging, only instead of keeping the line out it keeps it up and your kayaks speed, determines where the bait is in the water. This is known as 'up rigging'. Holding the kite as high as possible, fishing line attached and baited with arms extended, by its harness and shrouds, let the kite fill and begin to go aloft, letting out enough line to fly at about 30 or so feet to your bow. Secure the kite line to the forward clear and retrieve the sea drogue in the manner described above as your dead man switch. Using your paddle as a rudder, begin your brace or rudder stroke to deploy your craft in a tacking manner giving yourself up to twenty or so degrees of added coverage to your skipping bait. More times than not, the kayak or canoe will move along at a slow troll or drift, this fishing is designed for live bait or hardware; my favorite the DE (Down-East Sportscraft lures) Demon Bait on 65 # SS single wire. As you move forward, your bait will skip the water. If it is hardware, it will flash and dance across and just under the surface in a frenetically manner driving fish crazy. Live baits will skip across the surface and attempt to dive under, only to rise again to the surface, again driving fish into a bite. On the strike or the bite, deploy the sea drogue and concentrate on the fight. After capture and photo's release your quarry and reset your fishing rig by placing it on another out rigger clip letting the bait run along the kite line back up to the kite. Doing this until you have had your fill or out of clips. When finished fishing for the day redeploy your drogue and haul in your kite to stow.

Up rigging and skipping baits under a kite is ideal for catching all freshwater game species on your favorite lake or inshore backcountry expedition. It too can be used inshore or nearshore from saltwater locations as well but the chances of catching a fish larger than one wants next to the side of your craft is scary, not to mention very possible. Inflatable kayaks or canoes are not recommended as hooks or fins are not compatible for floatation. Kite powered kayaking is a real kick in the head. Fishing under a kite while in a kayak or canoe is just plain awesome.

And if your skeptical as to being powered by a kite in angling, boating or any other means of propulsion across the water then you need to check this out. If a kite can power an cargo ship in its attempt to sailing towards lowering emissions, just think of the possibilities the next time you fuel up at the docks for that trip inshore/offshore or your arms are exhausted and you have another two miles across the bay to get home.

CHECK IT OUT!

"FISH ON!"