Kayaking Facts

Kayaking is the process by which a kayak will be used to move through rivers or lakes. The kayak is a small boat that must be powered by a human. It will have a deck which is covered, and it will also feature a cockpit that is covered as well. A special paddle is used to push it forward, and this boat was first invented by the Inuit and Aleut hunters in the colder regions of North America. A contemporary kayak can come in a wide variety of different styles, and kayaking is a sport which is enjoyed by many people. Research has indicated that the kayak has existed for at least 4,000 years.

Some kayaks can hold a maximum of three people, but they will commonly only seat one or two people. The person will sit in the cockpit facing forward, and the spray skirt will stop water from getting into the craft. While the Aleut or Inuit males would design kayaks to be used for hunting, some kayaks were specifically designed for women. Generally, a kayak will be about 17 fee long, and could be 22 inches wide and 7 inches deep. In the early models, the kayak could almost be compared to an additional layer of clothing. Kayaks are commonly used today by people who practice kayaking.

Kayaking is the process of paddling a kayak on water that is moving. While some people consider it to be a sport, others do it for mere recreation. There are multiple forms of kayaking, and the two most common are Sea kayaking and Whitewater kayaking. While traditional kayaks were made from wood and animal skins, most kayaks today are made from materials such as kevlar or fiberglass. Some people will challenge fast moving rivers by using a kayak to move through certain sections of a river. These trips may last a single day, or could last multiple days. Whitewater Racing is a professional competition in which racers will attempt to use kayaks to outrace each other.

The term creeking is used to describe kayaking in difficult rivers. People who practice creeking can expect to run into slides, waterfalls, and ledges. Slalom is another form of kayaking in which racers will try to get to the bottom of the specific part of a river. Not only must they move quickly, they must also move around gates, and these are poles that have been set up at certain points in the river. Most Slalom races will have over 20 gates on a single course, and they must be properly navigated. Playboating is another variation which places an emphasis on the artistic side of kayaking instead of the speed.

With this style, the participants will generally remain in one portion of the river, and will seek to move from one point to another. However, they will need to work against the power of the river in order to achieve this. Kayaking is a sport that is popular in places that have strong river. However, it can be dangerous, and some participants have died in the most difficult rivers.

Michael Colucci is a writer for Kayaking which is part of the Knowledge Search network.

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Kayak Fishing - the Best Fishing Has to Offer

One if the hottest trend in fishing today is kayak fishing. Why? Let me count the ways:

1. Kayaks can take you places motorized boats can't.

That can translate to more fish caught with the ability of fishing waters that other boats can't get to.

2. Kayaks are easier to transport than other boats.

Kayaks can be easily transported with your SUV or truck. You can even buy folding kayaks which can fit in the trunk of your car - which takes ease of transportation to a whole new level.

3. Kayaks aren't as expensive as other boats.

The folding kayaks may be more expensive than the rigid kayaks, but all in all they're still cheaper than other motorized fishing boats.

4. Kayaks are just plain fun.

There's just something about being so close to the water that makes kayaks so much fun to be in.

Kayaks used for fishing are different than kayaks used for whitewater rafting, in that they are usually SOT (sit on top) kayaks, as well as typically wider than whitewater kayaks. They often have much larger below-deck cargo areas for easier storage of your fishing gear; some even provide waterproof storage via internal bulkheads. Unlike traditional one-paddler whitewater kayaks, many fishing kayaks can accommodate two or three paddlers.

While you may be tempted to immediately rush out and buy a kayak, it's probably a good idea to test the waters by taking a class on kayak fishing, or hiring an outfitter for guided kayak-fishing trips. While kayaks are inexpensive when compared to motorized boats, it can still be a several hundred dollar investment. It's good to know you would actually enjoy kayak fishing before you make a purchase.

When you're ready to purchase a kayak, there are some things to look for when comparing kayaks:

1. Make sure you'll be comfortable; look for a kayak with lots of leg-room, and make sure you pick a kayak with a weight capacity that will handle both you and your fishing gear.

2. Make sure the kayak is easy to load and unload. You might want to also consider a folding kayak. If the kayak is easier to load you'll probably want to use it more often.

3. Get advice from experts. Tell them what type of a fisherman (and woman) you are. This will help determine the type of kayak you should buy.

Where to go Kayak Fishing?

There are so many great spots in the United States to go kayak fishing, but some of the best spots include:

Everglades National Park - Florida

Considered by some to be one of the best kayak-fishing locations in the world, Everglades National Park offers excellent fishing year round for trout, redfish and snook, and is located just 30 minutes from Naples, or 90 minutes from Miami, and Ft. Lauderdale. With 1.4 million acres in the Park alone, and 10,000 islands surrounded by mangroves, mudflats and sandy beaches, you might never want to leave.

La Jolla Shores - California

But, if you don't leave Everglades National Park, you'll never discover kayak fishing in La Jolla Shores outside of San Diego, which is known as the best location in Southern California for kayak fishing. You can fish for halibut, white sea bass, calico bass, yellowtail and barracuda, among others. Keep in mind that you pull your vehicle right onto the sand to unload your kayak, and that the area where you launch is an ecological preserve which prohibits fishing until you reach the buoy line, which is about a half to a mile out, so you will have some paddling to do before you begin to fish.

East Matagorda Bay - Texas

Kayakers are welcomed at Matagorda Bay with their own kayak trails leading to great redfish and speckled trout fishing. No motorized boats allowed, which means kayakers have all that spectacular fishing all to themselves. East Matagorda Bay is located south of the town of Matagorda, toward the Gulf of Mexico.

To really make the most of your kayak-fishing adventure, you really should consider a kayak-fishing class or lessons with an experienced guide. Basic lessons will cover kayak safety, as well as launching and landing in surf. It can't be stressed enough that a lesson on kayak fishing may make the difference between a great day of fishing and a miserable time.

Visit Boating Vacations website, where you can learn about such things as charter boat fishing and whitewater rafting in California.

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Deep Sea Fishing - Going After Salmon

I felt a feeling of excitement as I stepped onto the charter boat. Would this be the time? Would I finally get my Salmon? Every time I had been out deep sea fishing I didn't even get a bite. The arguments have been flying around for years as to why the Salmon have gotten so rare. I haven't been paying too much attention to these arguments. I have to admit that I am selfish and just want to catch my Salmon.

My day started at 6:00 AM, when our windup alarm went off in our tent. Our little party consisted of me, my dad, and my Uncle Bob.

We had set up our tent in a public campground only a couple of miles from the harbor of Garibaldi, Oregon. Garibaldi is a small town situated on the Tillamook Bay along the Oregon coast. Garebaldi has the perfect location for a harbor and a marina because the waters are relatively calm in the bay.

It was still dark, so getting up wasn't easy. As we pulled out of the campground, several cars sped past us going in the other direction. I found out later that these were the charter boat captains driving out to the jetty, so they could see what the bar conditions were like.

I was comfortable with the boat because it was fairly new and looked to be in pretty good shape. It looked big to me. I was used to my grandfather's 14 ' boat. There were eight of us fishing plus the captain and a high school kid who baited the hooks and netted the fish.

As we approached the bar, the captain ran back, lifted the cover off the engine and looked around. He had a very serious look on his face. That's when I realized that going over the bar is not an event to take lightly. I couldn't believe the size of the waves at the bar, they towered over us to about ten feet. I felt pretty sheepish when the high school kid said that the bar was pretty good that day.

Once we got into the ocean, the waves were only two or three feet and there was no wind. At first, we were glad there was no wind, but soon we wished there was. The boat we were on was a cabin cruiser with the captain's position up on top. All of the exhaust was routed thru a pipe that went up through the center of the boat. This arrangement was probably ok when it was windy, but on our day the exhaust was sucked down to the passenger area. We all got a little green because it took an hour and a half to get to the captain's favorite fishing "spot".

When we reached the captain's "spot", the high school kid handed us each a Salmon rod with the bait already attached. We fished for about an hour without any bites. Since there didn't seem to be any Salmon around, the captain had the high school kid give us bottom fishing gear. We caught lots of fish with the bottom fishing gear.

I actually caught a couple of Sea Bass. Another guy caught a Rockfish. This fish was the oddest living thing that I had ever seen. It looked prehistoric. It was really strange with funny looking fins and an orange tongue. Very strange indeed!

After we fished for bottom fish a couple of hours, the captain had us pull in our lines and motored for about an hour to another one of his Salmon "hot spots" Nobody caught a Salmon, so I guess the spot wasn't that "hot".

We pulled in our Salmon lines and traveled for one and a half hours back to Garibaldi. Once again, the captain ran down and looked at the engine before we crossed the bar, but by that time, I was too tired and too green to care about the bar, I just wanted to get back to dry land.

We got back to port about 3:30 PM. We didn't catch any Salmon, but at least we caught some bottom fish, and had fun doing it, so the important thing was, we didn't get skunked.

The trip cost $145.00 . It's less if you decide to only fish for Salmon or bottom fish, but if you only go for one type your chances of not getting anything goes up.

I'm glad that we decided to fish for the bottom fish too because they really made our day. As for the Salmon, the arguments and the finger pointing about what caused their rarity goes on. It would be nice, however, if next time there was more wind and at least some Salmon.

Craig Stanford comes from a long line of fishermen. His grandfather fished until he was 88. His great uncle was nicknamed Deschutes River Joe because he spent so much time fishing on the Deschutes River in Oregon. For more information about deep sea fishing and many other types of fishing, check out the "Fishing Guide" at http://online-fishing-info.com

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