Kayak Fishing with Dogs

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Very nicely written, Scott. Thanks. A lot of useful info to consider when I get my dog (after retirement).

Howard

Thanks for the How-to article Scott! I will go ahead and sticky this!

Great article Scott. Wonderful photos too.
I just wanted to add that dog PFDs are on sale at rei-outlet.com right now.

Great article Scott.  You are really luck to have one another.  I'll also add that there are few things cooler than canine kayakfishing.  It turns a few heads that's for sure, specially when you got a cute little licker like Molly.   

I have a friendly 60 lb PitBull that goes out in my triple. She doesn't show interest in the fish I catch. I put her crate in the trailer when we travel and she stays in it when I fish solo. If I take her out she wears a pfd. I think the pfd is more for warmth than anything. She has swam rapids on the Yuba and American and some respectable distance on the ocean in Mendocino without the pfd. She went to the Shelter Cove opener last year and chased ground squirels the entire weekend.

The problem I've had and others have mentioned about their dogs is they whine when they are on the kayak.     

i have a perception search 15 that has room in the back. i put the flat pugs in the scupper holes and my 65-70lb lab mix lays or sits righ in the back.  However he is a water lover and it is easier for me than most others with their dogs.  We go fo a long time out with frequent breaks and short walks.

Nice article, really in depth

Mike

A small calm dog really helps. I tried taking my lab  pup when he was 50 lbs and didn't feel comfortable leaving the marina. Now that he is 90 lbs I wouldn't feel comfortable on a puddle. I have a 15' Wilderness and it is not the steadiest of crafts. Now he spends his time getting me ducks and beer.

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I thought I could take my dog kayak fishing, but she's having a lot of trouble learning to tie the Palomar knot properly, and that's the simplest one I can think of.

She is able to cast okay, but I can't seem to get her to slow her retrieve for the slower wintertime bite. I think she has the concept, but just gets too excited.

good times might I recomend an ocean kayak peekaboo its got a nice area betwixt your legs big enough for a shmedium sized pup its plenty wide but super slow.

"Lastyear our cat of 18 years passed away and our youngest went off to college"

Scott, I agree its important to send our young cats to college as more and more mice are attending university.

Rich

My dog went out once....he bailed at about 200 yards out and swam back to shore.  He also made sure he dumped me on the way!  He's on his own

Great article, Scott!  Love those pics of Molly.

great article. i still dont think my 75lb ridge back / pit, is going out on my yak

Here is a tip that I picked up from my motorcycle racing days when I knew of a couple of guys who rode with their dogs on their laps. They attached carpet to their tank so the dogs could get a grip. I have taken my smallish “grand-dogs” on my “dry” kayak on the easy piece of the Truckee River. They would not stay in the cockpit, they had to be on the front deck and liked to do the “Titanic” pose. I resorted to putting towels on the deck and they fell in much less often (they still jumped in now and then). Eventually the best set up was a gripping surface on the deck, a harness for the dogs that I could grab like luggage to haul them back onto the boat, and a tether to the kayak so the minor rapids would not separate us.