River running skills for kayak anglers.

Brothers and sister Big J, winter is here in force and that means our rivers are on the rise and Steelhead Fever is about to explode. Running rivers in a SOT kayak can be extremely fun but challenging. What it does is open up vast stretches of river out of reach from the bank angler and is way cheaper than hiring a driftboat capt. The fishing kayak can carry a full compliment of camping gear and some are even Expedition grade. A lot the skills needed to be developed for running rivers are counter intuitive to what you might have already been taught. You can learn enough to get started and feel comfortable in moving water in a weekend intensive.

As a professional in this sport and certified as a whitewater/sea/canoe/ instructor I've been asked by some of you to put together a class on running rivers. Even though I eat breathe and sleep my kayak business I do my best to refrain from posting anything commercial on this site. This is a matter of safety though and there aren't that many Qualified instructors in our Club. So if your interested in coming up to The south Fork Eel for a full weekend training with fishing of course. Contact me offline and I'll put you on the list. This is open only to NCKA members with over 50 post.  Class size will be limited at twenty. There will be lots of fishing but this is mainly a kayak skills development class. to be held the weekend of January 18-20

Skills covered will include:
1) Outfitting your fishing kayak for rivers
2)Paddle strokes for rivers and current
3)Bracing, leaning, and eskimo roll your fish yak
4)dynamics or river running / river reading skills
5) negotiating rapids and eddies
6) safety and rescue
7)overnighting with your yak

Hawk Martin- [email protected]

What is the cost and accomodations?

-Brian G

Hey guys I promised Bill I'd limit my post to just an inquiry. If you want details email me or call my shop (707) 443-5157

Swellrider---d'u forsee that you might want someone to help u do pick-ups?

I'm a Class-5 ww decked boater/fisherman ... bomb-proof e-roll both sides ... experienced picking up antimate & in-antimate objects ...

My purpose in coming would be to meet whoever comes; pick your brain about steelheading; camp & fish your area for a couple days and then run 10-Mile Creek/S. Fk Eel on the way home.

Judd   510 548 1769    [email protected]

Cool.  I've run the tuolumne a few times and there were definitely a few wierd things that happen on rivers but not the ocean.  Most glaringly was that the water in the middle moved faster than on the side, so if you paddled out of the edge of the channel it would tend to pull the stern down stream - kind of like skidding into a bootlegger turn in a car.  Longer kayaks are worse about this.

Also strainer hazards are about as dangerous a surf breaking on rocks and harder to avoid...

I don't generally fish out there, just a beer-run down the river.  There are carp and I've considered trying to spear them.  That'd be fun.  Otherwise it's C&R for trout..

 Swellrider,
Im scheduled to work on one of those days. Before I take the day off I just wanted to confirm that you will be teaching folks to roll their SOTs?  C2C style?

Do you still have openings? I left several messages elsewhere no respone????????????

Sherm

I'm traveling Right now fellas will respond to each of you though by phone or e-mail. I will be incommunicado down in Baja for a week starting the 26th.

The C2C is the prefered method for rolling a tub like SOT. Developing a bombproof roll can takes months. We will cover the mechanics of it and depending on class size I will work one on one with each student to get them started with the roll.

The primary focus of the event will be to impart how to run and fish a river with rapids and stay safe doing it.