From the Kayak to the Boat
I'm moving up the dominance hierarchy like Snoop, no longer confined to the horrors and pains of paddling, freed from the shackles of exercise. Well, at least for one weekend. My friend Mark, a talented designer from Toronto, came up to Muskoka to do a little fishing. We rented a boat from Huntsville Marine and I got to play guide for a day and a half. Even though I've fished the three lakes in Huntsville plenty of times on my kayak, zooming around in a boat is a totally different ball game.
Planning your day when you have access to a boat is much different. You can only go so far when you're in a canoe or kayak, so you generally focus one or two areas within a relatively small radius. That area expands greatly when you're in a boat, even if it isn't particularly fast. In less than twelve hours on the water, we fished Fairy, Vernon, and Peninsula, all of which now seem a whole lot smaller. Don't underestimate the areas within your reach, and plan accordingly.
Being able to fish a large area can be daunting, and your approach to decision making when fishing in a boat should be adjusted accordingly. Professional bass anglers often talk about the importance of making decisions. My guide at Lake St. Clair explained that the difference between great and elite anglers is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. Do you keep working an area or do you move on? Do you maximize your fishing time, or do you make a long run? The trip to Lake Vernon on Sunday morning paid dividends.
The ability to remain patient becomes that much more of a challenge in boat. While it can be frustrating at times to fish out of a kayak or canoe, one of the main benefits is that it forces you to work areas rigorously. Being thorough important even when you're power fishing. In a boat, it's very tempting to employ an "ADD" style: make a few casts, then move to another spot. Resisting that temptation can make you more successful.
I absorbed a ton of information this weekend that I'll use when I'm back on my kayak. Travelling around in a boat has saved dozens and dozens of hours of denial trial and error paddling. One final comment: playing the role of guide is not easy. My hats off to those who do it professionally. I've taken a few people out this year, and have felt the pressure of putting people on fish. I can't even imagine what it feels like when you're taking out clients who have paid you hundreds of dollars and you have to deliver...well, maybe I have some idea of what it's like.
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