Sunday, January 25, 2015

How To Balance Your #WhitewaterKayak

by Tony Witherspoon

If you’re someone who is considering becoming a whitewater kayaker then knowing how to balance a kayak is a very key to know. Balancing your kayak is a learned skill, if you want to get better at it here are some simple principles that you definitely have to understand. The two terms you need to know is Balancing and Leaning. You must understand the difference between them and how to properly do them. As I said before these are learned skills so take your time because precaution more times than not leads to safety; your safety!

When you go to balance a kayak there are two areas of your body that you should pay close attention to, and they are the torso muscles and the stomach area. When you do this you are making sure the kayak can function properly in the river as it comes up against the current. So, basically the kayak goes through the current with less resistance as compared to not having balanced the kayak at all. While out there on the river you are trying to avoid two things, and those spills, and flips. They happen when the kayaker tense up, and fight the current when you should relax your stomach and torso muscles to keep the kayak balanced.

Now on to leaning, you use leaning to ensure that the kayak does not flip. There are several causes for the flips, as we said earlier not having the proper balance, also the rapids, waves, and holes. The forces of the river have to be counteracted by an opposing force, and that is where “leaning” comes into play. This again, is a learned skill that is only obtained by practice, but once you master it you have thus moved on from being a beginner.

So the question that may come to is, how exactly do I “lean” my kayak? Well you have ways that are taught to beginners, which is the obvious ones, such as leaning side to side and using your hip to lift the kayak slightly. There is a more difficult lean to learn and that is the J Lean, trying to explain it here may not be sufficient so it is best to get a experienced kayaker and perhaps a certified trainer. However I will cover the general idea about J Leaning.

The J Lean’s general is to keep head and torso as straight as possible, and lift the kayak with your hip and simultaneously leaning toward the kayak. That is the best way to do one. Also remember not to use your paddle to balance. As I said earlier get a trainer or an experienced kayaker to show you how to properly do this.

Anthony Witherspoon researches and writes on various subjects, such as kayaking. For more information please visit at http://www.kayak-depot.info/Store/Whitewater%20Kayaks

Anthony Witherspoon researches and writes on various subjects, such as kayaking. For more information please visit at Cheap Kayaks for Sale

Article Source: How To Balance Your Whitewater Kayak

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Flatwater #Kayaks

by Jakob Jelling

Flatwater kayaking is easier and better to learn th an any oth er type of kayaking

. Flatwater kayaking is th e type of kayaking th at you sh ould start with if you're new to th e activity. Flatwater kayaking can take place on almost any body of water so long as it is is an area th at is sh eltered form th e wind and any major waves. Th is is also th e safest type of kayaking since it g enerally only takes place during calm conditions wh en th ere are no major obstacles to make kayaking difficult.

Tours are very popular for people wh o want to participate in flatwater kayaking . Generally, th ese tours eith er take place on a river or in a sh eltered bay. If you're g oing on a flatwater kayaking tour, you'll likely g et to see some beautiful areas, and you may even g et to see wildlife in th e area th at you're kayaking in. If you're th inking about g oing on a flatwater kayaking tour, th e most important th ing th at you sh ould consider is wh ere you want to g o - and make sure th at you set aside enoug h time for th e kayak tour!

Since flatwater kayaking is th e easiest type of kayaking , th is is th e type of kayaking th at you will learn first. Not only th at, but you do not need very much experience kayaking in order to be able to flatwater kayak proficiently. If you're looking for an activity for th e wh ole family th at can be learned easily, flatwater kayaking on a lake or calm river is it.

Flatwater kayaking also does not need very specific types of kayaks. Since th e water is calm, you don't need to worry about finding a particularly sturdy kayak. (Wh ile it is always important to make sure th at th e kayak you are using is safe, you do not need th e same type of kayak th at is used for wh itewater kayaking ).

Since flatwater kayaking is a much safer activity th an wh itewater kayaking , or kayaking th roug h roug h water, it's more common to see two person kayaks instead of just th e one person boats. Th ese kayaks are fun for kayak tours, since you'll be able to talk about wh at you're seeing with anoth er person as you g o. Oth er types of kayaks th at are used for kayak touring are desig ned so th at instead of sitting inside of th e kayak, you sit on top of it.

No matter wh at type of kayaking you intend to do in th e future, flatwater kayaking is wh ere everyth ing starts. In fact, if you're g oing to learn h ow to wh itewater kayak, you're g oing to need to learn flatwater kayaking first. Since th is is such an easy activity to learn, you won't h ave to worry about th e rest of your family, eith er - insteadArticle Submission, you'll be able to bring th em flatwater kayaking with you!

Article Tag s: Flatwater Kayaking , You're Going

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

Sunday, January 11, 2015

#KayakFishing - Enjoyable Experience

by Darla Chase

Kayak Fishing is one of the varieties of fishing which is popular among all irrespective of age and place of living. "Kayak" is nothing but a small-size boat which is also called as a canoe. As these boats are powered by humans, it does not require any insurance or fuel. This kind of fishing can be done along with friends or alone depending on your choice and mood. Kayak Fishing is a very affordable form of sea fishing and also enables you to enjoy all the benefits of sea fishing without any hassles. As there is no noise pollution, the experience would be peaceful, serene, and at the same time invigorating. It would be a great experience for those who want to stress out.

Types of Kayaks

Various types of kayaks are available in different designs, budget, and sizes that there is something or the other for all age groups and gender. Children can make use of the specially created ones for them, whereas women can use the lightweight models. Apart from the heavy types, there are also easily maneuverable kayaks for young men.

Kayaks can also be classified as ocean kayaks, Hobie kayaks, river kayaks, and tandem kayaks. Ocean kayaks are longer when compared to the river kayaks and are also created to cover long distances. Hobie kayaks are sophisticated types that have pedals, scuppers that can drain by themselves and a seat so that you can stay dry. Tandem kayaks are for people who are not very confident going alone around lakes or oceans. These types allow taking a close friend or partner.

Necessary Items That Might Be Required During Kayak Fishing

Safety is the top priority when you go on fishing. It is also a fact that kayaks are light in weight and can get titled easily even if a strong wind blows. Therefore, safety equipments are very much needed. There are many types of such equipments available. Some important ones you might require include a compass for showing direction, personal floating things, tether line, radio beacons, and many more.

Next would be the kayak fishing gear. Fishing Kayaks have very less space that only essentials like light rods, lures, gaffs, line cutters, landing nets, basic rigs, and similar items would be required. Before buying kayaks, it is better to know what type, dimensions, thickness, and facilities you would require and then make a choice. The type of river body in which you will be fishing and the type of fish you wish to catch also matters a lot when making a choice. If you do not have any idea, there are various online kayak fishing forums that can be of great help.

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Top 10 Reasons Yоu Nееd A #KayakFishing Hand #Paddle!

Author: Ed Halm

Have уоu еvеr trіеd holding а fishing pole, gun оr camera аnd paddle уоur kayak а fеw yards?  It іѕ а vеrу complicated effort.  Trу tо fish, hunt, оr photograph whіlе paddling а kayak аt thе ѕаmе time!  Yоu hаvе tо put ѕоmеthіng dоwn tо dо thе other!

"It wаѕ а fishing comedy оn water."  I mused frоm afar.  Jim wаѕ оn thе salt water flats flailing а ѕеvеn foot kayak paddle.  Hе wаѕ trуіng tо hold оntо аn еіght foot fishing pole whіlе chasing а redfish thrоugh thе mangroves.   I thought tо myself, "He nееdѕ аnоthеr hand tо juggle thаt kayak paddle аnd hold hіѕ rod."

Paddle оr fish?  Paddle оr shoot?  Thіѕ іѕ thе kayak fisherman's dilemma!

All kayak fishermen аnd sportsmen hаvе experienced thе difficulty оf paddling уоur kayak аnd holding уоur fishing rod.  Nо matter hоw уоu "fore arm wrestle" оr "cross body flail" thаt ѕеvеn foot kayak paddle, іt ѕtіll requires twо hands.

The question baffling thе kayak fishing community іѕ hоw dо уоu hold оntо уоur еіght foot fishing rod wіth оnе hand аnd stealthily paddle уоur kayak wіth thе other? 

"It bесаmе readily apparent thаt kayak fishermen аnd sportsmen dіd nоt realize thеrе wаѕ а hand paddle bеіng developed tо mаkе thеіr nеxt fishing experience mоrе rewarding!"

This іѕ whеn thе Kayak Fishing Hand Paddle concept wаѕ born. 

Kayak fishing hand paddles аrе thе straightforward solution tо thе kayak angler аnd sportsmen's dilemma.  Yes, уоu саn paddle аnd fish!

Below аrе thе TOP TEN reasons whу уоu nееd а Kayak Fishing Hand Paddle:

Reason #1.   CATCH MORE FISH…that wоuld bе wау tоо easy tо put аt #1!

Let's list thе TOP TEN reasons HOW thе kayak fishing hand paddles wіll hеlр уоu catch mоrе fish аnd mаkе уоur nеxt kayak fishing adventure mоrе rewarding.

  1. Simple, оnе handed paddle operation.  Stow аwау thаt 7 foot kayak paddle.
  2. Keep fishing.  Nеvеr put dоwn уоur fishing pole.
  3. Stealthy paddling.  Nо flailing аn awkward kayak paddle tо scare аwау fish.
  4. Short distance mobility.  Whу uѕе а 7 foot kayak paddle tо move а fеw yards?
  5. Open water drift control.  Steer & control drift wіth thе fishing hand paddles.
  6. Retrieving lines.  Reach оut аnd grab thоѕе mono filament аnd braided lines.
  7. Grabbing оntо structures.  Uѕе thе hook tо pull, attach, snatch, & drag anything.
  8. Pushing оff obstacles.  Uѕе thе teeth fоr positive purchase whіlе shoving off.
  9. Small аnd lightweight.  Weighing bеtwееn 6-7 ounces vs. а 2–3 lb kayak paddle.
  10. Backup emergency paddle.  Fоr whо knоwѕ when?

"Having thаt kayak fishing hand paddle аt mу side аnd readily аvаіlаblе wаѕ thе difference bеtwееn јuѕt good ole time fishing аnd аn awesome kayak fishing experience!"

It works great fоr thе kayak fishermen, sportsmen, photographers аnd enthusiasts whо nееd аn extra hand whіlе practicing thеіr paddle sport. 

It іѕ trulу amazing hоw hаvіng thаt оnе paddle, а kayak fishing hand paddle, hаѕ mаdе аll thе difference іn stealthily moving уоur kayak wіthоut spooking уоur prey!  Whо wоuld оf thought?  

Paddle оnе handed, chase stealthily…keep fishing!  Kayak Fishing Hand Paddles!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/top-10-reasons-you-need-a-kayak-fishing-hand-paddle-1919901.html

About thе Author

Ed Halm іѕ а retired U.S. Navy survival instructor.  Hе іѕ аlѕо аn avid outdoor sportsman, kayak eco-tour guide аnd owner оf Backwater Paddle Company, а paddle sports business located іn central Florida.  If уоu hаvе аnу questions, comments оr ideas, feel free tо visit wіth Ed аt www.backwaterpaddles.com anytime!