Top 7 Kayaking Spots In The United States

Top 7 Kayaking Spots In The United States

By: Joseph   of Austin Kayaks (http://www.austinkayak.com/)

Good kayaking can be found all over the United States. Whether it be a great kayak fishing spot, rapids to run or just some flatwater with great sights and wildlife, there’s bound to be something near you. Personally, I have explored a wide variety of waters here in Texas and despite trying to convince my company (ACK.com) countless times to send me around the States to explore the top spots for kayaking, I haven’t had the opportunity quite yet. However, kayaking is a very social activity and when someone finds a great spot you can be sure they’ll be talking about it. Because of this, I’ve created a list of seven top spots (in no particular order) for kayaking, one personal favorite and six that I plan to visit sometime in the future.

Pictured Rocks. A favorite paddling destination for Michigan sea kayakers, Pictured Rocks offers a unique environment to explore on the water. The national lakeshore gets its name from the colorful sandstone cliffs naturally sculpted into shallow caves (that kayakers are able to explore) and unique formations with plenty of sandy beaches to land and put in as well. It’s located on Lake Superior, which can often have unpredictable waters, so kayakers should consult forecasts and be prepared for varying conditions.

Outer Banks. The whole state of North Carolina is famous in the paddling world. It’s home to a number of kayak manufacturers and boasts tons of unique natural venues for kayakers. One such spot is the Outer Banks, a long string of narrow barrier islands just off the coast. This place has a ton to offer to kayakers. There are many marshes to explore rife with coastal seabirds and marine life and is also popular with kayak anglers. Sea kayakers also find this area both fun and challenging as they can enjoy paddling from island to island or just about the open sea.

Everglades. The Everglades is a natural wetlands region that excompasses a huge area of southern Florida. It’s a very popular spot for flatwater paddling and has plenty of unique wildlife to spot and habitats to explore. It has four very different paddling trails to experience ranging from the Flamingo Canoe Trails to the Gulf Coast Trail. The Nine Mile Pond paddling trail takes kayakers/canoers through mangrove forests and marsh habitat and is a favorite for kayak anglers.

Green River Narrows. The Green River Narrows is another reason North Carolina’s is famous in the kayaking community. This dam controlled section of water is about 3 miles long and runs nearly 300 days of the year. It’s a mecca for whitewater paddlers and creek boaters with the skills to traverse class IV or V rapids. This is also home to the most hotly contested (arguably worldwide) annual Green Race which has been going since 1996 and is still very popular to this day.

Lighthouse Lakes. This is a Texas favorite, located between Aransas Pass and Port Aransas, Lighthouse Lakes was the first paddling trail in the state. Comprised of four different paddling loops, kayakers can explore the flatwater mangrove estuaries and lakes. It is a great spot for both bird watching and kayak fishing, in particular red drum, spotted sea trout and flounder. Lighthouse Lakes gets it’s name from an historic lighthouse which you can see as you paddle through the flats.

Apostle Islands National Park. Another National Lakeshore of Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands are located in northern Wisconsin. They are comprised of 21 different islands and offer some great opportunities for sea kayakers. Sea caves, rock gardens, inland crossings, bays and sandy beaches are just some of the environments kayakers are able to explore. I’ve heard from many paddlers about their experiences camping on certain islands as well. Again, Lake Superior is known to have varying conditions so kayakers should be prepared.

Acadia National Park. Located on the upper coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is a favorite for all levels of sea kayakers. Kayakers can explore areas they feel comfortable with, starting with the Frenchman’s Bay where a number of islands await beginner paddlers to explore. Those who feel more comfortable can take on the open waters on their own and explore the many rocky coves the area has to offer with plenty of marine life to spot along the way. As always, it's suggested that paddlers take the necessary precautions to ensure they have a safe paddling experience. 

While there is great kayaking to be found wherever you go, you cannot deny the unique opportunities that these seven spots have to offer. So grab your kayaks, your gear and your friends and get out there! And if you just happen to need a new piece of kayaking equipment, remember to visit Austin Kayak (www.ACK.com), we ship all over the United States!

About the Author

Joseph Dowdy is an avid kayaker based out of the central Texas area. He has paddled many of central Texas’ waterways and has attended and/or participated in many kayak fishing tournaments, races and paddling festivals. He’s currently employed at Austin Canoe and Kayak (ACK) and loves that he gets to spend time working with his favorite toys.

Catch the Right Fish, and Go to BASS PRO on the IDNR!

Do you like to bass fish in Indiana?  Do you like to buy new hunting and fishing gear at Bass Pro Shops? In the next few months, catching the right bass may get you some spending money at Bass Pro.

During the late summer and early fall of 2013, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will tag and release 500 legal size black bass in central and northern Indiana streams and rivers. They'll be releasing largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass in hopes of patterning their travels from these streams. Studying these patterns will improve their management of these species in Indiana waters.

I think even hooking a tagged fish alone would be pretty cool, but it gets better, the IDNR has added a reward to turning in the tags when the fish are caught.  Each tag will be a different monetary value, but all will be gift cards to Bass Pro Shops. The tags will be $5, $10, and $25, but in order to received the gift cards, the angler must call and turn in the tags.  Each tag has a phone number that the anglers will call to tell the IDNR where they caught the fish, if they're keeping or releasing the fish, date caught, tag#, and length of the fish.  When this process is over, the DNR will coordinate getting their tag, and hooking the angler up with their gift card.

Doesn't sound like too bad of a deal, and it may end up that you're getting paid to fish! The next question is where should you target these tagged fish?  The IDNR is planning to release the fish in the West Fork White River (Hamilton, Marion, and Madison Counties), St. Joseph River (St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties), and the Eel River (Wabash, Miami, and Cass Counties). Again, these fish will be released in late summer and early fall. Get your spinnerbaits, shad raps, and shakeyheads ready, cause it's about time you get paid to catch fish! 

If you catch one of these bad boys, send a picture of you with the tagged fish to willowpineoutdoors@gmail.com, and I'll send you a free Rapala crank bait. 

Set the Damn Hook! - Plus Free IN Fishing Day May 18th

As a kid, I spent a lot of time with my Grandpa on his bass boat. I would always man the back seat, and grandpa would be in the front running the foot-mounted trolling motor.  The boat was a 1980s AstroGlass bass boat, with a GIANT Mercury motor that I sometimes pretended to be a Transformer, ready to take over the world. Reminiscing a bit, I remember when I would get tired, or just needed a break; I’d just man the live well, opening it for Grandpa to toss in the keeper fish. It seemed like every fish he caught was a keeper.  Whether we were bluegill fishing, bass fishing, or trolling weed edges for whatever would bite, it didn’t matter because I was fishing with Grandpa, and there weren’t many better days than those. To me, Grandpa was the best, and I’d always hoped to be half the fisherman he was. Some of my best memories are from the back of that old AstroGlass boat, and to this day I wish I could go back to relive those moments with him.

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One of the most important lessons that I still use to this day is Grandpa very sternly telling me to “Set the DAMN hook!”  I remember I would see my bobber bounce, and I’d just start reeling in without setting the hook.  It would drive my Grandpa nuts when I did that, but now I can sit back and laugh at his phrase as I have spent time with kids who are just learning the art of setting the hook.  However, back then I didn’t understand what “setting the hook” was, and each time I’d get a bite, I’d just hope that my hook would set itself, and I could avoid the “SET THE DAMN HOOK” routine Grandpa would give me.

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Well, one day Grandpa and I were out fishing on Lake Hamlin in Ludington, MI.  We had caught a few, but we needed a few more. The bite slowed down, and I began my million question marathon. As he was answering some unimportant question I asked, his bobber began to bounce. I thought that maybe I could learn what setting the hook was by watching his routine after getting a bite.  His bobber bounced again, and he slowly started to reel in the slack of his line…. was that setting the hook? Surely not, cause I do that already.  It wasn’t seconds later that his bobber disappeared with a PLUMP under the water. With a swift and quick yank of the rod straight up, he was reeling in a nice fat bluegill. My jaw dropped and then I knew what setting the hook was! It was nothing more than that quick yank of the rod tip that set the hook into the fish’s mouth…. DUH! I remember thinking that I’ve got this now, and I’ll never miss a fish again!  Much to my surprise, there was more to setting the hook than a quick yank, so my goal each trip was to get better at setting the hook.  Even after learning how to set the hook, I’d still get the “SET THE DAMN HOOK” statement when I wouldn’t do it hard enough, or if I simply forgot.

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I eventually got it down pretty good, and sometimes too well. Still to this day, I’ll have a small bluegill nibbling on my beemoth, and right when the bobber goes under I’m setting the hook with full intensity.  Sometimes too hard, this leads to bobber, hook, weight, and beemoth soaring out of the water towards my head like a missile.  It seemed finding that middle ground of setting the hook just right was quite the task, and an art that my Grandpa had down pat.  Over the years I’ve grown quite a bit, and still almost every fishing trip I take I find myself dodging that rocketing bobber, hook, weight, and beemoth. However most of the time I get the hook set just right. I believe that my Grandpa would be proud to fish next to me nowadays, and I hope that as I grow old, I’ll have a Grandkid who I can teach to SET THE DAMN HOOK!

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This Saturday May 18, 2013, the IDNR is hosting the Free Fishing Day for Indiana residents. Anyone can fish the Indiana public waters without having to buy the Indiana fishing license.  Take advantage of this day, and get your grandkid, kid, or someone else’s youngin’ out on the water and teach them to set the hook.  Good luck! 

Other upcoming Free Fishing Days include June 1 & 2, 2013. For more information on IDNR Free Fishing Days click on the following link....IDNR - Free Fishing Info.

By: Joey W. Buttram

Ducks Unlimited Photo Contest

Ducks Unlimited concluded their yearly photo contest.  You can check out the winners, runner ups, and honorable mention photographs by clicking 2013 DU Photo Contest.

Here a few honorable mentions that I thought deserved some spotlight time.

If you're not already a member of Ducks Unlimited, check them out at Ducks.org. They do a lot of incredible things for duck habitat, conservation, and hunting. For only $30 a year you'll receive their killer Ducks Unlimited magazine, online member only benefits, window decals, and usually a pretty awesome bonus gift that's worth $30 by itself. If you're a duck hunter, you have no excuses not to join!

Turkey Harvest 2013

Two Fisherman Die After Boat Capsizes on Patoka Lake - Boat Safety

Two fisherman lost their lives on Saturday after their boat capsized on Crawford County's Patoka Lake. The anglers were taking part in a fishing tournament when the boat capsized and sank. Officials and DNR diving teams are still investigating how the boat turned over. With cold water temps and nearly 8,000 acres of open water, help was nowhere to be found. Our thoughts are with the families of these two fisherman.

 As a fisherman and duck hunter, boat safety is of high concern. I too have used up one of my 9 lives after capsizing my boat on the White River during a December duck hunt in 2008. Luckily, my partner and I made it home that night, but things could have easily gone the other direction. I've put together a list of the 5 safety tips that I stick to each time I hit the water.

  Being out on the lake is a ton of fun, and for people like me it's a way of life. However, there are times when it can be dangerous also. Take your time, have a clear head, be aware of your surroundings, and most of all catch some fish!

High Fence Trophy Hunting, and the Dangers it Poses on Our Sport and State

Dangers of Canned Hunting from Indiana Wildlife on Vimeo.

This video, produced by the National Wildlife Federation, explains some of the issues raised by commercialized, or canned, deer and elk hunting. Not only is canned hunting unethical, but also it spreads disease among the contained animal populations, which they transmit to wild herds as well.

Recently in Indiana, the Board of Animal Health found tuberculosis among several captive cervid herds. It is time to put an end to canned hunting for wildlife's sake, and for the sake of all outdoors enthusiasts.

Visit www.indianawildlife.org for more information about Indiana's conservation issues.