Kayking The Rondout

Hit the waters of the Rondout Creek in the Hudson Valley this weekend, here's some pictures!

Here's the Future Beach Kayak I own and use every week:

New York River Smallmouth Fishing - Photoblog with GoPro

Cool evenings and warm days make for great smallmouth fishing in the rivers of New York!
Throw on a fancy looking spinner and get to work!

Nothing like kayaking and fishing along some of the most scenic areas only 90 minutes north of new york city. I took these with my GroPro GoPro HD HERO2 Outdoor Edition - Silver (Google Affiliate Ad)

Click here to buy a GoPro and start capturing some seriously beautiful kayaking and fishing shots! 

Upstate New York Summer Smallmouth Fishing

Summer is one of the most exciting times for smallmouth bass fishing on the streams and small rivers in New York State. Rocky rivers with babbling small waterfalls and bubbling rapids make for excellent summer fishing. 

If you've ever fished a New York river or stream that is entirely calm, you probably haven't had much luck. Now, put yourself 20-50 feet before or after a ripping current and you'll have the time of your life.  Smallmouth bass need crave oxygen, as do their dinners. Small bait fish consistently get caught in the rip of streams and get shot out into deeper water where smallmouth should be awaiting the easy meal.  Throw on a spinner and cast WITH the moving water. This should cause your spinner to flutter and look far more realistic.

Here's one of my favorite combos:



Another great method is to bait up with crawfish that you find hiding under rocks nearby.  Throw these near rocks that are above the waterline and just let them fall. If there's a smallmouth anywhere within 10feet, it should immediate attack knowing the familiar sound.

If you're casting into any open waters with a lure, use something with a shine! Sunny days provide perfect smallmouth fishing. These fish constantly have their eyes looking at the top of the water and above to spot falling bugs. Cast into shallows on the edge of a shelf.  If you hit the right spot, you'll literally see the bass swimming towards your lure from the shallows and jump at it before it hits the water!

Even more important, the rivers and streams of New York are beautiful. Here's a shot from a recent trip that I took with my GoPro (pick one up here - GoPro HD HERO2 Outdoor Edition (Google Affiliate Ad)).

Simple Kayak Fishing Enhancements

Recently I purchased a Future Beach kayak but realized it wasn't outfitted for fishing.
Here's what I did to turn my leisure activity kayak into a fishing machine!

Finished Fishing Kayak:

1. Purchase and mount a Rod Holder - 
Gander Mountain has a good number of rod holders. I would reccomend a plastic fishing rod holder with a slanted flush mountain. You might need to cut it down to fit in the kayak.
Here's a link to Gander's Rod Holders - Gander Mountain Rod Holders

I suggest mounting this into the kayak on either the left or right side just behind where you sit. Be sure the mount the fishing rod holder in a position that points the pole behind you!
  

2. Purchase A Cable Strap
Home Depot sells Cable Straps for electrical jobs. These actual make a great rod-positioner for your rod holder. This will keep the reed in one place so it doesn't rotate around in the rod holder while you're kayaking.

You'll need to drill out the areas where the nails are to accept screws. This will be screwed into the rod holder once it is mounted.  Here's the product that would work perfectly

3. Purchase a bathroom tub handle.
Silly, but I mounted this to the side of my kayak to act as both a carrying handle, paddle holder, and even a place to tie a rope to docks! It's come in handy more than you could imagine.
Here's one, but you should consider a stainless steel version-