GOING SOLO

While it’s advisable to go paddling with a friend, it shouldn’t rule out fishing alone if you follow our kayak expert’s advice

It goes against most of the advice that you will find online – where kayak fishing in a group, or in pairs, is highly recommended. The health and safety zealots won’t be in favour of hearing this – but sometimes, fishing alone is unavoidable.

Going solo is not something that should be encouraged, particularly for newcomers, but not everybody lives in an area where it is easy to meet other kayak anglers. It can be difficult to arrange time on the water that fits in with somebody else’s availability.

Kayak fishing can be dangerous, but so can crossing the road – it all depends on how you approach it. With a measured and methodical approach, and sticking to times and conditions that are within your comfort zone, there should never be any issues arising from going solo. Just remember, though, the more pairs of eyes on the water the better.

Heading out to sea alone is not a big worry, assuming that you are well prepared, confident and competent in your paddling. When heading out alone, it pays to ensure that you take a couple of extra precautions. Here’s my advice…

CHECKLIST

Check your safety gear, both clothing and electronic, is in good working order, and any batteries that need to be charged are full, with spares carried. Don’t just depend on a mobile phone or electronics because batteries can die, so carry some basic navigation gear like a compass; its value cannot be overstated if you get caught out with a dodgy battery for the chartplotter.

Leave a relatively detailed plan with a partner or family member, letting them know roughly where you will be fishing and at what time you intend to return. A quick call to let people know you have landed safely will allay the worries of those at home where applicable.

Double and treble check the weather forecasts, and don’t just use the one resource. Check a range of sites and sources for weather reports to make sure they are all giving the same forecast. Two excellent weather forecasting sites (particularly for wind strength) are www.windguru.cz and www.yr.no that have served me well. Kayak fishing cannot be recommended to anybody in bad conditions.

Check the tide times and also the range. Remember the ‘Rule of Twelfths’ that says the third and fourth hours between high and low water will be the hours with the strongest tidal flows. Depending on where you live, the strength of these tides and your ability will determine whether or not you venture out. Spring tides will carry more water than neap tides in every cycle, so keep this in mind when heading out on your own.

Only head out if you are physically feeling up to paddling and fishing for a few hours. Going solo cannot be advised when tired. Fatigue encourages bad decision making, and you won’t have the benefit of a second pair of eyes watching your back.

Take any precautions that you usually would. Do you need sunglasses/sunscreen, a hat, food and drink? Carry a first aid kit. Even if you intend to be ashore by nightfall, take a torch. Choose a light and weather/ waterproof head torch because if you get caught out on the water after it gets dark, which does happen, the head torch leaves both hands free for paddling.