How to Kayak Fish with Your Pooch
9-minute read
Bending Branches Ambassador Casey Ryan loves to kayak fish and loves to be with his dogs. It’s only natural that he brings his dogs along on his fishing kayak when he can. He has tips for you too, if you’d like to try to bring your 4-legged friend fishing.
Casey and Frankie kayak fishing
Casey does a lot of kayak fishing near his Ottawa, Ontario home. He likes to bring his dog along in the kayak when he can. His current fishing buddy is his Wheaton terrier, Frankie.
He’s had many years to learn what works and what doesn’t. He’s learned good fishing scenarios for having his dog(s) along and other scenarios that aren’t good or safe.
We wanted to glean from his experience and pass his tips on to you if you have a pooch you’d like to bring on your own kayak fishing excursions.
Here’s our interview with Casey:
BENDING BRANCHES: Is Frankie the first dog you’ve fished with?
CASEY: No, this is the third dog I’ve had. I currently have her and a Lhasa apso. My first dog was an Irish terrier. My Wheaton goes on most of the trips. My Lhaso is 15 now, so he doesn’t go much anymore. Maybe out for a short time in the evening when it’s nice and cool. Frankie is only nine and in good health.
I’ve been actively bringing my dogs kayak fishing with me for the last four years. The only times I don’t bring them is if I fish for musky when I’ve got huge baits and big treble hooks. And if I do try to land a 40 or 50-inch musky (fingers crossed!) there’s not enough room in the kayak for a fish that big and the dog!
BRANCHES: Can any dog be trained as a kayak fishing companion?
CASEY: As long as the dog likes water! If the dog isn’t a fan of water or heat, it’s unlikely to work out. You’re going to force them into a situation they don’t enjoy. But all my dogs have liked water so they’ve been more than willing to come with me. None of them were inherently water dogs, but they all absolutely love it!
BRANCHES: How did you train your dogs for kayak fishing?
CASEY: There were things I did specifically getting them used to the boats when they’d be on shore. It was easy to do this at my cottage. They were around the boats and fishing gear all the time so they were familiar with it.
The first couple of trips in the kayak I didn’t take fishing gear. I would just take the dogs out to see how they felt in the boat moving around without adding that extra element. You don’t know how they’re going to react. Even if your dog is with you when you fish from shore or a motor boat, it’s going to be different in a kayak. The dog is lower to the water and in a smaller space.
I train them on getting in and out of the kayak first, from shore and the dock. One of my dogs likes to get in the boat before I pull it out while the other one likes me to be in the boat first. The big theme is seeing what works for you and your dog.
Getting in and out from a dock is touchy. My small dog can’t do it because of the height difference. A medium or large dog can, but your want to get both them and yourself used to it. They’re pushing off the front of your boat and it changes your direct trajectory of motion and stability.
We also practiced being in the boat and paddling, first just five minutes at a time. Then we’d go right back in and practice getting them off.
You want to make sure they don’t jump too early. A lot of times their instinct is to try to get to the front of the kayak and they want to jump early—but they’re never going to time it right! It’s best if you’re in control. Make sure they’re heeled back and staying with you until you tell them to get out.
BRANCHES: What’s the best kind of kayak to have a dog along?
CASEY: I have two fishing kayaks. One is a Wilderness Systems Tarpon, which has a smaller cockpit. It’s faster but has less stability on the sides. So if my dog tries to go from the back compartment around the side to the front—I can do it but it took a long time to get used to because the stability’s not there. If she stands on the rails to look over the side, it’s harder to get used to.
I also have a Jackson Liska that I use more often. It’s very stable with a large front open space. It works really well. The dogs can move throughout the boat and I don’t have any issues with stability.
So I would look for a boat that’s got a bigger front platform. That way your dog is in front of you most of the time and there’s room. It could be more difficult with a pedal boat, but there are always boats that have enough space. Sit-in kayaks have less flexibility for where your dog can be, whereas there are more options with a sit-on-top kayak.
BRANCHES: How do you cast safely and keep them away from the hooks?
CASEY: I like to introduce them to fishing from the dock because it’s an easier environment for control. They can learn not to go for the hooks and lures. That being said, sometimes they like to check out the fish and think they’re helping you land them! So always be aware of what your lure is doing and where it is, and even more so with your dog. You don’t want your dog to grab it if you’re preoccupied with your camera, tying a different line, dealing with a fish or something like that.
When I started with the dogs in the boat I would land every fish I caught with a net, even if it was one I’d normally just flip up and grab. Using a net you can always control where the fish is. Then your dog doesn’t harm the fish or itself by grabbing a fin or the hook. Once the dog is used to the situation you may not have to use the net every time.
You really want to control your dog and the situation to make sure they’re sitting and waiting for you to let them see the fish. This is especially important if you’re using treble hooks. With single and barbless hooks I’ll allow my dogs to get closer because I’m in control of the situation a little bit better.
BRANCHES: What are some other safety concerns with a dog in the boat?
CASEY: Some people leash their dog to the boat or themselves when they’re kayaking, thinking that if the dog gets out they can just pull it back in. The problem is that if the dog falls in, it’s pulling on the stability of you and your kayak. You’re more likely to capsize or fall off yourself, which makes a whole different episode.
My dog falls in quite often, or jumps in (always on command, though, it’s never her decision!). But it’s better if they’re not leashed to the boat. Unless you’re in crazy current or something of that nature the dog will be right there. If it has a life jacket you can just pull the handle. Or you may have to paddle over to shore, especially if your dog is big. I’ve seen big dogs like labs try to reenter and the boat leans quite a bit!
My Llaso wears a dog PFD, but Frankie gets a rash on her back from them so I don’t put one on her. I don’t take her in conditions with heavy winds or current, though. I just do very easy days and usually short trips.
I wouldn’t take your dogs where there’s a lot of current. If they do fall out it could make it significantly harder to get them back in the boat. So I avoid lots of current and also areas with heavy boat traffic. Some boaters are very inconsiderate. They can come by really fast and wake through, which doesn’t make it enjoyable for the dog.
BRANCHES: How is kayak fishing with a dog along different?
CASEY: When I take my dog I usually pare down on gear and remove some of the electronics from the sides of the boat. That’s where the dog likes to move and look.
I rarely take my dog on a 6-10 hour day of fishing. That’s a lot longer for them, especially dealing with the heat. They have more trouble regulating heat. One to four hours is much more manageable for them, and always mornings or evenings. I don’t take them out mid-day.
If you do take a dog out for a full day, plan a break period somewhere. Find an island or a good shoreline where you can stop and let them out. Pack some water and snacks for them, not just you. Keep them hydrated and fed too.
It’s also different when you encounter wildlife. Or if you’re on a lake with a lot of cottages and other dogs come out on the docks. Your dog may be really good at not reacting to other dogs, but what about loons, ducks and geese? Or otters and beavers? I’ve come across all of these with my dog who’s never seen them because she lives in the city.
Be prepared for those things and take them into account. Either get your dog’s attention and make sure they’re heeled in, or just turn your boat and head the other direction.
I like to talk to my dogs every three or four casts and get them to look at me. Practice keeping their attention when you don’t need it, so that when you do need them to listen, they’re going to listen.
BRANCHES: Are there any other considerations when kayak fishing with a dog?
CASEY: Sometimes I kayak fish with friends. Even when they don’t have dogs along, I have to be aware of how my dogs will react. My Lhaso would get concerned if our kayaks were more than 15 yards apart. He’d start to whine because he thought we needed to be together. And then he would want to get into the other boat. Whereas my Wheaton will watch, but is just fine with them being across the bay.
So you’ll need to take into account the first times you take your dog with others to see how they’ll react. Will they be nervous when you get separated or always be trying to switch boats?
It’s another thing to take into consideration. Decide ahead of time what you want. Do you want your dog to switch boats or do you want it to stay with you? Whatever you decide is what you’ll need to work on with your dog.
A huge thanks to Casey for his great tips on kayak fishing with your dog! Follow his Instagram page for plenty of photos and videos (many of them include Frankie, of course).
All photos courtesy of Casey Ryan.
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