THE KAYAK EDGE

A Beneficial Way To Get More Women Involved In Fishing

BY IAN KENNEDY

AS POWERBOATS SPEED across Lake St. Clair, Jamie Stevenson quietly glides into the southern Ontario lake’s untapped corners in her kayak. From the unique vantage point of her sleek Hobie Pro Angler, the Sarnia, Ontario, 41-year-old has been reeling in trophy fish since falling in love with the sport in 2018. She has also rapidly ascended the competitive ranks of kayak fishing, joining the Ontario Kayak Bass Trail and representing Canada at the 2019 Pan American Bass Kayak Championships. Now Stevenson wants others, especially women, to give kayak fishing a try, offering the following advantages about joining this growing angling community.

PRACTICAL BENEFITS “One of the reasons I chose fishing from a kayak is to keep it simple,” Stevenson says. “I fished out of a boat for a few years, but I enjoy the ease of throwing a kayak into the back of my truck and launching from any waterway.” In particular, she uses Google Maps to look for access points to fishing grounds that are otherwise inaccessible by motorboat. “Whether it’s the Great Lakes, or a small river on a back road, putting a kayak in the water is easier in many ways than a boat.” Access and ease of transport aside, Stevenson says other benefits of kayak fishing include the relative affordability of kayaks themselves, and the minimal maintenance and storage requirements.

HEALTH BENEFITS While fishing from shore or a boat can be relaxing, Stevenson says kayak angling comes with added health benefits. “One of the main reasons I love fishing out of a kayak is the exercise,” she says. “It combines my love for the outdoors with physical activity. I’m truly at peace when I’m on the water. After a stressful day at work, I can completely unwind.” The way Stevenson sees it, the plentiful mental and physical health benefits make kayak fishing an enticing self-care option for anglers.

EMPOWERMENT BENEFITS According to Stevenson, kayak fishing also offers opportunities for more women to challenge norms on the water and get involved in angling. “There are a lot of trailblazing women who are starting to break down barriers,” she says, herself included. For women new to the sport, she recommends reaching out on social media to women already involved with the “inclusive” kayak community, which is always open to helping newcomers. “There is absolutely nothing stopping women from learning to fish,” Stevenson says. “We all start from the beginning, regardless of age or gender. I think kayak fishing is a great way to get more women involved in the sport.” OC

Dog Sense

Diver Down

When crippled ducks hit the water, they impulsively dive to avoid capture.

Retrieving these elusive birds is challenging, even for experienced gun dogs, but it can be especially confusing for young pups. That makes it important to teach dogs to spot and outsmart subsurface swimmers before the hunting season begins, using training gear such as the Dokken Diver dummy (above) to simulate a lively downed duck.

THE CHALLENGE Survival is priority number one for a wounded duck. When a retriever closes in, the duck will dive, then resurface a short distance away. If the retriever persists, the duck will switch tactics and dive longer, only surfacing to catch its breath; often, only its bill will be visible. That’s when it becomes important to train your dog to watch for wounded ducks swimming low in the water, and even dive to retrieve them.

THE TRAINING If you’re also an angler, the training can be as much fun for you as it is for your dog when you employ gear such as the Dokken Diver, which works like an oversized floating crankbait. Using a heavy rod and reel spooled with high-test, non-stretch line, you cast out the duck-shaped dummy, reel it in a short distance underwater, then let it surface. Once your circling dog locates the Diver, you simply release it with a sharp jerk of the fishing rod. As the dog’s confidence grows, you can add more dives and increase the distance of the underwater retrieve. For added realism, have a partner shoot a shotgun as you cast, which also helps train the dog for steadiness and marking.

—LOWELL STRAUSS

FOR THE BEST TIMES TO FISH AND HUNT, CONSULT OUR SOLUNAR CHARTS AT WWW. OUTDOORCANADA.CA/TIMES.