This time, I used the Malibu Kayaks Pro2-Tandem. The cool thing about this kayak is the center hatch. It’s water tight. And you can even store your sleeping bag inside for extended travels. But for me, I open it and leave the hatch in the pickup truck. Then I have a hole in the kayak where I securely put my tackle box, and any fish I want to keep, I just throw it into the hole.

Not very good fishing. Heavy rain has the water level up by over a foot from last week. I did have one take. A strong toman whacked my redhead Rapala Skitter Pop. One yank and the line broke. Sigh….another lure bites the dust.

Arriving at Third Lake was exciting for me. This lake has quite a lot of jelawat (sultan fish). Can’t wait to bring my kayaking fly buddies to come and try the fish.

Then I got hungry. Only had a glass of Nescafe and biscuits for breakfast. And I forgot to bring lunch.

So what to do? Luckily, I spied a large patch of lotus. Ah…..free lunch.

When you read enough about nutrition, you’ll know that seeds are great food. High in energy, zero trans fat, easily digestible and full of good quality minerals and vitamins.

This lotus leaf is big! Nearly 2ft in diameter.

I must collect some next time. There are very good for a wide variety of cooking techniques. Steamed fish, rice, chicken taste well when wrapped in lotus leaf.

I rowed right into the lotus patch. And started picking young lotus seed pods. Never take the big ones, the seeds tends to be rather bitter, unless you are in the mood for bittersweet. Nonetheless, the fatter, green pods are still quite edible in spite of the bittersweet tang.

In a short while, lunch is served.

A bunch of lotus seed pods, with the MalibuKayaks Pro2Tandem, the lotus patch and Third Lake in the background.

Eating the lotus seeds is easy. Peel off the thick pod to get the green baubles out. Peel off the green skin. Eat the little white seeds. The sweetest seeds are those with a bit of lavender purple on the tip. Brownish colour tip will tend to taste bitter.

Note the little lavender purple tip of the seed. Sweet and refreshing taste, they give.

I sat in the middle of the lotus patch, happily popping one lotus seed after another into my mouth. It’s a warm, happy feeling to dine on Mother Nature’s wild offerings while sitting on a kayak. And with no one else around within 100 acres, one will discover one’s nobility.

It’s like this. When one is satisfied with a simply nutritious meal provided by Nature. When one is using a craft propel not by automation but only by one’s will and way. When one is cut off temporarily from society like this. One learns the meaning of composure and keeping a level set of shoulders, and being true to oneself.

I’ll not trick you. There are dangers. My kayak buddies often chide me for being alone in such wild places. But it’s addictive. There are moments of insight found in solitude in the wild that can never be found anywhere and anytime else.

I even had entertainment during lunch! Haruan and maybe toman were coming up for air, making their unique gulping sounds.

No chance of hauling them out of the lotus patch, though. I ruefully mused that I would need a rod made of 100% pure fiberglass, and braided line of at least 50lb test in order to yank them out among the tough, spindly lotus stems.

Lunch done, I rowed on and explored Third Lake. The windblown lake made it hard to spot fish. But at one corner, when the wind died down for a few precious minutes, I saw movement: toman fries!

Adrenalin coursed through me as I paddled stealthily to the spot. Closer, I realised they were juvenile tomans. Their parents were no longer looking after them. If they were small fries instead, I at least had the chance to catch a good-size toman for the home freezer.

Out of boredom I cast at them. As usual, all 200 over of juvenile tomans tried to eat the lure at once, resulting in a boiling frenzy. One of them inevitably caught the treble hook. I reeled the lure back to free the fish.

Not bad. Over 11 inches long. I sampled fried juvenile toman nearly 10 years ago, out of curiosity. Quite good eating. Fine flesh.

Then I remembered that my family needs fish. And these juveniles were ideal for making fried fish so crispy, that you could chew the bones.

So I caught 19 of them for the house.

Some of the 19 juvenile tomans I caught. Used a variety of lures. They will attack anything that moves so just have to choose smallish lures to easily set the hook.

The easiest way to dress them is to cut off all the fins and the tail, and also the head. There is so very little flesh in the head so it’s a waste of time and energy frying the head too.

Dressed, frozen, and thawing.

A fine and productive day it was. Such are the pleasant joys of a kayaker.

December 15, 2009 – Tronoh, Perak (by Gerald K).  The fishing was so good the first time, we decided to revisit this ex-mining lake in Tronoh which we named The Mayan City or simply, T1 . Tronoh, like most ex-mining towns in Malaysia are pockmarked with ex-mining lakes. T1 is one of the largest lakes in the area. This time we had five kayakers, Dr. Mah, Chris, Kenny, Arnold and myself.

Dr. Mah had arrived at my house at 3.45am. We quickly loaded our stuff and headed north by 4.00am. Next, we met Chris at the Rawang R&R and headed to Tanjung Malim to join up with Kenny. We had stopped at Tapah R&R for breakfast before continuing the rest our journey. Arnold, the fifth member of the team, would join us at T1. We finally arrived T1 at 7.30am.

T1 is about 1.5km x 1.0km in size. The deep end is about 100ft. For anglers, lake structures such as dropoffs, feeder creeks, shallow coves, lotus pads and side vegetation make good fishing spots.

We decided to launch our kayaks at Mayan Bay. The bay is shallow and covered with lush green vegetation. This bay is home to the Mayan cichlids. The Mayans are small. Averaging 6 inches in length. But, their small size belies their strength. I could feel my Mini-X move each time these feisty little cichlids burst to the side…unbelievable!

From Mayan Bay, we paddled north to the feeder creeks and were rewarded with even more and bigger mayans. Later, Dr. Mah decided to paddle further north to Sanctuary Cove. Arnold, Chris and Kenny headed east to Otter Bay. I stayed on at Feeder Creek 1 and continued catching those feisty little mayans. At about 11.0am, the belidas started to rise. They had rise at the same spot and time during my first trip. I knew better this time that they would not take my grubs and decided to just watch in contemplation instead.

The feisty little Mayan.

Later, I headed north-east to Lotus Cove. Arnold joined Dr. Mah at Belida Bay. Chris and Kenny were still combing the area around Otter Bay. The Lotus Cove is shallow and filled with lotus pads. The cove is definitely home to the haruans. Sure enough, I caught our first and only haruan for the day.

Haruan and Mayan Cichlids

My keep net

Arnold had plucked a few lotus pods for lunch. I have seen lotus pods being sold in markets but never eaten one, not raw anyway. Arnold had assured us they tasted very good and convinced us to try them. He taught us how to pick the right pods, remove the seeds and peel the skin. Indeed, the seeds tasted very good…and very fresh. It has a slight sweet and bitter taste. It tasted better than the sandwich I brought. I am glad to learn another survival skill…thanks Arnold.

The Lotus Pod

A slight crunch, sweet and better taste. Nothing rival its freshness.

 I decided to join Arnold and Dr. Mah at Belida Bay. Yes, the belidas were playing at the bay area and were not interested in what we had to offer. We continued to fish until 3.00pm before slowly heading back to our launch point. 

Kenny (left) and Arnold taking a short break before heading home.

The prize catch...1.5kg Haruan.

Each of us has caught so many mayans that we had lost count. We had released all the small ones and kept a few big ones for dinner. Yes, it has been a fun day at the Mayan city.

Traditional Eskimo Kayak

The snug fit, maneuverability and watertight features of a kayak enable the Eskimo to roll-back when capsized, hence the name, eskimo-roll. The eskimo-roll is the preferred method of regaining posture after turning upside down, especially as few Eskimos could swim; their waters are too cold for a swimmer to survive for very long.

The kayak was used by the native Ainu, Aleut and Eskimo hunters in sub-Arctic regions of northeastern Asia, North America and Greenland. Most of the Eskimo peoples from the Aleutian Island eastward to Greenland relied on the kayak for hunting a variety of prey, primarily seals, though whales and caribou were important in some areas. Skin on frame kayaks are still being used for hunting by Inuit people in Greenland. Contemporary kayaks trace their origins primarily to the native boats of Alaska, northern Canada, and Southwest Greenland.

The Traditional Dugout Canoe

Many indigenous peoples of the Americas also built canoes of tree bark, sewn with tree roots and sealed with resin. The indigenous people of the Amazon commonly used Hymenaea trees. In temperate North America, white cedar was used for the frame and bark of the Paper Birch for the exterior, with charcoal and fats mixed into the resin.

Canoeing began to meet the simple needs of transportation across and along waterways. Canoeing was the primary mode of long-distance transportation at one time throughout much of North America, the Amazon Basin, and Polynesia, among other locations.

A canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails. Canoes usually are pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be covered. The canoe is ordinarily propelled by the use of paddles, with the number of paddlers (most commonly two) dependent on the size of the canoe. Paddlers face in the direction of travel, either seated on supports in the hull, or kneeling directly upon the hull. Paddles may be single-bladed or double-bladed.

In Southeast Asia, the indigenous seafaring Austronesian groups (Malay, Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian peoples) rigged their canoes with one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull. The outrigger gives greater stability and seaworthiness upon a canoe, enabling the seafarers to cross vast oceans. Smaller canoes often employ a single outrigger on the port side, while larger canoes usually employ a double outrigger configuration.

Present Day Philippine Paraw - Double Outrigger Sail

The outrigger canoe fitted with a sail enabled the Polynesians to cross the oceans to New Zealand and as far away as Hawaii. These sailing canoes are an important part of the Polynesian heritage and are actively raced and sailed in Hawaii and Tahiti today. Outrigger canoes (Tagalog and Indonesian: bangka; Maori: waka ama; Hawaiian: wa’a; Tahitian: va’a) were originally developed by the Austronesian speaking peoples of the islands of Southeast Asia for sea travel, and were used to transport these peoples eastward through to Polynesia and New Zealand during the Austronesian migration period. Even today, it is exclusively among the Austronesian groups that outrigger canoes are used.

When Magellan’s ships first encountered the Chamorros of the Mariana Islands in 1521, Antonio Pigafetta recorded that the Chamorros’ sailboats far surpassed Magellan’s in speed and maneuverability. In fact, the Micronesian sailing canoe, the proa, was the fastest sailing vessel in existence well into the 20th century.

This versatile craft has persisted into the modern age. Outrigger canoes can be quite large fishing or transport vessels, and in the Philippines, outrigger canoes (called “bangka or “banca”) are often fitted with gasoline engines.

Kayaking is generally differentiated from canoeing by the fact that a kayak has a closed cockpit and a canoe has an open cockpit. Another major difference is in the way the paddler sits in the boat. Kayakers sit in a seat on the bottom of the boat with their legs extended out in front of them. Canoeists will either sit on an elevated bench seat or kneel directly on the bottom of the boat.

Indeed, up until the development and refinement of the Rotational Moulding process in the mid 1990’s, kayaking as a sport was focused on two main areas of activity; white water and ocean or coastal ‘trekking’. These kayaks were made of fibreglass, kevlar or a composite material. Lightweight and purpose built, they were, and still are, the preserve of a dedicated group of athletes and enthusiasts around whom a whole industry has evolved.

Thanks to the development of ‘roto-moulding’ technology and the use of linear polyethylene, kayaking has become a healthy, fast growing sport capable of supporting its own unique market industry.

Kayaks are classified by their intended use. There are five primary classifications: whitewater, surf, touring/expedition, light touring/day tripping and general recreation. From these primary classifications stem many sub-classes. For example, a fishing kayak is simply a general recreation kayak outfitted with features and accessories that make it an easier kayak to fish from. Also within these classifications are many levels of performance which further separate the individual models. In other words, not all touring kayaks handle the same.

There are two major configurations of kayaks – “sit on tops” which as the name suggests involves sitting on top of the kayak in an open area and “cockpit style” which involves sitting with the legs and hips inside the kayak hull and a “spray skirt” that creates a watertight barrier around the waist. Whether a kayak is a sit-on-top or a cockpit style has nothing to do with which classification it falls under. Both configurations are represented in each of the five primary classifications. While most kayaks are designed to be paddled by a single person, other configurations include tandem and even triple cockpit boats.

Because of their range and adaptability, kayaking has won many hearts and is popular amongst divers, fishers, and adventure enthusiasts.

In the past, kayak fishing was pretty much looked at as a curious anomaly in saltwater. But, today, kayaks are being made specifically for fishing, with bells and whistles that meet an angler’s needs. Kayak fishing has arrived!

Kayak Fishing Has Arrived!

What You Need

Obviously the first thing you will need is a kayak. Not many places have grown to the point of renting fishing kayaks, but many areas offer the best made fishing kayaks at a price much less than a full sized boat.

Fishing Equipment

The fishing gear required for kayak fishing is not any different than any other fishing gear. It needs to be tailored to the fish you plan to pursue. Spinning gear, because of the relative ease of handling, and the longer rod butt works well in a kayak. That longer rod butt makes it easier to stay put in a rod holder.

Where to Launch

I suggest planning your trip by picking an area where larger boats will not interfere with your travels. Not all boaters are courteous enough to slow to a “no wake” speed when they pass paddlers. Launching can take place anywhere you can gain legal access to the water – which means stay off of private property, and make sure it is legal and safe to leave your vehicle parked where you launch. Kayak fishing makes so many places launchable, and some of them could very well include private property or road right-of-way.

The beauty of kayak fishing is that you can literally go “where no boat has gone before” – power boat that is. You can access shallow water, water that won’t float even a kayak at low tide. This past week I encountered kayak anglers fishing at high tide in an area that is a huge, dry mud flat at low tide. They told me they could fish it for about two hours before heading off the flat. I had trouble leaving the flat with my boat and trolling motor, and the tide had only been going out for about a half hour.

Many kayak fishermen use a super kayak and actually fish the ocean. Although, I’m not sure how far they can stand to paddle to fish, many anglers have caught king mackerel, and even sailfish from their tiny boats. Obviously it takes an adventurous soul and a day of lighter winds to fish the ocean.

Where to Fish

This is where the kayaks have an extreme advantage. They can fish areas that are untouched by other anglers. Back country mud flats, oyster rakes, and salt marshes are all accessible and fishable in a kayak. Take a chart of your area – a NOAA chart – and find some of those back areas, and look for an easy launch or access point. Go there at low tide and scout the area from land if possible. Look for holes, drops, oyster bars, etc – anything that can attract fish. Then mark your chart, come back about two hours before high tide, and launch. You should be able to fish all the way up to high tide and an hour or two after the tide turns. There are creeks and runs that hold plenty of water at low tide to float a kayak, but not enough to float a bigger boat. These are ideal locations. The trick is to get off the beaten path and look for areas that other anglers can’t reach.

What Do We Catch?

The species of fish that populate an area differs from south to north and from east to west. In the southern Atlantic states up to New Jersey and New York, expect to find red drum, spotted seatrout, flounder, jack crevalle, ladyfish, bluefish and more. In other areas, look for the fish that migrate to the shallow salt marshes looking for food.

Cautions

You must remember that you are paddling in areas that may not float a boat at certain tide stages – like low tide!

Plan your trip accordingly and make sure you leave yourself enough time to paddle back to the launch site before the water runs out.

Take plenty of water – being stranded for several hours is not a fun thing in the hot sun.

Paddle in pairs. It is not advisable to fish from a kayak alone. Always plan to take a partner along in another boat.

Boating does not have to be complicated or expensive. It is possible to go boating with a sense of proportion that fits small families, singles, or retirees on a budget.

One Northwest family is trying to bring boating back to the basics. Duroboat, a father-daughter (and three other key employee) operation, in Snohomish Washington, offers an alternative to the high financed gas guzzling boats that often occupy an unmerited amount of space in the garage. Instead, these little skiffs (10′ to 16′ feet in length) allow boaters to explore the waters of the Pacific Northwest in an economical way, and with minimal environmental impact. Tow-able with an economy car and able to provide a full day of fun on about 4 gallons of gas, Duroboat takes boating back to the future: small traditional boats utilizing modern clean burning outboards.

The advantage of a Duroboat is no secret to the Northwest. These brightly colored aluminum boats have navigated the waters of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia since Duroboat first opened shopped in Seattle 25 years ago. While other boats have trended towards bigger, bad-er, bolder, Duroboat has maintained a classic style and unique construction (no weld, no rivets) since its conception in 1983. Small boat simplicity is particularly attractive to boaters concerned with the quality of their boating experience, rather than then the ego-boost, their ride can provide. One such boater is Dave Helland.

Helland is the quintessential northwest boater. He doesn’t chase fish, throw a big wake, or boast huge horse power, and he certainly doesn’t let a little drizzle keep him docked.

As a lifelong resident of the northwest and with fervor for outdoor exploration, Helland might well be the most traveled Puget Sound and BC Coastal explorer of modern day. He has journeyed in, around, and through, nearly every nook and cranny of the San Jauns, Vancouver Island and the wildly rugged BC coastline. In his original 12 foot and current 14 foot Duroboats, Dave has seen magnificent sights that would be inaccessible to a boat any larger or less sea worthy. Venturing into hidden ports and fjord, Helland is likely the first visitor to these areas in months; some such as the spectacular five mile long Estero Basin is only accessible by the smallest of boats when the tides are just right.

Helland uses his Duroboat regularly, but not to keep up with the Joneses or occupy excess storage, he enjoys boating for all the natural beauty the Puget Sound waters have to offer, and he’s not about to spend time or energy on a high-maintenance boat that impedes or complicates his travel.

Whether you’re like Helland, and venture into isolated waters alone, or prefer to travel, explore, fish, or take the kids tubing with a companion, the ease and benefit of boating should always be worth the time and resources you devote to the experience. Given the beautiful surroundings we enjoy here in the Puget Sound area, in the right boat this shouldn’t be difficult, even on a budget.

Duroboat’s website www.duroboat.com aims to provide solid information and a sense of community. It features photos from around the world, includes owner’s notes on economy and other useful bits of boater info.

If the reasons you love our gorgeous northwest waters are simple, shouldn’t boating be just as basic?

For more information about Duroboats, visit www.duroboat.com or call our local distributor, Eco-Sports Unlimited Sdn Bhd at +6(019) 3122181 or write to enquiry@eco-sports.com.my.

The Malibu Mini-X is a popular fishing kayak

10 Reasons Why Kayak Fishing 

1.    Sneak Up To Your Target

Paddle close to your targets without scaring them away. The stealthy nature of kayak fishing is a key reason for its popularity. You will likely to encounter jellyfish, flying-fish, dolphins, turtles and other marine life while kayaking in the sea.

2.    Go “Yakabout”

Yakabout just anywhere …lakes, rivers, estuaries, mangroves, reefs, bays, harbours, shores, and the more open ocean. A kayak allows access to areas of mangrove and shallow water that are inaccessible to larger and more expensive boats. Mangroves, reefs and other underwater structures are the favourite hideouts of many fish and marine life.

3.    Have Yak Will Travel

Just load up your kayak onto your cartop and go anywhere the road takes you. Even better, if you have a 4WD you can get off-road and launch close to where you plan to fish. No need for heavy and expensive trailer or launch ramp. Kayak fishing offers quick and easy access to fishing grounds that larger and more expensive boats can’t.

4.    Virtually Unsinkable & Indestructible

The polyethylene material used in the construction of the kayak is not only durable but positively buoyant, making it an ideal boating material. With minimum care, a kayak can last you a lifetime.

5.    Very Low Maintenance

No expensive maintenance or repairs. Just hose down your kayak with water each time after use. No dry rots, blisters, peeled gelcoats or cracked hulls to worry about. No waxing or expensive engine repairs.

6.    Everyone Can “Yak”

Easy (to learn) and affordable. Thanks to the roto-moulding technology and polyethylene plastic, kayaks have become both affordable and durable. You can choose a kayak that fits your intended use, budget and even colour.

7.    Eco-friendly & Active Lifestyle

No smelly fossil fuel …No engine noise …No Pollution! If you want to get close to your intended targets without scaring them away and leaving a trail of environmental destructions behind, kayaking is the best option for you. If you’re an active person, you can appreciate the workout. .

8.    The Kayak Fishing Experience

For the thrill seekers, the experience of being dragged around by a fish is the unique experience of kayak fishing that you will never experienced on a charter boat. If you are into trolling, simply outfit your kayak with rod holders, paddle, enjoy the surroundings, and wait for the “tremors” when a big fish hits. Or, simply mount a trolling motor, sit back and relax. Alternatively, you can drift and fish.

9.    The Seafarer Wannabe

The ancient Polynesian seafarers of Southeast Asia, crossed the vast oceans, reaching as far as New Zealand and Hawaii, simply by rigging one or more lateral support floats, known as outriggers, and a sail, to their dugout canoes. The outrigger gives greater stability and seaworthiness and the sail harness the energy of the wind, giving the Polynesians a superb versatile ocean going craft. If you are a seafarer wannabe, simply add an outrigger and a sail to your kayak and you can reminiscent the seafaring days of the Malay Archipelago.

10.  The Yak – Fully Loaded

If you have to have your electronic gears, you can mount them all on your kayak. Some kayaks have purpose built console for mounting electronic gears such as fishfinders, GPS, iPods, cameras and cell phones all within your easy reach. Get to your destination, locate your fish, mark your fishing holes, listen to your favourite songs, take pictures, call your love ones, all these while sipping a refreshing cold drink from the comfort of your kayak.

In summary, don’t just wait for your fish, go after them, track them down and sneak up upon them. No more smelly fossil fuel. No more engine noise. No more pollution. Last and certainly not least, no more exorbitant charter boat fees.

Happy kayak fishing!