What Weather Conditions Are Ideal For Kayak Fishing?

Kayak-fishing is a popular leisure activity, and many people around the globe choose to spend their weekends at it. Kayak-fishing is fun and enjoyable, true, but there are a few incidents that can ruin the joy and make the experience a miserable one. 

Natural calamity is a prime one. So, what are the ideal weather conditions for kayak fishing?

Ideally, you want moderate temperature, low water flow, low wind, clear water, and temperate or no waves. But none of these factors are identical for any two regions. 

Thus, there is an absolute or standard to set generally, if air and water temperature sums around 120-degree F, less than 5 miles/hour current, and negligible wind are ideal for kayak-fishing.

For the most part, to get the best experience, you will need to observe, research, and plan for the best achievable weather for the region you are planning to fish. 

Another variable in the equation is the person in question. The same weather can be described as “Chilly” by one, whereas another person can call it “warm.”

Best Weather Conditions For Kayak Fishing

With that in mind, Let me break it down for better understanding. When describing the ideal kayaking weather, the main factors to consider are-

Ambient Temperature

Ambient temperature, or the temperature of the air and the water, is arguably the most significant factor to keep an eye out for. 

Too hot weather can beat you up in no time, whereas too cold water can be quite lethal unless prepared. In general, there is a 120-degree rule that works everywhere, more, or less.

When the sum of the air and the water temperature is around 120-degree Fahrenheit, it is the ideal temperature for kayaking in general.

Water Temperature

Water temperature plays a bigger role in dictating the ideal kayaking condition in general; that also goes for kayak-fishing. If you are planning for a fishing session, make sure that the water temperature is 60-degree F or above. This typically indicates spring and autumn. But spring is preferable over autumn.

Exposure to 60-degree Fahrenheit of water or anything below for a prolonged period of time can be injurious to health. To consider, 60-degree is below average spring temperature. As a rule of thumb, you will have to consider falling in the water at the very least once when dealing with kayaks. 

Air Temperature

Air temperature is another factor to keep in mind. It goes hand in hand with the water temperature but stays slightly above. Air temperature is useful because not always can you find the water temperature of a particular lake or area. 

Take the air temperature and subtract 10-ish from it, and you’ll have an idea. Higher air temperature will lead to higher water temperature, which will, in turn, reduce the risk of hazard from accidental soaking in water. 

So, a higher temperature helps that way. But at the same time, the higher the temperature is, the more saturated it is with water vapor. Thus, the longer it will take to dry out from soaking and sweat.

The 120-degree rule denotes that the summation of the two being above but close to 120-degree Fahrenheit is the sweet spot.

Availability Of Fish

Fish are cold-blooded animals. Their body temperature fluctuates along with the ambient temperature. In winters and cold in general, they prefer to leave the bank and shallow water and stay near the deeper part of the source where the temperature tends to be slightly warmer.

Besides that, fishes, Being cold-blooded animals, their metabolism also slows down significantly during cold seasons. Thus, it becomes tougher to trick and get them to bite. That is another reason why the 120-degree law of the ambient temperature is important.

What Flow Rate Is Safe for Kayak Fishing? – Low Water-Flow

The lower the water flow is, the easier it will be for you to paddle as well as fish. When you are fishing in inland lakes or a similar water body, it is not a thing to consider for you because water is stationary all year round. 

But when you are fishing in a river, creek, canal, or some other water body that naturally has streams, then you should consider when planning a trip.

Water-flow is measured in Cubic foot/meter per second/minute. But the value is mostly useless. Because a wider and deeper river will naturally have a higher flow value. 

What matters to us is speed. Ideally, you want a water flow rate of 5-miles per hour or less. Anything higher will present a brand-new struggle, which is to stay still.

Low Wind – How Much Wind Is Too Much for Kayak Fishing?

Kind of similar to the current speed, wind speed is also a factor, and this one applies to all sorts of water bodies; both contained bodies like lakes and streams like rivers. A stronger wind will steer you, turn you, move you, and simply keep tossing you around, which can prove to be a struggle, especially for beginners.

With experience, you can adapt to it if you keep visiting the same source frequently. A good solution is to anchor yourself at a safe point. As long as the water is relatively shallow and the wind is stable and predictable, you should be fine. But ideally, you want negligible airflow.

Can You Kayak Fish in Clearwater?

Since we are talking about kayak-fishing, fishing is a considerably big part of the game. So, besides kayaking issues, we will also have to deal with fishing issues. The clearness of the water has nothing to do with kayaking, but it is important for fishing. 

If the water is muddy, the visibility of the fishes drops drastically and essentially forces them to stay close to submerged objects near the bottom. 

Thus, if you are fishing in a river or canal, you better not plan a fishing trip right after rain. You can do it, but keep in mind; it will be more tedious. Ideally, you want clean and visible water.

Additional Tips

In general, calm water, dry and warm weather are perfect for kayaking. Also, make sure you have all the necessary safety gear and pay close attention to the weather forecast. And possibly, signs of fast-changing weather.

You certainly don’t want to get caught in bad weather. Also, there are conditions even pro kayakers struggle with. You can’t predict the weather, but it’s better to take all the necessary precautions in case something goes wrong.

Can you kayak in 60 degree weather?

Water temps below 60 F/15 C can be immediately life-threatening due to “cold shock”—you lose breathing control, your heart and blood pressure are affected, and your ability to think clearly is impaired.

A cold shock is an abrupt change in body temperature, usually from the external environment. Cold shock can be painful and dangerous for the individual.

Summary

In short, when planning for a kayak-fishing trip, you will need to consider the challenges for both kayaking and fishing. If you are not a regular angler, rather prefer to fish occasionally or every once in a while, then your best bet is to settle for spring. 

Both autumn and spring offer moderate weather ideal for kayak-fishing. Moderate temperature, just a tad bit on the chilly side, none or timid current, negligible wind, clear and comfortable water spells the perfect weather for kayak-fishing. 

Spring is more preferable over fall because, in winter, fish slow down their metabolism and live a sort of inactive life. They minimize food intake and energy expenses. This leaves them exhausted in spring.

As a result, in spring, fish tend to be hungrier, more active, and more aggressive in spring relative to fall. So, spring is your safest bet for a calm, pleasing, relaxing, and ideal kayak-fishing session.