JasonV
Jr. Member
Posts: 24
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« on: September 02, 2006, 08:30:15 PM » |
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My Blue Ridge Kayak Fishing experience with Jeff “Yakfish” Little started months before our on the water class. With the help of many correspondences via email and phone conversations with Jeff, I purchased my first kayak. Jeff helped me to select a kayak and outfit (paddle, PFD, rod holder, etc.) that he thought would work well for me both physically and for the waters I intended to fish/paddle. After I had purchased my kayak fishing outfit, we set up a class for Apri to fish for smallmouth bass- a time of year I was more accustomed to be fishing for trout, not trophy smallmouth. This would prove to be an incredible, eye-opening fishing education.
Prior to my class, the only experience I had in a kayak was on a very small farm pond, so I was anxious to get on moving water and learn how to handle my boat. About a week before the class, Jeff sent me his lesson plan and some articles he had written about paddling and equipment lists. We talked on the phone several times in preparation for the class. Jeff was very attentive to my perceived skill level and especially to my expectations for the class. I really wanted to learn how to paddle a kayak in moving water and feel safe doing it. I felt I knew how to fish well enough, but it turned out I was very naïve to the ways of the smallmouth bass and the tools and techniques used to catch them. And I knew nothing about how to do it from a kayak.
Upon meeting in the morning, Jeff again went over his lesson plan and detailed the day’s activities. He was very clear and insistent about hearing feedback from me throughout the day. Jeff’s warm character and organized approach immediately put me at ease. We started with some on the shore “classroom” work and stretching. Our safety was his number one priority and it only took a couple minutes on the water for me to gain total confidence in his abilities as my guide and teacher. Nothing but good was going to happen that day.
Jeff’s preparation and attention to detail was quickly evident; within seconds we had paddled to a perfect area for him to teach me almost all the basic paddling skills that I would need for the day: Strokes, maneuvers, etc. Throughout the day, Jeff reinforced the proper techniques and good habits used to become an efficient paddler and kayak fisherman. As a teacher, I really appreciated the time and effort he put into his plans and greatly respected his delivery.
After we both felt comfortable with my new-found paddling skills, it was off to fish! I really hadn’t expected to do a lot of fishing. I thought that my class would be more about paddling and boat control than a guided fishing trip. Man, was I wrong! - Hence Jeff’s advertisement, “Kayak Fishing Class”.
Armed by Jeff with several new lures/rigging in wildly different colors than I was accustomed (wildly different to me, but perfectly matched to the forage base of the waters we fished), we proceeded with the guided fishing lesson. I was introduced to many of the fishing approaches and techniques highlighted in Jeff’s articles. To say that they were effective is a huge understatement. During the course of the day, using Jeff’s concepts of stealth approach, lure presentation(s), and pattern development, I had landed many quality fish including my two largest smallies to date (both citation size).
I credit Jeff Little and his class with much of my continued success not only as a kayak fisherman, but as a well-rounded angler. Jeff’s class was a perfect introduction to the kayak and kayak fishing. I highly recommend his class to anglers of any experience level who want to improve their angling skills and mastery of fishing from a kayak.
Jason Venesky
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