NuCanoe's Pursuit and Frontier are simple, comfortable and very fishable

My NuCanoe Pursuit is a fishing machine with clean lines and  loads of comfort.

I have been doing this kayak thing for quite a while now. To give you an idea, when I first started fishing from a kayak, I most often was the only one on the water doing so.

That was in 1986. I fished from a kayak while doing articles for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune on the subject. I used kayaks from Intracoastal Kayaks in Venice and from Economy Tackle in Sarasota.

Client Todd Dawson battles a nice fish out of the Frontier.

I enjoyed it immensely. I love the feeling of freedom and independence that kayaks gave me. I also enjoyed that I could go fishing when I wanted, where I wanted, for which species I wanted and I could fish the way I wanted. I could also fish as long as I wanted and I could leave when I wanted.

As a bonus, I didn't have to stop at a gas station on the way home to fill up the tank for the outboard.

I've been the powerboat route. I had one of the first flats boats in Sarasota, Fla., where I reside. It was a great boat, but it continuously cost me money. If it wasn't one think, it was another.

What I learned many years ago is that I was catching more fish out of the kayak than I did in the powerboat. And that made a whole lot of sense to me. If the fish didn't know I was there, they were easier to catch.

Vinny Caruso fights a shad on fly on the St. Johns River.

Granted, I was limited where I could fish. I was only as good as where  my paddling arms could take me. But I realized that was a bonus, too. If the fish weren't cooperating where I was, I couldn't simply turn the key and speed off to a hot spot 10 miles away.

I was there for the entire time. So, I got to know each and every spot intimately. I eventually discovered every nook and cranny in every spot I fished.

Take Buttonwood Harbor, for example. Buttonwood is a popular spot located on the west side of Sarasota Bay. It's comprised of nine mangrove islands, grass flats, channels and sand holes. It's about a mile long and half mile wide. Within that area, I have about 60 spots I can fish, depending on the wind, season and weather.

Standing and poling the flats at dawn in Charlotte Harbor.

Simply put, fishing from a kayak has made me a better angler.

I co-founded the CCA/Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers annual All-Release Fly Fishing Challenge (along with Capt. Rick Grassett)  in 2004. For the first few years, I fished with a buddy out of his powerboat. Six years ago, I decided it was best for me and my business (www.kayakfishingsarasota.com) that I fish out of my kayak.

I've done well. I have won a division of the tournament nine out of the 11 years. I've won the Snook Division five times and Spotted Seatrout Division four times. On three occasions, I've caught more than enough snook and trout to win both divisions. However, tournament rules limit each anglers to winning just one division.

A.J. Menard fights his first permit.

I've also caught Slams (snook, trout and redfish) three times. My slams haven't been enough, but I've won a division two of the three times.

You might have surmised that I like to fly fish. Yes. And I do it as often as I can.

Early on in my kayak-fishing career, it was a tough go. Most kayaks aren't designed for fly fishing.  There's no place to stow fly rods safely. And most kayaks have plenty of line-snagging equipment and/or accessories scattered over the deck.

Then came NuCanoe. I was introduced to NuCanoe by fly-fishing guru Joe Mahler (www.joemahler.com) of Fort Myers. Mahler is a fly-casting instructor, author, illustrator and world-class fly angler.

A couple of trips with Mahler had me convinced that NuCanoe was the way to go.

When I decided to make the switch, there were just to models: the Classic and Frontier. I opted for three 12-foot Frontiers.  The Frontier is a spacious, wide open kayak that arguably is the most stable watercraft of its kind. Standing in the Frontier is no big deal.

Menard's permit made him smile.

It's so easy, in fact, that I've had anglers as old as 84 standing while fishing.

I have discussed with NuCanoe owner Blake Young that we need to change the designation of the Frontier from kayak to personal fishing craft.

By any name, it's a winner.

About a year after I joined NuCanoe (www.nucanoe.com), the company came out with the Pursuit, a narrower, longer, sleeker version with similar stability. The boat also features four rod tubes in which you can stow four fly rods safely and out of the way.

That sealed the deal for this fly-fished enthusiast!

The Pursuit also has a spacious, uncluttered cockpit. There's nothing for my fly line to catch on.

Simply put, it's a virtual fly-fishing machine.

I'm a minimalist when it comes to rigging and accessories. But that's the beauty with any of the NuCanoe models. The integrated track system allows you to add as many (or as few) accessories as the want.

For me, it's as few. I added an anchor trolley system to my Pursuit. I also mount a GoPro video camera in the track system. That's about it.

I carry tackle in a milk crate behind my seat. I've added seven rod holders to the milk crate.

I fish all over in my Pursuit. I fish saltwater bays and estuaries. I fish freshwater lakes and streams. I fish from Tampa Bay to The Everglades and points beyond.

And best of all, I always catch fish.

I'm a fishing fool in the best fishing kayak on the market.

I'm a versatile guy, so I need the most versatile fishing kayak available.

February produced the best trout action in years

Eric Porter of Colorado battles a Palma Sola Bay seatrout on fly rod.

It's  easy to sum up February's action here at Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing:

Trout.

No doubt February was the month of trout. In fact, the month proved to be the finest month of spotted seatrout action we've experienced in quite a while.

John Kis of New York brings another seatrout to the kayak.

The reason is fairly simple. Cooling water temperatures pushed the trout into deeper water which congregated them and made them easy to find -- and catch.

All of the success took place in Palma Sola Bay at a spot that I found several years ago during cold weather. It's a spot that you wouldn't normally associate with trout. In fact, in years past I might have paddled right by the location without giving it much of a thought.

However,  when I first started fishing there, I made a few casts and was surprised by some decent trout. It didn't take long for the proverbial light bulb to go on in my head. In the years since, my clients and I have caught several thousand trout there.

Repeat client John Kis of New York joined me on a beautiful day where the fishing matched the weather. We managed 40 trout to 22 inches and 10 flounder on VuDu Shrimp. Fish of the day was a 3-pound sheepshead that John caught. Sheepshead are common catches for those using artificial lures. They're most often caught on live bait.

I fished the area alone on a couple of occasions and did well on fly rod. Using Super Hair Clousers (chartreuse and white, olive and white) and Popovics' Jiggy, I caught a load of trout to 23 inches.

Veteran fly fisher John Garcia of California and I combined for 35 trout and a flounder on Clousers and Jiggys. The largest trout went 22 inches.

Another trip produced 85 trout to 21 inches and a load of ladyfish. Despite strong wind, another outing yielded 51 trout to 22 inches and a bunch of ladyfish.

Vinny Caruso and his grandson, Robbie Holland (both of Bradenton) had a great outing, combing for 140 trout to 22 inches, lots of ladyfish and a fine pompano. Robbie caught the pompano on a VuDu Shrimp. They also used MirrOlure Lil Johns on light jigs.

Repeat clients Eric Porter of Colorado and Jeff Porter of Oklahoma picked one of the windiest days of the year. We had to shorten the outing to 4 hours, but still landed 29 trout and a bunch of ladyfish on Clousers and Jiggys. The largest trout went 19 inches.

When fishing deep water, the trout bite has been extremely light. In fact, those waiting for an aggressive strike might not hook up often. I advise clients to "set" the hook if they sense anything different. It could feel like a slight drag on the line. The fly line might simply straighten out.

The hits have been very subtle and light when using fly rods.

For this action, we're using sinktip lines and 6-foot leaders. I have used a floating line, but because of the depth of water, I've lengthened my leader to 12 feet to get to the desired depth.

We've also been finding lots of trout and ladyfish in sand holes out on the flats of Palma Sola Bay. Because we usually encounter strong wind, we've been anchoring up  on grass patches in the holes and doing well. We remain anchored as long as we're catching fish. When the action slows, we move to another grass patch.

This strong trout action should continue through March.

MARCH FORECAST:  We expect excellent action on spotted seatrout throughout the upcoming month. The fish should stack up in channels and sand holes. They will be available for those fly fishing or using spinning rods. Redfish activity could crank up on the flats -- if the weather cooperates. We look for decent snook action around dock lights. Over deep grass, we look for spotted seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, bluefish , Spanish mackerel and maybe a few pompano. In fresh water , Lake Manatee and the Manatee River should yield bluegill, speckled perch, channel catfish and largemouth bass.

I did a presentation on Freshwater Fly Fishing Opportunities in Florida at the February meeting of the Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers. If you live in the area or are on an extended visit, you might want to check out this dedicated group of fly anglers. They meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Sarasota  Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. Check out the MCFF website at www.mcff.club. 

March is typically a good month for fishing. Please book your trips early.

Steve Gibson

Southern Drawl Kayak Fishing

www.kayakfishingsarasota.com

941-284-3406

Fly fishing is simple and effective when you're in a kayak

Mick Coulas stands and casts from a NuCanoe Frontier.

Fly fishing from a kayak can be a frustrating and somewhat difficult endeavor. But it doesn't need to be.

In fact, once your understand the nuances, it's really quite simple.

I fish out of a NuCanoe Pursuit (http://www.nucanoe.com/pursuit-fishing-kayak/), a boat that I strongly feel is the best kayak for fly fishing available. It's very stable, so standing a casting is easy. It's cockpit is spacious and uncluttered, so line management is a breeze.

Fly rod storage is simple in the Pursuit.

I feel that pedal kayaks should be left to spin fishers who are convinced they need to cover large amounts of water. They're not great for fly fishing. The pedals are not only great for propelling the kayak, but even better at grabbing fly line.

I like to keep things as simple and uncluttered as possible.

With the Pursuit, I can carry up to three extra fly rods and stow them out of the way in the internal rod tubes. These rod tubes really do the job.

When it comes to fly fishing from a kayak, casting distance is the key. The longer you can cast, the more water you can cover and the greater your chances are of hooking fish.

Realize, however, that one of the main benefits of fishing from a kayak is that you don't have to be as far away from your target as you would be in a powerboat. Rather than having to make 80-foot casts, you can more to within 40 or 50 feet of your target.

Those distances, however, can be a chore for many anglers. And it gets a tad tougher when you're sitting in a kayak.

The author gets ready to land a snook.

There are ways to increase your casting distance.

The best way is to stand up. If you're fishing from a NuCanoe Pursuit or Frontier, that's no problem. Both kayaks are perhaps the most stable fishing vessels out there. The Pursuit is 35 inches wide; the Frontier is 41. You can stand with great confidence.

If you must sit, there are ways to increase your distance. First, take only the amount of line off the reel that you need to cast. If you're going to cast 50 feet, there's not need to take 60 feet of line off the reel.

Make sure your backcast is high. You don't need your fly line hitting the water on the backcast.

To increase distance, I like to do a "water haul" on my forward cast. I allow the fly to "tick" the water, then pick it up immediately, allow the line to unroll fully on a backcast, then shoot it forward.

Fly fishing from a kayak is simple and effective.

Works like a charm.

Gaining distance will be no problem for those who can double haul, a technique that allows you to shoot line on both the forward and back casts, and increase line speed.

When fly fishing, I prefer to anchor my kayak in many situations. I have and anchor trolley on all of my kayaks, so I can allows have the wind at my back or face the direction I need.

One of the biggest mistakes many folks make is keeping the tip of their fly rod too high off the water. This puts unneeded slack into the line. If your rod tip is 18 inches off the water's surface, the fish then has to pull 18 inches before you'll even know you have a hit.

Put that rod tip IN the water or on the water's surface. The rod should also be pointed directly down the fly line.

I have watched many clients reel up slack line to "get the fish on the reel" too often. In most cases, that's not only unnecessary, but also can result in slack line and a lost fish.

Let the fish tell you whether it needs to "be on the reel." If the fish is large enough and strong enough, it will take line and you'll be on the reel.

Most fish can be "hand-stripped"  in.

For most fish, the reel 's only purpose is to hold the line at the end of the trip!

I like to carry two or three rods so that I can "work" the water column. I'll take one rod with a full floating line, one with a sinktip line and another with a sinking line. That way, I can work the water column from top to bottom.

When fly fishing, you can travel fair light. In addition to your rods, all you'll need is a fly box with all the flies you'll need,  extra leaders and tippet material. You'll also want to carry pliers, nippers and a landing tool or net.

When you're fly fishing, you can catch most any fish that swims in salt or fresh water.

And when you're in the right kayak, your odds of success simply skyrocket!

New stable NuCanoe Frontier 12 doesn't disappoint

Most of you are aware that I recently switched to the NuCanoe Frontier 12.

Stability is a NuCanoe feature.

I've had the opportunity to fish out of this kayak for the last month and I'm very impressed.

I tested the NuCanoe (www.nucanoe.com)  prior to my purchase.

My first experience came last year when Joe Mahler, a Fort Myers' fly-fishing guru invited me to fish Webb Lake, a body of water in the Babcock Webb Wildlife Management area east of Punta Gorda in Charlotte County.

Mahler, a NuCanoe Pro Staffer,  didn't brag about the vessel. He didn't really say anything. He just let me paddle it and fly fish from it.

Sold.

The NuCanoe Frontier 12 is everything I've ever wanted in a fishing kayak -- and more.

Because of their width, the NuCanoes wouldn't fit properly on my small trailer. So, I held off making the switch.

However, last February I had to buy a new trailer. And this one was wider and larger than the first. It was perfect for the NuCanoe. But I still had to hold off because my kayaks were less than a year old.

In May, I had spent a morning on the Braden River, fly fishing for bass and bluegill. On the way home, I stopped at a convenience store for a soft drink. I wasn't in the store more than five minutes, but when I came out my kayak was gone.

I needed a kayak. And I needed it quick. The proverbial lightbulb in my head brightened. It was a message that was almost heaven-sent. Time to order the NuCanoes.

I contacted Blake Young at NuCanoe and ordered three Frontier 12s and a few accessories.

These kayaks are made for fishing (especially fly fishing). There spacious decks are unencumbered and handle fly line exceptionally well. There is little for fly line to hang up on. If you fly fish, then you know the fly line will catch or hang up on anything it can.

The boats are so stable that you can literally stand up and tap dance. I stand quite often and do so when fly casting. They're 41 inches wide, so you can imagine the stability.

Stability is a key issue for a guide. You can't have clients flipping when you're out in salt or fresh water. I had three clients flip in my previous kayaks. One did so while anchored. One flipped while paddling. The other flipped while fishing.

And the biggest factor was that I flipped my kayak in a 10-foot canal in winter when the seat came loose from its mount.

Not good.

I have never allowed clients to stand because of liability issues. I'll probably keep that policy, but I feel confident no one will flip a NuCanoe.

I guess some might say that they're a tad slower than other fishing kayaks out there. I don't know, but I will tell you that the difference is miniscule. Say you sustain a speed of 3.5 miles per hour in another brand of fishing kayak. I imagine you can do about the same in a NuCanoe.  If it's slower, we're talking 10ths of a mile per hour.

If paddling isn't your game, you can add an electric motor or even a small outboard to the NuCanoe. The stern is strong and square. That could come in hand for trips to such destinations as Flamingo or the Florida Keys.

The NuCanoe seat that I use is the best I've ever encountered. The Max 360 seats are cushioned, elevated and swivel 360 degrees.  And you really can turn all the way around because of the stability of the kayak.

On a recent trek to the Florida Everglades, I asked a buddy to go. The only catch was that he had to fish out of one of my Frontiers. He's a Pro Staffer for another kayak manufacturer.

When the trip was over, he announced he was going to sell his kayak and buy a NuCanoe.

"It was the most stable kayak I've ever been in," he said. "And the stability was impressive.

"I didn't notice any drop-off in paddle speed."

NuCanoe is headquartered in Bellingham, Wash.  They're not as popular as some other brands, but that's because you and your friends haven't fished out of them -- yet. If you do, there's a good chance you'll add a NuCanoe to your fleet.

NuCanoe is a relatively new player in the fishing kayak game, but that will change. Young and Mahler are collaborating on assembling a Pro Staff around the country to give the boats more visibility.

I've always found that getting clients in your kayaks is the best advertising. The NuCanoe Frontier will sell itself.

I started kayak fishing in 1987 -- long before the current trend. Back then, you could head out and never encounter another kayak. The sport's popularity has grown immensely since then.

I didn't add much to my boats. All I did was add an anchor trolley to each. I didn't want to make the boat cumbersome with all sorts of bells, whistles and gadgets.

At 80 pounds, the Frontier 12 is somewhat heavier than other similar kayaks. However, all you have to do is purchase a Transport Cart and your problems are over. The cart attaches to the stern and you can then pick up the bow and roll your kayak to wherever you want -- effortlessly.

The cart also makes loading the kayak on top of a car or SUV a cinch. Loading the kayak into the bed of a pickup truck no big deal.

In short, the cart makes loading and unloading a one-person operation.

I strongly suggest a Transport Cart.

You can lighten the kayak by six pounds by simply removing the seat.

You really can stand in a Frontier with no problem. Now, I have stood in other kayaks and I can tell you they're "tipsy." There is NO sense of tipsiness in the Frontier. It is the most stable fishing kayak on the marker -- bar none.

Another  thing that I like about the Frontier is that with the elevated seat, there is plenty of room under it for a tackle box, dry box or whatever you chose.

I carry most of my plastic tackle boxes in a milk crate that I place directly behind the seat. I have six rod holders attached to the crate. Used to be I had to reach blindly behind me to grab a tackle box or rod.

No longer.

I can just turn in the Max 360 seat and get what I want.

That's a really big deal.

I do advocate a long paddle because of the Frontier's 41-inch beam. According to NuCanoe's Blake Young, a 275-cm paddle works best. I have used a 250-cm paddle with no problem.

When standing and poling my Frontier, I employ a 9 1/2-foot carbon-fiber pole. I find this works a little better than a paddle.

As you can tell, I'm a big proponent of NuCanoe -- especially the Frontier 12. I will be assisting NuCanoe at ICAST in Orlando on July 17-18. I am looking forward to it.

ICAST will be held in Orlando's Orange County Convention Center.

ICAST stands for International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades. It's the world's largest sportfishing trade show.

I'll be the fellow in the NuCanoe booth with the big smile on his face!

NuCanoe Frontier is a fly fisher's dream

Fly fisher Joe Mahler of Fort Myers lands a peacock bass while fishing out of his NuCanoe Frontier 12.

It's not good to make change for no reason.

As the late Ed Pierce once said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Pierce was the managing editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune for many years and was not only a mentor, but also a friend, confidante and a great boss.

I'm sure Pierce didn't coin the phrase. However, no one could say it like the mealy-mouth mumbler from Georgia.

I'm making a change. And for a good reason.

After months of deliberation, I've decided to switch my kayak allegiance to NuCanoe. I talked with NuCanoe owner Blake Young a few days ago and ordered three, 12-foot NuCanoe Frontiers.

I began thinking about NuCanoes last year after fishing out of a Frontier owned by fly-fishing buddy Joe Mahler of Fort Myers. I found the boat has everything I need -- and less.

To understand what I mean, you've got to know from where I'm coming. Too many kayaks these days feature every bell and whistle known to man. There's something for almost everyone, but not everything is for everyone. Most kayaks have features that you'll rarely use. Most you probably don't even want.

But those features are great for marketing -- and great for driving up the price.

I like the NuCanoe Frontier for several reasons: 1. It's simple; 2. It's roomy; 3. It's so stable you can stand up and tap dance on the deck.

The only accessories I will add are anchor trolleys on each and a stand-up bar on my personal boat. I might add a some other frills later.

Mahler sold me on NuCanoe. He's a fly-fisher extraordinaire, and knows full well what he wants in a boat. There are many "fishing" kayaks out there that are deplorable fly-fishing boats. Always remember the golden rule: The fly line will tangle on anything it can.

If you're not familiar with the Frontier, please check it out:  http://www.nucanoe.com/nucanoe-frontier/.

The boat is a hybrid kayak. It's a cross between a kayak and a canoe, hence NuCanoe. It's roomy, well-planned and simple.

I like simple the best.

Now here's something that really appealed to me: NuCanoe's customer service. I ordered my new fleet on May 13. They were packaged and shipped out the next day. According to my UPS tracking number, there's scheduled to arrived at my house May 21.

Wow!

I'll be rigging them out and fishing next week!

First thing you'll notice about the Frontier 12 is that it's beamy. It's 41 inches wide. But that makes it very stable.

The seats are unbelievable. They swivel 360 degrees. That means you can fish 360 degrees, something you can't do in most kayaks.

One of the neat things about the Frontier is that you can turn it into a tandem (two angler) kayak in a matter of minutes. That will come in handy when taking my wife out or when I want to guide fly fishers on night snook trips.

I've been guiding for eight years. I've been doing this full-time for five years. I've owned  many kayaks over the years. I usually get a new fleet every 12 to 18 months.

What I've found in the kayak industry is that there are some great designers, but most don't fish. They rely on their Pro Staffs for sage advice. That's why we get so many boats with countless bells and whistles.

I think I've found a home.

Home is where the heart is. Home is where you're comfortable.

Thank you, NuCanoe.