Kayak
Fishing With Jeff McGovern
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by Jeff McGovern:
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The Emmrod and The W
I love my regular rods and reel
combinations--but
there are times when they get in the way and I need something a bit
more maneuverable. I discovered Emmrods a couple of years
ago. The developer was having problems with standard pack rods
during his horse back fishing adventures in the Pacific
Northwest. He needed something tough and durable that could be
packed and still be able to catch fish. From that need, he
developed the Emmrod.
Yeah, it’s a weird looking pole. Everyone who sees mine
immediately says it looks like an ice fishing pole from the 1930’s. The
resemblance is there, but I don’t think anyone back then considered
them for the casting performance and ease of use. I was
skeptical, at first, but I’m always ready for a challenge. I’m
here to tell you: THESE THINGS WORK! Don’t be fooled by
appearances. With practice, you can achieve casting distances equaling
a 6 foot rod.
I have two versions that work well from the
W. The
first is a metal handled casting rod with a pistol grip called the
Packer. Its appearance can only be described as retro and it’s
about as indestructible a fishing rod as I’ve seen. When
assembled, the entire rod is only 22 and a half inches long. If
that’s not small enough, it can be quickly disassembled and fit into a
tackle box. I’ve found it works best with the round style casting
reels rather than low profile designs. I use ABU reels in sizes 4
to 6 with excellent results. Casting requires practice, but is
worth the effort to see how well the rods perform. Fact is, they
are just plain fun and I think that’s why most of us fish anyway--to
have fun.
The second version of the Emmrod system I
have been
using is the spinning rods. With names such as the DuAll
and the Kayak King, they live up to their monikers. The handles are
more conventional, using the familiar cork grips and screw down reel
seats. As with the casting version, practice is required, but the
learning curve is a bit shorter. I enjoy these little spinning
rods as much as the casting ones. One additional point with the
spinning rods is, that by simply using an Emmrod casting pole in the
spinning handle and flipping it right side up, you have a straight
handled casting rod. There are numerous rod options available for
both casting and spinning rated to the size of the fish you are
pursuing. Since the rods break down into such small components,
you can carry an entire arsenal of Emmrods in a small duffle bag and
tuck them away in the W’s hull space. Because the rods are
metal, breakage is almost unheard of. For kids, these rods are about as
ideal as it gets.
I love innovative and forward thinking outdoor
gear. The Emmrods, fished from a W equals a wonderful
experience. I’ve had a lot of fun combining the two. Check
out the Emmrods for yourself from the saddle of a W kayak and find out
just how much fun fishing can be.
