Standing in a Tarpon

Here in Virginia the water is still mid 50s but I needed to make it a point to get out and work on my stand up fishing skills. I passed up a day of fishing to make sure I was prepared for the spring fisheries rapidly approaching. I own two boats, a Tarpon 100 and a Tarpon 140, each boat excels in different areas. The Tarpon 140 which I use most excels at covering long distance, can turn much faster than the T160 which I used to own, and is overall the best kayak I have owned. The Tarpon 100 is much shorter and slightly wider. This boat is a lot of fun in the surf and is very easy to get into tight places whether it’s the terrain or a mothership that’s limiting size, the Tarpon 100 can fit.

I began working with the Tarpon 100 because I thought with its larger width of 30.5” it would be much more stable. What I found was that when standing you are so far forward that you lose a lot of stability because you are leaning over the bow. While I got up and am certain if I spent more time practicing I could make it work, I don’t think I’ll be using it as my sight casting boat. This boat was better with its quick turning ability.

I worked with the Tarpon 140 next which has a width of 28”. When sitting I always thought the secondary stability was nonexistent but once standing I realized this boat could be really leaned into before flipping. It really was more about me gaining confidence and not jumping out. I found if I felt I was going over I could correct the situation by staying still and the secondary stability would balance the boat at an angle. This is the boat that I will spend more time working on and one day hope to be as confident standing as sitting.

Over all in just a few hours I was able to get up in both boats and was even able to begin paddling from the standing position. These boats will do what you tell them to do its more about your personal skills and the time you put in to learn them. I will begin putting more time in with hopes of the next report being of my first standing caught fish.

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Comment by Mike Zilkowsky on April 12, 2012 at 11:58am: Check out http://www.scottypaddlesports.com/kayak-fishing-equipment-accessori...

These work great to help out on the narrower boats. I love mine! Have a Trapon 120 Angler and these make it perfect for fly fishing out of.

Comment by Rob Knoles on April 11, 2012 at 2:44pm: I don't see myself making that work in my T160. I've done it in the Ride before and it works pretty well.