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NorthernFocus said:
A rudder/skeg helps keep you going straight while gliding. But doesn't resolve the issue of spinning when you are sitting still. The boat just rotates around the skeg rather than other center of resistance(usually about where your butt is). In open water I keep the paddle across my lap so I can reach down with one hand and dip one end or the other to make minor corrections. The best solution is to slide up against shore, a rock, log, grass, whatever. Maybe not shore if you're shooting a bear that is looking curious about what that tasty looking thing is out there on the water.
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When I get in a good birding area, I drop a small anchor and just float quietly. This works well if the breeze (even a slight one), orients me in the direction I want/need to face. Not so much if it's going the other direction! I mostly bird from canoe/kayak in sheltered and flat backwaters and bays.
 
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MikeJ said:
I've had quite a bit of luck shooting from my kayak. My only complaint is the kayak itself - it's not a high-end model, so when you stop paddling it starts to turn...immediately! So sometimes I'm craning around to try to get the shot, or miss it altogether. I'd like to rig up a rudder to keep me going straight...maybe someday. Or a better kayak!

View attachment 28509View attachment 28507View attachment 28508
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Nice photographs!!
 
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MikeJ said:
...My only complaint is the kayak itself - it's not a high-end model, so when you stop paddling it starts to turn...immediately! So sometimes I'm craning around to try to get the shot, or miss it altogether. I'd like to rig up a rudder to keep me going straight...maybe someday. Or a better kayak!
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If I may suggest two things that might help with the kayak:

1) Load the kayak evenly...Not front heavy, not center or back heavy. Evenly loaded/balanced. For example, if a kayak is light in the bow and you are paddling into the wind, or have a cross wind, the bow will constantly blow the bow down and off course...A real pain. Also, depending on the kayak, make sure there is weight in the center, otherwise the (some) kayak(s) will bulge up in the center making it a pig to track straight.

2) If kayaks are tipped slightly side-to-side, they will turn...To the opposite side to which they are tipped. You can steer a kayak this way without even having a paddle in the water. Slightly tipping a kayak to one side can help with tracking an errant kayak, but it always better to be balanced.

This applies to canoes, also. If a single paddler, sit in the center of the canoe, not in the back...I've rescued many a canoeist who sat in the back, started out paddling down wind 'cause it was easy, and then couldn't get back because the bow blew down whenever they tried to turn back up wind.

Signed, Chief Tippakanoo
 
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John Woodworth said:
If I may suggest two things that might help with the kayak:

1) Load the kayak evenly...Not front heavy, not center or back heavy. Evenly loaded/balanced. For example, if a kayak is light in the bow and you are paddling into the wind, or have a cross wind, the bow will constantly blow the bow down and off course...A real pain. Also, depending on the kayak, make sure there is weight in the center, otherwise the (some) kayak(s) will bulge up in the center making it a pig to track straight.

2) If kayaks are tipped slightly side-to-side, they will turn...To the opposite side to which they are tipped. You can steer a kayak this way without even having a paddle in the water. Slightly tipping a kayak to one side can help with tracking an errant kayak, but it always better to be balanced.

This applies to canoes, also. If a single paddler, sit in the center of the canoe, not in the back...I've rescued many a canoeist who sat in the back, started out paddling down wind 'cause it was easy, and then couldn't get back because the bow blew down whenever they tried to turn back up wind.

Signed, Chief Tippakanoo
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Thanks for the tips, Chief! Typically the only things in the kayak are me and my camera, so I would think I'm pretty evenly loaded? But I will try your suggestions - especially slightly tipping to correct tracking. Slightly, of course, I don't really want to send my camera to the depths!
 
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I'll have to get my wife to take a photo or two of me on my kayak with my camera gear, etc. The only photos I have are of the bow of my Eddyline Sandpiper 130 (it has a large cockpit, making it very easy to enter and exit) while I was out birding on a local lake:. Seeing these makes me want to go out right now! So much fun...
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Great images here. I am not agile or comfortable in a kayak. Last time i flip just as I was launching. Lucky no camera and my wallet and phone where in a zip lock bag.

Any suggest for a someone who is not good on water (other than to stay on the land)?
 
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RichF said:
Great images here. I am not agile or comfortable in a kayak. Last time i flip just as I was launching. Lucky no camera and my wallet and phone where in a zip lock bag.

Any suggest for a someone who is not good on water (other than to stay on the land)?
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A Hobie with Sidekick pontoons maybe?
They don¨t come cheap but i guess you find it safe :)

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or some other model.

SideKick Ama Kit | Hobie

Browse our line of hands-free MirageDrive kayaks, paddle kayaks and catamaran sailboats.
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Love to take photos from my kayak. I have two Native Watercraft: 14’ Slayer and a 13’ Slayer Propelled. I like the Slayer Propelled model a bit more because I don’t have to use the paddle for propulsion; just pedal like a bicycle. The Native propulsion system allows forward or backward propulsion by simply pedaling the opposite direction.This allows me to keep atleast one hand free to hold the camera ready for the shot. When shooting the 600mm, I just mount on a monopod and shoot as high a shutter speed as I can. All gear (D5, Z7, and usually four lenses) is kept in a dry bag (with a dry towel) when not in use and the dry bag is tethered to the kayak just in case of a roll-over (which has never happened….knock-on-wood). The most important part is the Inland Marine Equipment Replacement insurance policy…..
 
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TomMills23 said:
I sometimes get out on the water with my camera to capture wildlife. It seems the critters don't have the same flight response to humans on watercraft as they do when we're trudging around on 2 legs. For secretive marsh birds, such as Rails and Soras, I find being on the water an especially good way to see them and get up close and personal. Anyone else shooting from watercraft? Here's a few photos: View attachment 28471View attachment 28474View attachment 28475View attachment 28476View attachment 28477
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I'd love to know what camera and lens you are using. I assumed an Nikon D850 but down below you said you wouldn't take that camera out. The shots are extremely sharp.
 
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Don't have much experience with this myself but someone who does kayak-based worth checking out is Michelle Valberg. She's a Nikon Ambassoador who lives on a lake in Ontario and shoots a lot in her "back yard". Someone else who's work is interesting is John Gerlach, who uses a floating blind. With that he's totally enclosed and walks on the bottom os his pond/lake in waders. Unique method that allows him to get to eye level of subjects and really close.
 
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Beautiful work by the way, great shots that you can be proud of to have in your portfolio's. I shoot from a Jackson kayak their (Big Rig), it's very stable and comfortable. I always have my paddle attached to the side of the boat and hooked with a paddle leash in the event I plan to get into the weeds. Otherwise my kayak is rigged with a small electric mini-kota motor which powers the boat 6 speeds forwards & 3 reverse. Steering is done with my foot pegs. I found online a way to remove the top of the motor, re-mount it next to my seat, and re-wire from the seat to the back of the boat. The battery sits nicely in the rear hatch. I rigged it with a tripod that sits in front of me hooked in the bow and the two other legs sit over my lap in two deck drain holes. I shoot with Nikon's 300mm f/4 and a 1.4 tele-converter. I built a small little platform to set the camera on in front of me or I can lock it down in the ballhead of the tripod. This allows me to move about the marsh area's sitting perfectly still (camo gear on) with no moving paddles or body parts. One hand on the camera the other at my side adjusting my speed and my feet steering. It is a really cool set-up. One technique I use to stablize the kayak is to stick the bow of the boat into the weeds or lily pads and since I am perfectly still in my approach I often can get very close. With the camo on I can sit and wait for the smaller birds to come back or relax. The main drawback with this rig is the weight you are certainly not going to carry this boat anywhere without wheels, a tailgate extender for a truck or a trailer. But it is extremely stable usually used for fishing whereby you can stand up in it, ( I don't stability for myself is questionable considering my age (I either got smarter or simply know better then to try to stand up in a kayak. I use a small trailer to launch and retrieve the boat but it has work very well on ponds small lakes and marsh areas. No so well on big open waterways or in high winds but that could just be the size of motor. Jackson kayaks are good boats but not inexpensive at least hear in Canada. I believe they are build in the USA which means you may have better pricing for them.
 
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Karl Gillard said:
Love to take photos from my kayak. I have two Native Watercraft: 14’ Slayer and a 13’ Slayer Propelled. I like the Slayer Propelled model a bit more because I don’t have to use the paddle for propulsion; just pedal like a bicycle. The Native propulsion system allows forward or backward propulsion by simply pedaling the opposite direction.This allows me to keep atleast one hand free to hold the camera ready for the shot. When shooting the 600mm, I just mount on a monopod and shoot as high a shutter speed as I can. All gear (D5, Z7, and usually four lenses) is kept in a dry bag (with a dry towel) when not in use and the dry bag is tethered to the kayak just in case of a roll-over (which has never happened….knock-on-wood). The most important part is the Inland Marine Equipment Replacement insurance policy…..
Click to expand...
I tried to get a Native Tandem Kayak, but they were so backed up during Covid, I was unable to buy one!
 
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rlitschgy said:
Beautiful work by the way, great shots that you can be proud of to have in your portfolio's. I shoot from a Jackson kayak their (Big Rig), it's very stable and comfortable. I always have my paddle attached to the side of the boat and hooked with a paddle leash in the event I plan to get into the weeds. Otherwise my kayak is rigged with a small electric mini-kota motor which powers the boat 6 speeds forwards & 3 reverse. Steering is done with my foot pegs. I found online a way to remove the top of the motor, re-mount it next to my seat, and re-wire from the seat to the back of the boat. The battery sits nicely in the rear hatch. I rigged it with a tripod that sits in front of me hooked in the bow and the two other legs sit over my lap in two deck drain holes. I shoot with Nikon's 300mm f/4 and a 1.4 tele-converter. I built a small little platform to set the camera on in front of me or I can lock it down in the ballhead of the tripod. This allows me to move about the marsh area's sitting perfectly still (camo gear on) with no moving paddles or body parts. One hand on the camera the other at my side adjusting my speed and my feet steering. It is a really cool set-up. One technique I use to stablize the kayak is to stick the bow of the boat into the weeds or lily pads and since I am perfectly still in my approach I often can get very close. With the camo on I can sit and wait for the smaller birds to come back or relax. The main drawback with this rig is the weight you are certainly not going to carry this boat anywhere without wheels, a tailgate extender for a truck or a trailer. But it is extremely stable usually used for fishing whereby you can stand up in it, ( I don't stability for myself is questionable considering my age (I either got smarter or simply know better then to try to stand up in a kayak. I use a small trailer to launch and retrieve the boat but it has work very well on ponds small lakes and marsh areas. No so well on big open waterways or in high winds but that could just be the size of motor. Jackson kayaks are good boats but not inexpensive at least hear in Canada. I believe they are build in the USA which means you may have better pricing for them.
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Sounds like an awesome setup!
 
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jhorsch said:
Don't have much experience with this myself but someone who does kayak-based worth checking out is Michelle Valberg. She's a Nikon Ambassoador who lives on a lake in Ontario and shoots a lot in her "back yard". Someone else who's work is interesting is John Gerlach, who uses a floating blind. With that he's totally enclosed and walks on the bottom os his pond/lake in waders. Unique method that allows him to get to eye level of subjects and really close.
Click to expand...
I like that idea! I saw a guy on YouTube with a floating blind just as you described. It looked perfect!
 
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jhallettbc said:
Very interesting. That lens is not very popular here but I would have guessed it was the Nikon 500 PF because they are so sharp.
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Thanks! I believe I was lucky with the Sigma lens....maybe I got a good one). It has served me very well. It was a huge upgrade from the original gear I started with 3 years ago (a Nikon P900 bridge camera). :)
 
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TomMills23 said:
I like that idea! I saw a guy on YouTube with a floating blind just as you described. It looked perfect!
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HI Tom I built one of those floating blinds which is a great way to shoot, what I did find out was walking is sometimes difficult depending on the lake bottom. Mud, extremely uneven, and quick drop-offs, those sort of things. My lake was not the best for that set-up.
 
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