STATE BRIDGE — In the hierarchy of Colorado fishing vessels, the dory remains king of the big rivers, with rubber rafts ruling the technical whitewater and various iterations of motorized bass boats decked with trolling motors, swivel seats and live wells claiming the throne on still-water lakes.
But for those seeking a reasonable Jack-of-all-trades, a surfboard — of all things — is quickly carving its way into the niche previously held by canoes and kayaks.
We’re not talking surfboards in the traditional “hang 10” sense. Rather, it’s the seemingly ubiquitous stand-up paddle boards, or SUPs, that have blown up in Colorado over the past five years and are now finding their way into the freshwater angling community.
While some skeptics continue to cry fad, the hype surrounding SUPs has found some statistical support. The Outdoor Industry Association reported that 10.5 million Americans paddled SUP boards in 2011, about 60 percent of the number of whitewater kayakers. Leisure Trends Group reported a 104 percent increase in U. S. stand-up paddle board sales from April 2011 to April 2012, and another 90 percent by this April.
Away from the nation’s coastlines, the fishing community remains a relatively untapped market.
“They’re best for the adventuresome individual. They really appeal to the adventure travel fisherman, serious fly-fishermen,” said Chris Timmerman, whose Steamboat Springs-based Creek Company recently introduced the Osprey Fishing SUP to its line of personal pontoons and other fishing vessels. “It’s the first fishing-specific SUP design we’ve brought to the market, and it’s already creating a lot of interest.”
The Creek Company certainly is not alone in its attempt to attract the angling community to the SUP arena. Here in Colorado, Salida-based board designers Zack Hughes and Mike Harvey introduced the user-friendly Boardworks Badfish inflatable SUP last year, and Gypsum resident Ken Hoeve teamed up with Jackson Kayak to help create the SUPerFISHal board in 2012 as well.
With the elevated sight line offered from a standing position, the ability to cover more water with relative ease compared to other personal watercraft and a full range of motion while casting, the appeal of SUP fishing is readily evident. Like the fishing kayaks that precede them, efficiency and portability are the primary attractions, especially with inflatable models that slip into a backpack. Toss in the potential for a fish-fueled “Nantucket sleighride,” and the action gets exciting in a hurry.
“Standing up tall on this board, I can hunt for fish, and I think you can cast further and more effectively from a fly-fishing perspective,” Harvey said. “Plus, it’s fun. You’re fighting a fish on a stand-up paddle board.”
While most fishing board designs are enhanced for stability, fishing from a surfboard will always demand a degree of athleticism. A dose of ingenuity doesn’t hurt either. Fortunately, much of the experimentation has already been done by board manufacturers.
Spin casting is easier than fly-casting, considering the need for a paddle (and perhaps a paddle leash). But any board designed for fishing should include rod holders mounted to the deck. Scotty brand mounts have emerged as the industry leader for rod holders and other accessories including fish finders, cameras and anchor systems.
Another feature to look for is a set of D-rings for deck rigging, since the board will carry everything required for a day of fishing. Some anglers like to attach plastic milk crates to hold tackle boxes and many boards are designed to carry a small cooler that doubles as a seat.
“I like to fish it simple, stripped down — paddle, rod, fish,” Timmerman said of the 11-foot, 42-pound Osprey. “But if I am out all day or on the river or in big salt water, I like to attach a cooler for sitting down in rough conditions or just to take a break.”
The ideal SUP fishing board length tends to fall in the 11- to 12-foot range and weighs less than a kayak. More important for the sake of stability is width, which should be at least 35 inches underfoot. When in doubt, err to the wide side. Fins on the bottom of the board aid with tracking, but shorter, flexible fins are best for the shallow water and rocky landings prevalent in Colorado. Thickness translates to volume for carrying capacity.
Fishing the saltwater flats or still-water coves and inlets for prowling pike and trout is where the stealthy vessels excel. Bass fishermen enjoy opportunities to cast from deeper water toward lily pads, reeds and willows along the bank with less chance of snagging. The biggest drawback, so often the case in fishing, is wind.
“The boards are great fun in all water, but tough in a strong wind,” Timmerman said.
A simple remedy for wind drift, credited to Jackson Kayak fishing team manager Drew Gregory, is to attach lengths of steel chain to a retractable dog leash that serves as a lightweight anchor. Otherwise, the wind can serve as a makeshift trolling motor.
“In the saltwater flats and lakes I found I can get set up with the breeze and drift,” Harvey said. “I never was a huge kayak fisherman or a belly boater, so I don’t want to say you can take this places you can’t get to with those types of crafts. But for me, stand-up paddling is something I like to do, and being raised a fisherman, it’s my natural instinct to look for fish from that perspective, even if I don’t have a fishing rod. Standing up tall on this board, I can really hunt for fish.”
