Want Better DIY Access?

Fly fishing from an inflatable paddle board?  No way.

I was skeptical and thought it would be too much of a hassle. Can you go from paddling to casting quickly enough? I thought there wouldn’t be enough rigidity in an inflatable board. Will the benefits of traveling with an inflatable SUP wouldn’t outweigh the added expense? I thought casting a fly from an unstable platform would cause problems. I thought landing a fish would be difficult…

After spending 10 days with one, now realize I couldn’t have been more wrong on all accounts. DIY fly fishing for Christmas Island bonefish will never be the same.

Traveling was easy, the board and paddle easily fit into a roller duffel. At the water, inflation took 5 minutes. I strapped on a 5 gallon bucket and lid to for a seat and storage and away I went.

The first thing I noticed, I could move in complete silence. Just as quickly I realized how much more I could see. Having your eyes an extra 3-4 feet higher made a huge difference. I could get much closer to the fish due to my seeing them from farther off and how quietly I could move. Not only could the paddle be used as a paddle, but I could use it to pole the board and to stake out when I wanted to get in the water. The rod rested comfortably at my feet with the line stripped out, ready to pick up and throw. I always had plenty of time to transition from paddling mode to casting as I could see so far from my perch.

Casting from the board was easy, even with 2 people on board. When you’re on the board it feels rock solid, less like an inflatable. I was able to guide from the board as well although it helped greatly when both people coordinated their movements. Any breeze would push us along at about the perfect speed for scanning. When it was time to go upwind, being able to pole was a must.

It comes down to this… want to get more shots, see more fish, cover more flats? For DIY fly fishing, a paddle board is the way to go!