Part of the Series: The Importance of Fishing In Kayak Angling
Endurance is a large part of kayak fishing. But there are two types of endurance related to kayak angling.
The first type is probably what you are thinking of; the endurance to paddle long distances. If you want to improve as a tournament angler, you will need to paddle further and faster than your other competitors. This will get you to the "fishy" water first, and give you the ability to reach waters that other anglers can't reach. This Aerobic Fitness will also help you to not wear down throughout the day, and will give you the energy reserves needed to make that paddle back to weigh in site quicker, allowing you to stay on the water fishing even longer.
The second type of endurance is mental endurance--the ability to remain sharp and focused throughout the entire day on the water. Being fully concentrated on fishing can get difficult, especially if it is a slow day with few bites, but that is exactly when you need to be at the top of your game. There are several factors that can lead to mental exhaustion and a lack of concentration:
- Physical exhaustion
- Extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, wind, rain, etc.)
- Boredom
- Outside distractions
Running and endurance training can help you overcome all of these, allowing you to remain focused on each and every cast.
Running obviously will improve your cardiovascular health and your aerobic fitness, giving you the stamina needed to make long hard paddles. But distance running can also help improve your mental endurance. Distance running can get boring, and you can lose concentration. Work on staying focused during your runs, push through the boredom, and free your mind from outside distractions. It can be difficult to do this, and can make running less fun, but it is good to work on (at least sometimes.)
Running can also be great relaxation, believe it or not, and is a great opportunity to clear your mind from the worries of the world. And I love this about running. One run a week (usually my Sunday evening run) I will just not think about anything and run. I don't worry too much about time, I just take off and run. I believe anyone's overall mental health can benefit from thins.
To improve your kayak angling, I would encourage you to work on distance running. Try and run far for long periods of time, not short sprints. Depending on how much time you spend running, you can work on different things, but good long runs tend to benefit you the most.
Tuesday Workout
- Run - If you are a beginer, start by running for as long as you can or for 5 minutes, followed by a recovery period of jogging, or even walking if necessary. Eventually you will be able to run hard for longer periods at a time, and will be able to recover with faster jogs.
- As you improve and can run further and faster, so will these workouts - KEEP PUSHING YOURSELF
- Use Tuesdays to push yourself to run a little faster
- Run hard for 800 meters, then relax and jog to recovery, then repeat
- Concentrate on your time and speed
- Also, use Tuesday to improve your focus
- Concentrate and focus on your form or posture or even your goals while you run
Tuesdays, I focus a little less on distance and more on time typically. Sundays are my long runs where I push myself for distance, but Tuesdays are where I get a lot of running work in. I work on pushing myself, running harder for distances of 400 or 800 meters followed by 400 meters of slower jogging. This will help you push your aerobic fitness to new levels, and will allow you to paddle harder over those long distance you might need to cover. It will also help prepare you for a day on the water with long periods of slow action, followed by periods of fast, heart-pumping moments.
I use Tuesdays to work on my concentration as well. I really focus on my run, eliminating all distractions around me. I will focus on my stride for about 800 meters or a mile, then focus on my posture for the next 800 meters or mile. Staying focused will begin to train you to remain focused on each cast while out on the water, allowing you to catch more fish.
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