Strive to only bring the bare essentials because there isn’t much space on a tandem kayak for two anglers and all their gear.
Tandem kayaks are often called “divorce boats” – there is good reason for that.
Whether your paddling partner is your significant other or your best buddy, that bond will be tested because paddling together in coordinated strokes is harder than herding cats.
Your paddles might clack against each other. The stern paddler might drip water all over the back of the bow paddler. You might move in circles. You distribute your weight wrong. You argue. You capsize.
The friction begins particularly after the two of you have paddled a couple of kilometres, after you feel that burn in your muscles.
When the kayak deck is full of gear, attach what you can to eyelets and rings to reduce the risk of losing things.
Once the lactic acid in your kayaking muscles increase, it takes mental fortitude to stay synchronised with your partner.
Yet so many times, when people catch the kayaking bug, they first gravitate towards getting a tandem kayak.
This is particularly so for anglers because they hope to go kayak-fishing with a friend. It’s camaraderie.
Based on my experience, there are two major hiccups with kayak-fishing on a tandem.
Firstly and dangerously so, the angler in the bow seat has severely limited casting options.
Only the bow kayak-fisher, namely the writer, is paddling in the above scene.
If the bow angler performs an overhead cast, there is a 99% chance of foul-hooking the stern angler’s lips, cheeks or ears.
Secondly and frustratingly so, there is scarce real estate on the deck of a tandem kayak.
Two anglers and their paddles, rods, baits, tackle boxes, drinking water, snacks or meals and personal effects will turn the deck into a big mess.
Those using kayaks with storage hatches to stuff things into the hull might be better off. But remember that the more you load your kayak, the heavier and more unwieldy it becomes.
So, if you already have a tandem or you really want to do kayak-fishing with your soulmate on board, here are a few tips.
The most important tip: the more experienced kayak-fisher takes the bow seat.
This kayak-fisher has to be seasoned enough to temper that impulse to make overhead casts and limit themselves to only side and back-handed casts, even though distance and casting accuracy might suffer.
When you settle at your fishing spot and stop paddling, sit sideways to fish. Then, for the bow angler, overhead casts become possible again.
Those using kayak seats or back rests that make it hard for you to sit sideways may have to make adjustments.
The next rule I insist on is that only the bow angler paddles.
The stern angler has no paddle because with all the fishing tackle we carry, having another paddle on board is a waste of space.
Paddling at the bow – even leaning forward a little to dip the paddle slightly ahead of the bow to start a stroke – is the best way to consistently keep the kayak pointed in the desired direction while still feeding it with kinetic energy.
Standard kayaking techniques dictate that the stern paddler should be the more experienced one and in charge of steering. But steering from the stern involves stabbing the paddle into the water, turning it into a rudder.
This might be okay while going downriver but on a lake or at sea, such an act will make the kayak lose that precious momentum we have been nurturing.
It is far easier for the bow paddler to make corrective strokes that nudge the kayak in the desired direction without any loss of momentum.
But when going long distances to explore a water body, two paddlers on a tandem would be marvellous.
As for me, I only do it with my wife. I still take the bow seat even though I am heavier. We have code words: “Right, right.” “Left, left.” “Normal.”
Our code words are short because when we are blading over the water at speed, we don’t exactly have breath to spare for lengthy sentences.
The code words let us make corrective strokes in unison to steer the kayak while maintaining our speed; we paddle continuously on either side to gradually correct our course or we do the normal left-right power strokes.
If you two can synchronise well on a tandem kayak, then you will enjoy a fast, breezy trip. And there will be no need for divorce proceedings.
