It's hard to say who was most surprised: the fish or the man in the kayak that the fish jumped into.
Catching fish without using a pole or bait has been an unexpected advantage of flat-water kayaking for at least one local enthusiast.
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Crazy fish tricks aside, kayaking is gaining fans in the state with the completion of the downtown river project and the Olympic sprint canoe/kayak trials.
Although Oklahoma is not known for its high-powered whitewater sports, many Oklahomans are embracing flat-water kayaking.
"Just two years ago, if you drove around with a kayak on your car, people would look at you all crazy-eyed, like, ‘That's not a bass boat,'” said Dave Lindo, 32, owner of OKC Kayak. "I think a lot of it was they had the stereotypical image that there is nothing to do in Oklahoma City.”
Matthew Woodson, 38, president of the Red Dirt chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club and an instructor at Chesapeake Boathouse, said the Olympic trials in Oklahoma City in April helped boost interest. "From that, we have spawned a small and growing group of athletes,” he said.
Recreational kayaking, or flat-water paddling, can be done on most rivers and lakes in the state. Popular locales include the Illinois River, the Lower Mountain Fork River and the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City.
Although the state is not known for its whitewater rapids, kayaking fans said finding them is just a matter of going at the right time. "You have to catch it right after the rain,” Lindo said. He said many of the state's whitewater opportunities are not within a short drive from the metro.
"Flat water is really what Oklahoma is best known for,” Woodson said.
"Kayaking, unlike a lot of other water sports, you can get into it pretty quickly,” he said.
Although the sport is easy to learn, Lindo said taking a lesson helps a person move faster, reduce fatigue and learn safety.
"A small little lesson up front can make all the difference,” Lindo said. "There are a few tips and tricks that can make these trips safer.”
Lindo said people of all ages and sizes can enjoy kayaking.
"One to 101, we've literally had them in a kayak,” Lindo said.
"You don't have to get in shape. It's like riding a bike. You don't have to go out and paddle like a maniac.”
Woodson said the motions used to move a kayak provide a good workout.
"For me, kayaking is one of those exercises you can enjoy and not even realize you are exercising,” he said.
Because kayaking does not involve a motor, Woodson said it can be beneficial for fishing, hunting or sightseeing. He said kayaks can go places other watercraft can't.
"You can sneak up on stuff,” he said. "I've actually caught a few fish without even trying.”
Woodson recalled an incident when a 3½-foot alligator gar leapt onto his lap while showing off its foot-long mouth.
"That was the last time I screamed like a little girl,” Woodson said.
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Did you know?
Speed paddlers can really book it. At top speed, some reach 120 strokes a minute or 2 strokes a second.
Kayakers can surf Oklahoma. Water released from the Keystone Dam above Tulsa creates a whitewater spot where kayakers engage in a "white water rodeo.”
National kayak teams will return to Oklahoma City for the U.S. National Championships Aug. 5 to 9.
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