Adventure Dogs: Fishing

I am starting a new blog series! The Adventure Dog series is all about adventure dogs and the massive variety of activities you can do with your dog!

Chloe and I have tried a TON of adventures, however we are very novice fishermen… fisherwomen? Fisher dog? Therefore I chose to chat with my brother about fishing trips with his dog, Ackley. We ended up with a hilarious conversation about why you should not bring your adventure dog fishing! He still does it. So do I. I hope you all have a chance to try it and that these stories will help you be successful!

Dog Vs Duck

When you’re on a boat with your dog, it is absolutely integral to have a personal… dogsonal? floatation device with a handle for your dog. At the very least, a harness with a handle. Inevitably, your dog might believe that casting the fishing line is a game of fetch, and may jump after the line. Your dog also might jump after a loon, a dog friend passing by on a different boat, and a variety of other fun situations that present themselves on the water. Inevitably, you will have to haul your dog back into the boat.

In my brother’s case, his adventure dog and hunting dog Ackley caught sight of a duck and lept with all his strength and courage out of a moving boat in pursuit of the duck. The perk of this adventure was a freshly caught dinner, with feathers instead of scales! The cons were hauling 80 pounds of pure Labrador muscle back into a boat.

Dog vs Fish Bait

The last thing anyone wants is a dog to eat all the marshmallows, frogs, leeches, minnows or worms that you have in hand for fish bait. Your adventure dog is likely quite curious about the smelly, squirmy items typically used to lure fish into your hook. My brother was adamant that the simple white Tupperware would not make the cut. Try storing bait in a formal snapping Tupperware, in the cooler separate from the food, or in a spare dry bag.

Dog vs Water

When fishing from the shore, you might find yourself in contact with a large amount of water droplets flying about intermittently while your dog has the time of his/her life in the water, and you can’t seem to catch any fish. Be sure to bring a towel and a dog brush, because you will get wet, and muddy and so will your adventure dog! But let’s be honest, playing in the water is half the fun of fishing!

Dog vs Boat

When adventuring after fish in a watercraft, you might find yourself head over heels into the water. This means dry bags, tackle in a floatable container, and all food items stored in a manner where they won’t disappear if you tip over. Because dogs sometimes get pretty excited about different watery things; and that can sometimes lead to a boat flipping over. This is according to my brother anyway, and trust me, it sounded like he spoke from experience.

I also find it nifty to tie everything on a short rope to the boat. This is what I do kayaking! Short is better than long so it won’t be tangled up in a person or a dog underwater. Also attaching items to your boat makes it so they won’t float away on you when you tip (inevitably).

My brother described his favorite dog fishing adventure, that began as a normal day… until the distinct sound of rifle use interrupted the peaceful waters. Ackley, his adventure dog, jumped out the boat after someone who was shooting fish from the shore. Ackley loves the sound of guns, because that means hunting and would you believe this dog absolutely fetched the fish and decided to eat it instead of leave it by the strangers on shore. Fishing with your dog is definitely an adventure.

Adventure dogs are definitely the best kinds of dogs! While this post is all pretty lighthearted and hilarious, I hope you found some good tips for taking your dog fishing! Where is your favorite fishing spot near you? Chloe and I have been out on the shore a couple times and we’re excited to try fishing from the kayak soon! Here is a huge shout out to my brother for chatting with me about his experiences taking Ackley out for fishing trips! I hope this post does the hilarious conversation justice- I was almost convinced it was time to start a podcast!

Be sure to subscribe for more dog venture stories! And stay tuned for more travel stories next week ♡ Happy Tails and happy Trails!

Barking Embarkers