Wow, it's Memorial Day Weekend and the official start of kayaking and kayak fishing season in Door County. With the high gas prices, will we see more kayakers on the water and fewer boaters? Personally, I love fishing from my boat and one of my sit-on-top fishing kayaks. I think I may be doing more smallmouth bass fishing from the kayak this year. 

Each year in my first article, I like to remind everyone that the water temperatures are still quite cold on Lake Michigan and Green Bay, so be sure to wear your Personal Flotation Device (PFD). And, if you are kayaking alone, let someone know where you are and when you plan to be back. If you take your phone, have it in a waterproof bag, which can be as simple as a sealed Ziploc-type plastic bag.

If you are a beginner and have never kayaked Door County and our 300 miles of beautiful shoreline, you might want to check with one of the kayak tour companies for an introduction. I will be touching on recreational and fishing kayaks in upcoming articles and a paddle discussion. When it comes to what kayak is best for you, please jump on the internet and do your research. There are also Facebook sites like Wisconsin Kayaking and Kayaking Wisconsin that can be extremely helpful. And those tour outfitters can be an excellent resource for kayaks, paddles, and accessories.

From now until Labor Day weekend, I will be covering many topics, but one fun thing to do in the waters of Door County is to see what's underneath the surface. The picture with this article is from a recent visit to the City of Glasgow shipwreck near our house on Lily Bay. I always have my polarized sunglasses on for fishing, and wearing a pair of kayaking will help you enjoy your time on the water even more. They will cut through the glare of the surface and give you a much better view of what's underneath the surface, whether one of the many shipwrecks, beautiful rock formations, or schools of fish.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, be safe out there in your kayak, and enjoy the beautiful waters of Door County. As always, if you have a kayak or kayak fishing question, please email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com