I was wondering how far do you travel to fish in you kayak? With paddle or peddle. Let's say the wind is 5-10 mph.

The most distance I've covered is something like 15 miles, that is a pretty narrow 14' kayak.
I've also had many trips where I don't even cover a mile in several hours of fishing.

Typical trip, if there is such a thing, is where I'll cover close to a mile per hour. That's taking into account fishing and paddling from spot to spot, and away from and back to the launch.

Karstopo. Are you using a paddle or a Peddle?

The reason I asked. Is because I normally go places when I am at my spot in 200 to 300 yards. And don't want to wind to catch me while I am waaaaayyyyy out.

I'm in a pedal and I rarely go more than 5 miles round trip. However, like you and Karstopo, I often go less than a mile. I have never done more than 8 to 10 miles round trip... Yet!

If possible, I head into the wind relatively quickly and fish the "good spots" on my way upwind. Once I get to where I'm heading, I slow down and let the wind push me back.

I pedal (Topwater PDL). I can pedal all day at a steady 3.6 mph. I've done 10 miles in a day, but my normal is 5-7. Like Mike said, if possible I like to head up wind/up current from my put in spot and work my way back.

I paddle, been using a Werner Carbon last several years, but did my longest trips with Werner Fiberglass. Every trip is different and it just depends on how intent I'm on fishing and not paddling. My two longest trips were probably 10-12 years past. One was from the launch at Cedar Lake Creek in the San Bernard NWR to the ICW with side trips and some covering the same water more than once. I paddled from Wharton to almost Bay city on the Colorado river, current helps there in spots, but the prevailing wind hurts. Other long trips involved paddling from Drum Bay to the extreme back of the slop bowl with many detours in the mix.

Depends on where I'm fishing. If I'm fishing the flats I'll be paddling. I usually don't need to go more than a couple of miles. If I'm fishing for cats on the lake I'll be pedaling- usually need to go a couple of miles one way. If I'm offshore I'll be pedaling. Last time I went out I pedaled about 17 miles.

I paddle. Trolling i have been just over 25 miles.

6-7 miles every trip on my Hobie.

You can paddle and peddle as far as your body will allow. I can paddle all day as long as I can stop, get off the yak and stretch then move on. I am not sure of the disctance, but I launched from Shady Shores on Lake Dallas and paddled up the mouth of East Fork & 380. It was a great day of fishing. However, the paddle back was a bit extreme for my liking. Coming back I encountered a stiff 10+mph headwind. If anyone has paddled that area, it is shallow and it does have stumps. Many times I got caught high centered or came down lopsided on a stump when i would go over a wave. Luckily I never turtled, but I will admit to having a few skid marks in my drawers!

Best advice above is to know what direction the wind will be coming from so you can just drift with it back to your launch area.

What they said.

Plan on the wind to help you back. Windfinder app is free and a good friend!

I took this pic in 600+ feet of water, 7 miles off Hollywood Beach Florida, in 2004. Was looking for the edge of the gulf stream which was 10 miles out according to one of the boaters I spoke to on the water. I turned around as I couldn't see land and didn't have a gps at the time. The water turns almost black in the gulf stream and can be as close as a couple of miles offshore on some days.

My longest is about 6 miles of paddling.
Usually around 2-3 miles of paddling.
Always aware of what the wind is doing.
Try to have the wind at my back when going back to the ramp, but this does not always work out when going to the Dam.

I usually paddle further on a river or large creek and have gone 22 miles in one stretch, but typically 10-15 miles on flowing water and 5-8 miles on reservoirs.

Furthest so far on my Nu Canoe Frontier 10 has been 2 miles, and yup know what the wind is doing that day. LOL. Getting pushed back to the launch spot is like having a free boat motor.

Has anyone been out and the predicted wind changes? Cause I go into the wind when I launch.

Yep! That has happened to me a few times. When it does, I immediately drop my pole and check my weather app. If a pop-up storm is forming or of the winds are predicted to get stronger throughout the day, I power back to the launch area and finish up the day closer to safety. Otherwise, stay the course and know that I have to do less fishing and more pedaling to get back before dark.

I use the WeatherBug app... it has active radar and an hour by hour forecast that includes wind direction/speed. I'll be looking into Windfinder too (thanks for the recommendation Dan!)

I paddle. I head upwind as others have mentioned, and drift back down. Usuall1/2 to 3/4 of a mile. Staying close to shoreline in a lake, fishing structure/docks.

this
have the wind at your back
coming home

I cannot paddle but a couple miles without being sore the next day. I paddle against the wind to where I want to fish and then the wind shifts and I have to paddle against the wind on the way back.

Not seeing your swing....keep that in mind....it would do you some good to study and practice proper tecnique. Most of us are kayaking to fish. I have a dad who wanted to paddle forever. He taught me to swing a paddle as long in whatever conditions. There are many small changes you could possibly make that could change the distance you are able to cover with less effort. Personally i started in a canoe, that made it really easy to adapt the high angle swing. . A quality paddle will also help just not if your swing needs a little correction.

I used to try to paddle into the wind...dang wind always seemed to change so no matter what i was face into the wind. Hahaha.

I typically paddle 7-11 miles from start to finish. My closest red spot is a 1.5 miles from the launch on those quick in and out days I’ll catch my three and go home. But when we are out there all day we will usually paddle that 7-11. I’m starting to like those quick trips better with this heat.

Yes sir happened to me too. I went out to a local lake one late spring day and the winds were predicted to be blowing 15-18 in the afternoon but I figured that's not a deal killer so I went. Got on the other side of the lake about 2 miles from the launch and the wind kicked up gusting to 30. I had swells coming over the front of my Pro Angler 14 and hitting me in the face. I pedaled straight into the wind all the way back to the ramp. Took me over an hour to get back pedaling as hard as I could. Couldn't hardly walk to the truck my legs were toast. I don't think I would have made it had I been in my paddle yak.

I use Windfinder but all of them are getting most of their info from NOAA. The apps just compile it in a format we can easily see and use. Windfinder seems to be pretty accurate most of the time. Typically spring time is when the winds can be most unpredictable unless of course you're around a thunderstorm.

It’s good to have a repertoire of spots, some close to the launch and some more distant.

I organize my trips around a particular launch. What does this or that launch offer as to various things like wind protection, variety of structure, relative solitude, etc.?

People seems to be offended when they arrive at a launch and the weather conditions are nothing like the forecast. As if the weather obeys what the talking head says.

If you have X amount of launches within range, each with X amount of potential spots to fish, at least a few should be viable no matter the conditions so long as the conditions aren’t life threatening.

Personally, I hate windshield time so I try to squeeze as much from nearby launches as humanly possible. There’s nothing wrong with knowing a place backwards and forwards. One place I fish in the nearby saltwater is about 10 acres in size and I’ve fished it hundreds of times and pulled out many hundreds of fish, but there are still things to learn there. I can start fishing and catching fish literally right at the launch. I could never go any other place, but then it’s nice to have some variety. What if someone is already in the spot? What if the water is somehow all messed up?

Having a plan with some built in flexibility is a good thing. Don’t get married to just one little launch with one little spot. Exploring and paddling a little more distant can yield some good new place.

I paddled ~7.5 miles Saturday in my Commander 140. Launched at about 10:30, back at the launch at 16:30. Wind and current as it worked out was mostly hurtful. Weather was pretty warm, but not full blown summer hot.

I am pretty proud of myself at 57 years old covering that much water in that amount of time. There was plenty of stationary time spent fishing. Hadn't been in the kayak in 3 months. Did get a cramp in right forearm near the end, but it resolved itself after a few minutes stationary while fishing.

Still feeling great 48 hours later and no serious soreness. A paddle like that only whets the appetite for another. I don't eat while I'm on those trips typically, just some quick water breaks.

Did 11 miles on the Cottonwood River on Saturday. We saw hundreds of pelicans, a lot ducks, egrets, herons, and a bald eagle. Easy paddling, but it's been awhile and I did sleep soundly that night.