Mar 21, 2026 5 min read

When kayaking was new on my radar, I spent a fair amount of time on the Monongahela River. Big open water, paddling in and around the old coal mine loading sites, in and out of the iron structures and tanks, tossing a line here and there. The occasional barge would bounce a kayak pretty good. Not only was it productive from a fishing standpoint but it was a lot of fun, great exercise and more than a little interesting.

Logically to follow were some outings on Ten Mile Creek, smaller but large enough to provide some challenge without placing me in danger as a novice paddler. Depending upon how much rain had fallen could make the morning’s paddle anything from leisurely to downright inconvenient. A couple of times I found myself dragging my kayak more than floating it.

It wasn’t until more recently that I discovered a new pastime: small water exploration. From time to time, I enjoy putting my kayak on the smallest piece of estuary it can handle and floating with the current. This is usually best accomplished when tributaries are swollen but not necessarily at flood stage. There has to be enough water in the drink to float my 12-foot platform but I’m not looking to test out my personal flotation device any time soon, either. I usually wear a pair of chest waders if it’s chilly and the water is not believed to be more than a foot or two in depth. Not only is it dryer but it is quite a bit warmer in addition.

It’s incredible what a change in perspective can do for your psyche. Sitting down in the water with the creek banks well over your head provides a vantage point that I’d never experienced. Around each bend (and there are plenty of bends in these types of navigable waters) lies a new and fascinating vista. A blue heron feeding in the shallows, a deer crossing the stream, a flock of ducks startled into flight, an owl sitting motionless in the branches of an overhanging limb waiting for some unsuspecting critter to make that fatal mistake. There is never even the slightest notion what one might uncover next but it is always something amazing, to be sure. These trips often serve as preseason scouting for an upcoming fishing trip, duck hunt, or occasionally deer stalk into a world that would otherwise have gone undetected. And talk about your solitude? Wow, what an undisturbed way to spend a day.

Let it be understood from the get go, this type of exploration paddling is an adventure, indeed. Occasionally, a downed tree, beaver dam, floating brush pile can make things interesting. Some might say a bit hairy. There are times when one is forced against an obstacle because the water is running swiftly enough that there is no way to back paddle out of such a situation. If the banks are too steeply pitched, this can result in a less than optimal experience. I have had to pull my kayak up over the sides of the bank, around an obstacle, or portage around non-navigable sections of the stream. A 20-foot length of rope can be a life saver. These times call for swift decision making and always having a plan. Sometimes it’s plan B or C that gets enacted and those are not always the solution either.

Any inconvenience, however, is worth the price of admission for such a unique ride. Carrying a pair of hand pruners has made life easier on multiple occasions. I have had to remove a limb or two in order to free up my exit path. I came upon a cow who was at least as surprised as I was, possibly a bit more, at my presence and I was equally impressed how quickly a domestic animal of such size can vacate a stream bottom. I was even more relieved that it was not a bull in my path. The occasional stream fence must be expected and dealt with, but like all outdoor adventures the effort is normally worth the hassle. Keeping your cell phone in a water proof pouch can remove a lot of stress in an emergency. Don’t find this one out the hard way. Also, a change of clothes in a dry bag can make all the difference in saving the day.

I’d choose the smallest craft available for such work, realizing that you might need to portage quite a distance or might need to lift your kayak out of a steep embankment. I also prefer a sit on top craft so that I am able to exit as quickly and safely as possible. I become a bit apprehensive at the thought of becoming tied up with my craft. At any rate, the more trouble shooting you can do in advance the more pleasurable your journey is likely to be. Partnering with another kayak enthusiast is best for safety’s sake. It’s also easier to put in and take out with a pal who can drive a separate vehicle for pick up and drop off. The adventure before you is only limited by your imagination and convenience sake. I hope sharing this idea has created a spark to get out and explore some new water. Best of luck and most of all, safe paddling.

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com