Belly boat kick technique: frog kick, rest positions, wind kicking.
Kick technique that lasts a session
You sit backwards in a belly boat. That is the whole trick. The fins go on backwards too, the kick moves you backwards, and the fish appear in front of you as you look towards the shore you launched from.
Frog kick, not flutter
A slow, wide frog kick moves you steadily and rests the calf muscles. A flutter kick borrowed from swimming looks natural for about ten minutes; after that your legs cramp and you fish tired for the rest of the day.
Rest between drifts
Cross your fins at the ankles. Let the boat drift for 30 seconds every 5 minutes of active kicking. Your fishing improves because you rest, and because a drifting tube spooks less trout.
Kicking in wind
Wind fishing rewards short, positioning kicks: three or four cycles to hold station, then a hover. Read the wind fishing guide for tactics that make a windy day fishable instead of miserable.
Fin choice affects your kick
A stiff blade like the Force Fin will move you faster with fewer kicks; you cover more water and rest more often. A soft blade like the Caddis pushes less water per stroke and tires the calves faster on long crossings. If you fish sheltered bays and short distances, the Caddis is fine. If you kick a mile a session, buy the stiffer fin once and use it for a decade. Read our fin category hub for the full comparison.
Common mistakes
- Kicking too fast. You are not swimming for exercise; you are moving the boat.
- Splashing. Splash spooks fish. Keep the fin tips underwater.
- Straight legs. Slight bend at the knee, thighs relaxed, fin tips angled back.