18 June 26, 2020 VOL.39 • ISS. 14
Spotlight On Kayak Fishing...
Sponsered by Kayak City
in Citrus Heights, CA
Kayak City.Com 916.565.1400
Kayak Bassing
By Tim Allard
Kayak fishing is one of the hottest trends in the outdoor industry today.
Extremely popular with costal anglers, the paddling-and-angling approach is
quickly drifting inland as freshwater anglers catch the kayak-fishing bug.
More freshwater enthusiasts are becoming kayak converts — and for good
reason. Compared to power boats, kayaks are a low-cost solution for getting
off the shore and on top of some great fishing spots. Although there’s no
shortage of fish you can target out of a kayak, paddling your way to a largemouth
backwater bonanza is definitely one of my favorite ways to spend a day.
Here’s what you need to know about using kayaks to battle Mr. Bucketmouth.
A big advantage to kayaks is that they let you access small ponds, rivers and
backwater areas normally off limits to bass boats. Even more, these areas are
often excellent areas for big largemouth. Before you launch, however, take
some time to pick prime fishing waters. One good tactic is to find smaller
backwater spots connected to the larger water body known to hold big fish. As
long as there’s not a blockade, if decent bass are in the bigger system, they’ll
be in the smaller areas too. These fish are also likely less-pressured, which can
mean outstanding fishing.
For exploration purposes, I find a sit on top kayak best. This design lets you
easily get in and out of the boat. Once you arrive at your destination, it’s up
to you to catch the fish, but here are my favorite largemouth bass kayaking
techniques.
Slop Fishing Stealth
One of my favorite ways to target largemouth bass is with topwater frogs.
This presentation is a blast out of a kayak. Kayaks let you get right into the
heart of this cover. In thick slop, weeds will wrap around paddles, making
maneuverability
and
paddling
more
challenging
than in open
water, but
the effort
is worth it
for the shot
at a trophy
fish. Once
you get into
the shallow
stuff, a
stealth
approach is
a must. Keep
noise and
boat-to-boat
chatter to a
minimum to
avoid spooking fish.
When casting topwaters, be prepared for strikes at any time during the
retrieve. It’s common for bass to hit a frog a few feet from a kayak, which
happens much less often when I’m in my power boat
For frogging, I use a heavy-power baitcast outfit, teamed with a 7:1 gear
ratio reel to help me quickly winch largemouth up and out of the thick cover.
Sometimes dropping an anchor on the edge of the slop can prevent you from
being pulled into the weeds when locked in battle with a fish.
In addition to slop and pads, I use hollow-bodied frogs and swimming toads
in open water areas. I like that these baits can pull double duty, so I don’t have
to bring a lot of topwaters out with me.
Spinnerbait Slam ‘Em
Without a doubt, a spinnerbait is an excellent search lure for bass. What I
like about a spinnerbait is that, due to its horizontal presentation, it’s perfectly
suited for the low-to-the-water seated position of kayakers. Another advantage
to spinnerbaits is they’re a single hook lure. Whenever I can, I avoid treble
hooks when kayak fishing, and if I do use them, I try and always net-land fish.
Sticking with a single hook helps reduce the chances of boat side mishaps in
the kayak’s low-to-the-water position. Spinnerbait are an excellent search lure
for bass. What I like about a spinnerbait is that, due to its horizontal presentation,
it’s perfectly suited for the low-to-the-water seated position of kayakers.
Another advantage to spinnerbaits is they’re a single hook lure. Whenever I
can, I avoid treble hooks when kayak fishing, and if I do use them, I try and
always net-land fish. Sticking with a single hook helps reduce the chances of
boat side mishaps in the kayak’s low-to-the-water position.
Spinnerbaits also make great search lures, letting you comb through a bay or
drift along a shoreline firing out casts to quickly determine if any bass are in the
area. Mostly weedless and snag-free, these baits excel in almost any conditions,
excluding heavy cover. Bulge them on the surface or slow roll them over deep
weed tops. When kayak fishing, space is always a premium. I opt for versatile
lures I can work in a variety of fishing scenarios. The spinnerbait is one of my
top choices when I’m out of the slop for largies.
Being Low Is Good!
Although the low position of a kayak may be perceived as somewhat of a
disadvantage for flipping situations, the posture these paddle boats provide
makes for great skipping baits under overhanging cover from a kayak. Using
a side-arm cast, keep baits low to the water and toss them under shaded cover
areas, like docks or trees. Top skipping baits include tubes, soft jerkbaits, tubes
or salt-loaded creature baits rigged Texas style.
As you can see, many of the top power-boat bass-fishing tactics work, or
can be adjusted, to fishing out of a kayak. If you haven’t yet, consider renting
or borrowing
a kayak and
paddle to some
back bays you
know hold bass.
Be warned
though; once
you lock in
battle with a
largemouth in
a kayak, you
might find
yourself assimilated
into one of
the hottest and
fastest growing
trends in angling
today. Don’t say
I didn’t warn
you.
This article
comes courtesy
of Bass Pro
Shops.