Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 2724 Nov 9-23 | Page 7

VOL.37 • ISS. 24 7 Nov 9 - 23, 2018 FRESHWATER Spotlight On Kayak Fishing... Sponsered by Kayak City in Citrus Heights, CA Kayak City.Com 916.565.1400 Tactics for Catching Trout from a Kayak By Kevin Hofer, Kayak City Fishing Team When I bought my first kayak almost ten years ago, the first place I went was to a High Sierra lake in search of some trout. Since then I have fished over 150 lakes in my kayak, the majority of which I was targeting trout. Following I will share my go-to techniques and a few tips I’ve learned along the way that hopefully will put more fish on the end of your line. When I first started out, I used what my grandpa had taught me, a set of Half-Fast flashers with a leader and a worm. I would troll this setup around the lake and yes I would catch fish, but the drag of those large flashers really took away from the fight of the fish. I enjoy eating trout very much, but as many say “the tug is the drug” . In an effort to get more fight out of the fish, I began trying micro flashers and then finally finding a setup I liked. A small 4 inch Sep’s dodger or one of the smaller tear dropped shaped ones with 7”-12” leader Kevin Hofer has fished over 150 different lakes from his kayak. Much of the time Hofer is targeting a followed with a worm or species of trout. Photo by KEVIN HOFER, Kayak City Fishing Team. your favorite lure or fly. This setup has caught me hundreds if not thousands of trout, column or by what type of cover/structure the fish are at. predominately rainbows brooks and My 2nd favorite lure to cast and or troll around is the Thomas Buoyant cutthroat, but the occasional brown will either in red and gold or in rainbow trout pattern. The brook trout really seem fall for it as well. If the water is cool or the to love the gold and red Buoyant. fish are feeding on top, trolling with this So I covered my favorite trolling setups and lures to cast, now I will get setup will work just fine without any added into what has become one of, if not my favorite methods to catch all variety weight. of trout both large and small, the jig. If the fish are deep then a small banana Jigs come in all sorts of varieties, the first I ever used for trout was a mini weight can be added or as I prefer leadcore tube jig. The Berkley PoweBait mini tubes in the grasshopper or white I line. Speeds from 1-2mph are ideal for this keep in my box at all times. Slowly and stealthily moving my way along the Marabou jigs like these are some of setup; the fish will often follow for a while shoreline I will toss the jig, let it sink for a while then reel it in twitching here Kevin Hofer’s favorite trout lures. and not hit if you are just going the same and there along the way until a hungry fish takes it. Photo courtesy of TED JEFFERSON, speed in a straight line. Vary the speed and Riverside. If fishing in artificial only waters, you can find the small tube jigs do occasional zigzags to help trigger more unscented, or you can go to one of my other favorites the marabou jig. My strikes. personal best 30+inch cutthrout came on a 1/8ounce marabou jig. I fish them While on the subject of trolling I feel I have to say that my second most similarly to the mini tubes, though with the little bit of extra weight I am able productive method is just hooking on a silver and blue Kastmaster or a J-5 to feel the bottom better and able to hop it along the rocks. I’ve caught golden Rapalla in rainbow trout pattern, letting out some line and trolling around. If trout, browns, steelhead, brook trout, cutthroats, rainbows and even a tiger I am trying to target browns then I will up the size of the Rapala and usually trout on marabou jigs so don’t be hesitant to try them in any body of water! troll it on some leadcore near the bottom. There are many different ways to target trout from the kayak, so try out As well as trolling the Kastmaster it is also an amazing search bait, when a few different techniques and see which is most productive and most just drifting around in the kayak I will kick back and toss it around. The irst enjoyable for you. No way is the right way or the only way; sometimes you few retrieves, don’t let it sink. may have to try a few different things before you figure out what the fish are If you get no hits during next few casts, let it sink 5 seconds and retrieve. in the mood for that day. If no hits, then try 10 seconds and so on, until you find where in the water Want to get into kayak fishing? Kayak City is YOUR official Hobie Kayak dealer in the Sacramento are. The main store is located at 7812 Auburn Blvd in Citrus Heights, Ca. (916) 565-1400 or visit them online at kayakcity.com. Trout ~ Kokanee ~ Salmon ~ Shad OFFICIAL SPONSOR 18 Proven Kokanee/Trout Dodgers! Hofer fooled this impressive Pyramid Lake cutthroat while tossing a marabou jig. Photo by KEVIN HOFER, Kayak City Fishing Team. 240 different size/color combinations! 82 YEARS of Catching TROUT & KOKANEE 100% Made in the USA Without a DICK NITE... You’re Not Fishin’ Right! www.dicknite.com • fs@dicknite.com