Thoughts on Gear for the Beginning Kayak Angler

You've done the research and chosen a fishing kayak to buy but what other equipment will you need?

Two things should be obvious, a paddle and life preserver (PFD) so what else?

Take a little time and listen to kayak angler Gene Jensen discuss this thoughts on basic kayak gear to get you started...

Not a bad list to get you going, get a few rod/reel combos and some basic tackle and you're ready to hit the water 😎

Basic Kayak Fishing Tips

Kayak fishing is one of the fastest growing sectors in the fishing world that has resulted in a wide variety of kayak designs available to the aspiring kayak angler.

Beyond the numerous kayak options, actually paddling and fishing from a kayak takes a different set of skills then most other fishing watercraft.

Take a moment and listen as kayak entrepreneur Eric Jackson provides some basic insight into selecting, paddling and fishing from a kayak in the following on the water video...

One thing to keep in mind, the kayak fishing world and associated products is constantly changing. For instance, EJ is no longer with Jackson Kayak nor does Jackson still make one of the kayaks he mentions for big folk (the Big Rig). 

There are plenty of options out there; check with the local dealers in your area for options that will work for you. 

Effectively Using Wind When Kayak Fishing

Fishing from a kayak can be a lot of fun or at least it is until the wind blows!

Since most days on the water is accompanied by wind and the wind can often help trigger bites, learning to use the wind effectively is key to many great days on the water.

Here's a short video from the folks at Jackson Kayak discussing the best ways to use the wind to assist and not hamper your next kayak fishing adventure...

Getting Goosed When Bass Fishing?

I Came across a pretty interesting find when I was searching for information via YouTube on kayak bass fishing.

Here’s a dude, fishing for bass in an area with lots of vegetation (great cover right) and a couple of tag-a-long geese watching every cast… 

Everything looks innocent enough. I’ve had many encounters with waterfowl (ducks, geese & even swans (though the swans can be real nasty) where they were aimlessly swimming round the boat while fishing…  

Never really had much of a problem… 

I have to admit though, I have never had the same type of encounter as this guy 🙂 (whew!)…

I guess it goes to show… you really shouldn’t be teasing the wild critters… 

Especially if fishing for bass from a KAYAK! 

And it definitely gives a whole new meaning to the expression … getting goosed! 

Fortunately it seems everyone and everything came out OK…

Tips on Casting From a Kayak

Fishing from a kayak offers all bass anglers a multitude of advantages over other types of fishing. It allows us to first get on the water, even onto water bodies larger rigs can’t get into. Fishing from low profile boats like kayaks, canoes, float tubes, etc., also allows us a stealthy approach to sensitive areas often enabling us to catch bass others miss…

Even with all the advantages kayak fishing provides, there is one area that becomes more difficult when either sitting or even standing in kayak (not to mention other small boats)… casting!

Considering the change to casting mechanics from the sitting position or potential interference issues from gear placement (tackle crates, other rods, etc.), casting from a kayak (or many other small boats) definitely takes some getting used too!

So why not take a moment to watch this video as kayak fishing pro, Chad Hoover provides some great tips to help solve any casting issues you may encounter on your next trip…

Kayak Bass Fishing Intro

Just getting started trying to hone your skills at some kayak bass fishing?

Many of us have been there and once you’ve selected a kayak you quickly learn there are a number of different factors at play when bass fishing from a kayak or any other low profile craft!

Here is another short video providing an introduction to the world of kayak bass fishing with some very useful tips…

Fishing from a kayak or canoe takes a little getting used to but allows us to get into places anglers fishing from big rigs can only dream about & well worth the effort!

Until later…

Tight lines and many gunwale crossings!

Benefits of Kayak Bass Fishing

The Benefits of Kayak Bass Fishing
By Craig Sheppard

If you like to fish for large-mouth bass then you will love kayak bass fishing. One of the best things about kayak fishing is that it can be whatever you want it to be: an afternoon on the lake with a bag of rubber worms, a weekend fishing trip with the family, or an extreme multi-state kayak fishing adventure.

Why use a kayak to pursue and catch your favorite game fish?

1. Kayaks are stealthy & can get you very close to fish and the structure that they inhabit.

2. Kayaks are very portable & can be transported by car, van, or SUV – they can even be rolled on special kayak carts.

3. Kayaks can access remote fishing locations that are too shallow for power boats and too muddy for wade fishermen.

4. Kayaks are relatively inexpensive & and will last many “maintenance free” years.

5. Kayaks do not require a registration or an operator’s license (this is true in most states).

6. Kayaking/Kayak Fishing is an excellent form of low impact exercise.

7. Kayaking/Kayak Fishing is a great family & social activity.

8. Kayaks are environmentally friendly – they do not require gas or oil.

9. Kayak Fishing is fun! (just add water).

Typical On the Water Scenarios

Spring

It is spring time just after ice-out and the bass are soaking up the afternoon sun in warm shallow coves and creek arms on the Northwest side of your favorite lake. The bottom substrate of these fish holding areas is mud and muck and unfit for wade fishing and your powerboat is too big and too noisy to sneak up on bass in 2 feet of water. What do you do?

1. You launch your kayak and quietly paddle into the fish holding coves. If you see carp milling about or turtles basking then you are in the right place.

2. You pick up your favorite rod on which you have tied a jig and pork trailer, a small profile spinner bait, or a small shallow diving crank-bait.

3. You cast your lures in and around any lily pads, weed growth, logs, or dark looking depressions.

4. You hook up with a big fat pre-spawn large-mouth.

Summer

It is summer time and the bass or either holding tight to shoreline cover, docks, and boat houses or they are hunkered down deep in the thickest greenest weed beds. What are your options.

1. You can fish the shoreline by skipping rubber worms into and under cover. You’ll catch many fish this way, but not always the biggest ones.

2. You can position your kayak close to shore and makes parallel casts with crank-baits, spinners, etc being certain to focus your attention on the edge of the drop off to deeper water. Active fish that are cruising the inside of weed edges or drop offs will give you plenty of action.

3. You can cast heavier spinner baits or jig and worm combos and work the outside edge of the weed beds. Bass and other game fish hide in the weeds so that they can ambush bait fish that swim by. The best outside weed edges are near steep drop offs and secondary submerged points.

4.You can wait until after dark and work the shallows paying special attention to the mouths of feeder creeks, outflows, submerged humps, and points.

5. You can skip the lake altogether and try one of your local rivers. Most rivers are under fished compared to lakes and most trout fisherman have given up on the rivers by summer time so you will more than likely have the river to yourself. If the current is slow enough you can launch your kayak and exit from the same spot eliminating the need for two vehicles. If the current is too quick to paddle against, be sure to plan your trip carefully so you know where to take out at the end of the day. Try casting spinner baits, rubber worms, or jigs into shoreline cover or work mid river rocks and weed patches with tube jigs, spinners, or small crank-baits. Be sure to pay special attention to seams, eddies, drop offs, and creek mouths. If you get tired of sitting in the kayak drag it onto the shore and wade fish a while, you can work your way down stream using the kayak as a transport to your next wading spot.

Fall

It is fall (September/October) and bass are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold water season. Some fish are suspending on drop offs or over deep water and some are cruising the remaining weed beds looking for a meal. What are your options?

1. You want to be fishing early afternoons until dark, the water will be warmest this time of day and the air temperature will be more comfortable too. You may even be able to sneak out of work early enough to get in a few good hours of fishing before nightfall.

2. You can work buzz-baits, weedless spoons, rubber worms, jigs, or spinner-baits over remaining weed beds, paying special attention to weed beds around the mouths of feeder creeks and outflows. Also look for lay-downs, submerged logs, boulders, and brush piles.

3. You can work deep points and drop offs with jigs, drop-shot rigs, deep diving crank-baits, or jigging spoons. Once you find the depth the fish seem to be holding at repeat the pattern on the other points and drop offs.

4. You can troll deep diving plugs just over suspending fish, drift fish with a float and fly set up, or live line a bait-fish in the strike zone.

Winter

It is winter time. If you live in the south put on a sweater and go fishing. Be glad you are not shoveling snow or scraping ice off of your line guides. If you live up north, pack up your kayak and fishing gear and go visit one of your friends down south. If you don’t have a friend down south FIND ONE on the Kayak Fishing Stuff Forum paying special attention to the Florida, Georgia, Carolina, and Louisiana forums.

So, be sure to give kayak bass fishing a try. It will change your life, improve your catch ratio, and you will be doing your part to make the world around you a better place.

Craig Sheppard is an experienced kayak angler, outdoors enthusiast, and the General Manager of Kayak Fishing Stuff. To learn more about kayak fishing and fishing kayaks visit: http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com

Kayak Fishing Stuff has been serving the kayak fishing community since 2001. If you fish from a kayak or have been thinking about starting this is the place. At KFS you will find brand name kayaks, quality kayak fishing gear, and a tremendous amount of free kayak fishing information.

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