Kayak fishing?

pittsburghbass · August 09, 2011, 10:05:40 AM

Does anyone fish rivers from a kayak? I have always fished from the shore because I dont have a boat, but I'm thinking about getting into kayaking to increase my fishing range. Much cheaper than buying a boat! But I was wondering if anyone had any tips or suggestions for a beginner kayak fisherman. I will be using it in the rivers here in Pittsburgh. Thanks for any help!

copnjax · August 09, 2011, 07:11:33 PM

I STRONGLY suggest you looking into the Hobie Mirage kayaks. I fish from one and absolutely love it. Go to www.hobie.com and watch how they work. You propel them with your feet so both of your hands are free to fish. Super quiet and easy to carry so you can drop it into any body of water. It will also get into some shallow water easily.

ultimate14.5 · August 10, 2011, 07:15:16 AM

I fish local rivers from both a canoe and a kayak. The rivers here in FL are probably very different from those in PA. We have a very slow current due to the flatness of the landscape. Also the waters are spring fed which keeps them cool in summer. We also have lots of weeds and cover.

As far as the quality of the experience, it can't be beat. The stealth approach to both fish and wildlife is great; the low cost; the easy access; the lack of impact on the environment, all add up to great experience.

My advice is to buy your first kayak from Craig's list. Get something cheap and try it out. Join a local club and find out about the different types before investing a lot of money. Try out a lot of kayaks. There is canoe v. kayak, hybrid v. SOT v. SINK, pedal v. paddle, long travelers v. short agile, stable v. fast.

Take a look at our website http://www.orlandokayakfishingclub.com/ and look up reviews on paddle news.

Hope this was of some help.

pittsburghbass · August 10, 2011, 11:57:14 AM

Great advice... i'll have to check out the local kayak clubs! Thanks a bunch!

SkeeterMatt · August 14, 2011, 06:26:51 AM

I have wilderness ride that i fish from but it would not be very good in current. it is too long and built more for stability than tracking and current. i would look into one in the 10' range or one that has a "deep" keel to help with tracking. if you do get a longer one like thew ride then definitley get a rudder, it is exceptional while drift fishing.

get one if your'e shore bound.....you will catch a whole lot more fish.
check out:
www.texaskayakfisherman.com

this is the best kayak site for rigging ideas

tomloge · August 14, 2011, 07:13:16 AM

took my Kayak out this past Friday night. did pretty good. from 5pm-7pm I got about 10 bass and 2 pickerel. one 8 inch bass, the rest were between 14-19 inches. Great fights, they pulled the kayak around, even the 1 pounders did. with the kayak I was able to reach a spot that I couldn't reach from shore and couldn't get to with waders. Plus it's such a shallow body of water that you really can't put a regular boat on it.

pittsburghbass · August 15, 2011, 10:14:22 AM

Yeah I had my new kayak out on Saturday morning for a few hours. Caught 5 smallmouth... it was awesome to be able to reach new spots. I caught most of the fish on the opposite bank that isnt accessible by land. So much fun!

jocko · August 15, 2011, 11:05:43 AM

So what did you buy? Congrats on your fishing kayak! Sounds like you are off to a good start.

I love my kayak for small waters, rivers. They are good in bigger water - if you just go to one area and pick it apart. The scary thing is being seen. I have been on the Potomac (my kayak is tan) and you need to wear something bright to be seen by other boaters and jet ski's.

Kayaks are great inexpensive fishing vehicles. I carry 6 rods and all the tackle I need. I am working on installing my depth finder. They are easy to trick out.

The only thought I have is that in current - you need a flat or round bottom - something that won't catch in the current. Also - never anchor in current.

Be careful and have fun.

pittsburghbass · August 18, 2011, 09:55:55 AM

Thank you! I bought a KL Industries Waterquest... definitely on the cheaper side, but perfect for what I need it for.

I just got my first rod holder installed and now I'm ready to look into some trolling. Of course I could use almost any lure for this, paddling along to pull the lure through the water. But this can get tiring, and I would like to find a presentation that will work while being pulled along slowly in just the current. Most of the time the river is pretty wide, and its a very slow current. I know crankbaits are out of the question, too much speed required there. I was thinking maybe curly tailed grubs, plastic worms... something along those lines. Any suggestions?

copnjax · August 18, 2011, 11:54:25 AM

How about a Rapala......such as a 11-S or a 13-S? Even at a slow current, it should get it down enough to entice a strike or two. Maybe even a swimming jig? I don't know the depth of the water you're fishing but, a jig bouncing along the bottom slowly would surely get you a strike, I would think.

flywatersmallie · August 21, 2011, 12:45:00 AM

Welcome to the sickness! It is exactly that too.... Wait till you get towed around by a 5lb smallie, you'll leave a wake. I bought one (Future Beach Trophy 126) and decked it out. Fished out of it for a month or so and realized I wanted a sit on top too. I now have a WS Tarpon 100 in addition to the Future Beach. Both great rides, I can and do stand in both of them, Both have fish finders and the whole 9 yards. Its great fun and you can fish places the bass boats can't go. First rod holder is a start. Put a milk crate on the back and zip tie some PVC to the side. You would be shocked at the amount of tackle you can carry if you choose to. I can carry 7 3700 plano boxes and 5 rods without issue. Essentially a bass boat I can carry.

codyharkins · August 22, 2011, 04:57:36 PM

i fished out of an old town loon 2 seater kayak for years and caught all my best fish out of it i upgraded to a 12 foot tinny and i kinda miss my yak but i dont know what u have for current but i know streamer flies work awesome in all the rivers in my neck of the woods plus u can catch a little of everything that way my favorite is a grey ghost but it all depends on your area

garand · August 25, 2011, 08:42:58 AM

I got into kayak bass fishing pretty heavily this year despite the crazy temps here in OK, I've been having a great time out on the water!

Take a look over at Kayakbassfishing.com, they'll get you pointed in the right direction!

aydensdad · August 30, 2011, 10:11:57 AM

fish can be difficult to lip from a kayak which makes it even more fun and quite challenging

tomloge · August 31, 2011, 05:24:31 AM

Quote from: aydensdad on August 30, 2011, 10:11:57 AM
fish can be difficult to lip from a kayak which makes it even more fun and quite challenging

I agree 100% with that! A few times I think I came close to breaking my rod doing that. I carry a small trout net in the kayak for the bigger fish. It's a small net but I've gotten fish up to 5 pounds in the net without a problem.

pittsburghbass · August 31, 2011, 11:10:53 AM

Last night I landed my first 4lbs+ smallmouth from the kayak! She was actually pulling me through the water, haha. It was great. It makes me wish I would have started kayak fishing a long time ago!

copnjax · August 31, 2011, 02:57:12 PM

It took me a while to learn how to land them with a kayak. You can't "swing them into the boat" like you're used to doing from a platform. I had to force myself to leave more line out and play the fish TO the kayak.

aydensdad · September 01, 2011, 11:29:09 AM

Quote from: copnjax on August 31, 2011, 02:57:12 PM
It took me a while to learn how to land them with a kayak. You can't "swing them into the boat" like you're used to doing from a platform. I had to force myself to leave more line out and play the fish TO the kayak.

Couldn't have phrased it better!

pittsburghbass · September 01, 2011, 12:50:38 PM

What kind of advice do you guys have when fishing in current? Now, the current i'm talking about is very slow... its a wide river and you move along at a pretty slow pace. But regardless, i'm assuming that the same principals apply, i.e. the fish face up stream and wait for pounce on food that is drifting downstream. So i normally try to cast up stream and let my bait naturally flow downstream. But i ran into a problem the other day when the wind was stronger than normal. The wind was actually pushing my kayak upstream and therefore pulling my bait upstream as i moved along. I'm assuming this isnt as effective as a presentation given that the fish are facing the other direction. Any thoughts or suggestions?

aydensdad · September 02, 2011, 11:24:27 AM

Quote from: pittsburghbass on September 01, 2011, 12:50:38 PM
What kind of advice do you guys have when fishing in current? Now, the current i'm talking about is very slow... its a wide river and you move along at a pretty slow pace. But regardless, i'm assuming that the same principals apply, i.e. the fish face up stream and wait for pounce on food that is drifting downstream. So i normally try to cast up stream and let my bait naturally flow downstream. But i ran into a problem the other day when the wind was stronger than normal. The wind was actually pushing my kayak upstream and therefore pulling my bait upstream as i moved along. I'm assuming this isnt as effective as a presentation given that the fish are facing the other direction. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Spinnerbaits and pop-rs!!!! I live in NC and it sounds like the rivers I fish may have a quicker current though

joeyblueblood · September 07, 2011, 01:09:56 PM

i've been thinking about buying this one. anybody have one?
http://jacksonkayak.com/jk-kayaks/kayak-fishing/coosa/

i like standing up and this one allows you too.

pittsburghbass · September 07, 2011, 02:20:34 PM

That looks like an awesome kayak to me. I found that your biggest points to look at when purchasing was how much equipment you want to bring with you, how much you want to customize it, and how easily its transported. Seems like that one gives you lots of options for all three.

And yeah there have been times when i'd love to be able to stand up in mine! But mine's only a starter model and I'm pretty sure i'd end up in the river if i tried that, haha.

garand · September 09, 2011, 08:59:33 AM

There are a few new yaks out that make standing easier. The 2012 Wilderness Systems RIDE 115 and 135, and the Jackson Cuda is coming soon.

Personally I have the 135 and can stand confidently, BUT with that said once you're standing you dont have control of your drift. I fish 95% of the time in small lakes and once I'm standing I'm just along for the ride, wherever the wind, or drag from my crankbait/spinnerbait takes me. If you could anchor, or "Stake out" you'd be set, but where I regularly fish its a bit deep for either.

WS Ride 115

Cuda

o2yak · September 10, 2011, 12:57:39 PM

I pretty much do all of my fishing out of a kayak and I absolutely love it. I have a Jackson Coosa and it is a perfect boat for fishing as long as you don't have to paddle extremely long distances. But I do take mine out on smaller and larger rivers and also reservoirs and lakes. I just try to access the lake closer to where I want to fish instead of launching and then having paddle along way. Congrats on teh new yak, it will open up a whole new world of fishing opportunities for you.

jocko · September 13, 2011, 09:24:53 AM

Quote from: pittsburghbass on September 01, 2011, 12:50:38 PM
What kind of advice do you guys have when fishing in current? Now, the current i'm talking about is very slow... its a wide river and you move along at a pretty slow pace. But regardless, i'm assuming that the same principals apply, i.e. the fish face up stream and wait for pounce on food that is drifting downstream. So i normally try to cast up stream and let my bait naturally flow downstream. But i ran into a problem the other day when the wind was stronger than normal. The wind was actually pushing my kayak upstream and therefore pulling my bait upstream as i moved along. I'm assuming this isnt as effective as a presentation given that the fish are facing the other direction. Any thoughts or suggestions?

It's a rare day for me when the wind blows me back upstream as I am usually in stronger current.

Fish will be facing into the current -but they won't expend energy fighting it. So you need to fish current breaks and seams. In pittsburgh - this could be bridge pilings. The fish will be in the slack water behind the break and along the seam (or V) created by the break. Sometimes these breaks are below the surface and are not seen (like boulders, humps, holes, or ledges). You just have to learn the bottom and get to know your section of the river. I would fish any creek entry or drain - as directly infront of them, there should be a wash out hole in the bottom that provides a spot to avoid the current. Present your bait in the current so that it passes closely by or is washed into the seam or current break. BANG! Hang on and go for a ride.

In kayak fishing - it's sometimes difficult positioning or holding to cast. I don't recommend anchors in current. Run your self into an eddy or on a rock in the shallows or against the shore to cast out. Hope this helps. Jeff Little of Blue Ridge Kayak fishing has a book about kayak bass fishing in rivers. A guide named Ken Penrod also has a good book about river fishing. Both are highly recommended reads over the winter!