Landing Bass From A Kayak

[fishva]

Until a few months ago, I'd been a bank angler pretty much all my life. Then I picked up kayak, and I've had to relearn d**n near everything (which isn't a bad thing).

 

The one thing I haven't really gotten comfortable with yet is landing a bass from a kayak. Landing a bass on the bank had become second nature to me, but now I'm struggling. I've lost I don't know how many fish just a couple feet from my kayak, because I just haven't gotten a handle on things yet. 

 

When I get a fish up to the boat, I end up with 'tryannasaurus rex arms' -- I'm trying to maintain a tight line with my rod (held in my left hand), while reaching for the fish with my right hand, but keep doing something wrong. Sometimes, I give the fish too much slack and it gets off. Other times, I hold the line too tight and they snap it (this only applies to larger bass). And yet other times, I just straight up fumble the pick up and one of the previously mentioned things happens.

 

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has gone through the same type of thing and some advice.

 

For clarity: I personally don't like netting or lifting the fish onto the boat with my rod -- it just doesn't feel 'sporting' to me for whatever reason. To stay on even terms with the fish, I like to pull them out of the water with my hand.

[J Francho]

Get a rubber landing net, and a fish grip. You don't need to lift the fish out of the water, just contain it next to the boat. There's nothing "sporting" about a fish swimming off with a hook in it's face, or you getting a hook in your hand or thy.

[everythingthatswims]

Well...I use a net...It's nice to be able to have the bass contained when you bring them in the boat so they don't flop out of your hands and make a mess of everything (and possibly injure themselves). I think it's silly that you find a net to not be "sporting", but, to each his own. 

[lmbfisherman]

Before I bought a rubber net and still kind of do it still do this for smaller fish.  I will hold the rod in one hand and grab the line with the other.  Once I grab the line I set the rod down and then grab the line with my rod hand.  After that I will take my hand closest to the fish and try to lip the fish.  I don't normally lose that many fish that way.

[kikstand454]

I get where you're coning from OP. But things are different in a kayak in the sense of- its hand to hand combat, right near your face. To answer your original question, don't reel up any more line than about level with your reel. This will have enough pressure on the fish, but won't be loading your rod for disaster. Wear the fish out a tiny bit more than you used to on land. It'll get back in the water quicker in the kayak. Which leads me to this:

You should get this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FTSADY?pc_redir=1408808604&robot_redir=1

And also :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002L96JG2?cache=b23620d8150b57aa9f33f4f2b840c20cπ=SY200_QL40&qid=1409141658&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

This will keep you from having to handle the fish, or even take them out of the water really. This is MUCH better for the fish, and much safer for you! Especially with treble hooks!

[Master Bait'r]

I get where you're coning from OP. But things are different in a kayak in the sense of- its hand to hand combat, right near your face. To answer your original question, don't reel up any more line than about level with your reel. This will have enough pressure on the fish, but won't be loading your rod for disaster. Wear the fish out a tiny bit more than you used to on land. It'll get back in the water quicker in the kayak. Which leads me to this:

You should get this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FTSADY?pc_redir=1408808604&robot_redir=1

And also :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002L96JG2?cache=b23620d8150b57aa9f33f4f2b840c20cπ=SY200_QL40&qid=1409141658&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

This will keep you from having to handle the fish, or even take them out of the water really. This is MUCH better for the fish, and much safer for you! Especially with treble hooks!

 

 

So much this.  

 

 

Although from my experience, I'd recommend a rubberized net with larger holes.  The tiny-holed nets common for trout seem to get all caught up with the hook and are much more of a pain to untangle.  

[kikstand454]

^ fully understand.

I have had no issues with the one I linked to in both fresh and/or saltwater.

Ymmv

[basshead1]

Like others have said above.

Fishgrips are key because they extend your t-rex arms. hah

I tire them out a bit more too so they don't flop around so much in the yak and hurt themselves or hook me.

It also depends on the kayak you are using.

My kayak sits low but some of them newer yaks sit up higher than my Bass Raider(which I keep a net in to save my back).

[Felix77]

It has already been covered but FWIW here is what I generally do ...

 

1 - Wear out the fish a little more than you would from the bank.

2 - Reel them in close enough to get them alongside the Yak.  Reeling in just enough line to keep the line tight by the boat.

3 - Steer them towards your free arm and either lip them in or belly them in.

 

This of course is with a regular hook.  Treble hooks I always use a net.  Your trip isn't worth a treble in the hand.

 

 

Good luck.

[Master Bait'r]

^ fully understand.

I have had no issues with the one I linked to in both fresh and/or saltwater.

Ymmv

 

 

Yeah I have the same exact one and like it a lot, but my gf has a wooden model with a clear silicone net and much larger holes.  I've used both quite a bit and I've definitely found the one with the larger holes to be less apt to tangle up hooks and be a PITA, especially when the hook comes loose if I'm landing a thrashing pickerel or something similar.  Maybe I'm just clumsy or super baked a lot but I've definitely noticed a difference between the two haha

 

 

Here it is...  Small difference but it's a difference nonetheless 

 

 

 

I'm still not even considering getting rid of my black net though.  

[J Francho]

Scupper holes make for nice rod holders in a pinch, too.

[MikeinFresno]

like Francho said some yaks have the scuppers placed just right to put the butt end of the rod in, my T13 does not of course

 

I reel just enuf line to keep them in the water and still be able to reach them. I use a net for the big ones. I have the floating plastic lip grips but dont use them too often, just doesnt seem to be a need unless trebles are all over. I also like to tire them out first by getting them 10' or so from the yak and let them swim around a little.

[Nelson Wormefeller]

Ran into the same problem. I bought a net, problem solved. Don't like to think about having a hooked fish thrash it's head and hook my hand while in the kayak.

[buzzed bait]

net, net and some more net.... i'll take some fish in by hand sometimes, but if i have a big one on, i'm getting the net...  honestly i'm not a big fan of tiring them out, i don't speed slap them in like the pros by any means, but i don't really tire them out all that much either.  i just don't care to stress the fish too very much if you don't have to.

[einscodek]

Ive lost big fish fishing from my boat as well so you have my sympathies

1) keep a tight line at all costs

2) if you dont use a net (like me) get the fish over the boat as soon as you can

[RMcDuffee726]

.....net....net....net...net...net...net...net.

[flyfisher]

I have been fishing in a kayak for a while and have never felt the need for a net...seems like one more thing to have to store and have easy access to along with my other gear.  Landing a good sized bass from the kayak is where i feel that the longer rod helps.  My shortest is 6'8" and the rest are in the 7' range.  I can hold the rod in either hand away from my body and reach down and either use my fish grips or just lip it.  This gives me a good bit of distance and can still keep the line tight.  I have also just grabbed the line and setthe rod down with success too.

[kikstand454]

Ill admend my original post a bit and say that when I do go bass fishing in the kayak, I rarely use my net. Only on big fish and only during a tournement. Treble hooks makes me use it more also. In general though you can lip most fish. If a fish under three pounds gets off at the side of the boat, I laugh about it and call it caught. If its bigger I'm just annoyed I didn't get a pic. Lol. I guess since I'm not keeping any anyway, I'm way more relaxed about if I actually touched the fish.

Now. ....fishing inshore for seatrout and reds etc., that I want to bring home to eat- I net almost everything. Even the shorts. Because handling them takes the slime off them and that can make the fish sick.

I set my little rubber frabil net in that useless "rod holder" that comes on most kayaks behind the seat. I clip the lanyard to my right side handle so after I get the fish in, I can just throw the net overboard and deal with it later. Its out of my way, easily in reach, and I've netted fish up to 30" in that little net I shared the link for. Good stuff.

[atcoha]

I usually bring a net on my kayak. I don't always use it. Depends on size of fish. It took a few tries for me to figure out positioning of my rod/line and being able to reach the fish with the net, timing is everything. Get the fish on the first dip, or she might be gone. I like kayak fishing inshore, if it's not a big bull redfish or a toothy speckled trout, I flip him in. You will get the hang of it. Good luck.

[The_fisherman]

First of all tire the fish. When it stops fighting you can land it. This what I do and it works perfect for me. After you tire the fish it will be way easyer to land the fish with bare hands, net or anything also.