Reasons To Bass Fish From A Kayak

[Angry John]

1. Boat control is child's play and you need to up your game.

2. Contact bait fishing was to easy when sitting still.

3. You never feel bites anyway so paddling to maintain position is not much of a problem.

4. You would rather paddle than fish anyway.

5. You have no other boat or jet ski traffic on the lakes you fish.

6. Your here to exercise.

7. Frog fishing needs more challenges to get a good hookset.

[MN_Bassin]

I do 95% of my fishing from a kayak, and as long as its not unbearably windy, its soo more peaceful than in a boat. Windy days I'll be cursing kayak fishing, but nothing compares to being so close to the water and the fish. But without scupper plugs on a wavy day, you can add #8.

 

8. You prefer fishing with a wet, aching bottom.

[massrob]

I don't get it. Do you not like kayak fishing or do you? I fish from a kayak and it's 1000 times better than being stuck on the shore. I'd rather have a nice bass boat but I just started fishing last year so that's a ways down the road. But for now kayak fishing is awesome for me I would have never caught a lot of the fish I have this year without it. Anyways I don't know if you were joking or what but I love fishing from a kayak unless it's ridiculously windy then I just go home.

[Angry John]

I have been yak fishing for the last 4 years.  People are all about it, and it like it most of the time but people dont talk about the things that are more difficult from a yak.  I have never owned a boat and this was a rant about what i went threw my last trip as people are such a holes in boats and ski's to people in people powered craft.  Lakes that do not have boats on them on days without a lot of wind are great.  I now live in an area that has wind 5-15mph almost every day and i am starting to get frustrated.  Bass fishing from a yak is way better than shore fishing but it also has a lot to do with others you share the water with.  4th of July weekend was the worst!!!

[Quesenek]

I don't get it. Do you not like kayak fishing or do you? I fish from a kayak and it's 1000 times better than being stuck on the shore. I'd rather have a nice bass boat but I just started fishing last year so that's a ways down the road. But for now kayak fishing is awesome for me I would have never caught a lot of the fish I have this year without it. Anyways I don't know if you were joking or what but I love fishing from a kayak unless it's ridiculously windy then I just go home.

 

 

I have been yak fishing for the last 4 years.  People are all about it, and it like it most of the time but people dont talk about the things that are more difficult from a yak.  I have never owned a boat and this was a rant about what i went threw my last trip as people are such a holes in boats and ski's to people in people powered craft.  Lakes that do not have boats on them on days without a lot of wind are great.  I now live in an area that has wind 5-15mph almost every day and i am starting to get frustrated.  Bass fishing from a yak is way better than shore fishing but it also has a lot to do with others you share the water with.  4th of July weekend was the worst!!!

As Massrob said kayak fishing is way better than fishing from the shore, for the $500 I spent on my kayak I gladly put up with all the problems then be anchored to the shore.

However I have developed a growing hatred for powerboats and jet skis I don't go out on Saturdays to avoid this for the most part hopefully this gets better in the fall. The wind hasn't been a problem since I installed an anchor trolley, I can usually drop the anchor and get in a good position to fish from.

[massrob]

I definitely understand the jet ski and boat thing on the fourth I was at a lake in NH and I guess they do a boat parade and for an hour I was being soaked by waves thrown all over the place. I couldn't even attempt to fish it really sucked. It ruined my day and I ended up not even catching a fish and I lost a huge one to make it even worse. One thing that I really need to get is one of those parknpoles so I can just anchor quickly through a scupper hole. I'm so happy I got a kayak this year it's made fishing so much better for me. I think next year I might get a pedal power kayak I've heard that makes it much easier to keep your spot so you don't have to anchor as much. Keep kayak fishing guys it's awesome.

[Lund Explorer]

I have been yak fishing for the last 4 years.  People are all about it, and it like it most of the time but people dont talk about the things that are more difficult from a yak.  I have never owned a boat and this was a rant about what i went threw my last trip as people are such a holes in boats and ski's to people in people powered craft.  Lakes that do not have boats on them on days without a lot of wind are great.  I now live in an area that has wind 5-15mph almost every day and i am starting to get frustrated.  Bass fishing from a yak is way better than shore fishing but it also has a lot to do with others you share the water with.  4th of July weekend was the worst!!!

 

So what is the answer to your problem?

[the reel ess]

Fishing from a boat is better because:

 

1. I love getting up before the crack of dawn, towing a boat that I hooked up the night before, waiting in line to launch, getting out to my favorite fishing location and sharing it with two boaters that apparently spent the night there.

2. Maintaining an outboard rocks!

3. Depreciatation!!!

4. Keeping electronics in good working order.

5. Buying gas.

6. Taking care to protect from ethanol.

7. Competing for small fish in a big lake.

 

I'll use my kayak anywhere I can to avoid competition, make travel and loading/unloading easier, sneak up on bigger, wary fish and more of them and keep costs low enough to ease my conscience.

[Senko lover]

I would love love love to have a kayak, but I don't know if I want to shell out the money for one. I keep scouting around on Craigslist looking for a cheaper one. I have a reservoir 5 minutes away from my house that you're not allowed to bank fish at or fish with a gas boat. It's the perfect place for kayaking, and I would love to get into it. 

[MFBAB]

IMO, a kayak is a great way to get to all of the places that DON'T have the jet skis and power boats.  If you want to fish lakes like that, go at night or early Am before the big boats get out. 

 

As far as the boat control, just rig up an anchor sustem and maybe a fixed rudder (a small chain about 12' hanging out the back end does wonders for tracking-poor mans rudder).   Also, a shallow water anchor, this can be as simple as a piece of pvc or conduit you stick down through a scupper hole, or even just getting up next to the bank and casting from there.  Or just tie off to stick-ups and brush. 

Casting from shallow to deep and working baits uphill is a good strategy anyway. 

 

As ess said, yaks are pretty stress free compared to big boats, no registration, no upkeep, easy to transport, WAY cheaper, stealthier, access to a lot more water, and just fun to use in general. 

[Dye99]

I started fishing Central and North Texas as a kid in a canoe. Had family members who used to run the tournament trail, so pretty much every weekend someone in my family was fishing the many lakes, or rivers for bucket mouth.

So for many years I thought the canoe was the only way to fish, until I walked into Austin Canoe and Kayak in 2005.

 

Walked out with a brand spanking new ocean kayak prowler 13..

 

Never been the same since. Now 5 yaks later, Im still a proud member of the tupperware navy, Hell, I dont even want a bass boat..Ive hauled my sot's all over the southwest for fun and sport.

 

Kayaking gives me the ability to go where most can't go, easy launching, less money spent, and a ring seat to the action!

[Racerx]

Been a riverbank fisher for over 30 years.  Got a canoe last year and liked it, but knew a kayak would be less cubersome, so I got my first yak.  SOOOO much nicer than any other fishing I've ever done, bank, boat, canoe, or whatever. Worth every dime.

[Angry John]

To be truthful I love my yak I just hate trying to use it in the area I am currently in. People use ski boats in 50 acre lakes and smaller. Just frustrated at my current location and conditions. 4 foot wakes that the boat comes by every minute is just to much.

[THE_Vue's]

Kayak fishing is a great exercise and seem to remedy my shoulder problem.  But sometimes I think back when I started like how did I learn so much.  Now Im so multi task talented.  The other day I had 2 rods on deck plus the paddle and stack out pole.  Paddling in the  wind, staking out, casting, setting what down first along with some fish on and what not.  Try working around with that all day and I was amaze to a degree of level that I thought I'd never get too.  It crazy fun how far I came to adapting to these things

[flyfisher]

i do just as well i na kayak as i did when i fished a bass boat regularly.  Maybe i am just a little further along in the game than you are but i don't really run into the same issues with the exception of boat control but there are ways around that. As far as feeling bites and getting solid hook sets when frogging, I see no difference. I have a boat i can stand in and i do in certain scenarios but for the most part i am sitting in the raised seat position and have no issues.  if anything when fishing contact baits i feel the bottom  more just because of the different angle of the line and being closer to the water.  My last kayak purchase i could have saved up a little more and bought a really good boat set up for the electric only and limited HP lakes around here but i like to kayak and i like to fish out of my kayak so that is what i do.  There are a ton of lakes around here that are electric only and HP restricted so that benefits me, it spreads out boat traffic and i am not fight with larger boats or dealing with wakes all day.

[the reel ess]

The only place where I feel boats have the clear advantage is in running big waters and hand-free operation...more casts. There are kayaks that operate by foot action, but they have depth restrictions and cost almost as much as entry level boats.

 

I'm going fishing in a tiny place this evening. It's either kayak or jon boat. Advantage: kayak.

[Nashua Nev]

I fish from my 10 ft 33 pound old town pack canoe.     I used a yak before i got this canoe and i loved to fish from them.   This canoe  same thing.

small water , easy in easy out, i can carry and load it by myself in 5 minutes,   MOST OF THE TIME I AM ALONE ON THE WATER.  I enjoy fishing small water and getting to many places that no one else fishes.

I outfitted mine with some extras.,  fish finder (very small 12 v battery), stab in anchor , comfortable seat , working deck , 4 rod holders.

 

the last pic has the trolling motor mounted on it ,  which i rarely use except when i am on one of the bigger bodies of water.  battery goes in front for ballast.

 

 

 

 

 

[MIbassyaker]

Shrug.

 

I'm sure it's not for everyone.

[Quesenek]

Fishing from a boat is better because:

 

1. I love getting up before the crack of dawn, towing a boat that I hooked up the night before, waiting in line to launch, getting out to my favorite fishing location and sharing it with two boaters that apparently spent the night there.

2. Maintaining an outboard rocks!

3. Depreciatation!!!

4. Keeping electronics in good working order.

5. Buying gas.

6. Taking care to protect from ethanol.

7. Competing for small fish in a big lake.

 

I'll use my kayak anywhere I can to avoid competition, make travel and loading/unloading easier, sneak up on bigger, wary fish and more of them and keep costs low enough to ease my conscience.

I really wanted a bass boat until I started reading what the upkeep on one is, once I started reading the advantages kayaks/canoes have over them I was all about kayaks. I may eventually get one because chickamauga lake is all about the power boat life, but until then kayaks more than suit my needs.

[hoosierbass07]

I fish from my 10 ft 33 pound old town pack canoe.     I used a yak before i got this canoe and i loved to fish from them.   This canoe  same thing.

small water , easy in easy out, i can carry and load it by myself in 5 minutes,   MOST OF THE TIME I AM ALONE ON THE WATER.  I enjoy fishing small water and getting to many places that no one else fishes.

I outfitted mine with some extras.,  fish finder (very small 12 v battery), stab in anchor , comfortable seat , working deck , 4 rod holders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Nice set up!  

[Angry John]

#6 sucks and has me thinking

[GodfatherOfSeoul]

I have bank fished all my life. I purchased a jon boat last summer and love it. Where I live, its bank fish or electric only an hour or less in every direction. I finally fished a kayak several months ago while I was getting my jon boat decked and I enjoyed it. Im a huge fitness guru and I thought it was the best of both worlds. Fishing and a workout. I liked a lot of aspects of it but def prefer my jon boat mainly bc I like to stand, fish and use my troll motors. The kayak is really close to the water and Im not the most comfortable being that close to water but I'm good by the first cast. I get a little bit wet on my bottom than I like but its very relaxing and very different out pn thevyak. I don't think its for everyone but, I'll say its cost effective, it fits in where a boat wouldnt (on the water and on your property for storage), and I truly wish I had one for 4 ponds/rivers near me. Would be perfect. One is a hidden lake that no boat could get in and is just a small hike with a kayak. Ive never seen anyone ON this water...just bank fishing which is available on only 30% of the lake.

Id give a slight advantage either way depending on what you like. If I could, id buy both

[Lund Explorer]

To be truthful I love my yak I just hate trying to use it in the area I am currently in. People use ski boats in 50 acre lakes and smaller. Just frustrated at my current location and conditions. 4 foot wakes that the boat comes by every minute is just to much.

 

If it makes you feel any better, I know guys with 30'+ cruisers that curse excessive boat traffic.  Your only option is to start looking for a new job and life where you can afford a private lake.  Just like the rest of us!

[Rob96]

I grew up with big boats. Remember well Dad and Pop fiddling with the motors an d so forth. Learned from watching them and it has been canoes for me. Current one is a 17'L X 36" W Clearwater Seeing poly canoe. Paddles well solo but going to outfit it with a trolling motor and probably a fish finder. The four closest lakesto me are electric only and another that is restricted HP. Then there is the Lehigh River which for the most part is better served with a canoe or yak.

[dumfish]

My definition of fishing from a kayak is: The ability to reach productive area's that you normally couldn't get to by other means "only". For this requirement, I use a pick-up and a feelfree lure 10. Otherwise I will be fishing from a square back canoe or bass boat period !!