Got a fishing kayak, how do I start catching more fish?

[sgjackson]

I've only ever bank/dock fished throwing Senkos on a spinning rod, but I recently got a fishing kayak and a baitcaster (MH/Fast Shimano SLX combo) and want to get more serious about fishing. I'm currently living on a small, round lake in central Florida that gets to about 60 feet deep in the middle, with plentiful docks, weeds, and lily pads along the shoreline. I can usually catch one or two bass going out in the late afternoon and hitting the weedlines with a Senko until sunset, but I feel like I could be doing better. I'm thinking of getting a fish finder so I can map out structure in the lake and see where the fish actually are as well as putting braid on the baitcaster to toss frogs or Texas Rigs into the nastier parts of the weeds/lily pads, but what would you guys suggest doing to catch more bass/get better at bass fishing?

[the reel ess]

Welcome to the kayak fishing addiction. I ditched the bass boat and lake for a kayak and smaller waters and immediately started catching more and better bass. Being on the kayak makes it a lot easier to target shallower areas for me. I know it's hot and targeting deeper structure would be the conventional wisdom. But the kayak really shines in the shallows. I can usually catch fish in the shallow range most of the year so that's what I concentrate on. I would think in central FL there are always bass shallow.

 

Frogs, as you mentioned, jig/craw for the woody structure like docks, T-rigged craw for the weedy areas, spinnerbait, topwaters early and late, or even midday if they'll take them, weightless Trick Worm, flukes. I catch 95% of my fish on those things.

 

"Shallow" is a relative term. So, in the heat of summer, I target shallower areas near deeper water. Also, in the heat of summer, I go early and/or late.

[Born 2 fish]

It’s hot in Florida right now. Do you have a fish finder on your kayak? If not I would recommend it. Start to look for fish off shore a great bait for deep bass in central Florida is a green gizzard deep diving crankbait. 6 - 10 xd real long cast’s or even long lining.  Even drop shotting will be effective.

[sgjackson]

2 hours ago, Born 2 fish said:

It’s hot in Florida right now. Do you have a fish finder on your kayak? If not I would recommend it. Start to look for fish off shore a great bait for deep bass in central Florida is a green gizzard deep diving crankbait. 6 - 10 xd real long cast’s or even long lining.  Even drop shotting will be effective.

I don't have a fish finder yet but I've started looking. I've got a Wilderness Systems Tarpon X - it comes with a removable center pod that can hold the fish finder, battery, and transducer with a bit of drilling.

 

I've had some success in the past just slinging worms straight off the end of the dock during past summers so I think it's possible they're suspended or on some kind of deep structure.

 

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Welcome to the kayak fishing addiction. I ditched the bass boat and lake for a kayak and smaller waters and immediately started catching more and better bass. Being on the kayak makes it a lot easier to target shallower areas for me. I know it's hot and targeting deeper structure would be the conventional wisdom. But the kayak really shines in the shallows. I can usually catch fish in the shallow range most of the year so that's what I concentrate on. I would think in central FL there are always bass shallow.

 

Frogs, as you mentioned, jig/craw for the woody structure like docks, T-rigged craw for the weedy areas, spinnerbait, topwaters early and late, or even midday if they'll take them, weightless Trick Worm, flukes. I catch 95% of my fish on those things.

 

"Shallow" is a relative term. So, in the heat of summer, I target shallower areas near deeper water. Also, in the heat of summer, I go early and/or late.

The handful of times I've gone out before 6 I came in drenched in sweat and probably a little heatstroked because I wasn't feeling well. Mornings and late afternoon are really nice, around 80. I usually try to go out after I finish working around 6:30-7 for a couple of hours.

[Tracker22]

The advantage and disadvantage of kayak fishing is that we can’t run all over the lake. The advantage being that we tend to fish areas more thoroughly. The disadvantage obviously is if the fish aren’t there we’re stuck. Slow down ( not like you have a choice) , fish the spots that other boaters are skipping. Personally, I just love fishing behind a big Ranger and catching fish they never saw.

[sgjackson]

3 minutes ago, Tracker22 said:

The advantage and disadvantage of kayak fishing is that we can’t run all over the lake. The advantage being that we tend to fish areas more thoroughly. The disadvantage obviously is if the fish aren’t there we’re stuck. Slow down ( not like you have a choice) , fish the spots that other boaters are skipping. Personally, I just love fishing behind a big Ranger and catching fish they never saw.

In the 30 years I've had family on this lake I've never seen a bass boat on it - only skiers/wakeboarders. There's a person who has one on a lift but I've never seen them take it out.

[the reel ess]

9 minutes ago, sgjackson said:

In the 30 years I've had family on this lake I've never seen a bass boat on it - only skiers/wakeboarders. There's a person who has one on a lift but I've never seen them take it out.

That's another suggestion I was going to make. Go with a bass fisherman. But if none fish it, it's your playground. At least the fish aren't educated.

[NYWayfarer]

I use my kayak to go reverse bank fishing if that makes any sense. I stick close to shore and cast at any structure I see. Especially in places I could not reach from the bank by walking or casting.

 

In the morning I will start with Ploppers and Poppers. Switch early afternoon to spinners, senkos and in the heat of the day I will use some live worms and Neds.
 

I have been stubborn but finally learned that shorter rods are easier in a kayak. 6’6” is perfect. 6’9” max. 7’ or more fuggedeboutit. Just not worth the hassle with overhanging trees and reaching the rod tip for tangles.

 

I also bring fewer baitcasters on a kayak trip. One bad backlash can ruin your day. 
 

I travel lighter in my kayak than I do bank fishing. I just purchased an anglers life vest that has pockets to store my gear. I am ditching the tackle bag next trip. 

[MIbassyaker]

With 60 feet max depth, the first thing I would want to do is find the deep weedline, which you probably can't access from the bank. You can do that without a depthfinder by throwing a worm on an open hook jighead, counting it down, and see where you stop hanging up in vegetation. You'll probably catch a few doing this too.

[Bankc]

21 hours ago, Tracker22 said:

The advantage and disadvantage of kayak fishing is that we can’t run all over the lake. The advantage being that we tend to fish areas more thoroughly. The disadvantage obviously is if the fish aren’t there we’re stuck. Slow down ( not like you have a choice) , fish the spots that other boaters are skipping. Personally, I just love fishing behind a big Ranger and catching fish they never saw.

That's the truth.  Although another advantage to a kayak is you don't need a boat ramp to launch.  So I'll often study the lake before hand, find out where I want to fish, and then find a place to park near that spot where I can launch from.  I tend to look for areas with both shallow cover and some access to deeper areas, so if there not biting in one, I can try the other.  

 

I fish finder is almost a must unless you know the lake well, or it's small enough to try a bit of everything.  On a larger lake, a trolling motor or pedals come in really handy to help you cover more ground.  Also, keep the wind in mind when choosing where to launch and fish.  I always try to launch so that when I return to the car, I'll have the wind to my back because I'm usually pretty worn out by that time.

[sgjackson]

Went out for about 3 hours this afternoon/evening and got skunked again. Saw some fish feeding very shallow (3-5 feet) in weeds/lily pads and some jump out where it's probably 20 feet deep or so. Got some frogs on the way to try in the shallow weeds but not sure what would be best to throw deep.

[BrianMDTX]

15 hours ago, sgjackson said:

Went out for about 3 hours this afternoon/evening and got skunked again. Saw some fish feeding very shallow (3-5 feet) in weeds/lily pads and some jump out where it's probably 20 feet deep or so. Got some frogs on the way to try in the shallow weeds but not sure what would be best to throw deep.

Any good Texas rig should catch fish. 

[Fishing_FF]

60ft deep? Central Florida? That's some hole! 

 

If it is a deeper spring lake like Butler and Conway, your fish are going to be relating to structure. Since it becomes about structure, you've got to start figuring out the bottom. Is it sand, rock, algae/slim? What is the vegetation like? Specifically the underwater stuff like pepper grass, eel grass, coontail which is more shallow water or is there hydrilla that could grow deep (Lake Underhill the hydrilla currently has grown out to 21ft)? 

 

 Our water is warm, even in the spring feed lakes, so going early or late will better your odds of catching something. 

 

As for what to throw, that is going to depend on where the fish are and what their mood is. A Senko is one of my number one baits. 

 

I'm local to Orlando, and have WS Tarpon 130X. I've got a Garmin 73SV EchoMAP Plus on it. Aside from a rudder, probably one of the best upgrades if you are looking to breakdown a lake. I've got a couple days off this upcoming weekend and into the following week if you meet up someplace to fish. I aint no expert, but I haven't been skunked this summer. lol

[sgjackson]

1 hour ago, Fishing_FF said:

60ft deep? Central Florida? That's some hole! 

 

If it is a deeper spring lake like Butler and Conway, your fish are going to be relating to structure. Since it becomes about structure, you've got to start figuring out the bottom. Is it sand, rock, algae/slim? What is the vegetation like? Specifically the underwater stuff like pepper grass, eel grass, coontail which is more shallow water or is there hydrilla that could grow deep (Lake Underhill the hydrilla currently has grown out to 21ft)? 

 

 Our water is warm, even in the spring feed lakes, so going early or late will better your odds of catching something. 

 

As for what to throw, that is going to depend on where the fish are and what their mood is. A Senko is one of my number one baits. 

 

I'm local to Orlando, and have WS Tarpon 130X. I've got a Garmin 73SV EchoMAP Plus on it. Aside from a rudder, probably one of the best upgrades if you are looking to breakdown a lake. I've got a couple days off this upcoming weekend and into the following week if you meet up someplace to fish. I aint no expert, but I haven't been skunked this summer. lol

Appreciate the offer to fish but I'll pass for now, haha. I'm about an hour or two south of Orlando in a much smaller lake. I'm not sure what kind of plants are under the water - as mentioned above there's definitely reeds and lily pads above the surface in the shallows. I do have some questions since you've installed a fish finder in the same kayak:

 

- How'd you install it? In the Flexpod with some gaskets to run the wires?

- What led you to Garmin over Humminbird/Lowrance?

[Fishing_FF]

5 minutes ago, sgjackson said:

Appreciate the offer to fish but I'll pass for now, haha. I'm about an hour or two south of Orlando in a much smaller lake. I'm not sure what kind of plants are under the water - as mentioned above there's definitely reeds and lily pads above the surface in the shallows. I do have some questions since you've installed a fish finder in the same kayak:

 

- How'd you install it? In the Flexpod with some gaskets to run the wires?

- What led you to Garmin over Humminbird/Lowrance?

 

No worries. I figured you were at one of the springs up in the Gainesville area, as some of those run real deep. I know a couple lakes down near Sebring/Lake Placid run real deep, too. If you ever come up this way or want to see how to pattern a deep lake (30-40' but same concept), just give me a shout as we can hit the Butler or Conway chain. 

 

Yes, FlexPod with a gasket kit and mount on top for the screen. 

 

I was considering Lowrance, but landed a consulting position for a marine business. I spoke to the reps for Garmin and Lowrance when they came in the shop. The Garmin rep provided more feedback, seeming to want to help get his product dialed in better. I wouldn't base your decision on my personal anecdotal story. 

[Bass Ninja]

I've been fishing out of a kayak almost exclusively for 12 years now, and its so awesome because I can go way back in the shallows where boats can't go. I started off not really knowing what I was doing, but I had a lot of success using only a spinning reel with 12lb mono throwing a weightless senko or lizard rigged texas style to be weedless. And I quickly learned to love the weeds. After a couple years, I got tired of getting skunked half the time so I started obsessively watching youtube videos. Highly recommended if you don't already. So fast forward to today, I don't even bring a spinning rod or use my fishfinder. I normally bring 4 baitcasters, all with 30 or 40lb braid. The medium rod has a spinnerbait or buzzbait, the medium heavy throws a jackhammer chatterbait, which is by far my most productive lure, and 2 heavy rods, one for throwing a hollow bodied frog, and one has a tokyo rig for flipping. 90% of the time though, I'm throwing the chatterbait if its more open water or submerged weeds, and a frog in the thick stuff. Trying to get myself to incorporate other stuff, but the frog and chatterbait are just so productive its hard to switch it up. One thing I learned, is don't be scared of the super thick weed. Learn how to frog and flip, and you'll catch fish that most others won't. Caught a 5lber a couple months ago in half a foot of water, and I almost passed by because I thought there is no way a big fish would be that shallow. Lesson learned haha. The last thing that I can't stress enough is it almost doesn't matter what lure you throw, as long as it can be effectively presented to the fish with what is in front of you. Its more important to find the fish first based on knowledge of their patterns and that body of water, and then ask yourself what lure would be the most effective at fishing this spot? Color, type of lure, rod setup, etc. doesn't matter if the fish aren't in that spot.

[sgjackson]

Cools down a little tonight and I get six bites in an hour and thirty minutes.

 

Fishing is a mercurial mistress. Thanks for the help folks, got some food for thought here.

[Koz]

I can honestly say that I prefer bank fishing lagoons to kayak fishing on lakes. Granted, my kayaking experience is limited to whatever SOT kayaks are available at the lake I am fishing. The Feel Free Lure was decent, but today out at Table Rock State Park they had a 12 foot Pescador and I was not impressed.

 

I suppose I would feel different if I had a tricked out pedal kayak, but with a rental paddle kayak and no anchor there's a lot of time spent jogging and correcting and not as much time casting. And unless you have a ton of rod holders and rods it's a pain to swap out baits. I mean, first you have to try and get your tackle out from behind you. It's not so easy to do for us old guys.

 

Tell me, why oh why is there not a waterproof compartment sitting right in front of the seat with either built in tackle slots or room to put a few plano boxes? That seems like a no brainer to me.

 

Where I live now there isn't much bank access so I will use kayaks in the future, but I prefer walking while bank fishing and being able to make a heck of a lot more casts per hour on the bank than in the kayak.

[Bass Ninja]

5 hours ago, Koz said:

I can honestly say that I prefer bank fishing lagoons to kayak fishing on lakes. Granted, my kayaking experience is limited to whatever SOT kayaks are available at the lake I am fishing. The Feel Free Lure was decent, but today out at Table Rock State Park they had a 12 foot Pescador and I was not impressed.

 

I suppose I would feel different if I had a tricked out pedal kayak, but with a rental paddle kayak and no anchor there's a lot of time spent jogging and correcting and not as much time casting. And unless you have a ton of rod holders and rods it's a pain to swap out baits. I mean, first you have to try and get your tackle out from behind you. It's not so easy to do for us old guys.

 

Tell me, why oh why is there not a waterproof compartment sitting right in front of the seat with either built in tackle slots or room to put a few plano boxes? That seems like a no brainer to me.

 

Where I live now there isn't much bank access so I will use kayaks in the future, but I prefer walking while bank fishing and being able to make a heck of a lot more casts per hour on the bank than in the kayak.

I have 5 rod holders on my kayak, but I normally have my 4 favorite lures tied year around, and so now the only time I ever tie on a new lure, if ever, is at the boat ramp before I launch. But its hard to get a kayak with more than 2 rod holders unless you install them yourself. I have my tackle crate behind my seat, and I keep bringing it just in case, but I can't remember the last time I tied on a new lure while on the water. I also don't have an anchor, but I do have a trolling motor mounted on it. Any wind over 10mph is just too much work and not enough fun if you're paddling. If its windy, I fish clearer lakes where I can use my motor, and then I hit the thick weedy ponds in calmer weather. When you get your kayak, mounting some of those scotty mount rod holders just forward of your seat will probably be a game changer for you. 

[Hook2Jaw]

It is my opinion that a paddled fishing kayak is at it's best with a power pole or at least a stake out pole and fished in areas where it can be anchored.

[the reel ess]

 Here's an idea. When you fish from a kayak, you can't take your whole tackle arsenal with you. I got a free milk crate and zip tied in 6 pvc pipes and I put it in my rear well. It's held in by the bungee that came with the kayak. That and the 2 flush-mount holders means I can take 8 rods. I take combos with all the lures I think might work at a particular time and don't need to retie all day. I'll usually take a couple packs of soft plastics and one utility box of topwaters/cranks as well as pliers and a scale.

[ChrisD46]

On 7/19/2020 at 8:53 PM, Fishing_FF said:

60ft deep? Central Florida? That's some hole! 

 

If it is a deeper spring lake like Butler and Conway, your fish are going to be relating to structure. Since it becomes about structure, you've got to start figuring out the bottom. Is it sand, rock, algae/slim? What is the vegetation like? Specifically the underwater stuff like pepper grass, eel grass, coontail which is more shallow water or is there hydrilla that could grow deep (Lake Underhill the hydrilla currently has grown out to 21ft)? 

 

 Our water is warm, even in the spring feed lakes, so going early or late will better your odds of catching something. 

 

As for what to throw, that is going to depend on where the fish are and what their mood is. A Senko is one of my number one baits. 

 

I'm local to Orlando, and have WS Tarpon 130X. I've got a Garmin 73SV EchoMAP Plus on it. Aside from a rudder, probably one of the best upgrades if you are looking to breakdown a lake. I've got a couple days off this upcoming weekend and into the following week if you meet up someplace to fish. I aint no expert, but I haven't been skunked this summer. lol

*I grew up just outside of Winter Park and used to fish the Winter Park chain of lakes launching at Dinky Dock : Lakes  Virginia , Osceola & Maitland all connected by cannels  - clear lakes with good grass and nice bass ... I miss those days !

[TnRiver46]

How to catch more bass in Florida? Zoom speed worm and zoom trick worm 

[Fishing_FF]

5 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*I grew up just outside of Winter Park and used to fish the Winter Park chain of lakes launching at Dinky Dock : Lakes  Virginia , Osceola & Maitland all connected by cannels  - clear lakes with good grass and nice bass ... I miss those days !

Nice! I fished Lake Virginia and Lake Mizell at the end of June. I don't remember how many I got, but it was a good trip. Everyone in the kayak group that went caught at least 5. Only problem fishing there is the parking lot fills up very quickly. I was at Lake Baldwin a little over a week ago (Monday the 13th). There was only 2 of us for this trip, but we got 22 in 4 hours. 

 

The kayak group is arranging another outing for Monday or Tuesday morning. Lake Maitland is on the list as a possibility.

 

If you come back down, feel free to give me a shout. I can usually scrounge up a kayak or two if needed. lol

 

 

[scaleface]

Look at "all" the water close to where you live  . Go to places bass boats cant go . Take advantage of having a kayak .Keep it a secret . I know some really good spots that bass boats cant get into . I have fished them out of a canoe ,small plastic bass boat or waded  . Just dont tell people where you are catching fish . Thats easy for me to do , I dont take people with me . Some folks though just have to spill the  beans .