Flipping, Punching and Deep Cranking from a Kayak - Tough or Not?

[snake95]

Options for experimentation with a range of methods is one of my favorite aspects of bass fishing.

 

I am developing as a kayak angler and my primary fishing areas are ponds and creeks (bays) of highland reservoirs of Georgia. 

 

We are blessed with two electric motor only impoundments nearby.

 

One is shallow with weedy bays, one has shallow areas with weeds and other cover, but also has deep submerged channels (15-20 ft increasing in depth up to 60+ in some areas) with some long points and steep drop offs.

 

I am looking to add one or two new techniques this year and flipping and deep cranking (15-25 feet) both have my interest.

 

Any experience and pointers on using these methods from a kayak?

 

 

[MN Fisher]

If you're able to stand up, I don't see a problem. I was able to do flipping and pitching from a canoe which has higher gunwales... the main impediment to those techniques.

[snake95]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

If you're able to stand up, I don't see a problem. I was able to do flipping and pitching from a canoe which has higher gunwales... the main impediment to those techniques.

Thank you for that experience - I had half a mind to message you since I figured you'd have tried this out from the canoe.  I am working on standing.  Seems like lots of opportunities for flipping in our waters.

[casts_by_fly]

Which kayak?  Stability and height above the water are your friend for pitching.  I’m in an autopilot but the whole sportsman series is super stable and would work. A hobie PA would also. If you can stand, you can pitch. The main challenge then will be wind blowing you into the cover you’re fishing. If you’ve got a big area of pads or grass then you can let the wind blow you in and get stuck. Then pitch what you can reach and move again. If you want to pitch a long bank where you have to keep moving, I’d suggest learning how to paddle standing up like a paddle board.  You lose time standing up and sitting down.

 

cranking is also possible.  If you’re cranking offshore then you’ll need an anchor.  Wind will blow you all over and you’ll lose position. Also bigger cranks and other high resistance lures will pull your boat along as you reel in. That’s great for fishing down a bank and I do that all the time but not great if you want to be casting to a spot repeatedly. 

[BlakeMolone]

I have flipped and punched from my float tube, flipping is a blast but I haven’t had much luck punching though so I can’t say forsure. That will change this spring/summer though.

[snake95]

 

31 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Which kayak?

I use a Sportsman PDL 106 for the reservoirs; in small ponds I'm paddling a Bondfide RS117.  I seriously considered the AutoPilot and continue to seriously consider it.

 

Good points on moving while flipping - I adopted a stake out pole to my gear last year and love it.  I imagine staking and then flipping/pitching the immediate area, then pushing down a bit and working my way along the bank that way.

 

Both of these very different methods clearly seem well suited to the AP.

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

4 minutes ago, snake95 said:

 

I use a Sportsman PDL 106 for the reservoirs; in small ponds I'm paddling a Bondfide RS117.  I seriously considered the AutoPilot and continue to seriously consider it.

 

Good points on moving while flipping - I adopted a staking pole to my gear last year and love it.  I imagine staking and then flipping/pitching the immediate area, then pushing down a bit and working my way along the bank that way.

 

Both of these very different methods clearly seem well suited to the AP.

 

 

a stake out pole is a great choice for flipping in a kayak. I’ve considered one or a micro power pole. Most of the places I fish though an 8’ anchor wouldn’t touch bottom so I rely on the motor and play the wind. I’ve also considered a stakeout pole to use like a push pole in places when I get shallow but I’m not carrying that plus the paddle so I’ll stick to the paddle. 
 

the pdl106 should be just fine for what you want to do.

 

[SmugOne]

I have had a lot of success deep cranking from my kayak but be prepared for your kayak to be pulled by the crankbait.  I generally don't bother using my anchor to keep me in place.  Instead I use my rudder to my advantage to move me in the direction I want.  I have been able to circle a target and hit it from multiple angles before needing my paddle to reposition myself.  Hopefully that make sense the way i described it. 

Also, I am able to flip and pitch from a seated position in my kayak but it is much easier with a shorter rod which for me is about 7'0".

[FishinBuck07]

I have done most of that from my float tube and figured it out after a couple times.  In the float tube you have to cross their eyes the best you can.  I learned that if I used a longer rod than I normally did then it made it easier flipping.  Had more control of the fish the whole time!

[Choporoz]

For me, deep cranking not bad... pitching took a lot of practice, but now seems easy...punching still extremely difficult for me.   I almost never stand, however. 

[LrgmouthShad]

I punched this winter in a kayak with a little altered cast. Kind of a roll cast except I released much later so that the bait traveled in a sharp upward trajectory and kind of cannon-balled down through the thick stuff. Took about 45 minutes for me to nail down. I'm a novice puncher but it worked. I missed a really big fish one day that threw my punching jig :(. Can't speak to deep cranking but I can see an advantage to cranking while anchored in a kayak. You can get your rod really low into the water easily without having to kneel in a boat. 

[the reel ess]

I fish almost exclusively from a kayak. It can be better for pitching/flipping because you can get close to your target without spooking fish. And it makes a sidearm cast easier. I have learned to skip a jig or T rigged bug type soft plastic from a kayak. I haven't punched from it because there's really nothing to punch where I fish. I only occasionally fish cranks. Instead, I usually go for lipless cranks. I have no problem with either of those.

[RDB]

I occasionally kayak fish in my Pro Angler and physical act of pitching/flipping is easy…the challenge is boat control if you want to stand up but have some wind.  I’ve gotten to where I stay seated and do a side pitch so I can use the pedals for control.  Deep cranking no issues.

[snake95]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

Deep cranking no issues.

RDB do you anchor or use spot lock or just cast away?

[Landis Carrier]

Like others have said if you can stand it’s one of the best flipping and pitching platforms. Sitting it can be tough but can be done. I have an OT AP120 and it’s super stable. Most newer SOT fishing kayaks are very stable and easy to stand it. 

[GRiver]

I don’t like pitching style fishing from the sitting position from  the bow of my boat. Gotta get that body english in there, it probably doesn’t help much , but I am for comfortable standing. I never thought about try to pitch sitting at water level, it seems like it would be more difficult and take some practice. 

[RDB]

12 hours ago, snake95 said:

RDB do you anchor or use spot lock or just cast away?

If I’m casting a specific spot I might anchor.  Otherwise, I just use the pedals to hold whatever position I want.

[flyfisher]

Deep cranking is the hardest mainly because of keeping your kayak stationary with a high resistance bait like a deep crank.  Even with a motor I can't keep stationary while deep cranking so I am going to anchor.  Pitching and flipping is easy from a kayak, especially if you are standing.  

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Deep cranking is the hardest mainly because of keeping your kayak stationary with a high resistance bait like a deep crank.  Even with a motor I can't keep stationary while deep cranking so I am going to anchor.  Pitching and flipping is easy from a kayak, especially if you are standing.  

do you have a spot lock motor?

[flyfisher]

25 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

do you have a spot lock motor?

Nope.  I have a rear mount one with foot control steering.  Spot lock would change things on a lake I would think but I haven't used one so I don't know.  I am so used to anchoring now, it isn't that big of a deal anymore.

 

[casts_by_fly]

Yeah, spotlock changes things. More than a few times last year I sat on a point or backside of a point with wind in my face or coming around the point.  The wind blows the current and baitfish around and the predators wait for them. Spotlock holds you where you want and the fish just keep moving in. This was one spot. 15 mph wind just past the point but a break behind. 

[Hook2Jaw]

Pitching from a kayak is a great time, either standing or sidearm pitching from the seat.  Deep cranking is made much easier with an anchor or spotlock if you're targeting a specific area.  It's not too terribly hard with pedals and sometimes a different angle keeps the bites pouring in.

[Bluebasser86]

Flipping and punching are easy. I rarely deep crank but it's not bad either.