Fishing from a
kayak can be a fun way to escape the crowds and save some gas money.
Kayak fishing has exploded in popularity and while many kayak anglers
traded in their boats for a kayak there are many bank anglers that
took advantage of the low cost and simplistic nature of kayaking to
explore new fishing spots offshore. The ability to throw a kayak on
top of a car, pack it with camping gear and explore lakes and rivers
is a definite appeal to a lot of people. If you are interested in
catching some bass from a kayak read on for some great tips and
tactics for kayak bassin'
There are essentially two different types of kayaks
used by anglers, the sit-inside and the sit-on-top kayak. The
sit-on-top kayak is the most popular for fishing and is angler
friendly when it comes to adding the many accessories on the market
today. Sit-on-top kayaks are usually wider than the sit-inside model
therefore more stable. This stability allows the angler to stand and
fish without worrying about rolling the kayak and when standing, the
kayak can be either paddled or poled into position. It is remarkable,
with a little practice, how maneuverable a kayak can be for fishing.
While the sit-inside may not be the most popular to
anglers when combining an overnight or even a week long camping trip
with your fishing trip, the sit-inside is a little more practical.
The enclosed compartments allow for a lot of room for camping gear
and helps to keep your gear dry and the enclosed cockpit helps keep
you dry. The sit-inside kayak is also better for rough water like
large open water on windy days or river rapids.
Overnight bass fishing trips by kayak is a great way to
explore new water and enjoy a weekend with fellow anglers. Planning a
trip by kayak can be a daunting task on your first trip but each trip
will provide valuable information that will help you with the
planning process and you will learn what you need and what you don't.
is a great lure for creeks and rivers. Smallmouth and Rainbow trout love them but Brown trout will devour these mini-morsels as well. These mini-crankbaits team up great with light spinning gear and light line and come in many colors to match water conditions.
Nothing says "eat me" more in a river or creek than a crawdad skimming across the bottom. These crankbaits will catch Smallmouth for sure as well as Rainbows and Browns
You would be amazed at how few anglers use plastics in creeks and rivers. The old school mini crankbaits and spinners are the go to baits for most small, flowing water angler. Plastics work great in these small creeks and rivers and where fishing pressure is high can be the ticket to triggering slamming strikes from unsuspecting bass and big trout. Here are a few plastics that work great for creek fishing and probing those deep pools in your favorite river. One thing to keep in mind is keep the baits small for lots of action and the occasional big bite but if you target trophies only go medium or large to entice the monsters in your home waters. It all depend upon the forage in your creek or river so try to at least keep the baits close to the size of baitfish and crawdads in your waters. I prefer small baits any time I am fishing creeks and rivers so that I maximize the fun while still having a chance at landing a trophy or two.
You can click on any of the images on this page for more information.
I don't always use tungsten weights but in small creeks and rivers, when you want to downsize your baits, tungsten works great. You can use the weight you need and keep the baits profile small. Use a weight that will get your bait to the bottom. Depending on whether you want to allow the bait to naturally bounce along with the current or sit on the bottom to work the bait slow tungsten is a great way to balance your bait. I like to have a weight that allows the bait to move along when in the riffles letting it plunge naturally into pools at the end where big Smallmouth bass love to ambush their prey.
The wide gap EWG (extra wide gap) worm hook like the
is really the best hook for rigging any plastic bait. The wide gap allows for a great hook-set allowing the bait room to move out of the way of the when the fish strikes leaving plenty of hook to penetrate the mouth. When using a narrow gapped hook the bait has no room to move down when the fish strikes leaving less space between bait and hook point therefore ending in more missed strikes and frustration.
The weight is attached to the EWG worm hook and is great for finessing the bait across the bottom with a crawdad bait but also works great when rigged on a swimbait. The link between the hook and the weight allows for great action. This rig works with any finesse worm and I feel that the little bit of space between the hook and weight allows the fish to inhale your bait easier.
is all you need for a great day floating or wading your favorite creek or river. I have not tried the finesse worm where there are trout so I can't vouch for its ability to catch them but I bet they will. As for Smallmouth bass that is a different story. Many Smallmouth bass have been caught on all types of soft plastic baits and the finesse worm is no exception. The Gene Larew Biffle Hardhead Jigheads - 3/16 oz. - Copperhead works great and the rig I prefer.
is a great river and creek bait for bass as well as those big trout that have graduated to eating fish rather than insects. The jig spinner is a versatile bait in that you can add any type plastic bait you like allowing for an easy way to change size and color on the go. Being able to use plastics on your spinner will help condense your tackle to a more manageable amount which is important when space is limited.
has stood the test of time. I remember having a box full of rooster tails of all colors and sizes. There is a good reason they are still around, they catch fish. The rooster tail has been a great creek and river lure catching bass and trout perch and pike from here to there and everywhere in between. The rooster tail has been around longer than I have and will always have a spot in my river and creek fishing tackle box.
Many of today's anglers have started using fluorocarbon line including myself but when fishing with small spinning reels monofilament is the ticket. Fluorocarbon is a bit stiff and retains more memory then mono so can give you a headache on spinning reels especially small spinning reels. Monofiliament is smooth and handles hours of casting light baits. If you start to get twist in your line just remove your lure and let out line in the current. Close the bail after maybe half the spool is out and slowly reel the line back on your reel. This will take all the twist out of your line and you are ready to go.
