Yak A Bass: Kayaking For Lunkers

Many anglers associate bass fishing with sparkly $35k boats. However, if you're a kayak bass angler, you know that there are few angling thrills like yaking a bass.

Here are some kayak bass fishing tips to help you bring a lunker to your yak this fall:

Go Where Boats Can't

One of the advantages of kayak fishing is the portability and durability of your vessel. Regardless of your yak's draft, you can squeeze into waterways that most boating anglers can't.

• Satellite Reconnaissance: there's more free mapping data to be found on the internet than ever before. Before you hit the water, look up satellite images of your waterways for creeks, bogs, sloughs, and swampy areas that might be hidden and/or appear inaccessible to other anglers. When you're scouring satellite images, pay attention to water levels, foliage coloration, and adjacent boat traffic. If you notice that water levels appear higher on the satellite images than normal, the waters you're scouting might not be as accessible. Also, if you notice boat traffic near the area, the spot you're scouting might not be secret.
• Go Shallow: kayaks can navigate shallow waters. Although these areas might appear to be an unlikely location for big bass, females will often move into shallow areas during their spawning cycle. Look for telltale declivities in the bottom for signs of bass nesting areas.

Come Equipped

One of the drawbacks of yak bass angling is the limitations on the gear you can pack. When you don't have the right gear for your angling needs, you're fishing techniques and presentations can be restricted.

• Milk Crate: adding accessories to your kayak can be as simple as repurposing a few household items. For instance, outfitting a milk crate with rod holders can give you the storage space you need for an arsenal of rod and reel combinations. Use the crate's perforated exterior to zip-tie rod holders to the outside of the crate. You can secure the milk crate behind your kayak seat with a few bungee cords, which will allow you to easily load and unload the milk crate from your yak.

Troll for Success

Trolling, traditionally a method used exclusively by boaters, is a method that's easily adaptable to kayak fishing. The most common bass fishing method, dragging a plastic worm with a sliding weight, can be done via trolling. If you're fishing in a relatively straight pattern, you can double your chances for success by trolling two rods simultaneously.

If you're interested in kayak bass fishing, consider checking out kayaks like Blue Sky Boatworks kayaks.