The Best Way to Fish Is on a Kayak

Kayak fishing is a wonderful sport for a couple of key reasons. First, the feeling of gliding through the water with little disturbance is so tranquil, it’s almost primitive. And second, fishing from a kayak allows you to access some locations you may not be able to reach with a larger boat.

I find that second point to be the most exciting because you can nestle yourself in among the weeds and cast a line in honey holes where fish, such as bass, like to hang out. Kayak fishing opens up a lot of new opportunities and it creates an exciting change of pace.
The following tips should help bring you up to speed on everything you need to know about getting started to fish from a kayak.

The Kayak

The most important piece of equipment will obviously be your kayak. If you don’t have a lot of experience shopping for kayaks, it’s a simple process, but there are additional considerations when purchasing one specifically for fishing.

If you’re giving this style of fishing a try, or you’re looking for a versatile vessel that you can use for other purposes, a Kayak is your best bet.

Keep in mind that you’ll need a model with an elevated seat. Many kayaks sit the paddler low, which makes it a challenge to pull a fish into the kayak; it also obstructs your view. Another important feature is that the kayak has is some form of dry storage built-in. Your typical run-of-the-mill kayak may not come with this, but you’ll need it for fishing.

As you’re looking around, keep in mind the type of water you intend on fishing. If you’re fishing rivers or anything with moving currents, you might need extra deck storage, bungee cords, and space for an anchor to keep you stationary while your line is in the water.

The Paddle

Believe it or not, choosing a paddle can be more difficult than choosing a kayak because it’s hard to identify the right one without trying it out first. You’ll need one that’s long enough for you to reach the water but not too big that it becomes a bother. I recommend going with an adjustable (telescoping) paddle versus the snap-button ferrule style because those tend to rust and damage over time. Adjustable-style paddles are more durable, and you’ll find plenty of dedicated fishing paddles on the market. These are longer and have larger blades, which help for paddling upstream.

Essential Fishing Gear

For the most part, the kayak fishing gear you’ll need will be the same as any other fishing trip with a few variations. You want to make sure you have these essentials with you when you hit the water.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

I cannot be clear enough on this: You need a PFD. Laws aside, fishing from a kayak is not the same as fishing from a bass boat or something similar. There’s a lot more movement, you’re much closer to the water, and the chances of a water encounter are much higher.
Plus, there are some really cool life jackets on the market now with compartments that make it easy to store lures, hooks, and line so you don’t have to sift around the bottom of the kayak.

Proper Apparel

It’s recommended that you do not wear waders while kayak fishing. While it’s true that waders can keep you dry, if you do end up falling into the water, they will quickly fill with water (even if you’re wearing a belt). As the waders fill with water, it will become more difficult for you to swim due to the weight pulling you down.

You’ll need to dress for the occasion based on the conditions you plan to encounter, but you also need to know yourself. If you’re cold sitting on your front porch, you’ll be extra cold in a kayak with the wind whipping around you, so pile on a few extra layers. If the sun is shining, you’ll want a hat, sunglasses, and possibly a long-sleeve shirt to minimize UV exposure. I also suggest bringing high-performance gloves that don’t restrict your ability to move your fingers. These will protect you from fish with spines and they’ll ensure that your hands stay warm in the event of falling temperatures so long as you keep them dry.

Rod Holders

Rod holders are not optional when you’re kayak fishing. They need to be firmly attached to the kayak’s rails, and don’t skimp on these. If you have to pass on something else in order to afford rod holders, do it. You don’t want to be fumbling around with rods while trying to paddle the kayak and keeping yourself away from vegetation, stumps, and rocks. You need to make movements as simple as possible and rod holders help.

Anchor

There is a wide assortment of options when it comes to anchors, but you’ll want something lightweight so it’s not a chore to pull up and you’re not risking a capsize due to the excessive weight. There are specific kayak anchors out there; I highly suggest getting one of those because of their lightweight design.

Landing Net

Landing nets are larger than standard nets and they have bigger openings to make it easier for you to remove the fish from the netting once they’re in there. You should get something with a short handle because you won’t have a lot of room in the kayak and you don’t need anything excessively long anyway.

Running Lights

When fishing at night or even in low light, you’ll want some way to illuminate the kayak so you’re always visible to others around you. This is important for safety but also in emergency situations if you need someone to find you on the water. Some people elect to run lights horizontally along the top of the kayak, but they also sell poles that you can attach to the side of the vessel.

Knife

A knife is always an important piece of equipment for when a fish swallows a hook, for cutting off your line, and for a variety of other purposes. You never know when you need it until you need it, but you should always have one on the water.

Tie-Downs

Everything in the kayak should be tied down because you will lose items in the water. If you can tie it down, do it. Every kayak comes equipped with rails that make it possible for you to attach tie-downs and hook them around rods you’re not using, tackle boxes, other pieces of gear, etc.

Kayak Cart

This is another piece of equipment you may not realize you need until you need it. Wherever you’re fishing, you may not be able to pull your vehicle right up to the water. If you need to pull your kayak from the parking area to the water, a kayak cart will come in handy. Best of all, many of these are portable and only require a few steps to assemble so they can be put together on the spot.

What’s Next?

By this point, you should have all your gear assembled. Now it’s time to talk about how you’ll fish and what you’ll need to land something once you hit the water.

Choosing a Rod and Reel

The rod and reel you choose should depend on your experience, what species you’re fishing for, and where you typically fish. If you don’t have a lot of experience, I recommend going with a spinning rod-and-reel combo in the six-foot, six-inch range because it will offer you enough versatility to use for different purposes and it’ll work well in the kayak. If you’re a more experienced angler, you don’t need me to tell you what kind of rod and reel to use.

It’s best to rig a couple of rods before getting into the kayak and having them at the ready in the holder. If you’re planning to fish for bass on a warm summer morning, you might want to rig a spinning rod with some top-water spinners and another with a jig. Doing this makes switching lures easier so you don’t have to mess around on the water.

Lure Selection

As for lures, make sure you understand what species exist in the water you’re fishing and compile a few different lures to target them. If you’re fishing for bass, you’ll want some soft plastics, top-waters, and jigs. If you’re fishing for walleye, you’ll want some larger jigs and cranks.

Kayak fishing is an exciting change of pace to a sport that can get monotonous if you’re always fishing the same spots in the same manner. If this is something that’s been on your mind for a while, I hope this article motivates you to take the first step and start researching kayaks and kayak gear.

Fishing from a kayak will open up a whole new world of opportunities to fish much closer to the action. If you’re concerned about the safety factor, just follow proper water protocols and you should have nothing to worry about. Once you try it, you may even get hooked.

Top 5 Tips

1. Hug the Shore

Currents are your enemy, and your best friend. When you want the current, you love it, and when you don’t, it can be frustrating. If you’re trying to avoid fast-moving currents, you’ll want to hug the shore because that’s where it’s the slowest.

2. Anchor Often

Don’t be afraid to anchor when you think you’ve found an ideal fishing location. If you’ve come upon a sweet spot or you simply have a hunch, drop the anchor and give that area the time it deserves. When you’re done, pull up the anchor and move on. Don’t try to maintain your position with a paddle while fishing.

3. Use Fish Technology

Get a dedicated kayak fish finder because it will make the game much easier, and many of these are portable enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Once you know there are fish around, you can drop anchor and fish confidently.

4. Fish the Eddies

Eddies are areas of the current that move in a circular motion and you can take advantage of these. Most kayaks are able to sit right in the middle without spinning around because of how light they are. Find an eddy, hang out there, and you’ll be able to fish the current all around you without having to paddle or control your position.

5. Trust Your Stability

When you’re kayak fishing, you need to learn to multitask. You’ll have to fish with one hand, hold steady with one hand, and reel with the other hand (that’s one too many hands, by my count). The bottom line is kayak fishing requires stability, patience, and confidence. It’s something that will come with time but just know that the chances of your kayak tipping are very slim as long as you’re playing it safe.