A kayak enables access to lakes that aren’t conducive to larger crafts and allows an angler to cover more water than he could from shore. (Photo by Matt Church)
August 31, 2024
By Matt Church
Quiet, still and crisp is the morning as the sun crests the horizon, reflecting off the tarn and turning the surface into a cauldron of orange. Fog roils into the atmosphere. Slipping the kayak into the water, I take a seat and start paddling. The water dripping off the paddle onto my legs is chillingly vitalizing. The lake’s surface wrinkles as rainbows and brook trout begin to rise. I exchange paddle for spinning rod and zip a spoon into the center of a ripple. Counting to three, I let the lure sink and then begin the retrieve. The rod tip bounces a couple times, and soon I’m netting the day’s first brookie.
Trout fishing from a kayak is a buoyant experience in more ways than one. It doesn’t take a big fish to feel the rush, and the craft’s low profile on the water adds a level of intimacy that is hard to match from an aluminum boat or from shore.
Furthermore, big fun and big fish don’t have to come at a big-boat price. Kayaks offer an economical mode of water recreation; they can be transported in the back of a truck, on a rooftop rack or on a small trailer, and they’re effortlessly launched solo. Moreover, they are easy to store and require far less maintenance than a fishing boat.
A net with rubber mesh is not only good for the trout, but it also simplifies the landing process from the tight confines of a kayak. (Photo by Matt Church) CHOOSING A FISHING KAYAK Kayak fishing also has exercise benefits. If every day is leg day, then a pedal-drive kayak may be your best option. If you don’t want the weight of a pedal drive and you’re more of an upper-body enthusiast, opt for a trusty paddle ’yak.
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I enjoy a lightweight, sit-on-top fishing kayak with a double-sided paddle. My personal favorite is the Tamarack Pro fishing kayak made by Lifetime. I have found it to be feature-packed and economical, especially if you can buy from a storefront location and save on shipping costs. I favor simplicity on the water, so I do not outfit my boat with electronics, batteries or a trolling motor. In my opinion, the cost, maintenance and rigging time is better spent elsewhere.
Length and weight are the most critical deciding factors when selecting a fishing kayak. Before you buy, consider what type of water you will be fishing most, portage distance (if any) and regulatory requirements for boats on the waterways you fish. I mostly fish small to medium-size mountain lakes, but I also fish some large Western reservoirs and slow-moving rivers. I like a boat that is 10 to 10 1/2 feet in length with a wide, flat bottom for stability and a sharp bow for tracking. This length allows for easy loading into the back of my truck as well as solo launching.
Look for a fishing-specific kayak that has at least one flush-mounted rod holder behind the cockpit so your rod doesn’t get in the way while paddling, and an adjustable rod holder that you can place in front of you or at your side.
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A paddle keeper on the boat is a must so you don’t lose your mode of propulsion while wrangling fish. A seat with a backrest will keep your butt dry and your back from aching after a long day on the water. Deck hatches at the bow and/or stern are beneficial for storing a dry bag with your phone, snacks and extra clothing, as well as tackle boxes and a small cooler.
Any kayak trout angler’s arsenal should include a variety of small spoons, jigs, spinners and jerkbaits. (Photo by Matt Church) TROUT TACKLE AND LURES Although exhilarating, fly-fishing from a kayak is not my method of choice because I’m normally tethered to my son’s boat. Plus, as mentioned earlier, I prefer simplicity when fishing from a kayak.
At this season of life, my young son and I enjoy spin-casting together, aiming for quantity over quality. A medium-action spinning rod provides more backbone to throw smaller lures, while light-action rods are more sensitive, making slabs out of fingerlings. Ugly Stik is hard to beat for economical yet durable rod-and-reel combos.
Brookies, rainbows, tigers and browns in mountain lakes tend to be opportunistic and aggressive feeders with attitudes like Wild West outlaws. They are even known to cannibalize their own. Spoons and spinners with rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout and fire tiger patterns are great at mimicking their prey. Ideal lure weights range from 1/12 to 1/2 ounce depending on the size of the water and fish sought. Jake’s Spin-a-Lure ; inline spinners such as Worden’s Rooster Tail , Mepps’ Aglia and Blue Fox’s Vibrax ; and spoons like Acme Kastmasters and Little Cleos are all excellent options for spin fishing, trolling and jigging from the kayak. Adding a small split shot can help with casting distance when throwing lightweight lures and for reaching desired depth.
Gitzit makes a lifelike prey-fish jig called the Little Tough Guy , which is a good addition to a trout fishing arsenal. Medium-depth jerkbaits and X-raps in the same patterns listed above have some utility, but mostly when trolling or casting across channels while on the river. Plano Stowaway boxes are perfect for storing lures, as they come in various sizes, are easy to store, are waterproof and they float.
Lastly, I carry a 24-inch net with an aluminum handle made by Frabill that has a wide hoop and rubber mesh netting. After sinking a hook to the shank in my finger while extricating a slab trout entangled in poly mesh netting, I’ll never again buy a net that does not have rubber, tangle-free mesh. Incidentally, that’s also why I pinch all hook barbs.
Kayak fishing in small waters is a good way to introduce kids to boating safety. Tether a youngster’s ’yak to your own during the initial trips. (Photo by Matt Church) TOP TROUT TACTICS The hours around sunrise and sunset tend to see the lightest winds of the day and are times when trout tend to be more active. Focus on areas where fish are rising to feed and cast near or into their rise. When using spinners and spoons, let the lure sink varying lengths of time before reeling to cover different depths. Change up the retrieval period and speed and let the spinner or spoon sink a little, then twitch the rod every few seconds and pick up the slack. To a trout, this mimics a Darwin-award candidate, inducing bites on the seemingly struggling baitfish.
When trout go deeper in the heat of the day, it’s time for blitzkrieg fishing. Throw on a spoon or spinner with a small split shot approximately 1 foot up from the lure, or a medium-diving jerkbait, and set out trolling. I like to cover as much territory and water column depth as possible, and I use this time to explore the lake or reservoir (as well as get my upper-body workout for the day). As you troll, scout for inlets, outlets, structure and channels, then switch to jigs, spoons and spinners to work those areas. Casting toward the bank and playing off the breaks, especially around points and in backwater areas, can likewise pay dividends.
These same tactics and gear can be employed while fishing a river, albeit with slight modifications to account for the moving water. Cast in front of the boat and reel against or across the current, or even paddle against the current and troll upstream for short sections. Find friendly eddies and fishy holes and paddle to a safe resting spot before hucking some jewelry.
Once the sun sets, keep the fun going with some night jigging, an activity that can be extremely rewarding for the patient angler. First, drop anchor from the stern or bow so if there is wind or current, the kayak isn’t side-on to the force, which could result in unstable conditions. Rig two to four green or yellow glow sticks with paracord, tie them to sides, bow and stern of the kayak and lower them to a depth of 3 to 5 feet. Drop a Gitzit or maribou jig to the bottom and then reel up about a foot. Twitch the rod tip up, then let it down slowly to imitate struggling prey. Vary the jigging speed and depth to cover the entire water column. Add a little pink or sherbet Powerbait Trout Nugget to your jig hook as extra enticement and get ready to light up the night.
When the ’yak life chooses you, embrace the call. With the right kayak, equipment, strategy and techniques, trout anglers can enjoy many summer days and nights catching the West’s most fabled fish.
BE SAFETY-MINDED IN YOUR KAYAK Dead men tell no fish stories. Wear a PFD and be geared up. Before getting on the water, make sure to don a personal flotation device (PFD) and leave it on for the duration. NRS makes excellent fishing PFDs with a streamlined fit that does not impede paddling or casting. My PFD is outfitted with a pilot knife, a pair of forceps and a multi-tool in the pockets, and a safety whistle attached to the zipper.
A portable, watertight first-aid kit is a must, and Adventure Medical Kits is my go-to brand. Fast-drying fishing attire with a high UPF rating (I’m a Kuhl fan), a comfortable hat and polarized shades are essential for protecting yourself from malicious sunrays. Rounding out my safety equipment is a headlamp and a suction-mounted LED boat light.
This article was featured in the West edition of the August 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
