Thread: Kayak Trip Report, Cotaco Creek

Originally Posted by Ditch Basser

Great seeing you!

If wind and current are favorable, you can't beat a kayak for working laydowns. I chuckle sometimes when I see a big boat bounce off a tree, drop a big anchor or constantly get on the trolling motor trying to maintain their position and wonder why they don't catch many fish (especially if the water is shallow or warm during the summer). With a kayak it's gentle paddling to maintain your location of grab a tree branch with a free hand for a couple minutes. Small boats have their advantages sometimes.

When fishing treetops on Cotaco in my flatbottom I usually take a couple of short pieces,of rope with a loop tied in one end and when approaching the tree I am planning on fishing I will let the current float me into the tree and tie the rope on whatever limb I can,then lash it to a cleat to hold me in place this makes for a quiet approach and doesn't scare the fish as bad as trying to drop a anchor or using the engine to get into position

Sent from my SM-A037U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Several years ago, during the Summer, I found Crappie on baitfish schools in Limestone Bay in about 6 feet of water over near the west bank (away from the stump beds). Every pass spider rigging I'd pick up two or three.

Soon several of the big boats watching the show came over and joined me and the Crappie shut down. After the big boats left the fish started biting again and I returned to catching fish two at a time. I had several big boats try and join me again over the afternoon and each time the fish would shut down in response to the trolling motors and increased noise (maybe shade of the boat also). Each time the boats left I'd go back to catching fish within 10 or 15 minutes.

It's always great when the fish seem to hammer everything that hits the water, but sometimes they can be extremely finicky and put off by the slightest thing. Often as the day progresses and the light levels change in the water column, bait color and water depth of the fish will change even for the same spot. Everyone has encountered that magic hour before dark when after a hard day of mediocre fishing you catch Crappie on every cast and bait for a half hour. It only makes since that some days you can't buy a bite, LOL!