Thread: Kayak Crappie Fishermen?

Are you guys anchoring down when your jigging or using minnows?[/QUOTE]

This time of year I am anchored. Unless there is absolutely no wind. With the water temps in the upper 30s to low 40s the fish are not really willing to do a lot of bait chasing so I try to anchor close to them and present my jigs very subtly. I will often set my anchor on the ice directly adjacent to open water that is on or near drop offs or submerged structure. This allows me to anchor without disturbing the water. I then use three poles or rods and reels with with six different bait combos until I find the fish.

I'm very happy with my Future Beach Angler 144. I found this SOT yak at Dunham's Sports on sale for $350. It was the best laid out SOT I could find for the price.

Nice looking yak Duke. I'm sure youll enjoy it.

Cool pictures. Great looking stringer and amazingly clear water.

Originally Posted by slabsrus

I have been fishing and hunting out of kayaks since 1987 and have had the opportunity to use many kayaks over the years. In my opinion, the best all around hunting and fishing kayak is the Ultimate 14.5 tandem by Native Watercraft. The 14.5 offers a great line for tracking while the tunnel hull offers superb stability. The tandem allows for a passenger if it is ever called for, but with the removable seats, the Ultimate 14.5 tandem can readilly be turned into a one person vessel. It is a low rider with a completely open cockpit which allows for a lot of gear to be carried and accessed easily. Though it does ride low, about 4 inches from the waterline when loaded, it is very stable and keeps the water out very well. Even in fairly rough water. The seats are aluminum framed with cloth/nylon seat and back. They are adjustable to just about any back angle you desire and the seat has a few height/angle adjustments. I see tons of kayaks out there now with rods sticking up in the air out or rod holders and extra rods behind the seats flying like flag poles. Crates or boxes behind the seat with loads of extra gear. That is all fine and well if you are strictly fishing wide open areas. I can carry as much, or more gear than any kayay out there, and it is never in the way because it is stowed in the kayak not on the kayak. If fishing rivers, creeks or brushy shorelines, it is pretty much useless to have your rods in pole holders or extra rods sticking up in the air behind your seat. They are sure to get in the way. I have seen this first hand. With the Ultimate 14.5 tandem by Native Watercraft you can simply lay your extra rod right in the kayak in front of, or behind you. A tackle box or bag, net, cooler, etc, all fit nicely. My kayak is also my tournament bass boat and it is more than adequate. Two guys, four rod/reel combos, two tackle boxes, net,large cooler for live well, pfd for each,and small cooler for refreshments, not a problem, and still very stable.
I would highly reccommend it in the Olive Green color. It is a very neutral color which seems to not spook shallow water fish, and, works great for waterfowling.
Sure there are plenty of good kayaks out there, but speaking from almost 25 years of experience, I have a pretty good idea about what fishing and hunting from a kayak is all about and would highly recommend at least looking into the Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5.
Hope this helps you out a bit and good luck.

I fish a Hobie Revolution for both fresh and salt water. Its a nice stable yak, and has the mirage drive so I can fish with both hands and still move along the water.

Kb, are those ram mount rod holders? I 'm thinking about adding a few to my Malibu.

Yes they are. I like being able to adjust them to what ever position I want to. Both rod holders, and the fish finder are ram mounts. If you do go this route, be sure to back them with something inside the yak. I used a plastic cutting board that I cut up and shaped with a heat gun to fit in the gunnels. This provides protection to the hull so that the bolts dont pull out or the hull crack should the rod holders get twisted.

Let me know if I can be any assistance, Ive made plenty of mistakes and would be happy to share them (so others dont).

My kayak trip to Grenada. I caught 43 crappie. My largest 2 were 2.63 pounds. More than half were over 2 pounds. I didn't get the elusive 3 pounder but had a great time. We fished mostly the massive matt field southeast of the bridge that crosses the lake. My buddies waded and I fished my kayak. I wasn't prepared. Friday I had to leave at 2pm because my ice chest/livewell was over flowing with fish and were dieing. I had 17 keepersand wanted to stay and get the limit but couldn't risk the fish spoiling. Saturday I caught 19 keepers, I took a bigger ice chest. We had a great fish fry and a blast ragging each other. Especially sinse I whipped them all Friday and all except one guy caught 20 on Saturday. It may never happen again but this was the year of the kayak.