1. Keep it simple
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2. Be organized
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3. Study the game

1. First, be organized and keep things simple.  Have three to four “go to” combos that have a particular purpose. Having a couple rods with deep baits like a jig or worm and a couple more with moving baits like a square bill and a chatterbait will help you search for fish.  You might have a topwater combo ready as well. I like to have a war eagle buzzbait ready all the time. My favorite finesse bait is the “Neko” rig.
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2. Your tackle should be organized in waterproof plastic boxes and labled for quick access.

3. If you really want to become a master angler, the key is spending more time on the water. The more time on the water the more success you will have.

1. Have confidence in your selections. The same bass lure will catch the same fish whether your on a northern body of water or southern.

2. Enjoy yourself, you’ll never see what’s in front of you the same again

3. Be consistent. You don’t have to be the best. Being consistent leaves you in a place to become even better.

1. Use the kayak to your advantage. We can get into a lot of places boat and shore anglers can’t either due to access or shallower water. It’s a great way to find some low pressured areas.

2. Get a good anchoring system. It will completely cut time wasted on adjusting your position and allow you to thoroughly fish an area.

3. Stay organized. Keep your most frequently used items in reach or easily accessible. Don’t fall into the habit of tossing stuff into your crate that you will have to dig awkwardly for later.

1. First, learn as much about the area before you fish it, learn about what different species of fish are present, and what other bodies of water, if any, are feeding this body of water.

2. Secondly, ensure that you are in fact allowed to fish this area…there is nothing worse than unloading your kayak and gear only to be kicked out of the area.

3. Third…and most importantly, ensure that there is a safe launch and if you are going alone, make sure someone knows where you will be.

1. First off, you can watch all the YouTube videos you want or read every piece of info out there on Kayak fishing, but you will never truly improve until you just keep doing it over and over.

2. Next, pack light, I’ve seen anglers make the mistake of packing every piece of fishing gear that have onto their kayak and this allows them to lose focus on actually fishing. Bring only what you truly need and stick to a few lures until you build confidence in that.

3. Lastly is to choose the right kayak that fits you. I’ve seen many people buy a kayak and get rid of it quick because it just wasn’t right for them. Please be sure to test out the kayak before you purchase it, this will make a world of difference

1. Study the layout of the water.

2. Check the tides.

3. And check the weather.

1. Learn new techniques every year. Grab a new bait and go build confidence with it.

2. Learn how to breakdown a small area.  Start small…pick a good looking area and fish it until you figure out how to catch em’. You may have days with no bites, but you learn from that too.  It will teach you how to break down large areas quickly and get you familiar with the signs you need to make a solid decision on where to fish on tourney day.

3. Learn your gear. Every rod has different feel. Different Rods perform in different ways with each bait. Find what works for you. Learn how to make those hard casts.  Learn your limits with your particular kayak. How do you position to flip trees, cast under trees on the bank, feel your bait in 20’ of water with a stiff wind. Time on the water teaches you these things.

1. Slow down. Find out what the fish want and pay attention to where they are relating. Patterning is a major help.

2. Pay attention to wind. Not only is it important for locating fish but it also can make for a bad time after a long day. Always try to start your day going into the wind if possible.

3. Try new techniques. And when you do, spend the whole day doing it. I will force myself to only take that gear for the day. If I want to fish, I have to fish that way. Building confidence in many styles gives you a better chance of finding something that works.

1. Utilize technology in the kayak. There are affordable options such as the ANGLR Bullseye and Deeper Sonar that drastically improve fishability.

2. Invest in a pedal kayak, they are absolutely the way to go if you are a die-hard kayak angler. Having two hands free and still being able to work a drift is something that will take your game so much higher if you currently paddle.

3. Get down to 4 main rods. This way you avoid crowding the boat and know exactly what baits you prefer on each rod. I typically have a baitcasting braid on a heavy topwater/jig rod, baitcasting braid with a leader tied to a spinnerbait/chatterbait rod, a light spinning rod for dropshotting, and a spinning rod for small swimbaits/wacky rigs.

1. Put the work in. Learn to use all the resources available to you to learn a Lake. Use every source you can for bottom contours, paper maps, Navionics, FishSmart, etc. will all show you something a little different. Learn to use your electronics effectively to find fish and know what you‘re looking at and where to cast. Knowing what you’re looking for is a huge advantage on the water and will give you confidence in being able to find fish, whatever the conditions.

2. There is something to be said for having confidence in a bait, it helps you to stick with it when the fish aren’t biting for one reason or another. I’ve found that stepping out of your comfort zone by learning and building confidence in a new bait or technique can help you a lot in the future. You never know what you may need to throw to catch fish on any given day on any given body of water and having confidence in many different techniques may be the difference between winning a tournament or skunking and finishing last.

3. Be prepared for anything that may happen on the water. Know your kayak inside and out, know how to fix any problems that may arise and be prepared to fix them. Have backups for your backups, whether it’s lures, rods, mirage drives, batteries, etc. make sure you are ready for anything. Last but not least, always where your PFD!

1. Homework. Paper maps, Computer mapping like google earth.
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2. Take into account the seasonal stage of the lake. Spring, Summer, Fall ,Winter.
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3. On the water experience.
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4. All the above should have eliminated 90% of the lake, now use your practice to comb through the other 10%.

The first thing to do is eliminate water.  When paddling or peddling a kayak there is only so much area a person can cover in a day compared to a motorized boat. Doing your homework on any lake helps. Starting with a paper map can help tremendously in targeting areas that might hold fish before you arrive at the lake.  Most paper maps can be ordered online. My priority would be main points, channel breaks, rocks, vegetation, and structure such as brush piles or road beds. I also look for shallow areas that have steep drops nearby.

I use Google maps. Search water paddling trails and do your research. Look at NOAA weather maps for wind.

I like to start with a quick paddle around looking for wind breaks and current I need to be aware of. I also pay attention to my depth finder monitoring depth changes and looking for cover.

I will first look at the area on Google Earth to see where it leads, what feeds it, and I will also Google it by name to see if there have been any previous fishing reports about it.

I first like to study it on a map such as google earth. I look for launch areas to begin with and then start looking for structure in the water such as oyster beds, sand flats and channels. Once I’ve done my homework on the area I start with what looks to be the most promising area of the body of water. One thing I never do when I fish is stay in one area for a long time, I am constantly moving and searching for fish. This is especially true when fishing a new body of water, never get to caught up in one area, if results aren’t being produced move on to the next area until you find them.

PFD first and my rods are set up topwater, suspending, and bottom. That way you cover the whole water column.

Research is key.  Google Earth for a general view of the lake. Any past articles done on the lake and tournament results. This is key for bait selection, depth ranges, and fish size to target. Then I look for fish activity.  Will they move? I look for smaller areas that present a lot of options. Shallow water with structure and deep water close by with points or structure. I always want the ability to adjust with the fish if they move on Tournament day.

I like to start with a topographical map, analyze key spots by time of year and water temp, and then go graph those areas. While I’m there, I look for other contours and structure changes under the water.

When I head to a new body of water I start by looking at Satellite images and contour maps to look for the area(s) I want to fish based on time of year, weather conditions, and other factors. Once I’ve located the areas I want to fish, I will look for public ramps close to those areas. When I’m out there I will work on actually locating the fish and finding out what they want to eat.