3. CONTROL THE BOAT
Boat control depends on the type of
kayak you use. With pedal kayaks, such as
the Jackson Coosa FD, you have a big advan-
tage by being able to backpedal and keep
your hands free to fight the fish. Use the
pedal power to counter the wind or current,
or to back out of brush, docks and other
obstructions.
In a standard paddle kayak you’ll mostly
need to rely on the rod and reel to fight the
fish, but a good lightweight paddle that can
be used with one hand is a valuable tool. I
prefer the Bending Branches Angler Pro,
which I keep across my lap while fishing. Once
I hook up, I can use the paddle with either
hand to make minor corrections in boat posi-
tion during the fight. It helps to practice these
one-handed maneuvers to learn how to back
up and turn the bow either direction.
4. NAIL THE LANDING
The last step is landing the fish. Again,
gear is important. You need a net that is eas-
ily accessible, can be used one-handed and
has a handle long enough to reach out and
net the fish at the first opportunity. A lot of
times that will be the best and only chance.
My favorite net is the YakAttack Leverage
Landing Net. It’s somewhat oblong, which
gives me more reach than a wide, round
net, without extra weight.
Another important consideration is to
keep rods and baits in place so they’re not
hanging out the front and sides of the kayak
where they can grab the line.
Fighting fish in a kayak can be a challenge,
but that’s part of the fun. With the right gear
and a few adjustments in technique, you
should be able to rise to the challenge and
land more of the big bass that bite.
the fish. You’re also less mobile in a kayak.
That’s why I really focus on using the bend
in the rod to tire and fight the fish.
Don’t worry about your drag being too
tight, either. If the fish surges, the boat will
move, and the rod will bend. Play the fish by
keeping slack out of the line and countering
each move with the rod.
Rod length is also important. I generally
use 7-foot and 7-foot, 3-inch rods, which are
long enough that I can steer my line around
the front of the kayak without getting hung
up on the rough underside of the hull.
Landing heavyweight bass from a kayak requires patience and a bit of finesse once they’re
on the line.
Accessories to Hold You in Place
One of the hindrances when fighting
fish from a kayak is that it’s tough to hold
the boat in place, particularly when you’ve
hooked a giant. The techniques outlined in
the article will help you overcome the
issue, but there are also a couple of after-
market anchoring tools that can keep you
locked in place during the fight.
The Power-Pole Micro is one popular
option that performs best in skinny water.
Most kayak anglers wear the control fob
on a lanyard around their neck for quick
deployment. The price is about $595. A
built-in battery pack and the spike are sold
separately.
For deeper areas, one of my favorite
tools is the Anchor Wizard. It’s a manual-
crank anchor deployment system that
lets the angler deploy and stow the
anchor with just one hand. For deploy-
ment, a clutch system releases with just a
short turn of the handle, allowing the
anchor to free-fall. Just be mindful of the
line when fighting the fish so you don’t
tangle. The standard kayak anchoring sys-
tem is $149.99. A smaller low-profile
model is $99.95
Power-Pole
Micro anchor
Anchor Wizard
ABOuT THE AuTHOR
Matt Ball is a professional kayak angler from
Little Hocking, Ohio. He’s won more than $40,000 in
a kayak, and in the last three years has earned 21
top-10 finishes and two wins, including the inaugural
Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship on
Kentucky Lake in 2016.
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018 I FLWFISHING.COM
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