ment-rigged kayaks at the boat ramp , take advantage . Matt and I both fish out of the Old Town Sportsman Autopilot kayaks . They come fish finder-ready and are equipped with Minn Kota autopilot trolling motors with built-in GPS and Spot-Lock . With that kind of technology at work , I don ’ t feel like I ’ m at a disadvantage fishing out of my kayak compared to my bass boat . Obviously you lose the ability to run all over the lake with every rod and reel you own at your fingertips , but I believe there are three key advantages to fishing out of a kayak that far outweigh the speed and storage disadvantages .
advantage # 1 : accessibility
The first major advantage afforded to those bass fishing out of a kayak is accessibility – accessibility to parts of the lake you can ’ t get to in a larger boat and accessibility to fisheries that are “ no motor ” or “ trolling motor-only ” lakes .
This time of year , a lot of fisheries have already dropped the water level down to winter pool to help prevent future flooding from winter storms . This eliminates a lot of backwater access , and there are places on the lake that you simply can ’ t access in larger boats until spring . Matt and I recently launched our Old Town kayaks and went fishing upriver . We motored and paddled our way upriver to access parts we never could have accessed this time of the year in our big boats . In fishing kayaks , low water accessibility is only limited by your determination and imagination .
Equally as important , some of your favorite launch ramps around the lake may be un-launchable due to the low water levels . The good news is that sololaunching a kayak is extremely easy and can be done from almost anywhere . You don ’ t need water on your favorite launch ramp to get out on the lake and you can still access your favorite spots yearround . Also , I ’ ve seen more and more trolling motor-only lakes popping up . Traveling to these fisheries with an easily portable fishing platform is really convenient . Gaining access to fisheries or areas of a lake that other anglers can ’ t is a no-brainer for me .
Who doesn ’ t want to fish unpressured areas of a lake that other anglers can ’ t ? advantage # 2 : affordability
Like nearly everything else , the cost to go fishing these days has gotten more and more expensive . Whether it ’ s skyrocketing gas prices , increased launch fees or the cost of a new or used boat , bass fishing has simply gotten more pricey as a whole .
From beginner to advanced , there are kayaks for all anglers ’ budgets and experience level . Once you have your kayak and gear , there ’ s very little additional expense to get out on the water and catch fish . Traveling to and from the lake can be a lot less expensive without having to tow a 20-foot boat back and forth . Think about all the money saved on boat gas and maintenance . A kayak is a very cost-effective way to get out on the water and fish on a budget – leaving more cash in your wallet for new tackle and gear .
advantage # 3 : slowing down
Many times when we ’ re fishing in our bass boats , I ’ m often thinking about my next move or adjustment . When I eliminate the thought of running around the lake in search of more fish , it forces me to focus more on the area I ’ m currently fishing , and in turn , I feel like I fish the area more meticulously . You ’ d be surprised at the little nuances you observe when you ’ re totally focused on the area you ’ re fishing and not distracted by the thought of running to another location . I believe because of this reason alone that I ’ m a better fisherman today . Whether a standalone segment of bass fishing or as a steppingstone to the world of big boats and big motors , kayak fishing is great for the sport of bass fishing . It allows anglers of all budgets and experience levels to get out on the water and hone their skills .
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