kayak fishing – Castable Fish Finder

TWO BIG MUSKY from the Kayak! Southern Musky Fishing!

Today we’re fishing a small river for BIG musky! Muskie live in many of the lakes and streams in Eastern Tennessee and are far less pressured than their Northern cousins. They’ve been on Matt’s radar since his first trip to the region and today he’s on a mission to finally catch one (or two) from the kayak!

Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, the musky can be a very frustrating adversary. However, we know from years of trophy bass fishing with swimbaits that numbers like “10,000 casts” often represent a misunderstanding of the fish. With both bass and musky, once an angler understands their habits and feeding windows the time required to catch a trophy fish can be cut dramatically. They may never become “easy” to catch, but they’ll become much more predictable.

Matt focused his efforts on 3 presentations. He fished a Savage Gear 4-play (swimbait), A R2S Whopper Plopper 190 (Topwater) and a Blue Fox Spinner (Bucktail). He really wanted to catch his first musky on a swimbait after getting short struck on the last river drift with Tim but in the end, all 3 bites came on the bucktail.

Below you’ll find links to all of the available baits and gear Matt was using throughout the day. If you want to catch a musky of your own, some of the items, like the 30″ custom 135 lb Leader, were hand tied by Matt and would need to be fabricated on your own to be replicated. For the rest of the gear, the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

The Baits…
-Savage Gear 4 Play 200 (Hitch): https://bit.ly/3j97oWc
-River2Sea Whopper Plopper 190 (Perch): http://bit.ly/2a7ipHL
-Blue Fox Vibrax Super Boy (Black/Silver): Source Locally

Hook and Hardware Upgrades…
Hooks- Owner 4X ST-66 Trebles (1/0 and 2/0): http://bit.ly/2JHo3z3
Split RIngs- Owner ULTRA Wire (Size 6): http://bit.ly/3bQgswL
Swivels- Spro Power Size 2: http://bit.ly/2ay0p7d

Kayak…
-Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS

Matt’s Rod/Reel Combo…
Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966C Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS
Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 HG: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw
Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 80 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Budget Musky Combo…
Rod- Dobyns Fury 806H: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV
Reel- Shimano Curado 300 HGK (Available to PRE-ORDER): https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4
Line- Power Pro Braided 80 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Related Kayak Videos…
-10 lb Bass From The Kayak: https://youtu.be/bNTZvcyep-0
-Bank Fishing and Kayaking Small River For Bass and Musky: https://youtu.be/u1Dy0xSYyfs
-Epic Golf Course Pond Fishing!: https://youtu.be/8NoDLM2fpyE
-Backwater Bass Fishing- Kayaks and Flippin Sticks: https://youtu.be/1toqR0P0Azw

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel…
TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7
TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs
TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD
TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G
_________________________________________________________________

Equipment We Recommend…

Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor: http://bit.ly/2vFQypW
Humminbird Solix 15 Electronics: http://bit.ly/2Hazsej
Minn Kota Talons: http://bit.ly/2F0QBSP
Hot Foot Throttle Control: http://bit.ly/2ob4kgO
Loc-R-Bar Boat Security: http://bit.ly/2CMF1NP

Favorite Storage Box: http://bit.ly/2fvjcFB
Favorite Pliers: http://bit.ly/2tfxFvw
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: http://bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite life jacket: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite sunglasses: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN
Hero8 Camera: http://bit.ly/37hVTX4
ElectroSamson Scale: http://bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Frabill Net: http://bit.ly/2FNdnQr
Lure Retriever: http://bit.ly/2TLTJc6
________________________________________________________________

If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won’t be able to even see a difference but they’ll know you’re one of us!

#musky #fishing #kayak

New Kayak Review! Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 136!

This kayak just won “Best Of Show” At ICAST 2020, let’s look at why! When we heard the Sportsman Autopilot 136 had an Ultrex trolling motor and could “spot lock” to hold position so we didn’t have to paddle the kayak constantly, we knew we had to have it! Come along as Tim takes it for a spin on the water, looks at the features, and shows how to operate the motor.

This is a top of the line kayak! Its incredibly stable, has room to stand, walk, and enough stability to fish from virtually any position. We’ve had it out in big waves, heavy winds, and have had the opportunity to catch some great big bass from these boats. If you’re upgrading to a larger kayak or considering adding a trolling motor to an existing kayak, you should give this a look.

The 13’6″ version (136) retails for $3999 while the smaller 12′ version (120) retails for $3799. This is a serious investment for an entry level kayaker but is a no brainer for a bass angler coming down from a bass boat. As bass boat angler’s we’ve already fallen in love with the spot lock feature of the Ultrex trolling motor and know there is no going back. Having this same feature in a kayak gives us the ability to go farther, stay more stable in rough water, and most importantly, focus on the fishing instead of the positioning.

Below you’ll find links to the kayak as well as some of our favorite kayak accessories. The kayak link will take you directly to the manufacturer’s website (Old Town), while the accessory links will go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of the items.

Sportsman Kayaks…
-Sportsman AutoPilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS
-Sportsman AutoPilot 120: https://bit.ly/32ySIuZ

Favorite Pedal Drive Kayak…
-Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka

Favorite Kayak Accessories…
Storage- Plano Guide Series V-Crate: http://bit.ly/2BLjK4f
Life Vest- Mustang Elite Inflatable PFD: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Electronics- Humminbird Helix 9 Chirp G3: http://bit.ly/2GmFXui
Anchor- Kayak Anchor Wizard: Source Locally
Battery- Bioenno Lithium 100 AH: Source Locally

Links To Some Of Our Kayak Fishing Videos…
-10 lber Caught From A Kayak: https://youtu.be/bNTZvcyep-0
-Epic Golf Course Pond Fishing: https://youtu.be/8NoDLM2fpyE
-Tiny Creek Fishing- Crystal Clear Water and BIG Fish: https://youtu.be/6k76sDqv7hA
-Summer Topwater Fishing: https://youtu.be/QpGrXiY5t0c

What we wear…

Sun Mask: http://bit.ly/2JcA8xi
Sun Shirt w/ Hood: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G
Light Fishing Pants: http://bit.ly/2foDx10
_________________________________________________________________

Equipment We Recommend…

Favorite Storage Box: http://bit.ly/2fvjcFB
Favorite Pliers: http://bit.ly/2tfxFvw
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: http://bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite Wire Cutters: http://bit.ly/2soB34k
Favorite life jacket: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite sunglasses: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN
Hero8 Camera: http://bit.ly/37hVTX4
ElectroSamson Scale: http://bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Frabill Net: http://bit.ly/2FNdnQr
Lure Retriever: http://bit.ly/2TLTJc6
________________________________________________________________

#kayakbassfishing #kayak #kayakfishing

Senko and Topwater – Kayak Bass Fishing A Small Backwater Creek

Let’s go fishing! Tim is in a small creek with crystal clear water that dumps into a big murky water lake. He’s targeting post spawn bass with a Senko, popper, dropshot, and swimbait. The bass moved into this creek to spawn but now they’re feeding along the lay downs and overhanging brush before returning to the main lake. Whether you prefer a kayak, a bass boat, or walking the shore bank fishing, you’ll enjoy Tim’s tips on saving money while catching fish.

Tim started the day hoping for a quick reaction bite but it wasn’t in the cards. He quickly switched to a wacky rigged senko and caught a ton of fish! The key here is to understand that he was still on the same water. We often push for the reaction bite but when you have limited areas to fish its best to adapt to the conditions. By giving up the topwater and fast moving baits Tim suddenly found himself surrounded with willing fish. While they weren’t in the mood to chase, the slow falling senko proved more than they could resist.

Below is a breakdown of the 4 lures that Tim brought on the kayak. He kept it simple but was still able to cover all his bases and adapt to changing conditions. The links go to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.

Senko…
Worm- Yamamoto 5″ Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS
Colors: Green Pump/Watermelon Lam, Bama Bug
Hook- Owner Weedless Sniper Finesse 1/0: https://bit.ly/2zXirRH
O-Ring Tool- O Rigger: http://bit.ly/2wtX7M8
O-Rings- O Rigger Rings: http://bit.ly/2h5MhX2

Topwater…
-Megabass Pop Max (Mat Shad): http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Dropshot…
Worm- Roboworm 6″ Straight Tail (Oxblood Red Flake): http://bit.ly/2awYSxM
Hook- Owner Mosquito (Size 1/0): http://bit.ly/2fqYFCR
Weight- Swagger Tungsten 1/4 oz Tie-On Weight: http://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

GlideBait…
-River2Sea S-Waver 168/200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh
Color: Warden Hitch

Senko Combo…
Rod- Shimano Expride 7′ Medium: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q
Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV
Line- Sunline XPlasma Dark Green Braid 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j
Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Drosphot Casting Combo…
Rod- Shimano Expride 7’2″ Medium Light+: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Reel- Shimano Aldebaran 50 MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8
Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 20 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Kayak Setup…
Kayak- Old Town Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka
Graph- Humminbird Helix 7: http://bit.ly/2SoFl8a
Anchor- Anchor Wizard: Source Locally

What we wear…

Sun Mask: http://bit.ly/2JcA8xi
Sun Shirt w/ Hood: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G
Light Fishing Pants: http://bit.ly/2foDx10
_________________________________________________________________

Equipment We Recommend…

#bassfishing #senko #kayakfishing

Senko and Underspin Tips For Big Bass! Kayak Bass Fishing on Clearlake

I only brought 3 rods! A senko, an underspin, and a swimbait are all tied on. Which will get the biggest bite? Can we build a pattern? Come along for a really fun day of fishing on Clearlake! We’re going to put the kayak to work and stick some big bass along the way!

Today really highlighted the value of fishing from a kayak or other small boat. Often times anglers in smaller craft feel like they’re at a disadvantage but the big bites today absolutely would not have come if I was on my bass boat. These are highly pressured fish that are very leery of boats but they had no concerns about the kayak!

The underspin proved to be the hero of the day. Both of the big fish (a 5 and 6 lber) both annihilated the underspin along the edges of submerged trees. The senko also proved to be invaluable. After making a pass through our small area with the underspin we slowly and methodically worked back through the fish with the senko and were able to pick up a few more key bites to finish out the day. These two baits proved to be an awesome pairing as one got the majority of bites while the other got the kicker bites we were hoping for.

Below is a breakdown of the baits we had tied on and the gear we were using to throw it. All the bait links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see up close photos of each bait and a detailed description.

Underspin..
-Owner 1/4 oz Flashy Swimmer 5/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7
-Keitech 4.8″ Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Senko…
-Gamakatsu Superline EWG 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG
-Yamamoto 6″ Senko (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Glide Baits…
-R2S S-Waver 200 (Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh
-Gratt Sneaky Pete 7’5″ (Hitch): http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Underspin Combo…
Rod- Shimano Expride 7’2″ Heavy: http://bit.ly/2czPlZl
Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (Current Model): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk
Line- 65 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- 20 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Senko Combo…
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7’2″ Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe
Reel- Curado 150 DC HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4
Line- 40 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- 15 lb Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Gear…
Life Jacket- Mustang Elite Inflatable: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Camera- GoPro Hero 8: http://bit.ly/37hVTX4
Kayak- Old Town Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka
**Kayak Link Goes To Manufacturer’s Website**

What we wear…

Sun Mask: http://bit.ly/2JcA8xi
Sun Shirt w/ Hood: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G
Light Fishing Pants: http://bit.ly/2foDx10
_________________________________________________________________

Equipment We Recommend…

#kayak #senko #underspin

Epic Golf Course Pond Fishing! Big Bass From The Kayak!

Come along as we explore an awesome golf course pond! The water is crystal clear with big bass all around! Tim jumps in the kayak armed with a senko, chatterbait, and a variety of keitech swimbaits. It doesn’t take long for the pond fish to start biting! Kick back, relax, and enjoy some awesome pond fishing!

Any time you go out in the kayak space is going to be a bit limited. Tim prepared by carrying a small bag with a great mix of baits. He chose 3 rods (2 bait casting and one spinning) that he could adapt to all the baits he was carrying so he wouldn’t be overloaded with equipment. On the water he started his fishing targeting deeper water but found the best quality fish along shallow grass edges.

Below is a breakdown of all the baits and equipment Tim used in the video. All the bait and gear links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed descriptions and close up photos of each item.

Glidebait…
-R2S S-Waver 168 (Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Small Swimbait…
-Keitech 3.8″ Fat Swing Impact (SunGill): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v
-Tactical Finesse Swimbait Head (1/4 oz): http://bit.ly/2Pqrq3n

Underspin Swimbait…
-Keitech 4.8″ Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v
-Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/4 oz with 5/0: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Chatterbait…
-JackHammer Chatterbait 3/8 oz (Green Pumpkin Shad): http://bit.ly/2popvj6
-Keitech 4.3″ Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Senko…
-Yamamoto Senko 5″ (Green Pumpkin Red Flake): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS
-Owner Twist Lock 3/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2cYZ3rM

Tackle…
-Plano Guide 3600 Tackle Bag: https://bit.ly/2xxtIar
-Plano Edge 3600 Box: http://bit.ly/2YBaWYX

Old Town Kayak’s Website…
-Old Town Topwater 120 Kayak: http://bit.ly/2KGiYf5

Tim’s Primary Casting Combo…
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7’2″ Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe
Reel- Shimano Chronarch MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB
Line- 40 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- 15 lb Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Tim’s All-Around Spinning Combo…
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7′ Medium: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO
Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7
Line- Sunline SX-1 High Vis Yellow 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2FngUkQ
Leader- Sunline Sniper 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

What we wear…

Sun Mask: http://bit.ly/2JcA8xi
Sun Shirt w/ Hood: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G
Light Fishing Pants: http://bit.ly/2foDx10
_________________________________________________________________

Equipment We Recommend…

#kayak #pondfishing #senko

Tim Flips His Kayak In COLD Water!! Spring Bass Fishing FAIL!

Tim paddled out into Clearlake in search of big bass. He got more than he bargained for! He started out catching a few fish on a post-front afternoon with a light chop but it changed in a second when a boat wake caught him from behind. Thankfully he was wearing his life jacket but his gear wasn’t so lucky!

Despite the cold swim, the video starts with some Spring fishing tips as Tim works his way along the bank. He switches between a lipless crankbait, a worm, and a small underspin swimbait in search of bass on what proves to be a very tough afternoon. Not knowing what was to come he catches a nice bass, followed by a crappie. The most important bit of information you can glean from this video is to always wear your life jacket!!

We’ve been guilty of taking our life jackets off from time to time, just like everyone else. This is a serious reminder of how quickly the situation can change! Tim never saw the wave coming and in a blink he was in the water. Temperatures were in the 50’s and he was no where near shore when it happened. If not for a passing boater the situation could have been much more dangerous. In the end, Tim lost 4 rod and reel combos, a new IPhone, two GoPro 8’s, and a lot of tackle. Oops!

Below are links to some of our more successful kayak outings, including Matt catching a 10 lber from the yak! We also included links to the baits Tim was throwing prior to flipping the kayak, and links to the exact inflatable life jackets that we wear on the boat because they’re incredible comfortable and low profile.

Kayak Videos…
Matt’s 10 lber From the Kayak: https://youtu.be/bNTZvcyep-0
Tiny Creek Kayaking for BIG Smallmouth: https://youtu.be/6k76sDqv7hA
Whopper Plopper Fishing From The Kayak: https://youtu.be/qVrUAzAZwWE
Summer Topwater Madness! Awesome Kayak Fishing: https://youtu.be/QpGrXiY5t0c

Tim’s Baits…
Lipless Crankbait- Lucky Craft LV-500 (Ghost Minnow): http://bit.ly/2aAUUbd
Alabama Rig- Hog Farmer Flex BFL: https://bit.ly/2WtLCVK
Underspin- Cool Baits 1/8 oz Down Under: http://bit.ly/2boS7QA
Swimbait- Keitech 2.8″ Fat Swing Impact (TW Ghost Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Tim’s Spinning Combo…
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7′ Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO
Reel- Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500: http://bit.ly/2gu84t7
Line- Power Pro 15 lb (Hi Vis Yellow) Braid: http://bit.ly/2g9c2GV
Leader- Sunline Sniper 8 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Lifejackets…
Inflatable Life Jacket- Mustang Elite Inflatable PFD: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Budget Inflatable- Onyx TW A-24 Auto Inflatable Life Jacket: https://bit.ly/3aySOUw

What we wear…

Sun Mask: http://bit.ly/2JcA8xi
Sun Shirt w/ Hood: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G
Light Fishing Pants: http://bit.ly/2foDx10
_________________________________________________________________

Equipment We Recommend…