I caught three small green fish including this one (see photo below) kayak fishing this evening for an hour or so. I hooked another nice sized largemouth bass (guessing 3lbs), but it shook the hook right before I could grab it. The water was cold today @ 38 degrees F, so I was pretty happy to catch these…
The bite is picking up despite the continued chilly weather!
In years previous, I’ve generally waited until warmer weather before hitting the water in my kayak for fishing. However, I’m discovering the benefits of kayaks for early cold-weather bass fishing on smaller ponds that you couldn’t practically fish with larger boats or from shore. The overgrown banks of many small ponds with overhanging trees and submerged timber and brush piles are nearly impossible to hit from shore, but they are easy to access by kayak…
Note that cold-water kayak fishing can be perilous. I wear proper gear (neoprene waders, semi-dry top, and pfd) if I am paddling in deeper water. For the most part, I stick to shallow water where I could touch the bottom, stick close to shore, only go out during calm water conditions, and never go alone.
-Paul
