My first largemouth bass caught through a little hole in the ice. Hey, it beats sitting on the couch at home!
I recently read a news article that declared yesterday, the third Monday of January, as the official “Blue Monday”. This particular Monday is considered to be the most depressing day of the year due to the juxtaposition of bad weather, increased personal debt, failed motivation, and post-holiday let-downs. I have always dreaded Winter and after moving to Western New York from Oklahoma a few years ago, I struggled even more with the gloomy cold weather. For kayak anglers who live in temperate climates, Winter can be a particularly frustrating time. However, I’ve found some ways to cope which include activities to help fuel my passion for kayak fishing and chase away some of the Winter blues.
1. Winter is the best time for scouting new places to fish
For me, part of the joy of kayak fishing is being able to discover and explore new places to fish. Due to the leaves falling off of deciduous trees and shrubs and the dying down of herbaceous vegetation, Winter is an outstanding time to scout for new waters. You can see much farther into forested or overgrown areas which in turn allows you to see terrain features and bodies of water that might otherwise be obscured from sight by vegetation during the warmer growing seasons. This year, I’ve already identified several new places to kayak fish by performing online map searches (such as on Google Maps), marking bodies of water, then driving out to see them from the closest roads. I have discovered some of these potential new fishing holes simply by going out for weekend drives and looking for them. Some of these new sites I know have public access, but a few of them I will have to spend some time gaining permission to fish them. I’d rather spend the time doing this now rather than later after the ice thaws and I could be fishing.
2. You can fish in Winter
I’m finally figuring out how to successfully ice fish. While the idea of sitting out on the ice to catch a mess of bluegill has never really appealed to me in the past, I’ve recently learned that lunker bass, northern pike, pickerel, walleye, and big trout can actually be caught through holes in the ice. I’ve also found that hard water fishing might provide some needed training and discipline that will come in handy after ice-out. Like many anglers, I probably fish too actively at times when I should slow down and concentrate on lure presentation for finicky fish. Fishing through a hole in the ice forces you to really pay attention to what you are actually doing. I’m actually toying with the idea of using one of my smaller recreational kayaks as a sled for my equipment. Could it then be officially considered as kayak fishing?
Another type of winter fishing that I look forward to getting more involved with is steelhead fishing on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie Tributaries. When things get to warm up a bit and the lakes are still frozen over but thawing and unsafe to fish, the rivers and streams are flowing and an ideal time in the Great Lakes to fish for steelhead and brown trout. Some of these tributaries may even be accessible by kayak. I hope to find out in the next month or so.
3. Kayak sledding
DISCLAIMER: I am in no way advocating or encouraging anybody to do this because kayak sledding looks potentially very dangerous to me. So if you try it, you do so at your own risk. It turns out that smaller recreational kayaks make outstanding sleds. Do a search on YouTube for “kayak sledding” and you will find quite a few videos of people doing this that demonstrates potential fun and underscores the danger of doing this. A fellow kayak angler friend of mine recently tried this and found it to be fun, but cautioned that it doesn’t take much of a hill to get flying and lose control. I plan on trying this myself under very controlled conditions and will post video here if I get the opportunity.
4. Lure making
My son Alan and I saved some of our used soft plastic baits in the hopes of recycling the material into our own lures. We are mid-way through this project that is going well so far and are about to pour our first lures. The materials and to do this are actually quite inexpensive and you are limited only by your own creativity. The process is essentially this. Use foam modeling clay to make models of the baits that we want to create (you could just use favorite plastic baits themselves that you would like to copy if you wish). Use the models to make a split mold using plaster of paris. Then, you simply melt the plastic (which you can purchase or use old lures like we are) on the stove or in a microwave (must use high-temp bowl like Pyrex or it could explode), mix in finely ground salt to add weight and flavor, and pour. There are various instructions and tips online for how to do this, but I will do a write-up here if our first attempt turns out to be successful. There are also other types of lures that you could make during the winter downtime such as tying flies, jigs, and carving balsa wood lures. I look forward to catching fish this Spring using plastic baits of our own creation.
5. Make new friends
You are not alone and misery loves company. Get together with fellow kayak anglers for a social event to swap fishing stories or plan future trips. The Western New York Kayak Fishing Association is doing just this by holding a Winter Gathering this month. Kayak fishing clubs are starting up all over the World. If there is not a club in your region already why not start one?
6. Clean and respool your reels, reorganize your tackle, and re-rig your fishing kayak
Another father-son activity that we have been undertaking is to get our fishing gear cleaned, sorted, and organized. In particular, I am re-thinking the way that I organize and store my soft plastic baits to keep my kayak from looking like a picked-over yard sale after a day of of fishing like it did last season. I am also sorting out and removing lures that I never use and reducing the number of spares that I carry onboard to a reasonable number. I am also increasing the number of items that I hope to use more such as drop shot plastics. My overall goal is to reduce the bulk and weight of what I carry with me. Alan agrees with my methods because he is happy to add my discarded “extras” to his growing store of fishing tackle.
With respect to re-rigging our kayaks, I am relocating and replacing a rod holder and adding an anchor trolley and Alan is repairing and moving a broken cleat on his kayak. No matter what your particular fishing goals for next season, Winter is the the time to prepare and we plan to be ready!
7. Hunt for bargains
Winter is the time that vendors clearance last year’s stock to make way for the new. If you have any money left after Christmas (or were lucky enough to receive some gift cards or cash), now is the time to hunt for bargains. I have seen some discounts on popular items averaging 40%-50% and in some cases, up to 75% off.
8. Educate yourself
Although it is cliche, sometimes curling up indoors with a good book and a hot chocolate or other warm beverage of your choice is just the thing to escape and forget about the cold winds blowing outside. Here are some some outstanding suggestions:
Kayak Bass Fishing Book – Chad Hoover – Heliconia Press
This book was written by our friend Chad Hoover, an undisputed kayak fishing guru and you can get a signed copy HERE.
“The world record largemouth bass was caught in a makeshift wooden boat in otherwise inaccessible water. It makes sense. Finding trophy fish in a secluded oxbow should be easier than doing the same in a heavily pressured lake or impoundment. This is just one of many reasons why kayaks are one of the most effective and versatile platforms for catching bass, and this book helps you choose, outfit and use the kayak to catch more fish. Kayak Bass Fishing is an absolute must-read book that will help you catch ‘em where others can’t!”
Pursuit of Trophy Smallmouth Bass: My Life in a Kayak – Jeff Little
This book was written by another friend of ours, Jeff Little, who is undoubtedly the World’s foremost expert on kayak fishing for big smallmouth bass in rivers. You can purchase a copy of Jeff’s outstanding book HERE.
“Each time I had a breakthrough on the water for an important concept to teach my students, I felt ompelled to write about it. This process helped strengthen my class and ultimately my book. I didn’t know it at the time, but those articles were my first few chapters.”
KAYAK FISHING: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE 2ND EDITION – Captain Scott Null and Joel McBride
Whether you are just starting out in kayak fishing or are an expert, this book is an outstanding reference and overview of the sport. You can purchase a copy HERE.
“Kayak fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in North America, and Kayak Fishing: The Ultimate Guide 2nd Edition has everything you need to know to get out there and catch the big ones!
The 2nd Edition of Kayak Fishing: The Ultimate Guide follows up on the best-selling success of the original with a completely updated look at the sport, which includes 50% more content, stunning new photography, and segments from the 20 most influential pros.”
Truthfully, the only real cure for Winter Kayak Fishing Blues is Springtime. However, keeping active during the winter, getting organized, being engaged in becoming a better angler, and having fun will certainly help to relieve the angst associated with this time of the year. I hope that you find these suggestions useful and that the ice thaws soon!
-Paul Shipman, Ph.D.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 30°F;
- Humidity: 84%;
- Heat Index: 30°F;
- Wind Chill: 25°F;
- Pressure: 29.91 in.;
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I’d add it’s a great time to do some exercising in preparation for next spring, too. I’m hitting the stationary bike every night, and doing some light Pilates in order to keep my strength up for paddling in March.
Great list Paul. It’s easy to let yourself get discouraged when the snow and ice are flying. It’s a great time to make yourself a better fisherman, and keep your mind on open waters.
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