Lake Fishing from a SOT Kayak
Sit On Top Kayaks Excellent Watercraft for Still Water Fishing
Aug 1, 2008
SOT (Sit On Top) kayaks are well-suited to fishing on lakes and ponds. These small, light, maneuverable craft can be launched wherever there is access to water. Boat motors are frequently forbidden or limited on recreational lakes, but kayakers can leave highly-pressured bank areas and paddle to the best fishing spots.
Kayak Fishing Technique
Anglers can bait cast or spin cast from a kayak with ease. Fly fishing requires a bit more practice as the fisherman must become accustomed to casting from a sitting position. Care must be taken to prevent the line from tangling or the lure from catching in overhanging trees or weeds. It is very difficult to reach the end of a nine-foot fly rod while sitting in a kayak.
For agile fishermen who want to stand, outriggers can be added to give the kayak even greater stability. However, in the limited space of a kayak, it is important to secure equipment that is not in use so that nothing is lost overboard. When fishing buddies are in separate kayaks, they can paddle along together or move apart to prevent fishhook accidents that can occur when casting in close proximity to another angler.
Anglers Can Go Where the Fish Are
Kayaks allow fishermen to glide quietly into the most narrow and shallow of coves, but the boats are sturdy enough to cross choppy water on windy days. Dropping an anchor or slipping a cord over a protruding branch keeps the craft in one place. However, drifting along a bank requires only occasional dips of the paddle to stay on course.
Where the Bass and Bluegill Lurk
The most likely place to catch bass and bluegill on lakes and ponds is in quiet water near some kind of structure. Casting around sunken stumps and trees, near rocky banks, and near weedbeds is most productive. An empty spot in a dense mat of floating vegetation is a sign that underwater structure lies hidden there. Fish will often strike a lure cast into such as spot as soon as it hits the water.
Kayaks Versatile as Fishing Boats
In general, any type of lake fishing that can be done from a larger boat can be done from a kayak. Casting bass bugs, surface flies, or other lures works fine. A fisherman can use live bait and a bobber just as comfortably from a kayak as from a lawn chair on the bank. The big difference is that the lawn chair stays in one place, where the fish may or may not be biting. The kayaker can move freely about the lake. Anglers looking for convenient, effective, economical fishing craft will find kayaks meet their needs.
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