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Over the winter, I had an email from Nick, a new kayak angler whom I had not met before. He wanted to buy two of my fishing books. After mailing the books to him, we began exchanging emails as he had questions about things he had read in the books. I told him that when the weather warmed, we could get together to do some fishing, and I could show him some of the techniques I used.
Yesterday Nick (Snaggedline name Shoobs) and I met at one of the shallow water locations where I have done well in the past two weeks for some light tackle trolling. The forecast did not sound wonderful as Saturday approached, but when we launched at 7:30, the winds were low, the seas were flat calm, air and water temperatures were good, and foggy conditions provided low-light conditions.
A few days before, I had sent him some information about what rods (medium or medium-heavy spinning rods) and tackle (jigheads and paddletails) to use. Before we began trolling, I showed Nick how to set up his FF/GPS unit and what to look for on the screen. I helped him set drags and rod holder angles for the type of fishing we were doing. I was unsure what to expect, as other anglers whom I have instructed had mixed success on their first try. I need not have worried. Five minutes after leaving the launch, Nick called me on the radio (handheld VHF radios are great for kayak anglers to communicate while on the water) to report that he was hooked up already. I was relieved, but expected to see an 18” fish. As I paddled over toward him, I could tell that he had a much larger fish. Until you have done it many times, catching and handling a larger fish from the kayak can be challenging. Nick took his time and soon held up a 26” striper. That was pretty darn good for his first ever fish trolled up from a kayak.
2021-04-11-001.jpg
We kept moving around the target area (3 to 5 foot depths with some grass) and each caught more stripers. I got my largest of the season at 24”. That fish slammed my medium-light rod and pulled a lot of line before coming to the kayak.
2021-04-11-003.jpg
We tried fishing at several different zones that make up this general location. When we moved to the second zone, we each caught a few smaller fish. On our last pass through the area, Nick called again to tell me he had another large fish – this time a 27” fish.
We left zone 2 and paddled across to zone 3. I picked up the radio and called Nick to tell him that I had just about reached the boundary of zone 3. At that point, two of my rods went down at once bringing two 18” stripers to the kayak.
2021-04-11-008.jpg
By now, we had been on the water for four hours. This was my third day in a row fishing hard at this location, and my aging body was feeling some discomfort. I told Nick I was calling it a day. He chose to stay out and keep fishing. After I left, he got into some fast fishing, ending with many more fish and several others between 25” and 28”.
I was pleased with my catching yesterday (18 stripers up to 24”), but realized that on this day, the student had clearly outperformed the teacher. Nick was a quick study and put his knowledge to good use yesterday. The shallow water striper fishing this time of year can be excellent (some of the best of the year). If you have a chance to get out and fish, don't hesitate.
Yesterday Nick (Snaggedline name Shoobs) and I met at one of the shallow water locations where I have done well in the past two weeks for some light tackle trolling. The forecast did not sound wonderful as Saturday approached, but when we launched at 7:30, the winds were low, the seas were flat calm, air and water temperatures were good, and foggy conditions provided low-light conditions.
A few days before, I had sent him some information about what rods (medium or medium-heavy spinning rods) and tackle (jigheads and paddletails) to use. Before we began trolling, I showed Nick how to set up his FF/GPS unit and what to look for on the screen. I helped him set drags and rod holder angles for the type of fishing we were doing. I was unsure what to expect, as other anglers whom I have instructed had mixed success on their first try. I need not have worried. Five minutes after leaving the launch, Nick called me on the radio (handheld VHF radios are great for kayak anglers to communicate while on the water) to report that he was hooked up already. I was relieved, but expected to see an 18” fish. As I paddled over toward him, I could tell that he had a much larger fish. Until you have done it many times, catching and handling a larger fish from the kayak can be challenging. Nick took his time and soon held up a 26” striper. That was pretty darn good for his first ever fish trolled up from a kayak.
2021-04-11-001.jpg
We kept moving around the target area (3 to 5 foot depths with some grass) and each caught more stripers. I got my largest of the season at 24”. That fish slammed my medium-light rod and pulled a lot of line before coming to the kayak.
2021-04-11-003.jpg
We tried fishing at several different zones that make up this general location. When we moved to the second zone, we each caught a few smaller fish. On our last pass through the area, Nick called again to tell me he had another large fish – this time a 27” fish.
We left zone 2 and paddled across to zone 3. I picked up the radio and called Nick to tell him that I had just about reached the boundary of zone 3. At that point, two of my rods went down at once bringing two 18” stripers to the kayak.
2021-04-11-008.jpg
By now, we had been on the water for four hours. This was my third day in a row fishing hard at this location, and my aging body was feeling some discomfort. I told Nick I was calling it a day. He chose to stay out and keep fishing. After I left, he got into some fast fishing, ending with many more fish and several others between 25” and 28”.
I was pleased with my catching yesterday (18 stripers up to 24”), but realized that on this day, the student had clearly outperformed the teacher. Nick was a quick study and put his knowledge to good use yesterday. The shallow water striper fishing this time of year can be excellent (some of the best of the year). If you have a chance to get out and fish, don't hesitate.
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