Question for you kayakers

[Travis C.]

I am really starting to like slow trolling using my oars on the jon boat. However, I missed several fish today by not being quick enough dropping the oars to set the hook.

There has got to be a better way. How do you guys set the hook trolling behind the yak while paddling?

Could there be a rod mounting location to help or do I just have to take someone with me to do the fishing while I paddle instead?

[Kiss my Bass]

You need to try a Hobie perfect for fishing and your hands are free very stable lots of storage space.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Kiss my Bass

You need to try a Hobie perfect for fishing and your hands are free very stable lots of storage space.

The Hobie is great for that...I assume....as I have never been in one. You can also do it in a paddle kayak. I plan on having a new Pro Angler 12 by next summer....but they are expensive. My nephew is in Florida now demoing one. He sold his River Hawk and a Native Ultimate to get one. But as to your question you can put in a rod holder that will allow you to row and troll. I used to troll with a trolling motor.....only using one rod. My neighbor at the time would literally use 5 rods...I could only handle one. He would have a couple laying down and have one each wedged at both ankles and one in his hand. he never lost any fish...but I couldn't do that. I caught a lot of Crappie trolling and I lost very few...just keeping the pressure on the rod...of course I was using a trolling motor. But I have caught a few trying it out in the kayak...it is a hoot. I plan on trolling a lot this Fall and Winter. I have even tried trolling in the kayak with one rod wedged under my leg...it works pretty good. I have thought about having a mount put in front of me with two rod holders out in front of me to keep me from having to reach around to get the rod when a fish hits. You should be able to do the same thing. But I'm with you...slow trolling is great.


Regards

[Reel Tune]

A Hobie does make things easier, but not all waters are for Hobies. I wouldn't trade any of my Hobie's for any other kayak.

As for trolling, I've trolled out of Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120's, Tarpon 160's, Hobie Pro Anglers, Revolutions and Jackson Coosa's successfully. The important thing is getting the right rod holder, and having it mounted in the right location. For trolling I have my rod holders mounted in front of me and swung out to the sides out of my paddle stroke and when I can closely watch the rods. The rod holders are mounted just in reach of leaning forward, if they are too close they get in the way of your paddle stroke and I angle the rods as far off to the side as I can. The Rod Holders I use are RAM mounts the RAM-119 they are very versatile where you can adjust to almost any angle and will hold up to big fish like small sharks, king fish, mahi mahi, and stripers. When I’m trolling for smaller fish like smallmouth, largemouth, and white bass I use the RAM Revolution RAM-114-RBU. The thing is that you need to be able to watch your rods at all times to see what is going on and if the rods are behind you can’t see them.

[Travis C.]

Thanks for the feed back guys but still my problem seems to hover around getting to the rods before the bite is gone.

Scenario: I am rowing with my back to the bow along the bank while sitting in a mid-bench seat. In this position the oars are in front of me as I pull. The two rods are angled outward where the rear seat meets the sides of the boat.

By the time a fish hits either or both, I have to drop the oars and go thru or over them to grab the rod/rods.

Would a fix be either:

A) relocate rods

B) change my rowing position

C) when a bite occurs give a good hard pull on the oars making the boat lunge forward to set the hook

D) other

[Reel Tune]

Sounds like you are just getting short strikes as I've not really had the issue you're describing. Yeah I'll miss a few, but mostly while I'm trolling they will hook themselves. What kind of baits are you experiencing this with, and how fast are you trolling? Very seldom when I troll it's artificials, I mainly troll live baits and at a very slow pace 1.0-2mph max unless I'm in the ocean then I'll kick it up to 3.5mph and as fast as I can go comfortably.

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by MidTNKayakAngler

What kind of baits are you experiencing this with, and how fast are you trolling?

I am trolling with Crappie Magnets on the lightest head they have. Can't remember the weight. The fish hammer them trolled just fast enough to keep the lines at about a 45 degree angle and not sag towards to the water no faster. Not sure on mph for that but it pretty slow as I am not rowing constantly.

The reason I know its me is after several misses, I told dad to take them in the front seat cast as far as he could out each side then pull off about 2ft of extra line. On the first pass he hooked up.

Just trying to figure out a good system for when I am by myself. This winter I am going to clean their clocks on this lake doing this.

[Reel Tune]

Ahhh, you are trolling a single hook bait and small at that. I don't know what to tell you. Alphahawk would be the one I would go to as for trolling the TM, and txnative might have some good info or others who sucessfully troll small single hooked baits. The only thing I have trolled sucessfully with a single hook are 10-12" Brown Trouts, and Cigar Minnows and I'm using a 4/0-8/0 circle hook so when they hit if they get near the hook they are hooked and usually stay that way. When I troll for trout I use Lucky Craft Jerkbaits.

[Travis C.]

Yeah, they are small but not quite as little as the Trout Magnets.

I know a crankbait would be a better hookup ratio but slow trolling small plastics is deadly for crappie. Especially, where we were pulling them over a hump with submerged standing timber adjacent to the creek channel.

May try some small cranks next time to see if that changes the hook% and may move the rods closer to my hands.

[Alphahawk]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

Yeah, they are small but not quite as little as the Trout Magnets.

I know a crankbait would be a better hookup ratio but slow trolling small plastics is deadly for crappie. Especially, where we were pulling them over a hump with submerged standing timber adjacent to the creek channel.

May try some small cranks next time to see if that changes the hook% and may move the rods closer to my hands.

The key to catching those trolling with a single hook...small plastic....is to keep the forward pull on the rod until you can get it in your hands and start reeling. I would assume that rowing your boat you would still have the forward momentum of the boat as you let go the oars and reach for your rod. That is what I have experienced in my little bit of trolling in the kayak. I am really excited for Fall to get here as I want to troll a lot at Nickajack in the kayak for those big slabs. If you have any Bandit 300's try them. They catch huge Crappie and those hooks bite.


Regards

[txnative]

A hard, fast turn would help with the hookset, especially if you are moving when you get bit. Try using a rod that has a slow action, this will allow the fish to hold on to the lure longer. Another option is to use braided line so that a hard turn buries the hook, but you'll have to be quick to react.

The tm's thin hook shouldn't hinder the hookset, but touching them up may help. If all else fails, try trolling a bitsy minnow or a pins minnow from yo-zuri. I prefer trolling lures with trebles, but have good luck using the aforementioned techniques with a scroungers jighead and tiny fluke body.


Chris

[Travis C.]

I have set up a small box for trolling there or I guess any small waters with some Norman deep Tiny N's, Tiny N's, Bomber Fat A's 1.25" version and Rebel Deep Wee-R's

The Bandit's are great and I have caught a ton on the one black/pearl 200 series that I found floating in the package on Old Hickory. LOL... Can't justify buying cranks though still too many in boxes here. The Wee-R's should work.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I will definitely play with techniques more while on the water there.