Posted 5/26/2014 12:55 PM (#712864) Subject: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 1283
This year Ive decided to hit a lot more small lakes, rivers, streams etc that I can not get my boat in that hold muskies. So I bought a fishing kayak to get into these places I previously couldn't access. So far Ive had it out a couple times, and spotted a 30" fish but have not caught anything but few bass.
Fishing from a Kayak is a very close and personal way to hit the water. Im really having a blast doing it and wondering if anyone else is into it or has any tips for when a ski does end up on the other end of my line. Must say it will be absolutely nerve racking experience to have a beast yak side.
Edited by achotrod 5/26/2014 12:58 PM
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Posted 5/26/2014 1:25 PM (#712867 - in reply to #712864) Subject: RE: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 246
Location: Grand Marais, MN
Have been fishing and catching muskies on kayak for several years. Very enjoyable and can get places no one else would go.
few pieces of advice I could give would start with always going out with someone else. when you hook up a fish you really benefit from another person around to help you out, either netting or cradling it or unhooking it. Gotta have your release tools conveniently located and everything in the boat secured in case you swamp yourself.
Like you were saying, up close and personal also can mean kind of dangerous with a big angry musky with all sorts of hooks flying around. It can be a good idea to tire a fish out and then bring it close to shore so you can get out and stand in the water to unhook, photograph and revive.
I mostly fish small lakes, so wind is an issue. I like to paddle upwind and put myself in a position for the wind to take me on the longest path on the spot that I want to fish. this can be adjusted with the pull of baits like bucktails that you can actually move yourself around with a bit.
One more thing that comes to mind is that I find casting and figure8 and looking for follows pretty difficult and uncomfortable from the seated position, so I actually kneel on the seat of the kayak facing the back of the boat to see a lot more and get a good figure 8 in. this may not be possible with your kayak or knees, though.
Posted 5/26/2014 2:08 PM (#712871 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 1283
Thanks for the reply and advise.
I have found figure 8s to be difficult sitting although casting I can launch a lure pretty far. Still getting the used to it and havent quite mastered kneeling or standing just yet.
You are 100% right as I have found. Paddeling upwind and drifting back using the lures to keep you going in the right direction works great with muskie sized baits and even bass baits work to some extent in controlling the drift.
I keep everything tied down, a Knipex and pliers are always in the PFD for quick access. I also carry a power stow muskie net in the rear rod holder. Getting to it might be quite a challenge fighting a big fish though, so I lke the idea of making it to shore for the release if possible.
What kind of yak are you fishing from? I went with a 10ft Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100. Not the fastest yak but it is stable, tracks well and turns great for small rivers/creeks.
Posted 5/26/2014 6:09 PM (#712897 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 1283
Ive never seen the things Ive seen in two trips on the yak(18hrs) vs 1000s in a boat.
My brother was up in northern Wi on a small lake in a yak and spotted 5 over the weekend with a 40+ on. We have been fishing for 70yrs combined and never have spotted so many fish in that short of time.
Posted 5/27/2014 7:09 PM (#713038 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 1000
Great to see more people doing it. Few things are scarier than hand to hand combat with a muskie. Freakin awesome.
Tips:
-be super organized and tether EVERYTHING
-fish good areas as thoroughly as possible. Runnin and gunnin isn't really possible in a yak so it forced me to slow down. Helped me enormously in the main rig.
-upgrade as soon as you're able to. Tarpon's are great. If/when you're ready, go to a 13+ yak. Paddles faster/straighter/easier so you can cover more water. Easier to stand in and you can paddle while standing too
Posted 5/29/2014 11:34 AM (#713285 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 496
Hey guys, I work for a kayak company and we make a fishing kayak that works very well for muskie fishing . It has a standing platform and is 36 inches wide . Check out the Feelfree Lure 11.5 .
Posted 5/29/2014 12:31 PM (#713296 - in reply to #713285) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 1283
musky slut - 5/29/2014 11:34 AM
Hey guys, I work for a kayak company and we make a fishing kayak that works very well for muskie fishing . It has a standing platform and is 36 inches wide . Check out the Feelfree Lure 11.5 .
Feelfree makes great yaks, the 11.5 is a bit long for my tastes and some of the streams I want to fish but awesome yak. In the end It was between the Moken 10 with a ACK fishing package or the tarpon with the fishing package. I chose the Tarpon but Im sure I would be just as happy with a feelfree.
Posted 6/3/2014 2:25 PM (#713904 - in reply to #712864) Subject: RE: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 12
I fish solo in a Old Town Discovery 158 canoe. It has a HUGE advantage over kayaks in my opinion. I stand up a majority of the time and have room for 4 to 6 rods. The rods are protected inside the boat rather than in rod holders or tips sticking out to snag on overhead trees like in a kayak. Standing up allows you to see things kayakers never see in the water. Also easier to cast big lures and work them properly. Another advantage is having your gear bag sitting right in front of you, rather than in a milk crate behind you. But shhh, it's a secret not many people have caught on to....yet.
Posted 6/3/2014 4:08 PM (#713925 - in reply to #712864) Subject: RE: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 1283
Canoes are fun but to big and bulky for me to travel with or use in some of the places I go. I just throw the kayak in the back of my truck and can go anywhere. Someday I would like to have one though, it would be a nice way for me and the GF to get out on the same boat in little water. She is terrified to catch a muskie or pike in a yak by herself, so if she goes we take the boat.
Posted 6/3/2014 7:00 PM (#713941 - in reply to #713925) Subject: RE: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 14
achotrod - 6/3/2014 5:08 PM
Canoes are fun but to big and bulky for me to travel with or use in some of the places I go. I just throw the kayak in the back of my truck and can go anywhere. Someday I would like to have one though, it would be a nice way for me and the GF to get out on the same boat in little water. She is terrified to catch a muskie or pike in a yak by herself, so if she goes we take the boat.
I recently had to decide between a kayak or a canoe, and ended up going with a Radisson canoe. Only 38 lbs and room enough to fish with 2 people comfortably. Kayak fishing sounds and looks like a blast, and it's something I'll look to get into in the future. I also see they make a lot of them now that you can stand in comfortably.
But If you do end up wanting something that's just as, if not more portable than your kayak that you could get your GF into, look into the Radisson canoes. They make for an awesome fishing canoe.
Posted 7/17/2014 12:21 PM (#721084 - in reply to #712864) Subject: RE: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 129
I went out 4 or 5 times kayak fishing for muskies before I owned a boat and I didnt know much about muskies. Caught a 28"r and was thrilled
Flash forward and few years and I own a boat, the yaks have sat around and grown old and tired. Then a local lake was drawn down so far you couldn't launch a boat a few winters back, so I broke out the yak again. It got me on the water in late Oct. so I was happy. Found it very difficult to perform any type of boatside maneuvers/fig 8's,etc.. sitting at water level and couldn't convert on two follows. It was cool seeing the follows that close to he water though. Late in the day a small 34"r struck a grim reaper spinnerbait. Put a smile on my face as it jumped once and then raced to the boat, jumped again 12" from the yak and 12" from my face, head thrashing violently with a Grim reaper Big Cat about to tear my eyes out. No smile left on my face. I didnt get harmed but sure could have. I've only fished muskies from my boat from then on...
Edited by Mike D 7/17/2014 12:33 PM
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Posted 7/17/2014 2:11 PM (#721119 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 34
If you are fishing smaller rivers and streams, you might have better luck using your kayak to get to the good spots, and then fish from shore or wade. When the water is not super cold, I skip the waders and just wear nylon pants and a pair of crocks, and then I am good up to chest deep. In my experience it is very difficult to *effectively* fish moving water when you are drifting by in a canoe or kayak as opposed to wading, where you can really pick apart the good holes. It is also much easier to fight and land a fish when you are standing in the water. Not to mention much easier to free snags when you can just swim over to your lure.
Posted 7/17/2014 2:18 PM (#721121 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 34
I have spent a lot of time fishing from a canoe, and I can suggest learning to hand-land the fish or unhook them boatside without taking them out of the water. I actually never use a net when I am fishing alone from a canoe.
Posted 7/18/2014 6:41 AM (#721205 - in reply to #721121) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 216
All fun and games till someone's in the ER. My buddy had a Muskie jump at canoe side and drive a treble in alongside his jawbone. Cheek to cheek with a thrashing 50" Muskie!! Fun is over, he wasn't smiling and we can't ever get him to go Muskie fishing again.when asked he says "no f'ing way".
BenR
Posted 7/18/2014 7:12 AM (#721210 - in reply to #712864) Subject: Re: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Accidents I am sure can happen, I see many photos on here of people hooked to musky. 100% of them are from boats. Have yet to see a kayak incident. I fish from one all the time, a little prep goes a long way. I am barbless from boat or yak since much of my time is solo. Many a shark has been caught in a kayak, the "mighty Muskie" is very doable.
Posted 7/26/2014 4:52 PM (#722609 - in reply to #712864) Subject: RE: Anyone Muskie Fishin from a Kayak?
Posts: 182
I am looking at a couple of 36" wide kayaks that you can stand in. It's pain to fly cast sitting. Do you think they could be that stable? We have a couple of "interesting" places we haul a small jon boat into. Great fishing but the older I get the less I want the haul. I would rather use the energy for fishing. Not to mention the 1/4 mile up hill out of there. No road or much of a trail. Found this spot baiting bear.
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