Kayak fishing for crappie is a great way to explore shallow waters and connect with nature. You don’t need a big boat or motor, just your kayak, paddle, and, of course, your favorite rod and reel. And since kayaks are so easy to maneuver, it’s the perfect choice for going after those hard-to-reach spots where schooled-up panfish-like crappies hideout.
Moreover, crappie is a popular gamefish among anglers because they are abundant and provide an enjoyable fight when hooked. But if you really want to land a monster, you need to know how to target them effectively.
And when it comes to learning how to fish effectively from a kayak, there are several tricks and tips that can help make your excursion successful.
Here we will introduce some tips and tricks for catching crappie from your kayak. We will cover what type of bait to use, how to maneuver in tight situations, and where to find the best spots for kayak crappie fishing.
So, grab your rod and reel, and let’s get started!
What You Need to Know About Kayak Crappie Fishing
First and foremost, it’s important to understand the behaviors of crappies. Crappies are schooling fish, meaning they prefer to stay in large groups rather than swim alone. Knowing this, it’s best to cast your line into areas where there is likely to be a larger school of fish.
And when casting your line, make sure that you are using lures or bait that closely mimic what the fish are eating naturally in their environment. Also, if possible, try and keep your casts short, as it will help keep your baited area from being disturbed by other anglers or passing boats.
However, before heading out on your trip, make sure that you take into consideration what kind of tackle you’ll need – lightweight spinning rods are often best suited for crappie fishing since they allow easy maneuverability without compromising power.
Other items like lures, tackle boxes, nets, depth finders, bait buckets, and coolers are also worth investing in if you plan on spending multiple days at the lake or river. Additionally, check local regulations, as many places require special permits when fishing with kayaks.
Best Times of Day to Fish from a Kayak
Usually, the best time of day for kayak crappie fishing is early in the morning or late in the evening.
However, depending on the season, location, and water temperature, it may vary a bit! But there are some general tips that can help make your kayak fishing trip more successful.
First, it’s best to fish during the early morning hours in warmer weather. Crappies are most active during these times, and you can find them near the surface. Fishing in shallow water also increases your chances of catching one.
Additionally, if you’re fishing in a lake or reservoir with higher levels of vegetation, it’s best to fish later in the day when the sun has heated up the shallower areas and attracted more baitfish.
In colder weather, late afternoon or evening trips are ideal for Kayak crappie fishing because this is when they move closer to shore and become more visible.
Still, it’s also important to consider seasonality when planning your trip.
As spring is generally considered the best time for crappie as this is when they spawn and begin feeding actively again after winter dormancy.
Summertime can be great too, but it may be harder to find large concentrations of crappies due to their increased mobility in warmer waters.
Fall can also be productive because cooler temperatures draw them back into shallow waters where they tend to school together and feed heavily before winter sets in again.
Strategies to Catch Big Crappie from a Kayak
If you are looking for the ultimate challenge in kayak crappie fishing, then you need to know how to catch those big ones! Catching a big crappie from a kayak requires some strategic angling techniques and experience.
Here, we will discuss strategies to help you land those trophy-sized crappies from your kayak.
Finding Crappie Hotspots
One of the best places to look for crappies is near shallow structures such as weed beds, logs, stumps, and brush piles. These areas provide great cover for crappies and other small fish. You’ll want to look at the bottom of these waters with your depth finder and then troll around them with a jig or soft plastic lure.
You can also look in deeper water around points, sunken islands, and deep drop-offs. Crappies tend to congregate in deeper water columns looking for food or shelter. Use your depth finder or sonar unit to locate schools of baitfish and then cast your lures along those edges.
Casting into Deeper Waters Around
One of the advantages of kayak crappie fishing is that you can move around and cast into different depths with relative ease. When angling in deeper waters, it’s important to keep an eye on your electronics and look for concentrations of baitfish.
Baitfish are often drawn to cooler temperatures in deep water, so if you see signs of baitfish activity, chances are there could be some larger crappies nearby.
When targeting large crappie in deeper water, anglers should use heavier jigheads and longer rods with more backbone. Heavier jigheads will help get your lure down faster and make it easier to feel when a fish has taken your bait. Longer rods with more backbone will give you better control while fighting fish and allow you to handle bigger catches with less strain on your arms.
It’s also important to remember that crappies tend to stay near cover when they’re in deep water, so focusing on areas like submerged logs or weeds will often pay off. Pay attention to the bottom contour and try to locate any structure or cover, as this is often where big crappies like to hang out. Also, using scented baits like minnows or worms can draw them out from the cover even further.
Vertical Jigging & Other Techniques
Vertical jigging is one popular technique for catching crappie from a kayak. This involves using a vertical jigging rod, casting into deeper waters, and slowly bouncing the jig up and down on the bottom. Crappies are attracted to this motion as they feed on insects, crustaceans, and small baitfish on or near the bottom. The key here is to make sure you’re using light tackle, or else you’ll just snag the bottom instead of catching any fish.
Another great technique for kayak crappie fishing is trolling with live minnows or plastic lures. Trolling involves moving your kayak slowly while dragging a line behind it with either live bait or artificial lures attached. When trolling, it’s important that you keep your baits near the bottom in order to attract more crappies.
You can also use crankbaits. These are lures that look like small fish. And vibrate when pulled through the water. These can be especially effective when fishing around deep structures like points, ledges, and drop-offs.
Finally, if you plan on targeting bigger crappies from deeper waters, you should consider using slip bobbers and suspending baits beneath them. Slip bobbers allow you to present your bait at different depths without having to constantly adjust it yourself – all you need to do is set the depth of your bobber by sliding it up or down its line until it reaches the desired depth, then attach your bait accordingly.
Depending on how deep you’re fishing, this can be done with either live bait or artificial lures – although most anglers prefer using live minnows for bigger catches.
Tackle selection for Kayak Crappie Fishing
Catching big crappie from a kayak can be an exciting and rewarding experience. But it is important to choose the right tackle for success.
When selecting your tackle for kayak crappie fishing, it is important to remember that the goal is to attract and hook these fish. Crappies are typically found in shallow water. And prefer to feed on small baitfish. So the key to successful kayak crappie fishing is choosing the right tackle and bait.
If you’re using artificial lures, consider using smaller jigs or minnow-style soft plastics such as grubs or tubes. These lures should be light enough to dance in the water but still heavy enough to cast long distances from the kayak. It’s also a good idea to add a few scented attractants like garlic powder or anise oil to your lures, as this will help draw in more fish.
Live bait can also be effective when targeting crappie from a kayak. Minnows are often used as they are small enough to fit into shallow areas where crappie like to feed, but larger baits such as crayfish or nightcrawlers can also work well too. Whatever type of bait you choose, make sure it’s fresh and lively!
Finally, don’t forget about adding some sort of weight system to your setup. This will help keep your lures in place while casting over longer distances and can also assist with controlling depth while trolling along weed beds or other structures. When setting up weights for your line, try using split shot sinkers or egg sinkers, depending on what type of lure you’re using.
Slow Down When You Retrieving Your Catch
When it comes time to retrieve your catch, one trick is to slow down your retrieve speed and allow the baitfish more time to take hold of the lure or bait before bringing them in. This approach works especially well when trolling for larger fish, such as bass and northern pike, as it gives them more time to detect and go after the baitfish that you have presented them with.
Additionally, when kayaking near deeper water bodies or lakes, always remember to use heavier lines and larger lures in order to better target these kinds of species.
Understanding Wind & Water Currents
Another factor that affects location selection is understanding wind and water currents – these forces push baitfish into certain areas creating hotspots for hungry predators like crappies! Make sure that your chosen spot offers at least some protection from these elements (heavy vegetation usually helps) before committing too much time or energy to an area that could potentially prove fruitless due to unfavorable conditions.
Consider Using a Fish Finder or GPS to Easily Find Fish Hotspots
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, finding the perfect spot to cast your lines can be tricky. With so many variables that influence where fish congregate—such as water temperature, depth, cover, current, and more—even seasoned fishermen can struggle with locating prime fishing spots. To make things easier, many anglers opt for using a fish finder or GPS technology to help them quickly identify the best locations for their next catch.
A fish finder uses sonar waves to detect objects underwater and display them on a device’s screen. This allows anglers to see details about the water’s bottom structure along with any potential schools of fish swimming below their boats. Different models offer varying levels of detail and accuracy, but even entry-level options can provide invaluable insight into where fish are located in a particular body of water.
For active fishermen who frequently explore new bodies of water, investing in a quality fish finder or GPS system may prove well worth its cost in terms of time saved and catching more fish over time. However, before purchasing any kind of electronic navigation system, it’s important for buyers to do their research and understand what features are available at different price points so they can select the device that best fits their individual needs and budget constraints.
By following these simple tips, we hope that your next outing will be an enjoyable one with plenty of big catches!
