southern kayak fishing issue 7 march/april 2016

Inside: Featured Kayak Fishing Destination -

In this Issue:

issue #7 www.sokayakfishing.com April/May 2016Southern Kayak Fishing

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Editor’s Message

From the Editor

We’re going on the second year of publication at Southern Kayak Fishing online magazine. It has been a busy past year, and it has been a very educational year.

Let me tell you all what I’ve learned this past year from working on this new magazine.

First, there are a lot of really good folks who paddle, peddle, sell, and build kayaks. Previously, I’ve worked with folks in other outdoor sports-related businesses, and not any of the other parts of the outdoor scene have people who are so willing to help others learn about the special kind of fishing we do. From kayak makers to kayak users, kayak folks are good folks to work with. I’ve also discovered that there are some truly master anglers who do their fishing from kayaks.

I’ve learned that there are so many truly wonderful places in the South for kayak anglers to slide the ‘yak in the water and catch some great fish. We’ve been to wee small mountain creeks barely deep enough to float a kayak, and we’ve been to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The one thing in common that I’ve learned- there are great fishing waters for kayaks all over the South. I hope to discover even more places for our readers to share with us.

(continued)

April 2016 l Southern Kayak Fishing l 3 2 l Southern Kayak Fishing l January 2016

Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.

GUIDE SERVICES | ONLINE & RETAIL STORE | LESSONS

PISGAH FOREST, NC

Yep, it’s just that easy with Western North Carolina’s premier fly shop and guide service. Kevin Howell and his experienced staff have been fishing the surrounding 500 miles of prime trout waters so long, they know all the fish on first name basis. And they’ll be more than happy to make a few introductions.

http://www.davidsonflyfishing.com

SouthernKayak Fishing

Editor Ed Mashburn [email protected] Publisher Don Kirk [email protected] Managing Editor Leah Kirk

[email protected] Assoc. Managing Editor Loryn Latham [email protected] Advisor Tim PerkinsField Editor Steve MooreEditorial Conslutant Olive K. Nynne Contributors

Rob BakerTony ChaversSteve GibsonDanny HolmesPhillip LandryTim PerkinsSteve SammonsJohn WilliamsCaptain Kristen Wray

Southern Kayak Fishing is a publication of Southern Unlimited, LLC. It is produced in conjunction with Southern Trout Magazine and Southerntrout.com. Copyright 2016 Southern Unlimited, LLC All rights reserved.

www.SoKayakFishing.com

I’ve learned in the past year while working on Southern Kayak Fishing that we have some pretty amazing readers. The folks who read SKF tend to be bright, motivated, and willing to share their knowledge with others.

Finally, I’ve learned that when a tough job- like starting a new magazine from ground-zero- comes along, it is much easier to do when good folks like Leah and Don Kirk, publishers of SKF, are working along with me. The staff at Southern Kayak Fishing have been wonderful and very patient with me and my fairly constant mistakes and forgetfulness. It has been a true blessing this past year working with such good people.

And the last thing I’ve learned from this past year’s work- I can’t wait to get on with the kayak fishing in 2016 here in the South. There’s so much great water, so many good fish to be caught- I think perhaps I’d better stop typing right here, load up the kayak, and go fishing somewhere.

See you on the water- Ed Mashburn

Editor’s Message (cont.)

4 l Southern Kayak Fishing l March 2016

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Kayak Gear Review 116 Mustang Eline 28K PFD

The Right Kind of Reunion 120 Grand Isle 2015

The Winningest Angler in River 132 Basin History - Tim Perkins

Three Days, Three Rivers, 142 One Life Vest

Kayak Anglers’ Bucket Lists 152

116

132

142

120

This Issue

Editor’s Letter 3

The Everglades 10 Special Place for Kayak Anglers

Kayak Hacks 22 Cheap Hacks

The New W700 Series by 28 Wavewalk Featured Kayak Shop 36 TheOutsideWorldOutfitters

Light Tackle Saltwater 48 Back Country Flats Fishing

Tech Gear Review 60 ROO Outdoor Inferno Hand Pouch Photo Essay 64 2015 Photos Memories of the Year

Sunglass Review 84 Best Damn Sunglasses Ever Chroma POP

Book Review 94 Closer to the Ground

Rod Review 98 Manley Rods - Platinum Series

Long Nose Gar 104 And Pizza Flavored Combos

April 2016 l Southern Kayak Fishing l 7 6 l Southern Kayak Fishing l March 2016

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WHAT’S BENEATH YOUR ‘YAK?

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Sized to fit the palm of your hand, an Aqua-Vu MICRO Underwater Viewing Systems is the perfect fish-finding device for your kayak. Complete with a 3.5- or 5-inch high resolution LCD, thumb-sized camera and 50 to 100 feet of cable, Aqua-Vu cams are the easiest, best way to see what’s biting below. Used with an Aqua-Vu Pro-Snake Mount, the MICRO clamps quickly to your ‘yak for hours of underwater viewing.

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It’s Not All Fast Horses

and Smooth Old Whisky

Kayak anglers in the South- and anywhere else within the sound of our voice and sight of our print- should seriously consider a visit to Kentucky. Beyond the race horses, distilleries, and strong basketball programs,

Kentucky is a wonderland of small streams, big rivers, and massive lakes which all give kayak anglers lots of options for trips. In fact, some of the biggest and most prestigious kayak fishing tournaments such as the Hobie Tournaments have been held at Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake in the past couple of years. Kayak fishing is a big deal in Kentucky.

featured destination featured destination


A Wide Range of Fish to Chase Since Kentucky’s geography contains a broad range of territories- mountains, foothills, big river flood plains- kayak anglers can find a lot of different kinds of fish to catch. In the big lakes, spotted bass and largemouth bass are common, and they get big here. In the rivers, some first-rate Muskie fishing can be found- imagine hooking up with one of these mega-fish from a kayak! In many of the smaller streams, some great smallmouth bass fishing is present- and that’s about as good as freshwater fishing gets. There’s a strong trout fishery- rainbow, browns, and brookies- for kayak anglers to sample.




And Kentucky Wants Us to Come and Visit Many of our other Southern states could learn a lot from looking at the information that Kentucky puts out for kayak anglers. Along with the basic where to go and where to stay information, Kentucky also provides very detailed information for specific rivers and streams, and this can make planning a float trip a lot easier than trying to chase down information online or on the phone with no prior information.



We Can’t Wait to Get Back to Kentucky On a number of occasions, we’ve be fortunate enough to visit Kentucky and we’ve caught and seen caught some great fish. The state parks of Kentucky are fine places to stay, and some of them- especially the parks on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley- are just fine locations to stay and base a lot of Kentucky kayak fishing trips from. We are looking forward very much to our next trip to Kentucky for kayak fishing- and it’s going to happen very soon.


http://www.costadelmar.com

By Steve Moore

If your wallet feels light as fishing season starts to heat up, the Dollar Store has even more unexpected angling-usable bargains!

Kayak Hacks Cheap Hacks II

The Problem:

Cutting Braided Line.

Dang it! Where are those scissors? In a pool of water on the kayak’s floor accumulating a thick coat of edge-dulling rust or, even worse, at the bottom of the river? With prices starting at around five and running up to thirteen dollars, constantly replacing scissors can seriously deplete anyone’s beer fund.

The Solution: The Dollar Store actually has multiple options with the two pack driving the price per pair down to fifty cents! The single pair for the full dollar is more solidly built and has adult sized finger loops. In my test on the Kayak Hacks YouTube channel, even the two for a buck version slices through 20 or 30-pound braid with unexpected ease.


The Problem:

Emergency Noise.

Of course you have a whistle attached to your per-sonal floatation device, but have you ever had to use it? If so, you appreciate the need to make the most noise possible to attract attention. Never want-ing to rely on a single point of failure, I carry a small compressed air horn to augment the whistle. Two problems. First, compressed air quickly runs out. At best, the tiny container is good for two or three loud squawks. Second, it costs ten bucks!

The Solution:In an obscure corner of the Dollar Store, I found a stack of pump air horns. My immediate reaction was they could not possibly work, yet the large red horn hanging off the end of the cylinder promised ear shattering blasts. Besides, just the stocking location spoke volumes - it was as if the cashier was trying to protect inexperienced parents who had not learned in the birthday party school of hard knocks that a high volume noisemaker was the last thing one would add to a gaggle of frantic, sugar-charged kids.

I put it to the test (Kayak Hacks Channel). My fish-ing buddy paddled approximately 900 feet away and listened while I blew the whistle, activated the compressed air and pumped the air horn. All were effective! The volume of the Dollar Store horn was indistinguishable from compressed air. The ulti-mate advantage of the Dollar Store horn is it merri-ly screeches for as long as you have the energy to pump while being careful not to break it. It definitely is not the Cadillac of horns, but it works.


The Problem:

Tangled Spools.

The primary reason to reach for extra line or a spare reel spool is to fix a disaster with your primary setup. Already frustrated, the last thing you need is to reach into storage and discover a bird’s nest of unraveled line because the piece of masking tape you slapped on the spool dried out and fell off.

The Solution:

Hair Elastic Bands.

Many thanks to CAPT Chuck Skinner in Ft. Myers, Florida for the idea. Wander over to the haircare section and grab a 15 pack of hair bands for large spools and something called a “Ponyholder” for the smaller spare reel or fly tippet spools. Both are fantastic bargains when compared to REELBANDZ that cost $16.95 for three.

Secure the tag end of the line by wrapping it around the elastic a few times before pulling the band over the spool. The band’s tension keeps the line from unraveling. If you want to pull line off the spool without removing the band, use a large needle to thread the end of the line through the elastic. Once done, the line will pull through the hole and not tangle. For fly anglers, the Ponyholder fills the entire width of a typical tippet spool; just leave a small tag end hanging out to make it easy to find, grab and unwind the amount you need. Why not use a rubber band? Like masking tape, they eventually lose grab, dry out and break. In addition, the needle trick does not work because rubber is sticky and grabs.

April 2016 l Southern Kayak Fishing l 25

The Problem:

Paddle blisters or cold fingers.

Note: For these as well as previous hacks, visit the “Kayak Hacks” You-Tube Channel to see videos with specifics organized into playlists for each issue of the magazine. If you have an idea to share in a future issue, send a description and a picture or two. If you already captured your idea on YouTube, send the link with permission to use images extracted from the video. Everything goes to Steve Moore at [email protected].

Disclaimer: Do not apply any suggestion if it will ruin the appearance, function or structural integrity of your kayak. You are solely responsible to determine if the above ideas are appropriate for your boat and the author and publisher disclaim any responsibility for your actions and decisions.

The Problem: Cutting Bait.

A challenge for inshore anglers is where to cut bait without making a bloody, stinking mess. Some kayak manufacturers incorporate or make add-in con-soles with a flat area for cutting, but the add-ins are expensive at around $75, take space and create more clutter while both options keep the mess inside the boat.

The Solution:

Cutting Board.

There are multiple Dollar Store choices, but purchase the thin board since it slides under the seat when not in use. The profile is so narrow that unless you are a princess sensitive to peas, you will never know it is there. Just be sure to rinse it after using!


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The Solution: Work Gloves.

Many thanks to John Oast of the Fishyaker Youtube channel for the original idea that I was happy to extend. The Dollar Store has thin, lightly rubber-ized work gloves well suited for kayaking, fearlessly grabbing fiddler crabs for bait and are a bargain compared to function specific gloves costing $15 to $50. Granted, they are not usable in freezing cold weather, but you should not be kayaking in extreme conditions unless clad in a very expen-sive dry suit. If so, you can afford to spend more than a buck. To use these in chilly, but safe, weather, cut a slice under the pad of the index finger and thumb (photo for illustration – yes… take your finger out first). This allows you to pull back the tip of the glove, exposing the digits, to do tasks requir-ing “feel.” In warmer months, cut off the fingers down to the middle knuckle to achieve the “half glove” look


http://www.kayakhacks.com

Springtime River Bass Fishing-A Kayak Makes it Better By Tim Perkins Editor’s Note- When we wanted to find out about how to

improve our bass fishing in the streams and rivers of the South, we knew we had one of the best sources of that kind of information right here close to home. Tim Perkins is a very successful kayak bass fishing tournament angler, and he was happy to share some tips with us.


Where to Look for Springtime River BassKayak anglers need to keep in mind that in Match and April, bass in nearly all of our Southern streams and rivers will be involved with the spawn. This means that anglers will have to widen their search areas from the usual places where we find bass.

I’ve discovered that in spring, the bass will be found in eddies and the shallow sides of bends and turns of the streams. Bass- smallmouth, spots, and largemouth- all like to spawn in eddies where they are not in the strong direct current.

I especially look for stumps and large rocks in eddy water which help break up the current even more and give more shelter to spawning bass.

A situation that nearly all springtime river bass anglers face is high and stained water after a rain. This high water situation can seem to be a trip-killer, but some great bass fishing occurs in stained high water times. One change that anglers may have to make when fishing stained water in spring is to go to larger, noisier lures. I do this with great success on all of the Alabama streams I fish- large or small- and it works in streams everywhere.


What to Throw at the Springtime BassIt doesn’t take a big tackle box full of lures to meet the needs of most March and April stream bass fishing trips. I catch nearly all of my bass in spring on three types of lures.I like spinnerbaits, flukes, and crankbaits. These lures- in various sizes and color patterns-will usually give river bass what they want.

I like to throw a double Colorado blade spinnerbait over the ends of sandbars and eddy pools- the bass will just rattle the bait as I bring it through the shallow water. Often, these aggressive bass will have red, raw fins where they’ve been making their spawning beds.

I will use soft plastic lizards Texas-rigged in spring. I like big baits- eight inch lizards are not too big. In fact, I often go to large lures in spring no matter what kind I’m throwing. I’ll go to ½ oz spinnerbaits and ten inch magnum flukes. River bass are opportunistic- they’re not going to let a big meal go by.

I don’t use a lot of topwater lures in spring- the river bass don’t usually seem to be interested in topwaters much at this time. However, to work a lure higher in the water column, I will use a fluke worked pretty fast. This puts the fluke higher in the water- almost like a topwater lure, but I can also let the fluke slow down and sink when I want to. Flukes can be fished fast- this works very well in places like the Flint River where shoal bass will really smash a fast-moving fluke.


And Why Kayaks are the Best River Bass Fishing BoatI think kayak fishing for river bass may often be the best way to get to more and better fish. How the kayak is handled is important-maybe the most important part- of the whole process.

First, I try to paddle upstream and fish as I go, and then float back down, fishing as I come back. My tournament partner, Lance Coley, and I do this quite often when we’re tournament fishing.

By paddling upstream first, I can sit in one spot and pick a certain hole apart- I can really see what’s there. I’ve had good bass hit my lure when I was paddling up, and then when I drifted back down, I caught the fish that I missed earlier- I was ready for him because I already knew he was there.

I make mental notes of especially promising looking spots as I slowly paddle up so I can work these spots as I come back down. This allows me to present my lures to the bass as food naturally appears to the fish.

I found out about this paddle up-drift back technique when I couldn’t get anyone to help me transport kayaks to launch and take-out points, so I had to paddle up and float back. It turns out, this has been a very important boat-handling discovery.

Bass fishing from kayaks makes this single point of departure and take out much easier than just about any other kind of fishing craft.


My Best Advice to Kayak Bass Anglers in SpringI’ve learned a lot of thing about springtime bass fishing in rivers-no matter what size of stream- and here are my points of best ad-vice.

1. Pay close attention to your bait. Be sen-sitive to strikes. Sometimes the bass will try to take the rod out of your hand, but just as often, the bite may be very gentle and subtle- keep an eye on what’s going on.

2. Make multiple casts to good struc-ture. I’ve made as many as five casts to a good-looking spot before the bass took it. Of-ten, multiple casts to a good spot will stimulate hesitant bass to strike a lure.

3. If it’s a good spot, there may very likely be more than one good bass. Keep working a good spot until you’re sure it’s exhausted there. And then make one more cast to be sure.

4. And finally- look for places in rivers and streams which have firm sandy bottom- not soft mucky mud, but solid sand. Bass of all kinds- smallmouth, spots, and largemouth- prefer to make their beds on sandy, firm bot-tom. If you can find a spot which is out of the current, has some kind of solid structure- big rocks, logs, stumps- and also has a firm sandy bottom- then spend some time to really fish that spot. There will probably be something waiting there for you.


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featured kayak shopfeatured kayak shop

We asked John Myers of Backwater Outfitters to tell us about his shop, and the general atmosphere of kayak angling in Kentucky. He was very pleased to help us, and his knowledge is appreciated. Here’s what he tells us about kayak angling in the Bluegrass State.

BACKWATER OUTFITTERSLexington, Kentucky__

Backwater Outfitters has been an established fishing tackle shop for ten years serving Central Kentucky. After seeing firsthand the excitement and growth of the sport, we knew we needed to be a part and opened our Hobie Dealership in Late October of 2015. Kayaks arrived mid November and our first sale was on Thanksgiving Day after a demonstration in 28 degree weather. Not until after extensive research did we make the decision to apply become a Hobie dealership. The screening and interviews were intense from Hobie representatives but after

Kentucky is filled with some of the most incredible and pristine waters. Streams and waterways provide many opportunities for not only the novice but the most experienced Kayaker. A multitude of opportunities exist from watching the nationally recognized bald eagle to viewing deer, turkey and occasionally a black bear. Certain parts of Kentucky provide for opportunities to see elk wandering the water’s edge. Fishermen find crystal clear clean waters throughout the state providing some of the country’s best smallmouth fishing opportunities.

two months we were approved. We are exclusive for the Hobie brand because we have chosen to provide what we believe is the very best the industry has to offer. Having been in business since 1062, we felt Hobie was our best option. We carry a full line of Hobie parts and accessories with immediate shipping nationwide. Hobie provides what we believe to be the very best warranty and firmly stands behind the technicians ability to service every model produced. We provide an open line of communication to our customers and have on occasion traveled directly to lake side to resolve issues that have arisen. We have on staff one of the best techs available with many years of Hobie experience.


featured kayak shop featured kayak shop

Our service after the sale is the key reason we have been successful. Hobie mirrors our mission statement and demands dealer perfection. For ten years we have strived to provide this and been very successful with great reviews from not only customers who purchased their kayak from us but equally those who did not.

The kayaking industry is truly in its earliest stages of growth in Kentucky with estimates staggering of potential new kayakers. Seldom does a day pass that we don`t have a phone call or potential new Hobie customer in our shop.

We encourage everyone to research the types of kayaks available from each manufacturer. We never look at other brands as competition but simply a link into new potential for fishing adventures. Stability and maneuverability must be the number one concern for the safety of the operator. We welcome comparison to the Hobie

brand because we have full confidence in the safety of the product. We do however strongly advise every customer to check the references of the dealership they will ultimately partner with for the purchase. Warranty and service are paramount!

At Backwater Outfit-ters, we are not just ser-vants of central Kentucky. We welcome potential customers from through-out the U.S. to check us out as we strive to be the very best representative for Hobie Cat Company. We offer shipping as well as personal delivery in many cases.

Backwater Outfitters1066 E New Circle RoadLexington, KY. [email protected]

www.backwateroutfitters.net


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featured kayak destination featured kayak destination

Blue Water Trails in KentuckyThe Blue Water Trails series of

articles details paddling trips on streams and rivers across Kentucky. The overarching goal of

the series is providing thorough information for paddlers to enjoy floating Kentucky streams without worry. All access areas profiled in the Blue Water Trails are open to public use. A printable map accompanies each article showing the location of access points and the distances of each float. The map also specifies important information paddlers need such as the location of low-head dams and where power lines cross the stream. Every Blue Water Trails article describes each trip, relates the available sport fish species and their haunts as well as how to catch them. A little historical perspective is included as well.

Here’s a sample of the kind of information kayak anglers can gain from this great online source provided by the State of Kentucky. We wish all states had detailed maps and guides such as this for us kayak anglers to access.


When pioneers first saw the section of south-central Kentucky south and east of what is now Glasgow, the vast grasslands confounded them. They felt the soil too poor to support trees and believed the region barren. The grassy area attracted many bison, elk and deer, and also Native Americans who often hid in the tall grass of these prairies to ambush unsuspecting settlers as well as game. The pioneers soon referred to this nearly treeless region as "The Barrens" and the river that drains it the Barren River. The early pioneers settled the wooded ridge tops first because they believed the Barrens infertile, but now the region is one of Kentucky’s richest agricultural areas.The section of Barren River from Barren River Dam toward Bowling Green is one of Kentucky’s overlooked smallmouth bass waters. Fisheries biologists with the Kentucky Department of Fish and

Wildlife Resources have uncovered smallmouth bass in excess of 18 inches in this section of the Barren. The river also holds good numbers of spotted bass, rock bass, bluegill and surprising numbers of muskellunge. This enchanted section of river gave rise to legends of a buried treasure in a cave, provided an important transportation corridor for early Kentucky businesses and now gives paddlers several gorgeous, gentle floats to enjoy. This stretch of the Barren is suitable for families and beginners with just a few mild stream drops to make the paddling interesting. The best floating levels for Barren River are when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release at least 100 cubic feet per second of water from Barren River Lake Dam. Paddlers can float the Barren at lower flows, but will face a practically current-free river and may require dragging over shallow shoals. Consult the Louisville

Corps District homepage at www.lrl.usace.army.mil/. Click on the "Recreation" tab, then the "Fishing" tab, then on "Lake Levels." Starting in mid-October, the Corps severely draws down Barren River Lake to winter pool, resulting in heavy releases from Barren River Lake Dam. This situation is fun for kayakers and paddlers who enjoy swift water, but is not much for fishing. The first float begins at the Tailwater Recreation Area just below Barren River Lake dam and ends roughly 13 miles downstream at the Barren River #3 Voluntary Public Access Area (VPA) under the KY 101 Bridge. The Tailwater Recreation Area lies near the historic ford at the lost community of Port Oliver, where bison and Native Americans crossed Barren River for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. This section is ideal smallmouth bass habitat with long stretches of gravelly shoals rimmed with water willow. Several

small islands and sandbars punctuate the river in this stretch at lower water levels. The flowing braids just above and below these islands are excellent places to gently bottom bounce a skirted

double-tailed grub in the motor oil color, rigged on a 1/8-ounce Shakey head. Those who plan to float this section and fish should launch at daybreak and plan to take out near dark.

The next float begins at the Barren River #3 VPA at the KY 101 Bridge and ends at the Claypool Ramp on Martinsville Ford Road off KY 234 (Cemetery Road) in Warren County. The road to Martinsville


featured kayak destination featured kayak destinationFord runs on the north and south sides of Barren River, but for shuttle length and parking, the Claypool Ramp on the south side of the river is much better. This section of Barren River has many subtle turns with outside bends strewn with gravel. Target these rocky bends with a 4-inch green pumpkin curly-tailed grub rigged on a 3/16-ounce leadhead. This stretch also has several islands and rockbars that pinch the Barren and increase its flow. These are highly productive areas to slowly work a pumpkinseed and chartreuse tube jig rigged on a 1/4-ounce leadhead along the bottom. About three-quarters of the way through this float, Little Difficult Creek enters the Barren on the left (looking downstream). The points at the mouth of this creek are excellent spots to throw a gold and black minnow-shaped stickbait for muskellunge. Just downstream of Little Difficult Creek, the Barren flows around a

large island. This island should be run on the right. A short distance downstream from the island, Bays Fork enters Barren River on the left. The mouth of Bays Fork often holds muskellunge.The lower reach of Bays Fork is a productive place to fish brush, root wads and sunken trees with 4-inch black finesse worms for spotted bass, some of which run longer than 14 inches. The next float begins at Martinsville Ford and ends a little more than 5 miles downstream at Iron Bridge on Iron Bridge Road. Martinsville at one time was an important shipping center for tobacco, timber and farm produce bound for Evansville and Louisville. It was one of the most economically vibrant cities on Barren River in the early 1800s until Bowling Green rose in prominence and Martinsville faded into extinction. The river flows into what old timers call Wickliffe Bottom just

after the put-in. A long-forgotten legend held that Native Americans in the decades before the arrival of the pioneers buried gold and treasure in a cave in this area. A newspaper account from the early 1900s stated several local people searched for this lost treasure, but like the legendary Swift’s Silver Mine in the Red River Gorge region, the treasure remains elusive to this day. This stretch of Barren River grows more scenic as it flows toward Iron Bridge. About two miles downstream of Martinsville Ford, the Barren makes a sharp turn to the right, forming impressive bluffs. The rocky flowing water at the base of these bluffs makes a productive area to fish a 1/4-ounce white spinnerbait for large smallmouth bass. After a straight stretch, the Barren turns back to the left and flows around some islands. The holes formed where the flowing braids of river converge again downstream of these

islands make fantastic areas for smallmouth bass. Those laced with sunken wood likely hold muskellunge as well. The Barren again turns left around an arching bend with a large, scenic bluff greeting the paddler on the north shore of the river. The take-out at Iron Bridge is just downstream. The carry-out for boats at Iron Bridge is on the south side of the Barren; however, extremely limited parking exists at this access. A fun, roughly 4-mile side float is on Bays Fork of Barren River. The put-in is on the KY 234 (Cemetery Road) Bridge with the take-out on Barren River at Martinsville Ford. The Bays Fork flows small and intimate, but offers good smallmouth fishing and is perfect for those who prefer using a fly rod. Parking at the KY 234 Bridge is limited and requires a substantial carry to put in a boat.

Barren River Lake Resort Park offers excellent accommodations and is ideally situated for those wanting to float Barren River. Visitors may combine a day of floating Barren River with a few days of enjoying Barren River Lake. The Tailwater Recreation Area has an excellent campground. Accommodations are also available at Scottsville, Glasgow and Bowling Green.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park: 1-270-646-2151

Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.visitbgky.com

Scottsville/Allen County Chamber of Commerce: www.scottsvilleky.info

Glasgow/Barren County Tourist Commission: www.visitglasgowbarren.com

The Blue Water Trails series supports Gov. Steve Beshear's Adventure Tourism Initiative. Log on to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Blue Water Trails webpage at fw.ky.gov for a detailed map.

Author Lee McClellan is an award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing


http://www.visitbgky.com

http://www.scottsvilleky.info

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Developed by fly fishermen, a southern made, light-weight, easy to use device that will retrieve most flies snagged within reach of your fly rod and extended arm. Made from high-grade, stainless steel with a handle assuring extreme water resistance, it provides toughness and strength for exerting great cutting forces without breaking.

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featured kayak gear featured kayak gear

One consistent problem kayak anglers face is that of keeping drinks, food and hopefully, caught fish, cool in hot weather conditions. All hard-side coolers take up

a lot of room on a kayak, and most hard-sides that fit in a kayak won’t hold large fish at all.

Soft-side coolers tend to be better suited for kayak anglers, but most soft-sides don’t hold ice for very long, and they tend to be made of flimsy, weak materials.

We think we’ve found a solution to the problem.

The IceMule is a one-of-a-kind premium soft cooler designed to be the world's most portable soft cooler. Unlike other soft coolers, the IceMule has the same ice-retention performance as a

Very Cool Kayak Gear


hard cooler. This is because of the IceMule's patented insulated dry bag design. This unique design allows the IceMule to be totally waterproof, to keep ice for 24+ hours, roll up into a stuff sack for easy storage, and - it even floats.

There are no hinges or locking mechanisms. The IceMule closes like a standard dry bag - for the IceMule Pro Catch maker has added a second set of compression straps to keep the cooler tight and dry since it is designed to be laid horizontally on a kayak, paddle board or small craft boat.

There are several connection points on all sides of the IceMule Cooler for secure attachment to kayak decks, and we can see that the bag put flat on a kayak deck might also serve as a good attachment platform for other kayak fishing gear. There’s a good solid shoulder strap on this cooler for help in transportation to and from the water.

The IceMule is not a cheap, flimsy cooler. The skin is very tough, yet it is smooth to not pick up dirt and grease and fish blood that might happen to get spilled on it. 1000 denier waterproof ripstop tarpaulin is on the exterior – the maker calls this MuleSkinETTM. The interior is a 55 mil embossed waterproof vinyl - more than 2X thicker than most soft coolers and very tough - this is the MuleSkinEVTM.

The IceMule comes in various sizes to fit specific kayak space- there’s a 90 day guarantee.

We don’t mind saying, this is about the “coolest” cooler for kayak angler use we have ever seen. For more informa-tion or to locate a dealer go to www.icemulecooler.com or http://www.icemulecooler.com/find-an-icemule-dealer/.


featured kayak gear featured kayak gear

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Whiskey River Dan Sharling

Photos by Wesley BushApril 2016 l Southern Kayak Fishing l 65 64 l Southern Kayak Fishing l March 2016

They arrived by boat. Nearly two dozen people of various makes, all of whom had traveled several miles.


We were there, too. At the end of a long but productive day of fishing on the river.


A respite of silence ensued,


A respite of silence ensued,

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Aqua-Vu Micro Manager Reel for UW Cameras

With the release of a single, ingenious item, Aqua-Vu has

immediately made underwater viewing exponentially easier, more convenient and ultimately more fun.

"We gave folks a sneak peek of this new camera accessory at the 2015 ICAST show, and it's generated a tremendous amount of excitement ever since," says Aqua-Vu president, Ben Gibbs.

"For years, anglers who do a lot of underwater viewing have been inconvenienced at times by the extra camera cable lying on the boat floor or on the ice," Gibbs

Coupling leading-edge fishing reel design with intricate video electronics, the new Aqua-Vu Micro Manager is an extraordinary yet simple-to-use underwater camera/cable retrieval system—another technological first from the company who engineered the original underwater viewing system nearly twenty years ago.

notes. "All our underwater cameras include built-in cable holders, but they require the angler to manually wrap the cable by hand, which can consume valuable fishing time. The new Micro Manager reel now lets folks easily pay out extra cable and instantly retrieve it; you never have to deal with loose cable again. That's a huge benefit—whether you're a weekend angler or a tournament pro."

We at SKF love it when an already great product like the Aqua-Vu Camera System is made even better with additions- this is a great thing.

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REEL-FIN- ADDICT Located along the coastline of KAYAK FISHING The Gulf Mexico in the Big Bend of Florida

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Florida's Big Bend Paddlesport Outfitter

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Where our salespersons are experienced kayakers

And paddle the Pro Anglers – Revolutions – Cuda’s

Visit our store at 3152 Shadeville Rd, Crawfordville, FL 32327

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Come fish the great Arkansas Tailwaters with some of the area’s most experienced guides. Our Fly Fishing trips are tailored to your needs and experience level. We are a group of veteran guides with a passion for teaching and sharing. Visit our website for details!

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We offer Jet Boat trips, Drift Boat trips and YES, even instructional Kayak trips! Let us help plan your Ozark fly fishing getaway in any style you want.

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FS128T Sit-On-Top Fishing Kayak

Our buddy and neighbor recently purchased the Bass Pro Shop’s top end fishing kayak- the Ascend FS128T. He got the boat at a very

good price, and in this case, it appears that sometimes, we do actually get more than we pay for- this is a very nice kayak for fishing.


Ascend's ultimate kayak for anglers, the Ascend® FS128T Sit-On-Top comes packed with features specially designed

for fishermen. The angler-specific design starts with an advanced Tunnel Hull design with a wider transom and flared bow sections for displacement distribution that

increases primary and secondary stability. This hull design delivers the stability needed for stand up fishing while also providing solid tracking and easy paddling while moving.

The FS128T features a solid casting platform for stand up fishing with a pull up assist strap to help you switch from

sitting to standing fishing. The removable 360 degree swivel seating system combines 3 height options with a padded and adjustable, ergonomic seat you can swing to face the

direction you wish to fish.

Designed for anglers, this kayak features a fully adjustable rod tender, 4 flush mount rod holders, and molded rod tip

stagers in the bow-side deck to hold rods lying prone in the kayak. Multiple storage options include watertight storage

hatches with deck plate access in the bow and stern, a watertight personal hatch with deck plate near the seat, and

molded storage areas with bungee in the bow and stern. The FS128T also offers a medium rectangular storage hatch

with watertight cover plate in front of its seat and a larger version right behind the seat. Deep molded storage trays in the sides accept all kinds of fishing gear and tackle, while the molded dash provides catch all trays, a cupholder, and

recessed areas for tackle trays beneath the seat. Adjustable foot braces provide a comfortable base while paddling for

anglers from 5'2" up to 6'2".


The threaded and sealed drain plug allows you to quickly drain excess water, while the 8 self-bailing scupper drains maximize draining in rough waters. The 1-1/2" scupper drains also accept kayak transducers for fish finders (sold separately). Waterproof Butyl is applied to 100% of the components installed to help maintain dry storage and further reduce water intrusion. Kayak also features an anchor trolley, pop-up paddle holders, and performance grip handles. Made from the highest quality virgin high density linear polyethylene. Length: 12' 8". Width: 33". Weight: 84 lbs. Weight with seat: 96 lbs. Maximum weight capacity: 350 lbs. Made in USA.


*Sit-on-top/stand up design provides the ultimate kayak fishing platform*Solid casting platform with pull up assist strap for stable switch to stand up fishing*Removable 360° swivel seat with 3 position height adjustment*Multiple watertight weathertight storage hatches with easy access- please see comments below!*Deep molded side storage trays accept all kinds of fishing gear and tackle

*Multipurpose molded dash - catch all trays, cupholder, and recessed tackle tray storage under seat*Adjustable foot braces*4 flush mount rod holders - 2 by seat, 2 forward*Molded rod tip stagers on bow deck hold top of rod while fishing*Fully adjustable rod tender - provides vertical adjustment and 360° of horizontal adjustment*8 scupper drains - big enough to accept transducer (sold separately)*Anchor trolley


This entry-level cost kayak appears to offer a lot of features and performance that move it out of the “disposable kayak” range. It appears to be a solid, stable, well-built boat for kayak anglers. When I tried the kayak out on the water, I found the seat to be very comfortable- as good or better than many kayaks that cost several hundred dollars more.


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The Ole Honey Hole Near The RampBy Ricky Powell

Having been raised in Arkansas and taking frequent family trips to Alabama and Florida, I have fished for nearly anything that swims in Arkansas and along the

Gulf Coast. Fishing every way possible from wade fishing, pond hopping, fly fishing, spearfishing, bowfishing, surf fishing, charter boat fishing, party boat fishing… you name it, I have probably fished it… Well, only the legal ones.. no dynamite or shocking.

For the past few years I have been completing in Bass Tournaments fishing out of the fully rigged, gas guzzling, 65 mph bass boats equipped with lots of room for tackle, aerated live wells, 12 inch screen fish graphs with down scan/side scan, GPS, etc.. . And although all of this is great equipment… I find myself catching fish and enjoying more the days that I am fishing from my kayak. A perfect example of how less is sometimes better.


Kayak fishing is a fast growing sport and more and more of my buddies are leaving the big boats in the shed and tossing their yaks in the truck and hitting the water. The places to fish from a kayak are abundant and there are usually some great kayak friendly bodies of water within a few miles of your locaton and those big bass boats can’t access these waters. Most of the time when we are Yak fishing… we go to smaller bodies of water such as creeks, small rivers and even ponds. But don’t overlook the big lakes because the Ole Honey Hole Near The Ramp is a yaking secret that you should check out.

Don’t Go Too Far to Find Great FishTournament bass fishing is a huge sport and most lakes in most states hold many bass tournaments especially in the spring and a high percentage of these tournaments release the fish there at the ramp. So basically, some of the ramp areas have weekly stockings of some of the largest bass from around the lake placed right there in your Ole Honey Hole by the ramp! And since most tournaments will not let tournament anglers fish near the ramp… it leaves all of those biggo bass for you and me to catch!


Tips for Locating an Ole Honey Hole Near You

• Look for Bass Tournaments near your location and find the ramps that have lots of tournaments and for events that release the bass at that location.

• Remember, bass like cover to hide and to ambush their prey…. so look for pockets or coves that have good cover that could hold a good population of bass. The best spots to catch fish could be away from the bank where bank fisherman can’t cast. But don’t pass on the bank because bass often cruise the banks looking for their next meal.

• Scout areas during low water conditions. Sometimes just viewing from the parking lots when the lakes are low, you can see structures that are normally underwater (brush piles, rock piles, creek channels, logs, trees, etc). These structures will hold fish when the water comes back up to normal level. Take a picture and/or mental notes or even a sketch of the area so you will know where the big ones hide when you return.

• Some fish will bite again within 24 hrs and may hang around the release area for a few days before venturing back out into the lake.

• Look for what natural bait is in the pocket…. Is it small shad, minnows, mayflies, frogs, etc.? Once you have determined that…. Just “Find the Baitfish” or “Match the Hatch”. Then using the formula of….. A Kayak + a stocked location + the a bait the fish want to eat + a little luck = a


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Kentucky Kayak Fishing - From An Expert’s EyeWe asked our buddy Tyson Peterson to tell us about the kayak fishing in Kentucky. We met Tyson at the Hobie Tournament last year at Kentucky Lake- which is a very big deal in the kayak fishing tournament world. Tyson, who has represented the United States at international Hobie fishing venues- he went to China this past year, was happy to tell us about the fishing in his home state.

in between, throw in the rivers and creeks scattered across the state, and you can find yourself virtually limitless fishing out of a kayak.

Kentucky Lake- Listed by BASS as one of the top 100 lakes in the country is renowned for its exceptional fishing. Massive Kentucky Lake is mostly known for its ledge fishing. Fisherman travel from all over to fish for bass, crappie, and bluegill.

Lake Cumberland- a highland reservoir offers multi species from trophy stripers, great black bass, and crappie fishing. Cumberland offers endless windings of bluffs, creeks and deep points. Truly, the fishing spots here can be endless.

Cedar Creek Lake- a small lake that's been built to produce big largemouth bass. With submerged trees that dot the lake and huge grass mats, Cedar Creek makes for success using several techniques

throughout the year. Stocking of trout for the winter has been beneficial for this fishery, and crappie fishing is popular on this lake producing great size slab crappie as well.

There are some key rivers and creeks in the state that make for great fishing and even offer great float opportunities. I’d like to list just a few which include Stoner Creek, Elkhorn Creek and the Licking River. All of these have several access areas that make for fun floats as well as great size and numbers of both smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass. Each one has its own distinct structure

The Bluegrass State for PaddlersKentucky is a very versatile state for fishing and the options can seem endless, especially when you turn to kayak fishing.

Having so many different kinds of water systems from deep clear highland reservoirs and dammed up river systems, to smaller lakes with great fishing


and flow. From swifter rocky riffles to slower steep muddier banks, it’s all here in Kentucky. These streams can accommodate any skill of fishing and a fun experience.

The kayak community in Kentucky is always growing. The Bluegrass Yakmas-ters is a great club and a key appearance in the state that both invites and draws people together to events and tournaments to fish a wide range of waters Kentucky has to offer.


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RETURN TO THE LITTLE REDBy Danny HolmesMy oldest buddy decided to go back in time and visit a world-famous trout stream- the Little Red River- in Arkansas. He tells us what he learned. We can all learn from his experience.

It was the last week of October and I had

been telling myself all summer that I was going trout fishing up on the Little Red River. The portion of the Little Red that I intended to fish is about 70 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas just outside of the sleepy little town of Heber Springs. The Little Red was dammed back in the 60’s to form Greers Ferry Lake and its tail waters provide trout habitat that have produced some humongous trout. The Little Red produced a World Record brown trout, 40 pounds 4 ounces in May of 1992. The record stood until 2009. Although fish weighing 4 to 6 pounds are fairly common, I have fished the river

steadily during the 1990’s and I have a four pounder mounted and on my wall and I am proud of that fish. I think the truth is most of us only dream of hanging a monster brown or rainbow. I have caught thousands of nine to twelve inchers and I love to catch a limit of stockers especially if I have not had a chance to trout fish in a while. The river is cold and clear most of the time and only gets a little muddy when it rains hard for several days. It is a beautiful place. For about seven years I owned a cabin on the banks of the Little Red and I fished every weekend and most vacation days. I thought I knew how to catch trout when nobody could catch trout, and I considered myself a

Little Red River trout fishing expert. My staple was a dark colored Roostertail or some small red or black jigs, and then when I got tired of catching small fish I would opt for a gold belly floating Rapala. That was pretty much the extent of my artificial lure selection and I caught fish. There were times when the trout would not hit an artificial anything. That’s when I got some night crawlers or wax worms and I would wade to the deep holes below the rocky shoals. I caught fish using that method. Well, I have heard all my life that things never stay the same and change is inevitable. I have found out that applies to fishing for trout on the Little Red.


My return to the Little Red I loaded my kayak and made the hour and half drive from my house for an afternoon fishing trip to the Little Red. When I arrived at the Swinging Bridge, it was overcast and warm, and there was very little flow. The Arkansas Game and Fish provides a real nice launch ramp there and I pretty much had it to myself. I knew there used to be a real nice deep hole just under the old swinging bridge, just in front of the ramp and the stockers would stack up there especially if the stocker truck had dumped a load recently. That would be my first stop, just to get back into the swing of things. I launched my kayak and paddled just above where I though the hole was. I had a 3 pound anchor and I deployed it in the shallow shoals above the hole, and it held no problem. I thought I would try a bait my fishing buddy had shown me to catch bream and catfish on the Arkansas River. It is a product from GULP! and it looks and feels like a red worm. I was using my ultra-light spinning rig with 6 lb. test line. I tied on a ¾ ounce bell sinker and a very small bait holding hook about 14 to 16 inches below the sinker. I have just slayed stockers with this simple rig Well I have heard all my life that things never stay the same and change is inevitable. I have found out that applies to fishing for trout on the Little Red. About that time I noticed a fly fisherman coming down the steep bank to join me. He got to the river’s edge and proceeded to wade toward the honey hole. I thought, “ Big guy, you are not going to enjoy the 56 degree bath you are about to take when you step off in that hole.” I watched the fellow- he just kept wading and he waded right through where I thought the hole was. After 20 years, the river had changed. Now you can wade across what I thought was a deep honey hole.


I pulled my little anchor and started paddling upstream to the next shoal; my plan was to work the banks drifting downstream with my Roostertail spinner. I paddled up the river about a quarter of a mile to a sweet looking shoal. My kayak tracks and paddles pretty well in the slight current, not a problem. When I got turned around I tied on a small black rooster tail- it was 1/8 ounce, I think. I began a slow drift using my little paddle to correct my drift and that worked pretty well. It was that time of day that I needed to catch a fish. Along the bank was an old downed tree with the top in the river. I cast right along beside the tree top. I was pulling the Rooster tail along and I thought I had snagged a little limb then I saw him- it was a stocker. He was pulling sideways but I quickly pulled his head around, he ran under my kayak. My little ultra-lite rod was bent and it felt good, I was back! I let him fight a little and just dragged him over the side of my boat; it was a 10 to 12 incher. I put him in the cooler. I turned and decided to paddle back up the river to the shoal and work that stretch of bank again. When I got to the shoal I noticed some leaves and a few small limbs floating down, and when I turned around to start my drift it was apparent the current had picked up some. Apparently the Corp of Engineers had turned on a generator at the dam; water was definitely on the rise.


The fish turned on,too. I caught two more stockers pretty much bang, bang. I got several hits in a row and then it happened. I was allowing my Rooster tail to arc below my boat where the current was so fast when I cast toward the bank it would carry my Rooster tail down below my boat as I slowly reeled in. I was watching the spinner turning in the clear water; all of a sudden I lost sight of it. Then I felt the solid pull, oh damn, it felt heavy, Then it was a blur- it was a nice fish. He ran upstream and almost to the shoal then jumped about a foot out of the water. When he jumped I saw he was a brown. He had a bright yellow gold belly, He gave up his upstream run at that point and I had him worked pretty close to the boat. I grabbed my little trout net and thought, “ How am I going to net that big a fish?” Well I just kind of spooned him into the boat- I never really netted him, and I was shaking. I pinned him to the bottom of my boat with my legs,but he was strong and still had some fight in him. As he lay in the bottom of my kayak it was not looking good, I have a measuring tape on the side of my boat and I could easily tell he was a little over 20 inches long. The slot rule on the Little Red is: Any trout between 16 and 24 inches must be released immediately. He was about 22 inches. He was hung real well in the jaw but I finally got him loose and let him go.


I was drifting down river pretty fast now and it was going to get dark in a few minutes. I did not want to stop fishing now so I began casting faster and working the river bank again. My Rooster tail was not spinning as well as it had earlier and I had to give it a little jerk to keep it turning to my liking. I was giving a little jerk when I saw the side of a nice rainbow hit at my lure. Yes he was hung; I got him right up next to the boat and could see the treble hook was barely under the lip of his skin. I knew he was not going to stay on that hook long and sure enough as I started to dip my net he busted loose, I thought he would have tempted me to break a game law; he was in the 20 inch range as well. But I was done, and I paddled the fastest looking part of the riv-er current and was back at the launch ramp in 10 minutes. On my way home, I felt a little sad, even though I had a great afternoon fishing, things had changed on that river and I had not been a part of that change. I felt disassociated from a place I truly love. I vowed I would be back and I would not let so much time pass before I returned.


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Mini-Pike from a Kayak- It’s a Real Southern ThingBy Alex Grandpere


The folks up north have pike- big old pike. They’re called northerns and muskies, and a whole lot of other names from time to time. We even have some good muskie fishing in certain parts of the civilized world- the South- but let’s be honest. Big pike are not common in our part of the world. However, that doesn’t mean we’re completely left high and dry when it comes to pike fishing. We’ve got our own pike down here.

All over the South a mini-pike lives, and in most parts of the South, chain pickerel are very common. Now, when it comes to size, our Southern pickerel can’t hold a candle to the big fish of up north. A five pound chain pickerel is a world-class fish. A five pound muskie or northern is a baby. But our little Southern pickerel have the same instincts as their larger cousins, and they have the same impressive- and potentially damaging dental equipment of the big boys.


Where our Mini-Pike are Found

I’ve caught chain pickerel in Arkansas, and I’ve caught them in Alabama. I’ve caught a bunch of them in Florida. They live in lakes, ponds, but they are especially common in backwater areas with lots and lots of cover. In fact, the more weeds and brush and lily pads and floating vegetation is present, the better the mini-pike love it. Anywhere in the South where a body of water supports a good growth of lily pads, there’s a good chance pickerel are there to be caught.

How to Catch ThemFirst, pike of all kinds are the ultimate ambush predators. Chain pickerel are the same. Pickerel love to hide in heavy cover and then charge a small minnow or other moving critter at top speed. When the smaller moving critter happens to be a fishing lure, this produces a great deal of excitement. It is very common especially when using topwater lures to see the charge and high-speed approach of an aroused pickerel for some distance. It’s hard not to get a bad case of the yips when a pickerel makes a torpedo imitation and then blasts a lure.


Anglers going after pickerel here in the South need to first invest in a small spool of very light wire leader material. Tyger Line is one good brand which produces a light weight wire leader that can be tied in a secure knot. Pickerel have some of the sharpest teeth I have ever seen- and I fish in the Gulf a lot where mackerel and sharks live. Normal monofilament line will not last long when it is used in pickerel waters. Pickerel often receive a hard-cussing from bass anglers when they quickly and effectively remove favorite bass lures from the line and take them with them. Pickerel are like some girls I have known- they are very much attracted to sparkly, shiny things. Small silver or gold spoons are good, and small spinners are great when fishing for pickerel- they love the flash of the bling as it moves past them. My favorite pickerel lure is a simple white or silver jerk bait fluke with a weedless single hook. I like single hook lures when I fish for pickerel- it’s just much easier to remove one hook from those nasty, toothy jaws than a whole bunch of treble hooks. Pickerel like their lures to be moving- sometimes they want them moving at top speed. There will be no doubt when a pickerel takes a lure- they are vicious little killers who don’t mess around when they want something.


And why a Kayak is a Perfect Pickerel

Craft Although pickerel are aggressive when they strike, they are easily put off by noise which gets too close. Even trolling motors can be too noisy for skittish pickerel at times. The silence of kayaks makes them much more effective when stalking pickerel than traditional fishing craft. Most bass boats and even flat-bottomed fishing boats can’t go in shallow, brushy, thick-cover water. These kinds of waters are where our kayaks really shine. We can glide over very shallow bars and logs and other underwater solid stuff to reach small pockets of water to fish. And these places are where our Southern mini-pike like to live.

A kayak can be located quietly in good pickerel places, and then the kayak angler can just sit still and let things settle down for a few minutes before casting. Quite often, pickerel will charge out their secure cover and attack presented lures that kayak anglers put before them. And kayaks which allow anglers to stand and fish are even better. Quite often, kayak anglers can see pickerel moving under the weeds other vegetation as they look for their prey. Of course, the easy transport of kayaks means that a kayak angler will be able to access smaller waters or backwaters of bigger lakes and rivers that other anglers can’t. Since we don’t need a ramp, we can fish places which are just unreachable for most other anglers.


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Tennessee Moving WatersKayak Fishing on the StreamsBy Nick AdamsEditor’s Note- We asked our new buddy Nick Adams to tell us about the kayak fishing in Tennessee, and did he ever light a fire under us to get up there and get some of this for ourselves! Let’s let Nick tell us all about this fine kayak fishery in the Volunteer State.

Who We are and Where We AreWe are located in middle Tennessee and fish streams and rivers from the eastern Tennessee River drainage to the Cumberland Plateau. We fish a wide variety of flowing water from fairly small free flowing streams to larger tailwater rivers. We have been kayak fishing for around three years, but we have about

20 yrs. of experience of fishing from canoes, so paddle sport fishing is not new to us. There are two of us Nick Adams and JG Auman. You would be hard pressed to find two more dedicated, hardcore, knowledgeable moving water anglers. We take a scientific, biologically minded approach to each species we target.

We target four different species of fish: smallmouth bass, musky, trout and striped bass. We consider ourselves a trophy guide service, where we target trophy class sized fish of each species. Smallmouth bass 20” and up are not uncommon on a trip with us. Musky of 40+” are average with potential

for fish 50+”. Trout in the 20”-24” range is the size of the trout we target, but the potential for brown trout in the 30” range is not out of the question. Striper average around 30lbs with numerous 40+ lb fish being caught by our clients and the possibility of fish in the 50+lb class exist. We guide year round and target what we feel is the

best shot at a trophy for the given time of year and the weather conditions that exist. The weather can be highly variable in middle Tennessee and sometimes we have freezing temps in November and December and some years we have 60-70 degree days in the same months.

Most of the streams we fish are fairly easy to navigate, we do have some strainers that can be difficult and a few small white water areas, but nothing too dangerous. We can provide kayaks to anglers who are traveling and don’t have theirs or to anglers new to the sport.


Rig Up RightWe fish all types of gear, usually what is appropriate to the species targeted. Smallmouth bass is primarily spinning gear but some clients feel more comfortable with a baitcasting setup and that is fine as well. We use primarily md/hvy rods in the 7’ range for smallmouth. The stout rod is needed to control these fish in the swift current and to keep them away for structure such as rocks and wood that they head to once hooked with great force. 8lb P-line CXX is our favorite. We use 30lb braid for topwaters. For trout we use the same rods we use for smallmouth but sometimes we switch to medium action for a bit more give for their softer mouth. Since we are targeting big trout we throw large baits for them not the small lures many people use for trout. Jerkbaits in the 5-6” range are the best producers for big fish. For musky heavy baitcasting gear is what is needed. Rods in the 8’-9’ range with heavy to extra heavy action. 65lb Braid. Leaders from 130lb fluorocarbon to 175lb straight steel leaders. We are throwing baits from 2-8 oz. We use the same rods for striper as we do for the musky. The striper is primarily using topwater baits in the 1 to 4 oz range. We also occasionally use fly gear for smallmouth and trout (we like to say we fly fish, but we are not fly fisherman). We use large flies and stout rods in the 8-9wt class. We are open to guiding fly clients for all species if they feel that is what they want to use to attempt to approach the fish. The most important thing for clients that want to use their own gear of any type is do not come under sized, there is always a chance for a trophy fish on any one of our trips and we don’t want to lose a fish due to tackle that cannot handle the fish. Not to mention we try and take the best care of all the fish we catch and playing a fish to exhaustion is not healthy. The same thing goes for line, breaking off a fish due to undersized or cheap line is not acceptable. Crazy things can happen but we keep these to a bare minimum by using fresh top quality line and components.


Best times on Our Waters

Like mentioned before it can be variable; smallmouth April-October are awesome. We throw almost all topwater during this time. Trout is best summer and winter. The best musky bite for big fish is Oct.-April but they can be caught year round. We do night musky floats in the summer. We have an interesting musky fishery where we fish both lakes and rivers in the same area. We mothership kayaks when fishing the larger waters. Striper is a summertime thing July-early Oct. All topwater at night.

And Why Our Place is the Place to Be Tennessee has unlimited opportunities for kayak fishing as there are so many flowing waters within the state. We often comment that we will probably never be able to fish all the rivers we want to in Tennessee in our lifetime. Not to mention it is some of the most beautiful country you will see. We also encounter lots of wildlife on our trips, eagles, deer, mink, otters, beaver, etc. Many clients say they could come just paddle the rivers we fish and have a great time without even fishing. We do have recommendations for places to stay and eat, southern food is amazing if you have not had the chance to experience it before, some of the best barbecue in the world is here.


One of the most important things to keep in mind is to let us know how much energy you want to expend. We will go all day if you can too! Some trips we take are 10+hours so it can wear you out in 90 degree heat pretty quick. Throwing a 6 oz. lure all day for musky can wear your shoulder, arm and wrist out way faster than you think! Letting us know your angling experience level is a big help as well, we love to take beginners as well as seasoned veteran anglers, but we just like to know what your fishing level is so we can tailor a trip for you. We ask all these questions up front but it is good for clients to have this in mind when contacting us. The biggest thing for us is we want to give the client an experience they won’t forget. Yes it is about catching fish, but it is also about the entire trip from start to finish. We have had clients tell us that it was like fishing with some old friends when they were out with us. We have also heard that the catching fish was secondary to the time they had on the river. It is all about getting people away from the fast paced, electronic world we live in and getting back to being connected with nature. Leaving the world behind and seeing the outdoors through younger simpler eyes again. We had a client in his 60’s this year tell us he had not had as much fun as he had that day fun since he was a kid, this is while we were standing in the pouring rain after a 10 hr. smallmouth trip.

To Contact Moving Waters [email protected]


http://[email protected]

Saturday, March 12th paddle-board anglers will be

heading to Cocoa Beach's Thousand Islands area to fish the shallow grass flats and mangrove lining islands of the Banana River Lagoon. Competing for over $1000 in prize-money these anglers will be targeting sea trout, snook, tarpon, sheepshead red and black drum.

The popularity of the area has budded during the past twenty years, attracting various internationally recognized television fishing celebrities here to film shows of them fishing the area's very fishy waters with local shallow-water guides.

Beach N Boards Paddleboard Tournament at Cocoa Beach

It is not usual to sight cast to above slot-size red drum in Cocoa Beach's Thousand Islands.

Renowned for its numerous wind-protected coves, skinny mangrove-lined creeks and bays; the area is only accessible to those light-tackle anglers willing to paddle into fish. The vast majority of the Thousand Islands area is zoned slow or idle speed to restrict boaters' speed and better protect the numerous West Indies Manatee frequenting the area.

"Beach 'N Boards Fest is the nation's premiere active lifestyle Spring Break event, and we are very excited to partner with Salt Life and Life Proof to make this SUP fishing tournament happen," said event director Mitch Varnes.

There will be free food, and drinks, and also door prizes by Go-Pro and Ron Jon's the day of the event, along with fishing demonstrations by local experts. Each participating angler will receive a fishing tackle bag stuffed with goodies.

Cost is $25.00.

The protected shallow waters of Cocoa Beach's Thousand Island area is home to world-class pad-dling and fishing opportunities.

All Proceeds go to the Anglers for Conservation anglersforconservation.org

Registration and other event information for the Beach 'N Boards Fest SUP Catch & Release Tournament can be found at www.beachnboards-fest.com


http://anglersforconservation.org

http://anglersforconservation.org

http://www.beachnboardsfest.com

http://www.beachnboardsfest.com

http://www.panthervision.com

2016 PREVIEW

We’ve never been so excited for a River Bassin’ season in our lives! This is because in 2016, we are doing things a little differently, while at the same time sticking to the core values that everyone has enjoyed about the River Bassin’. So, what’s new with River Bassin’ this year?


River Bassin’ has always been about community and simply having fun on wild waters. This year, the same will be true more so than ever; the events will have a family friendly festival feel with music, food, and a variety of

yard games that participants and spectators can take part in while they await the beginning of the results show. Even anglers who have an “off day” on the water can come away big winners with how many random prize categories there are, including the new River Bassin’ Prize Wheel; lucky anglers will hop on stage to spin the wheel for a chance to win big, or they may even have to donate a fishing lure of their own into Plano’s Lure Lottery that will build up throughout the season! All lures donated will be placed in a new Plano tackle box and eventually awarded to the person who spins and lands on “Plano’s Lure Lottery Jackpot!”


Besides this, we’ll once again be giving away a door prize Jackson Kayak at each event that anglers, fans & spectators can all enter to win. All proceeds raised for this random kayak giveaway will be donated to our charity partner, Paddle 4 Tomorrow. Most events will be held “on water,” where our partnering kayak dealers will be on hand to offer free kayak demos for all. Not only is the trail a great fit for youth and beginners, with the numerous random prizes and laid back feel, but there will be approximately $10,000 in cash/prizes given away at each tour stop for the seasoned River Bassers who are after the coveted River Basser of the Year (RBOY) or River Bassin’ Team of the Year (RBTOY) trophies. There will be 15 total events (including the open National Championship) this year, increasing from the 12 that were held last year. However, we have removed all “local events,” due to the fact that the regional events are more popular. Drew Gregory of Jackson Kayak, and host of Hooked on Wild Waters, will be on stage at each event to MC the River Bassin’ Results Show! During the show, prizes will be awarded in the following divisions: Individual, Team, College Kayak Fishing (new), Youth, Top Lady & other numerous random prize categories.

http://hookedonwildwaters.com/

http://www.planomolding.com/

http://www.jacksonkayak.com

http://www.paddle4tomorrow.com

http://jacksonkayak.com/dealers/

http://www.kayakfishingseries.com/series.php?id=4448

http://www.hookedonwildwaters.com

This year, we have split the tournament trail into 4 regions – Central, Southeast, Midwest and N`ortheast/Mid Atlantic. At the championship, held on the famed Susquehenna River in Pennsylvania , these top 40 anglers will compete for the grand prize packages that come along with the RBOY & RBTOY titles! Anglers chasing these titles will want to know that their top 3 event finishes will count towards their Regional Series Score. However, as always, anglers can fish more than 3 events if they wish to increase their odds at placing in the coveted top 10; an angler’s lowest finishing score will always be bumped out of their top 3. A win at any event will be worth 100 points, a 2nd place finish worth 95 and so on all the way down to 10th place. Anglers can, within the rules, compete and place in the top 10 in more than one region, since they are not confined to only fish events within the region of which they reside. In fact, fishing outside of an angler’s home region can prove to be very beneficial; aside from the $10,000 in cash/prizes they could win at any event, an angler fishing outside of his/her home region will receive bonus points (toward their regional standings) if they place in the top 10. A 1st place finish will result in 10 bonus points, 2nd place receives 9, 3rd receives 8 and so on down through 10th place. This should encourage and reward anglers fishing events outside of their region.

144 l Southern Kayak Fishing l March 2016

http://www.kayakfishingseries.com/series.php?id=4448

http://www.riverbassintrail.com/1084-2/

Holding most of the 2016 events “on water” means that we’ll be utilizing some new locations that are prime for River Bassin’! Events will be held at state parks, campgrounds, or outfitters that are located riverside


or lakeside. This should only further grow the community feel of the tournaments and allow us to go where some of the best River Bassin’ is. Some smaller areas of “flat water” may be in bounds to ensure that

there is safe water to fish on tournament day. If so, these areas will be specified on each event page, but 90% of the in-bounds water will be true, free flowing rivers or creeks Anglers are allowed to fish within a

radius (usually 50 miles) of the host location, as in years past. However, this year, it is a true “as the crow flies” circular radius. The system will not accept any photos from anglers who fish out of bounds.

For those that can’t make any in person events, or for those who just want to fish more events, we have a complete lineup of inexpensive season-long online events. You can enter events for

specific species of bass, online regional events and there is even a free Ruffwear Top Dog event for those who fish with their four legged friends!

http://www.kayakfishingseries.com/content.php?id=4629

http://www.kayakfishingseries.com/content.php?id=4629

Anglers and fans will also notice the new logo’d River Bassin’ RV that Drew Gregory and his wife, Cristina, will bring to every trail stop this year. Alongside the RV will be a stage, complete with a Results Show backdrop, sound system and new Suspenz kayak stands, where the top 3 anglers can park their watercraft when called up on stage, if wanting to show off their sponsors or rig.

To make a better fan experience there will be a TV stage-side showing off the bass photos of the top anglers while they’re on stage discussing their day with Gregory. Finally, to the side of the stage, there will be a new River Bassin’ Retail store where fans of the tournament trail can purchase new hats, shirts, decals and some discounted products from sponsors of the trail. There will even be a new “garage sale” section where anglers can buy used gear or sell some of their own used items (100% goes back to the donating party)! Don’t be surprised to see some vendor tents at the events either, so that anglers can learn more about the products and brands that support the tournament series. To sum it up, the River Bassin’ Tournament Trail is ready to spread the love of kayak fishing in wild places once again in 2016. We’re proud to offer a large prize purse, while at the same time keeping the trail laid back and fun, as our new slogan alludes to… “No Egos, Just Fun.” See you in 2016!


http://www.suspenzkayakstorage.com/

http://www.suspenzkayakstorage.com/

http://WWW.kayakfishinggear.com

southern kayak fishing issue 7 march/april 2016

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