Trolling and drifting are excellent techniques for winter kayak fishing

Winter will soon be here, and the fish will be waiting. With cooler water temperatures, the speckled trout have transitioned to the inner marshes and the redfish are schooling in deeper areas. While weather conditions can vary wildly during this time of year, December certainly sees its fair share of moderate days that are perfect for kayak fishing. Pick your days and you can find some fantastic fishing in cool, but comfortable conditions.

One of the biggest changes this time of year is the ability to catch fish on a wide variety of artificial lures. Live shrimp are available from bait dealers for as long as they remain viable to catch. However, at some point most dealers will not have live shrimp available until they show back up next spring. Live cocahoes are a great alternative when available. Although plastics work well, the extra edge that live bait provides is hard to beat.

Trolling and drifting

Two techniques that all kayak anglers should employ this time of year are trolling and drifting. Kayaks make excellent platforms for both of these methods, and if you have a pedal or powered kayak, they are great for trolling.

The two techniques are quite similar and vary only as to the source of movement of the kayak. Trolling uses pedal, electric motor power or paddling propulsion to slowly move the kayak along while dragging one or more lures behind. Drifting uses wind and/or water current to move the kayak. Both can be conducted in the same areas, using the same baits or lures.

The key to success is figuring out the best forward speed and how much line to let out behind the kayak. As with all winter fishing, slow is the name of the game for these cold-blooded creatures that become lethargic in cold water. Faster speeds cause the bait to ride a bit higher in the water column, and the more line you have out, the lower the lure rides in the water column (and vice versa for both). Once you dial in the correct combination of the two for the day’s particular conditions, the technique can easily be repeated for fish after fish. Slow and steady is generally the name of the game.

Lure options

The lure type also factors into your set up. If dragging a hard bait or live minnow, you want the bait to run close to the bottom but not hitting or bouncing on it. For a live minnow, use a Carolina rig to keep the bait close to but dragging just above the bottom. My favorite hard bait is a floating stick bait with a small diving lip. As the kayak moves forward, the lip causes the bait to swim down with a wobbling action and most have rattles inside to add some noise attractant. Adjusting the speed/line length combination can have the bait running just above the bottom avoiding shells and snags. If you have to stop for any reason (fighting a fish on another line), the lure rises to the surface and avoids snagging the bottom.

Another deadly technique for trolling/drifting is a soft plastic tail on a jighead. Again, forward speed and length of line determines the depth the lure travels. However, the added factor of different weight jigheads can also be varied to control the depth. The ideal pattern is to have the lure gently bump and bounce along the bottom as you pull it along.

Pulling two lures at once certainly increases the odds of getting bit. However, it also increases the odds of tangles, twists and other headaches. I prefer to pull no more than two lines with one static in a rod holder and the other in your hand. Use the rod in your hand to adjust line length and impart small twitches and jerks to the bait as you move along. Always make mental notes of where and exactly what you were doing when a fish strikes. This likely signals the preferred pattern for that day and repeating this usually leads to more fish being caught.

A solid hookset

One common mistake made by kayak anglers when trolling or drifting is failure to set the hook. As you move forward and the fish bites, the rod bends and most anglers just begin reeling. However, this often leads to a fish that is not well hooked and comes off easily during the fight. These two techniques used separately or together can greatly increase the odds of keeping them buttoned all the way to the net.

If the rod is in the rod holder when the bite occurs, make it a habit of instinctively giving a quick paddle stroke or pedal push (or two), to help set the hook firmly. If the rod is in your hand, quickly sweep or snap it forward to drive the hook home. In either case, a sharp snap during the initial fight also helps ensure a solid hookset.

Repetitiveness is the key. If you’re fishing a canal or bayou, it is fairly easy to set up after a successful run and repeat it over the same area. However, if fishing a lake or bay, pay attention to the path you have taken. If no or low success, move over a bit closer or further from shore and try again. Always repeat a successful run until it dies off.

Kayaks offer no protection from the elements and can be miserable to fish from during harsh winter conditions. But you can dress properly and pick days with optimal conditions for some fantastic winter fishing success.

The post “Trolling and drifting are excellent techniques for winter kayak fishing” first appeared on LouisianaSportsman.com.