Catching Bass From Kayaks on Clearlake

Bass fishing from the kayak is awesome! Clearlake's closure gave us the perfect opportunity to get out, paddle around, and catch some bass. Come along for the ride!

Fishing from the bass boat is a blast but there is something special about being out on a small boat without a motor. The roar of an outboard engine takes away from the overall fishing experience. Kayaking can be as exciting or relaxing as you want it to be without the harsh sounds and movement of the larger boats. 

If you're on the fence about giving it a try, you absolutely need to! Not only is it peaceful, it gives you access to areas you could never reach by boat. The backsides of cover, ponds, streams, etc... all become viable options when you're in the smaller boat. Don't wait, head to the lake and try out a kayak. You might just catch a giant!

Gear used in the video...

A-rig: http://bit.ly/2bgDGNu
Swimbait Heads: http://bit.ly/29RrTYN
Swimbaits: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v
Dry Creek Tube: http://bit.ly/2cJwI6r
Tube Head: http://bit.ly/2diyVXK

Top 5 Rods for Kayaks and Other Small Crafts

Kayaks, float tubes, and other small boats present a unique set of challenges for bass fisherman. Unlike the larger bass boats, small crafts require unique gear to fish effectively. From length restrictions to dialing in the actions to account for instability, there are a lot of aspects to consider when purchasing equipment.

Below we break down the top 5 rods that we recommend for an angler that is seriously considering fishing from a tube, kayak, jon boat, etc. These are rods that work for a variety of techniques and won't break the bank. 

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With these 5 rods you should be able to throw a dropshot, a frog, and everything in between. 

Rod/Reel Combos...

Spinning Rod - Zodias 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2jOUXAO

Spinning Reel – Shimano Nasci : http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Spinning Rod- Dobyns 7' Medium Fury: http://bit.ly/2e7HZPF

Spinning Reel- Shimano Nasci: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Casting Rod- Zodias 7' 2” Medium: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Casting Reel- Shimano Casitas 150: http://bit.ly/2geKxsp

Casting Rod- Dobyns 7' Medium Heavy Fury: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Casting Reel- Shimano Citica: http://bit.ly/2dWFHA4

Casting Rod- G Loomis E6X 7'1” Heavy: http://bit.ly/2bQNaBn

Casting Reel- Shimano Curado 70: http://bit.ly/2apmDJt

Jerkbait Review: Megabass Kanata and Jackall Dowzvido

Matt reviews two new jerkbaits that really stood out from the crowd this Winter. The Jackall Dowzvido and the Megabass Kanata are both great ripbaits to add to your arsenal for the Spring and Prespawn. 

The Jackall Dowzvido stook out because of the great color patterns, excellent side to side rolling action, and amazing castability. If you're looking for a compact jerkbait to dive deeper and fool those finicky fish, this is the one for you! 

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The Megabass Kanata is an oversized jerkbait but it fishes much smaller than it really is. If you're looking to upsize your catch, this is an awesome option! With a ton of flash and roll to attract fish, this bait is sure to be a winner!

Jerkbaits are an awesome way to catch big fish during the cold water months. As bass move into the shallows in Spring the jerkbait becomes even more effective! These two baits will be a great addition to any bass fisherman's arsenal. 

Baits in this video...
Jackall Dowzvido: http://bit.ly/2laGa7G
Megabass Kanata: http://bit.ly/2jG4Q85

Jackall Gamakatsu replacement hook: http://bit.ly/2dWWAut
Megabass Owner replacement hook: http://bit.ly/2cVg7xW

Matt's preferred Gear for the Dowzvido...

Rod- Loomis IMX Jerkbait: http://bit.ly/2bp9tOj
Reel- Curado 70: http://bit.ly/2apmDJt
Line- 20 lb Sufix 832 Braid: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2aiu0Wu

Matt's Preferred Rod for the Megabass...
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe
Reel- Shimano Curado 200: http://bit.ly/2acRpsK
Line- 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Leader- 15 lb Maxima: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Jerkbait fishing can be deadly effective once you understand the cadence. Check out this video if you'd like to learn how to fish a jerkbait: https://youtu.be/53KaZSeIdFM

Shimano Tranx 300 Reel Review

Shimano just released the Tranx 300 and 400 as new additions to their casting reel line up for fresh and saltwater applications. If you've been looking for a super strong reel to throw swimbaits, big baits, A-rigs, Crankbaits, or cross over into inshore fishing, this might just be the reel for you!

The Tranx 300 fits the big bait niche perfectly for us. We found that it paired very well with our swimbait rods and worked equally well with big softbaits and hardbaits alike.

The addition of a high speed version (7.6:1 Gear Ratio) is another awesome upgrade from previous offerings into this category. With a high speed option the effectiveness of reactive fishing with glidebaits, wakebaits, and other fast moving baits is very high. If you're in the market for a big bait, high power, or offshore reel be sure and check out the new Tranx casting reel by Shimano. 

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See the gear here...

Tranx Reel : http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw
Matching Rods: http://bit.ly/2emaKYZ

Baits We've successfully used with this reel...

Huddleston Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2azFTon
Osprey Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2bqsLS0
10XD Crankbait: http://bit.ly/2gHT4F0
Lucky Craft Magnum Crankbait: http://bit.ly/2l1RDDR
River2Sea S-Waver: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh
Gan Craft Magnum Glidebait: http://bit.ly/2l3bxgM