Kayak Bass Fishing!

I didn't see any threads related to kayak bass fishing so I thought I would start one! Is anyone out there bass fishing from their kayaks? Would like to see some setups and some photos!

There's definitely some forum posts about bass fishing...

I fish for lots of different stuff so my setup is pretty generic. Geartracs, RAM and STEALTH rod holders, milk crate in the back.

I mostly fish smallmouth in the rivers. I'd really enjoy finding some largemouth spots within 90 minutes of my house, but in spite of canvassing a few areas this year I've come up mostly empty handed.

Or to put it another way: WILL TRADE SMALLMOUTH SPOTS FOR LARGEMOUTH SPOTS! 

I'm fairly new to NWKA so maybe I just don't know how to look for threads! 90 minutes from Portland? I know plenty of spots I might be willing to trade haha! What kayak are you fishing out of?

When I'm fishing for bass I'm usually in my Tarpon 140. I also have a Hobie Oasis (tandem) and my wife has an Outback.

Hey OKBF (I am assuming it's Aaron?)

There's several posts here on the forum about bass fishing, some of the posts (and forums) unlock when you reach a certain number of posts (I think 10?) There's also quite a few posts in the events thread for past Bonneville bass bonanza's among some other ones as well. I like Capn' am looking for some good Largemouth spots near Portland, I have several good smallmouth spots near the area but not much for largemouth either.

Oh ha, duh. Hey Aaron if that's you this is Lauren from Facebook.

The forum is pretty quiet right now.

Haha yup you caught me! This is Aaron. Trying to reach out in this site and see if there is any community of bassers, and if not... try and create one! I don't know how to send a private message... but if you send me one I will see about trading spots I live about 90 minutes from Portland and know plenty of largemouth spots between here and Portland! Are there very many bass guys on this site from your experience?

I'd be interested to target bass in the willamette valley but don't know anything about tackle or "secret spots".  Had my first successful bass catch this year when another NWKA member shared.  Missed another opportunity when someone posted that they were gonna try for bass as an open invite on the forum. So, my learning curve is slow.

If you post up an invite when you go, and where you intend to fish, you'd probably generate some interest.  But that kind of open invite style isn't for everyone.

I'd be interested to target bass in the willamette valley but don't know anything about tackle or "secret spots".  Had my first successful bass catch this year when another NWKA member shared.  Missed another opportunity when someone posted that they were gonna try for bass as an open invite on the forum. So, my learning curve is slow.

If you post up an invite when you go, and where you intend to fish, you'd probably generate some interest.  But that kind of open invite style isn't for everyone.

bb2fish where are you from? You certainly don't need secret spots to catch bass... but there is some skill and understanding needed to have a successful day of it. I can likely point you in the right direction of a general body of water and what types of lures to use if I know your target species and location. Also... I do have a YouTube channel called "Oregon Bass Fishing" that might have some videos that will help you out.


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Haha yup you caught me! This is Aaron. Trying to reach out in this site and see if there is any community of bassers, and if not... try and create one! I don't know how to send a private message... but if you send me one I will see about trading spots I live about 90 minutes from Portland and know plenty of largemouth spots between here and Portland! Are there very many bass guys on this site from your experience?

There's what I would call a small group of bass fisherman on here, but they're pretty quiet this time of year usually. I'll PM you. In general I find the forums easier to use on the desktop than on my phone, but then again I don't use my phone for internet stuff much so it's probably me. But anyway in Tapatalk you can send PMs. I'll send you one now.

I fish for bass out of my Hobie Outback. I can't say I'm that good at it, but have caught smallmouth and largemouth this year. I am really new to kayak fishing but this site has been very helpful getting me starting.

Bass is why I started fishing out of a kayak, and still remains most of what I do. This last year or so I started venturing into the salt after crab and bottom fish. Not to sound like a snob but I don't salmon fish here in Oregon much. I fish in Alaska and get my salmon and halibut fix each year, so after that fishing here just isn't the same. I do like steelhead fishing the rivers and continue to do that.  But from a kayak I would say bass gets most of my attention. Smallmouth mostly, I like smallie fishing best. I used to own a nice multi species boat and fish for bass and walleye on the Columbia, lower Willy, and other places. Got rid of the boat years ago when I joined the Army and now look for ways to stay more active while outside enjoying hunting and fishing. Kayak bassin seemed to fit the bill nicely. I haven't got to crazy with outfitting the kayaks yet, I do own a few now and am looking at adding a ATAK 120 when they hit the shelves this winter for a more dedicated bass rig. I sold my Feelfree lure 13.5 this last year and have been fishing out of the Moken 14 or Thresher 140. this will become my salt or trolling yaks.

I tend to keep my kayak pretty simple, Fishfinder, tackle bag behind the seat, one or two rods in the flush mount rod holders. I did just buy some HDPE sheets in a few different thicknesses to make some of my own mounts and accessories for the kayaks. Also in the process of building a kayak cart or two now that I don't have the Feelfree's wheel in the keel. Haha     Another draw to the sport is the tinkering part, I like to build stuff and fab my own parts. Can't wait for the ATAK 120. For some reason I am not drawn to the peddle kayaks much, I know they make sense for fishing but I just haven't had the urge yet. Still holding onto my paddle for now.

Right now I am installing a Humminbird Helix 5 in my thresher 140 and put a keel guard from keeleazy on it last night(I go places I shouldn't sometimes) haha. Going to make some rod holder mounts for the track and install some flush mounts behind the seat soon.

Nice largemouth in that last pic.

I prefer the smallies too. They put up a heck of a fight! Not to say the largemouth doesn't. Good luck on your tinkering. I am to the point where I tinker less and less. But I still do on occasion. I try to keep to a minimum on the gear, but it's growing.

Nice largemouth in that last pic.

During that fishing trip my girlfriend caught a smallie that was actually slightly bigger than that largemouth the day before but I cant find the picture. It was just shy of 5lbs. 4lb 14oz if I remember right. It was a hawg!

This was a long time ago and not from a kayak but its a massive smallmouth at 6lb 1oz. Figured I would share just because, I'm still trying to get this quality of smallie from a yak. Crazy thing about the morning I caught this huge smallie was I probably boated 30-40 fish! Most between 2 and 4lbs, several over 4lbs. It was an epic morning of pre spawn on the big C. I love fishing from a kayak but certain areas are just really tough to access without a boat. And this particular area is one of them. I have been scouting launching areas for kayaks and possible paddle routs to get to my old boat spots, then theres the huge wind in the gorge to deal with sometimes. We will see... haha

Nice largemouth in that last pic.

During that fishing trip my girlfriend caught a smallie that was actually slightly bigger than that largemouth the day before but I cant find the picture. It was just shy of 5lbs. 4lb 14oz if I remember right. It was a hawg!

This was a long time ago and not from a kayak but its a massive smallmouth at 6lb 1oz. Figured I would share just because, I'm still trying to get this quality of smallie from a yak. Crazy thing about the morning I caught this huge smallie was I probably boated 30-40 fish! Most between 2 and 4lbs, several over 4lbs. It was an epic morning of pre spawn on the big C. I love fishing from a kayak but certain areas are just really tough to access without a boat. And this particular area is one of them. I have been scouting launching areas for kayaks and possible paddle routs to get to my old boat spots, then theres the huge wind in the gorge to deal with sometimes. We will see... haha

Awesome fish! You need to get some sort of pedal drive or motor drive unit so you can reach those spots again!


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