The Best Places and Times for Kayak Bass Fishing

Kayak bass fishing can be enjoyed by everyone, from amateurs to professionals. Where you fish can make all the difference to your success. Here are some of the best places and times for kayak bass fishing.

Lake Sources

The best type of lake to catch bass in is one with a creek that feeds into it. This will ensure that there is always a fresh source of bait fish coming into the lake. Look to the area where the creek is feeding into the lake. Bass will always follow the bait fish to their source. If there is no bait fish or schooling forage in your lake it will be harder to catch bass.

If, however, you are fishing in a man-made lake or reservoir that has no natural source or feeder stream, focus on the shallow coves and any bays and secondary points in these coves. The bait fish will usually head for the most sheltered part of the lake that provides some protective cover. Without bait fish the bass will move nearer to the shoreline to feed and are best caught using spinning techniques.

The Solunar Calendar

If you haven’t already done so, invest in a copy of the solunar calendar for your fishing area. This will help you calculate the best times for bass fishing. You can also find solunar forecasts online.

The peak times shown on a solunar calendar give the conditions when bass are actively feeding. All fish move and feed by the tides and the cycles of the moon. The solunar calendar gives an easily readable breakdown that shows the best times to get out in your kayak.

River Bass Fishing

Rivers are often overlooked for kayak anglers looking to catch bass. Your success will depend on the type of river, however, and where you are fishing. If you are river fishing, look to an area of backwater. These are often formed when dams have been built. The backwaters are flooded shallow areas, usually around 3 feet deep. The water temperature here will be warmer and more ideal for bass spawning. The shallow water also encourages grasses and underwater plants to flourish, which the bass will seek out to lay their eggs.

After the spawning season, bass will often retreat to the deeper areas of backwater, but if the climate is warm they will stay in their spawning grounds throughout the spring and summer months.

If you are river fishing in a river without areas of backwater, look for the places where the river current changes or is disturbed by holes that naturally form in the stream. Take your kayak to the edge of the areas where the current changes to fish for bass who will hunt and congregate in these places. A sandbar will often mark a break in the current. The bass fish linger, hoping to ambush the bait fish along these sandbars.

A good tip for bass river fishing is to search out any power plants or factories next to rivers in your area. If they are using the river to cool machinery it can lead to good bass fishing. The bass will often swim in the areas where factories have river outlets since the water is warmer.