Does anyone fish ponds from a kayak ?

[David Truelove]

I'm thinking about getting a kayak, some of my best ponds have limited access

and a lot of trees around them. Any suggestions on kayak's and rigging

would be appreciated.

[John "Formerly Pig Man" Waldrop]

Look up Alan Morgan, he does for sure.

[David Truelove]

thanks, I will

[carl hendrix]

allan morga-- leo-- chri kowalasi- Robert reid can help!!  they all use kayaks of sorts!

[Leo Nguyen]

I use kayaks, and float tube. If pond contains dangerous elements of hidden, sharpened, structures, definitely a kayak. The questions to you are:

1. How big are these ponds?

2. How deep?

3. How much overhang, and clearance between water surface vs the lowest overhang?

4. How much hidden structures that will cause chaos?

5. Wind conditions throughout the year?

6. How much gear are you planning on hauling.

7. Ultimately, what's your budget?

[JBplusThuy]

You'll want to watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3gTr8YCOYQ

They're pond fishing for bedding bass rather than BG, but I think it translates really well.

It's in the excellent Nick, the Informative Fisherman series, and it's interesting to see the gear they are using, great video for a kayak noob. What really got my attention, though, is, how they both paddled and fished standing up in their kayaks with great stability. Pretty cool stuff!

[Nathan]

If I could afford a yak I would be! I would recommend vertical jigging from one though.

[Johnny]

I'd love to have a yak, it would be like an aquatic ATV, no place you couldnt fish, my only hold back is the fact you have to sit with your legs & feet straight out in front of you, dont take much of that for my legs & back to start hurting, plus there a pricey piece of equipment, but every time I look at them the wheels start to turn.

[Allen Morgan]

I don't normally launch my kayak into a pond.  About the smallest thing I'll launch into is 10 acres, give or take a few.

I would strongly urge anyone that wants to try kayak fishing out, to find a local group, and see if they will let you try many different makes/models.  This is really the only way to truly know which boat will fit your body, and how you fish.  There are several kayk fishing forums on the internet, that will give you tips/tricks on how to rig the boat, where to fish, how to fish, launch points, etc.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

For ponds I'd get a ten footer.
Or a float tube.
Great fun.

[Donald Schmotzer]

  You need to try someone else's yak before you buy one. I had a 10 footer and hated fishing out of it. Could not move around and if the line got wrapped around the end of the fly-rod, I could not reach the end without putting most of the rod in the water behind me. If the yak is one that you basically sit on the floor, it is VERY uncomfortable.  Hard to get in and out of too. If you are young and very flexible it may not be as bad, but for me it just didn't work. A float tube or a pond boat works much better for me. So .....TRY/BEFORE/YOU BUY.....and good luck........Don

[Leo Nguyen]

If you're talking about the sit-in kayak, yep, it's a nightmare to fish out of. The sit-on-top is a great addition to my fishing experience. As Don said, borrow/rent, and give it a try. My whole family fished out of the two sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks, Hobie Outback SUVs, and love them.

[Jeff Workman]

My wife and I have six kayaks. We have two of the 8 foot cabelas $199 on sale ones. Two 10 foot wilderness systems tarpon 100s and two 13.5 foot wilderness systems ride 135s. All are sit on tops. All the wilderness systems are outfitted for fishing and we're purchased through Austin kayak. You can get a bunch of money wrapped up in them though. We've used them in ponds and lakes up to about 500 acres. We got bright yellow kayaks and vests to help ensure boaters see us.

I like the ten footers best for most things. The eight footers aren't nearly as comfortable to ride in and they aren't as easy to paddle (too much side to side vs straight line compared to longer one). The 13.5 are easiest to paddle straight line and least likely to dump you; but getting in the heavier range to be convenient loading / unloading by yourself. Some people stand up in them. That would be nice. I've tried it. Never really felt secure doing so in any of ours. Playing a big fish is different as you will be pulled towards them too. Unhooking one is more difficult (as someone mentioned). Keeping fish for table and bunch of stuff readily at hand isn't as convenient as with boat either. Your ability to glide up on undisturbed fish and reach places you otherwise couldn't is really cool though. I thought about one for years and like them.