Bank Fishing and Kayaking Small River For Bass and Musky!

This creek is FULL of bass and musky! Come along as we drift a new river in search of anything that will bite! We find smallmouth, largemouth, and GIANT muskie as we kayak through deep pools and shallow riffles. With no expectations and no information we adapt to the changing conditions, catching fish on everything from topwater to crankbaits. We even get the opportunity to throw big baits at some fired up musky!

Today’s video is all about relaxing and having a good time. When we arrived in East Tennessee we knew that river drifting in the kayaks was going to be a great opportunity for all sorts of species and this is our first chance to get out and try it. We anticipated big smallmouth in this stream but we had no idea that 4’ long predators would be lurking in every pool! Thankfully Matt had packed a travel rod and a couple big baits just in case… while he never connected on a musky, he had multiple opportunities throughout the day as fish chased and reacted to his glide bait. 

If you’ve never considered travel rods they’re a great option for bringing rods along in tight spaces like the kayak. We use travel rods when traveling out of the country but they’ve proven to be invaluable for last second trips. Because they pack down  so small they’re great for keeping in the car, truck, or kayak “just in case”.  

Below you’ll find a breakdown of the gear we were using throughout the day including the rods, travel rods, and kayaks. The bait and equipment links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. The kayak link goes directly to the manufacturer's website where you can get more information on the Sportsman Series kayak. 

Topwater... 

-Megabass Pop X Popper: https://bit.ly/3i9T3sg

-River2Sea Whopper Plopper 75 (Phantom Shad): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Ned Rig... 

Bait- Roboworm 3" (Black Blue Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2j9F0Xy

Hook- Swagger Tungsten 1/8 oz Ned Head: http://bit.ly/2KcIB6M

Stick Bait... 

Bait- Yamamoto 4" Senko (Watermelon): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Hook- Gamakatsu Weedless Finesse Wide Gap Size 1: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

Finesse Swimbait... 

Bait- Keitech 4" Easy Shiner: http://bit.ly/2bxJK6H

Hook- Dirty Jigs 1/8 oz Guppy Head 1/0: http://bit.ly/2nyUJRS

Crankbait... 

Bait- Megabass Super-Z Z1 Squarebill: https://bit.ly/2Y9dkHB

Colors: Mat Craw 2, Wild Craw

Glidebait... 

Bait- River2Sea S-Waver 200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Color: Bone

Kayak...

Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS

Finesse Crankbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 7'2" Deep Flex 864 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- Sunline Assassin 10 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Finesse Spinning Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Ultegra 1000: http://bit.ly/2nfApml

Line- Power Pro 15 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Sunline Sniper 6 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Budget Finesse Spinning Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Intenza 7' Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2s7kaQn

Reel- Shimano NASCI 2500: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 8 lb Mono: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Travel Rods are an amazing option when space and storage are an issue. Today Matt was using an older version of an F5 Swimbait travel rod paired with a Tranx 300 casting reel. There are a variety of widely available travel rods at various budgets to meet the needs of every angler. If you're interested in giving them a try here are some of our favorites. 

Travels Rods... 

High End Casting- Megabass Triza Series: https://bit.ly/2Glg3au

Budget Casting- Daiwa Ardito TR Travel: https://bit.ly/36f22pT

Budget Spinning- Daiwa Ardito TR Travel: https://bit.ly/3n3MIT2

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

• TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

New Kayak Review! Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 136!

This kayak just won "Best Of Show" At ICAST 2020, let's look at why! When we heard the Sportsman Autopilot 136 had an Ultrex trolling motor and could "spot lock" to hold position so we didn't have to paddle the kayak constantly, we knew we had to have it! Come along as Tim takes it for a spin on the water, looks at the features, and shows how to operate the motor. 

This is a top of the line kayak! Its incredibly stable, has room to stand, walk, and enough stability to fish from virtually any position. We've had it out in big waves, heavy winds, and have had the opportunity to catch some great big bass from these boats. If you're upgrading to a larger kayak or considering adding a trolling motor to an existing kayak, you should give this a look. 

The 13'6" version (136) retails for $3999 while the smaller 12' version (120) retails for $3799. This is a serious investment for an entry level kayaker but is a no brainer for a bass angler coming down from a bass boat. As bass boat angler's we've already fallen in love with the spot lock feature of the Ultrex trolling motor and know there is no going back. Having this same feature in a kayak gives us the ability to go farther, stay more stable in rough water, and most importantly, focus on the fishing instead of the positioning. 

Below you'll find links to the kayak as well as some of our favorite kayak accessories. The kayak link will take you directly to the manufacturer's website (Old Town), while the accessory links will go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of the items. 

Sportsman Kayaks... 

-Sportsman AutoPilot 136: https://bit.ly/3h9ngaS

-Sportsman AutoPilot 120: https://bit.ly/32ySIuZ

Favorite Pedal Drive Kayak... 

-Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka

Favorite Kayak Accessories... 

Storage- Plano Guide Series V-Crate: http://bit.ly/2BLjK4f

Life Vest- Mustang Elite Inflatable PFD: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP

Electronics- Humminbird Helix 9 Chirp G3: http://bit.ly/2GmFXui

Anchor- Kayak Anchor Wizard: Source Locally

Battery- Bioenno Lithium 100 AH: Source Locally

Links To Some Of Our Kayak Fishing Videos... 

-10 lber Caught From A Kayak: https://youtu.be/bNTZvcyep-0

-Epic Golf Course Pond Fishing: https://youtu.be/8NoDLM2fpyE

-Tiny Creek Fishing- Crystal Clear Water and BIG Fish: https://youtu.be/6k76sDqv7hA

-Summer Topwater Fishing: https://youtu.be/QpGrXiY5t0c

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Senko and Topwater - Kayak Bass Fishing A Small Backwater Creek

Let's go fishing! Tim is in a small creek with crystal clear water that dumps into a big murky water lake. He's targeting post spawn bass with a Senko, popper, dropshot, and swimbait. The bass moved into this creek to spawn but now they're feeding along the lay downs and overhanging brush before returning to the main lake. Whether you prefer a kayak, a bass boat, or walking the shore bank fishing, you'll enjoy Tim's tips on saving money while catching fish. 

Tim started the day hoping for a quick reaction bite but it wasn't in the cards. He quickly switched to a wacky rigged senko and caught a ton of fish! The key here is to understand that he was still on the same water. We often push for the reaction bite but when you have limited areas to fish its best to adapt to the conditions. By giving up the topwater and fast moving baits Tim suddenly found himself surrounded with willing fish. While they weren't in the mood to chase, the slow falling senko proved more than they could resist. 

Below is a breakdown of the 4 lures that Tim brought on the kayak. He kept it simple but was still able to cover all his bases and adapt to changing conditions. The links go to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Senko... 

Worm- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Green Pump/Watermelon Lam, Bama Bug

Hook- Owner Weedless Sniper Finesse 1/0: https://bit.ly/2zXirRH

O-Ring Tool- O Rigger:  http://bit.ly/2wtX7M8

O-Rings- O Rigger Rings: http://bit.ly/2h5MhX2

Topwater... 

-Megabass Pop Max (Mat Shad): http://bit.ly/2qqfmm1

Dropshot...

Worm- Roboworm 6" Straight Tail (Oxblood Red Flake): http://bit.ly/2awYSxM

Hook- Owner Mosquito (Size 1/0): http://bit.ly/2fqYFCR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten 1/4 oz Tie-On Weight: http://bit.ly/2YAoMuv

GlideBait... 

-River2Sea S-Waver 168/200: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

Color: Warden Hitch

Senko Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- Sunline XPlasma Dark Green Braid 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j

Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Drosphot Casting Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Light+: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran 50 MGL HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 20 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 10 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Senko and Underspin Tips For Big Bass! Kayak Bass Fishing on Clearlake

I only brought 3 rods! A senko, an underspin, and a swimbait are all tied on. Which will get the biggest bite? Can we build a pattern? Come along for a really fun day of fishing on Clearlake! We're going to put the kayak to work and stick some big bass along the way!

Today really highlighted the value of fishing from a kayak or other small boat. Often times anglers in smaller craft feel like they're at a disadvantage but the big bites today absolutely would not have come if I was on my bass boat. These are highly pressured fish that are very leery of boats but they had no concerns about the kayak! 

The underspin proved to be the hero of the day. Both of the big fish (a 5 and 6 lber) both annihilated the underspin along the edges of submerged trees. The senko also proved to be invaluable. After making a pass through our small area with the underspin we slowly and methodically worked back through the fish with the senko and were able to pick up a few more key bites to finish out the day. These two baits proved to be an awesome pairing as one got the majority of bites while the other got the kicker bites we were hoping for. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits we had tied on and the gear we were using to throw it. All the bait links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see up close photos of each bait and a detailed description. 

Underspin.. 

-Owner 1/4 oz Flashy Swimmer 5/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

-Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Senko... 

-Gamakatsu Superline EWG 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

-Yamamoto 6" Senko (Green Pumpkin): http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Glide Baits... 

-R2S S-Waver 200 (Phantom Trout): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh

-Gratt Sneaky Pete 7'5" (Hitch): http://bit.ly/2RYCPFe

Underspin Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2czPlZl

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (Current Model): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

Line- 65 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 20 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Senko Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2cgmMAe

Reel- Curado 150 DC HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- 40 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 15 lb Sunline Assassin Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Gear...

Life Jacket- Mustang Elite Inflatable: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP

Camera- GoPro Hero 8: http://bit.ly/37hVTX4

Kayak- Old Town Predator PDL: http://bit.ly/2WyVQka

**Kayak Link Goes To Manufacturer's Website**

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G