Kayakers should be ready to battle the sun and redfish on hot summer days
It’s summer. It’s hot. However, kayak fishing in the south Louisiana marsh this time of year can be productive and comfortable with just a bit of preparation and change of techniques. While speckled trout are moving towards the outer bays and saltier waters for spawning, redfish continue to prowl the marshes throughout the year.
Kayak fishing in hot weather is different than boat fishing. Powerboats take little to no physical exertion, but most kayaks are propelled by human power, be it paddles or pedals. While many boats have Bimini tops or T-tops, kayaks are generally wide open and anglers have nowhere to hide from the harsh summer sun. It doesn’t take much exertion to get overheated or even exhausted kayak fishing this time of year. Boats also have the ability to run at speeds to provide a cooling breeze even on dead-still days.
However, there are some easy ways to make summer kayak fishing more enjoyable and productive. Fish earlier or later. Launch just before sunrise or late afternoon to take advantage of the cooler daylight hours. Try to locate productive areas closer to your launch site to avoid long, strenuous paddles/pedals.
Wear lightweight technical fabric long-sleeve shirts, long pants, a face buff and wide-brimmed hat. Many think they need short sleeves and shorts in order to stay cool. However, the technical fabric clothing provides moisture wicking that helps keep you cooler and provides SPF sun protection by covering your skin from direct sunlight. While most kayaks don’t have tops to provide shade, there are a couple of clip-on umbrellas that work well and do not impede casting or fighting fish from the kayak.
Hydration is also an overlooked precaution. If you know you are going to be fishing on a hot day, start preparing your body the night before by drinking plenty of water. Also, bring a mix of cold water and sports drinks on the kayak to help you replenish your fluids throughout the trip.
Grass beds
While you certainly can catch trout and other species during the summer months, reds will likely be the easier target. In the more brackish marsh areas, grass also becomes more prolific in the heat and long days of summer. Redfish take to grass the same as bass and use it for cover and ambush advantage. While fishing heavy grass can be a pain, a change in lures and techniques can make it much easier.
No, you don’t want to try a lure with treble hooks when fishing heavy grass. Soft plastic baits rigged weedlessly, weedless spoons, and even weedless topwaters allow baits to get in and through the grass to where the reds are hiding.
Not all grass beds are the same. Some are thick and appear nearly impenetrable, but if you look them over well, you can find the best way to fish them. If there is a defined edge along deeper water, position the kayak to where you can work it down the outer face of the grass. Similarly, there may be an edge on the backside of the grass near the shoreline. Reds hide near these edges to ambush prey (or your lure) as it comes swimming by. Also look for broken sections or potholes where clear water is surrounded by the grass. Cast as to drop your lures into these spots, but be prepared for a strike soon after the lure lands.
What baits to use
Weedless topwater lures or even soft plastic tails can be worked over the top of the grass beds without snagging. Strikes up through the grass are exciting, but can pose difficulty setting the hook as the grass often deters a clean bite. It is hard, but work on not immediately trying to set the hook and giving it a couple seconds to feel the weight of the fish. Hook sets need to be sharp and stout in order to drive the hook through the weeds and into the red’s mouth.
Topwater frog lures work well for reds, but I’ve also had great success throwing imitation baitfish lures like the LiveTarget sunfish. This bait mimics the profile of a struggling baitfish and works as well over grass beds as it does in open water. The lure rarely snags the grass and has a strong double hook that rides on top of the bait. Heavy braid in the 30-50 pound range provides no stretch on the hookset and also slices through the grass when fighting the fish.
Blind casting into the grass is productive, but look for higher percentage features like holes, edges, pilings or the entrance to small drains or bayous. If you have good balance and a stable kayak, try standing to look for fish and up your odds. Try to spot the fish from far away, but there will inevitably be times when you end up right on top of one. If you spot a fish out of casting range, use the paddle or a push pole to silently move the ‘yak just close enough for a cast. Spooked fish generally won’t go too far. Watch closely and stay still while scanning the area. Chances are it will show itself again and offer a second chance.
Weedless gold spoons are also excellent lures for catching reds in the grass. The heavy metal casts easily and the bait’s slim profile and guarded hook lets it reel through the grass without getting hung up.
The benefits of a kayak
Fishing these thick grass areas for reds often leads to untouched fish that most boaters can’t get to. The heavy grass plays havoc on trolling motors, but kayaks can be glided right over the top. Also, although the fish are there to be hidden, the grass also helps give away their location. Fish blend more with the water than they do the green grass, and with a good pair of polarized glasses, the contrast between the two is often more visible. Fish moving through the grass also transmit that movement through the grass and up to the surface.
Don’t let the brutal summer heat keep you on the couch. Prepare your body, game plan before the trip and don’t plan to stay all day. Find some grass and seek out the redfish hiding within.
