HookInMouth

I've kind of run into the same thing (SW PA Apollo area). Had a really productive year chasing smallies and now it just kind of shut off on me. I'll find em though. Just need a few more casts...

For me, bank fishing is something I do when I'm short on time. If I have 4+ hours I'm going to launch the kayak and do it that way. If I've got 2 hours or so, I'll run down to the river/pond/lake and throw in for a bit and then bolt. I've gotten in the habit with the shorter fall days to head down to the bank for about an hour before it gets dark in the evening.

Ah. I hear you. Had the same issues the past few years. If you've got shallow rivers around your place and it's within your means look into a kayak man. You'll fall in love with it.

Debris in the river? Huh. That's not a problem with my local waters really. It's a shallow river with predominantly rock bottom, usually 2-5 feet deep. The only concerns I have are errant casts toward the bank. Usually getting under overhanging trees and throwing a little high. But I just paddle over and give it a whack with my paddle and I'm all good.

Yeah now that fall is here I feel like I'm raking leaves instead of fishing when I throw it. I've not had the best luck with plopper style baits on lakes but it seems like they are absolute money on shallow rivers.

Very true. That definitely might be something I end up doing next season. I didn't get to fish the spawn this year from a kayak (first season) but plan to next season. I do stand some on my shallow river to spot fish. I usually end up sitting back down to fish though.

I pitch a lot from a kayak and I do it from a sitting position. My seat is about 10" off the deck. It's a little awkward at first. Its the same as if you were on the deck of a bass boat except you are doing it from the side instead of in front of you. I've not even tried flipping from a kayak yet. I think you would need to stand to do that and I've not fished from the standing position yet (haven't found a reason to yet even though I could).

Yeah you bought at the right time for sure. I have to add another kayak (or three) to the fleet. Still pondering the posibility of one of those being a Native 12XC. Make sure you keep us posted on your experiences and impressions! My Voodoo doesn't have an adjustable seat in the conventional sense (you have the main seat that you can sit or stand on and then a perch that you can sit on with your feet on the seat). The main seat is about 10" off the deck and the perch is around 24". I thought for sure I would spend more time on the perch but that hasn't been the case. I very rarely stand or move to the perch. I cast comfortably from the seat all day long. My average trip is about 5-6 hours and can go as long as 8.

The 12XC is a nice kayak. I strongly considered it when I was in the market last spring. Congratulations.

So far this year that has been the Berkley Choppo. All day every day. It just gets bit. Fishing shallow river FYI.

So you think my preference for kayak fishing isn't because I enjoy it more but rather I am trying to maintain an elitist mentality? I think overall, depending on the body of water, a bass boat is certainly a more efficient tool. It's better equipment for most jobs. Where it fails is getting into some places and maybe stealth. I fish shallow rivers almost exclusively now that my boat would never have been capable of. Enjoying fishing from a kayak more than a bass boat is a semi-common sentiment even if it's not the most efficient tool for the job. Maybe it's like that old "you drive a car but you RIDE a motorcycle" type deal? I'm not sure. And I don't think maintaining an elitist mentality (by using a cheaper and limited option?) has anything at all to do with it.

I'm still learning so a lot of my assumptions could be dead wrong. If they are I'm sure someone will tell you to ignore me (no offense will be taken). My local river averages about 2-5' and is considered a "lazy river". It's about 250' wide in most spots. Some rifles where the river narrows or rocks protrude but generally speaking, it's a slow 2mph float in normal levels. I'm a kayak angler so that's my access. I've generally found smallies close to the bank. Like, very close. Within a foot or two. Sometimes the water is very shallow there. Strikes happen almost immediately after the lure hits the water. I mainly fish the outside of bends and have had good luck doing that so far. I have had luck in faster moving water between old bridge piers (faster is relative). Current seams hold fish. Anywhere that I can see faster water moving beside slower water (you'll notice the water will actually move upstream in some of these places). I also watch for disturbances in the water, little eddys that for seemingly out of nowhere that indicate rocks below that the fish may orient themselves on. Other than that I throw lures at cover. Down trees. Rocks. Scott F also brought up a good point... where they are now probably isn't where they will be tomorrow. They seem nomadic to me. I don't have a "spot" really. I do a lot of sight fishing. I float down and look. When I see them I turn around and paddle up stream and fish the area back down. If you are bank fishing and it's within your means I strongly encourage you to check out kayaks. There's nothing like it in a small river.

What a beast! What did you catch him on?

I mostly fish a small river in Western PA (not too far from you I imagine) and have had the most luck with topwater on that river. Usually the Berkley Choppo in bone, maverick, or MF Bluegill. But this river is pretty shallow. Most of where I'm casting is probably in the 2-5' depth range. So top water is pretty close to them no matter where they are. I've also had a lot of luck with the swing head jig and a creature bait. Just cranking it through the rocks.

I didn't sell my boat (24' pontoon rigged up for fishing) to get a kayak but when i got back into fishing I decided to go kayak and having done that I have no regrets and really have no plans to add a full size boat any time in the near future. But I expect that has a lot to do with the waters I like to fish now too (shallow rivers and creeks). Also my personality. I like the simplicity of the kayak. A lot.

I'm always recommending Kaku Kayak. I have two Voodoo which is a hybrid kayak/SUP with an amazing seat. Very stable and pretty quick with good tracking. For something more conventional they have the Wahoo 12.5 which is known for it's speed (something rare with stable fishing kayaks). The Voodoo runs $1199 and the Wahoo $999.

The NRS straps are nice. I think the Nite Ize Cam Straps are nice too.

A kayak is a great way to find these areas and exploit them. That's really the only way I fish rivers now.

When we were in high school or right out of it we used to like to go night fishing. Since then she got out of it though. Never really liked fishing out of my boat either so I usually went alone. Didn't really get into it until I bought kayaks. Now she's obsessed. Absolutely loves fishing the shallow rivers/creeks out of a kayak. It's actually been pretty cool having her along.

I ended up just grabbing a couple of Werner Skagit Hooked in 260CM for my Voodoos. The length seems about right as the Voodoo seating has "high" position and a "higher position" lol. Not the lightest but not heavy by any means. I believe they are carbon shaft and fiberglass blades? I could be wrong on that. Very well made though. The two pieces lock in tight and I don't notice any flex. One thing that I would have done different is the blade shape. Everything I read said "low angle" was probably the best fit for a fisherman. Honestly though I think the wider blade shape of the Tybee might have served me better with a bigger boat. Maybe not though. I'm pretty much a rookie at this.

Been carrying a CZ P-07 for years. I've tried other guns and they just aren't as accurate in my hands. Utterly reliable too.

Happy wife (fiancee) happy life. Even if we're broke haha.

Yeah, they're in the same general ballpark with the drive. Personally I would only be interested in the Zulu without the drive which is a good bit cheaper. I'm not a peddle guy. Maybe because I've never tried it but it looks really uncomfortable and I spend most of my time on shallow rivers. I'm pretty happy with my Voodoos although I'm pretty sure my wife wants a Zulu after seeing it. She's been talking about the Wahoo but didn't want to give up the Voodoo seat (amazing seat). This kind of looks like a Wahoo with a Voodoo seat so, yeah, she's going to need one lol.

Kaku Zulu $1325 without drive. $550 to add the drive. Reasonable.

I don’t doubt it man. I was just pointing out that I didn’t think hull width was the issue. Hull design, sure.