Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2020 - 16

Small Pond
Kayak Fishing

by Tyler Frantz
photos by the author
The late spring sunshine felt warm against my skin, as
I maneuvered the open-hull kayak to the middle of the
glistening farm pond. My fishing vest loosened to fit over my
life jacket, I nonchalantly laid the paddle across my lap and
sifted through my pockets to find the right tackle for the job.
Eyeing the shoreline cattails, I decided on a small,
weighted swimbait to mimic baitfish fleeing from cover.
Taking my time, I affixed my imitation lure, gave a half
paddle sweep to turn my kayak broadside, and flipped the
bail on my reel for a 25-foot cast toward the green vegetation
towering above the water.
Immediately on the fall, I observed several flashes of fish
vying for the bait as it fluttered downward. It was a hefty
Bluegill that got there before I could even begin reeling-
one of many panfish and bass caught and released from the
inside edge of cover over the next hour or so of fishing.
Prospecting small ponds by kayak can be a real treat,
especially for kayak fishing novices or those testing
new equipment for the first time. It offers a low stress
environment for getting acquainted with the multitasking
techniques that kayak fishing requires before venturing out
to bigger water such as lakes and rivers, where conditions
further complicate the process.
The calm and tranquil water of a small pond is ideal for
practicing basic paddling techniques such as alternating
downward strokes for straight tracking, reverse strokes for

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * May/June 2020

slowing down, and long horizontal sweeps for turning-in a
controlled situation.
It is a great place to get kids involved too. I enjoy taking
my son along with me on flat water once the weather
warms. Even at 4-years-old, my son was able to paddle us
around with a little guidance and instruction. If his interest
or behavior began to diminish, it was reassuring to know
dry land was only a short distance away.
Pond shorelines, which are typically flat and shallow, also
provide stable areas for practicing entering and exiting a
kayak, which tends to be one of the most likely scenarios to
overturn. Keeping well-balanced weight distribution and a
low profile is imperative to safely boarding and disembarking
your vessel, even in shallow water.
Beyond offering a perfect place to learn the proper
mechanics of kayaking, many ponds are often unpressured,
receiving only occasional fishing attention. When ponds are
targeted, it is likely that anglers generally cast from shore
and only to places they can reach based on the vegetation or
distance.
Fishing from a kayak allows anglers to present bait
toward cover from a perpendicular angle, unlocking access
to some of the most productive fishing imaginable, simply
because it is fresh and realistic.
A highly effective technique is to parallel up to structure
on your non-dominant side, lay the paddle across your lap,
and cast across your body with your strong arm to present
bait and work the lure back to your location. This engages
the fish's predatory instincts to chase from cover into
deeper water, often triggering a "feeding frenzy" of sorts
that almost guarantees subsequent catches.
www.fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2020

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