weight? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Dave Legacy · 05-22-2016, 06:06 AM

I use 1/2 oz weedless heads on 5-6.5" swimbaits, but have been considering going up to 1.5 oz for a faster fall rate. I've always fished shallower water from shore in the past, so the slow fall has been fine, but now that I'm kayaking there have been sometimes where I felt I was waiting forever to get the bait down.

I recently got some 3/4 oz and 1 oz weedless jigheads to try out with some big Kalin's grubs, so I'll start experimenting there.

Snags · 05-22-2016, 09:41 AM

I generally use heavier jigs. I'm partial to thr 1.5 oz Warbaits weedless or Reebs..

sandico · 05-22-2016, 11:56 AM

This is all relative to multiple variables.

When fishing spotties I would stay with 1/2oz or less. This is dictated by depth of water and line size for me. Unless you are fishing SD Bay, you shouldn't need to worry about the fall rate as the other bays are shallow. SD Bay I will go up to as much as 1oz when fishing sandbass in the deeper water.

When fishing calicos there are a lot of variables but similar to the bays. Head size for me is always dictated by depth of water. Shallow to 20 feet I will fish 3/4oz-1oz, 20-50 feet 1oz-1.5oz, and 60 plus 1.5oz and up. Heavier line and strong currents will always having me using on the heavier side.

I fish both boat and kayak and see myself using on the heavier side when fishing from a boat. The kayak you seem to have a little more control and can fish a little lighter.

Amish Ed · 05-22-2016, 09:44 PM

Thanks guys. Think I'll invest in some more heavy heads.

ghotion · 05-23-2016, 03:46 PM

I'm fishing Pismo, Shell Beach area and use the 1.5 &.2 oz. Warbaits. Even though it's only 20' to 30' deep I like getting to the bottom in a hurry, I like the bait to be under my boat not 20 - 30 yards away. And as some say the bigger the bait the bigger the fish.

NorthwestAngler · 05-23-2016, 04:16 PM

All depends on where you are fishing. Yesterday we were out on SD Bay and killing it in 7-9 feet of water with 1/4oz - 3/8oz heads on 3" baits. Recently I've moved to smaller and smaller baits. We then moved spots and switched to 3/4oz heads to get deeper.

taggermike · 05-24-2016, 07:33 AM

Most of my salt water bassin is in south SD bay. Its fairy shallow over eel grass. I've found spotties bite better on or near the bottom or right above the grass. So I need enough weight to get down but not so much that I need to wind fast to keep the lure from dragging in the grass. That's usually 1/4 or 3/8 th, depending on wind and drift. In deeper channels or where the bottom is clear I'll use a 1/2.

As the water gets deeper I still want to stay on the bottom w/o waiting too long so wieght goes up to 3/4 or as much as 3 oz. Much heavier than that I'll run a plastic or gulp above a torpedo sinker. Mike

05-22-2016, 09:44 PM	#4
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	Thanks guys. Think I'll invest in some more heavy heads. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

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05-22-2016, 06:06 AM	#1
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	I use 1/2 oz weedless heads on 5-6.5" swimbaits, but have been considering going up to 1.5 oz for a faster fall rate. I've always fished shallower water from shore in the past, so the slow fall has been fine, but now that I'm kayaking there have been sometimes where I felt I was waiting forever to get the bait down. I recently got some 3/4 oz and 1 oz weedless jigheads to try out with some big Kalin's grubs, so I'll start experimenting there.

05-22-2016, 09:41 AM	#2
Snags Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Culver City Posts: 103	I generally use heavier jigs. I'm partial to thr 1.5 oz Warbaits weedless or Reebs..

05-22-2016, 11:56 AM	#3
sandico Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	This is all relative to multiple variables. When fishing spotties I would stay with 1/2oz or less. This is dictated by depth of water and line size for me. Unless you are fishing SD Bay, you shouldn't need to worry about the fall rate as the other bays are shallow. SD Bay I will go up to as much as 1oz when fishing sandbass in the deeper water. When fishing calicos there are a lot of variables but similar to the bays. Head size for me is always dictated by depth of water. Shallow to 20 feet I will fish 3/4oz-1oz, 20-50 feet 1oz-1.5oz, and 60 plus 1.5oz and up. Heavier line and strong currents will always having me using on the heavier side. I fish both boat and kayak and see myself using on the heavier side when fishing from a boat. The kayak you seem to have a little more control and can fish a little lighter.

05-23-2016, 03:46 PM	#5
ghotion Junior Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 12	I'm fishing Pismo, Shell Beach area and use the 1.5 &.2 oz. Warbaits. Even though it's only 20' to 30' deep I like getting to the bottom in a hurry, I like the bait to be under my boat not 20 - 30 yards away. And as some say the bigger the bait the bigger the fish.

05-23-2016, 04:16 PM	#6
NorthwestAngler Junior Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6	All depends on where you are fishing. Yesterday we were out on SD Bay and killing it in 7-9 feet of water with 1/4oz - 3/8oz heads on 3" baits. Recently I've moved to smaller and smaller baits. We then moved spots and switched to 3/4oz heads to get deeper.

05-24-2016, 07:33 AM	#7
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Most of my salt water bassin is in south SD bay. Its fairy shallow over eel grass. I've found spotties bite better on or near the bottom or right above the grass. So I need enough weight to get down but not so much that I need to wind fast to keep the lure from dragging in the grass. That's usually 1/4 or 3/8 th, depending on wind and drift. In deeper channels or where the bottom is clear I'll use a 1/2. As the water gets deeper I still want to stay on the bottom w/o waiting too long so wieght goes up to 3/4 or as much as 3 oz. Much heavier than that I'll run a plastic or gulp above a torpedo sinker. Mike