Trolling rapalas - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 01-27-2013, 11:54 AM

I haven't had great success trolling rapalas or other diving plugs from the kayak as far as YT or WSB. Bonito, calicos, and cuda will eat them. Some of the diving plugs designed for salt water need to be trolled faster than kayak speed to get the correct action. Most fresh water style plugs swim well at slower speeds but lack the hooks and construction to hold up to heavy line and tough fish. A personal beef I have with plugs is the multiple treble hooks. Even being carefull I once ended up with a big spottie going crazy in my lap with one treble in its mouth and the other hook flailing around looking for some thing to grab. Geting hook handcuffed to a thrashing fish is not good. I use cranks in the bays but always remove the front hooks now. The beast trolling lures Ihave found for the kayak are swimbaits and crocodiles. They move well at a variety of speeds and dont' have too many hooks. Mike

01-27-2013, 11:54 AM	#7
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I haven't had great success trolling rapalas or other diving plugs from the kayak as far as YT or WSB. Bonito, calicos, and cuda will eat them. Some of the diving plugs designed for salt water need to be trolled faster than kayak speed to get the correct action. Most fresh water style plugs swim well at slower speeds but lack the hooks and construction to hold up to heavy line and tough fish. A personal beef I have with plugs is the multiple treble hooks. Even being carefull I once ended up with a big spottie going crazy in my lap with one treble in its mouth and the other hook flailing around looking for some thing to grab. Geting hook handcuffed to a thrashing fish is not good. I use cranks in the bays but always remove the front hooks now. The beast trolling lures Ihave found for the kayak are swimbaits and crocodiles. They move well at a variety of speeds and dont' have too many hooks. Mike