Canyon Lake A Kayaker's Dream Come True Phoenix, AZ

A kayakers dream is hidden in one of the most unlikely of places, Phoenix Arizona. Canyon Lake is considered the jewel of the Phoenix lakes for it’s picturesque views and abundance of wild life. Created with the damming of the Salt River the lake has 20 miles of shoreline and is loaded with tulles and other types of cover which makes it a fishermen’s paradise.

   It is not uncommon to see kayaks on Canyon Lake because Canyon Lake is the smallest of the chain on the Salt River at 950 surface acres. The views created by the high red-rock canyon walls are breath taking and create great anticipation around every corner you turn. There a lot of hidden coves and gorges to explore while fishing keeping you entertained even when the fish are not biting.

During the winter months Lake Canyon is also stocked with Rainbow trout making it one of the top swimbait lakes in the Phoenix area. Is not uncommon to see double-digit bass taken from this lake especially during the mild winter months. Huddleston trout swimbaits work excellent in this lake. Just last week an 8-pound bass was caught using a Huddleston.

There are two main points to launch in this lake, a public launch and a private launch at the marina both located on highway 88. For kayakers I would recommend the marina because of the access point and close parking. You will also find a very unique area dedicated to non-motorized boats (electric or gas) that can be accessed through the marina.

The best part of about this area is it is where most of the biggest fish have been caught. Labarge Cove located under the second bridge has an abundance of tulles and rock formations bass love to hide out in. As you head towards the back of the cove it shallows out making a great spanning ground for bass in the spring. With out having to compete with bass boats this makes this area a huge advantage for kayak fishermen.

There are other areas that produce great results as well, including a cove under the first bridge named First Water cove. This cove also is loaded with tulles and shallows out towards the back as well. Of all the coves it also has some of the best views with tight spaces between the rock walls. You can also stroll up the Salt River with ease to explore all it has to offer.

As I mentioned before this lake is an excellent swimbait lake, also has a good crank bait bite in the spring, fall, and winter. It never hurts to keep a couple spoons and spinners in your kayak also. All of these lakes in the Phoenix area are loaded with shad making shinning lures a must. Top water bite can be hit and miss, it is really a matter of being in the right place at the right time. The Rio Rico is my favorite in a ghost blue gill color or the standard shad color.

During the sometime time months when the weather warms you will want to switch to a drop shot rig with a 5 inch Robo worm. Bass often go deep during the summer time and it is difficult to get cranks down deep enough to get to them.

If you are looking for a great adventure, a good fishing spot, or a sight seeing trip Canyon Lake is a must on your bucket list. I would rate this lake a ten out of ten for kayak friendliness.

Lake Martinez a Hidden Oasis For Big Bass in Yuma AZ

   

     Lake Martinez has a unique location, as you travel into the city of Yuma down 95 through the strip of new age fast food restaurants and then back into the desert.Your mind starts to ask, could there really be water here? As the journey continues you travel through Army proving grounds. You also see old artillery guns and helicopters strategically placed throughout the desert landscape making it feel like a scene out of area 51.

   Finally, as you approach Martinez Lake, you are traveling over a road that reminds you of a roller coaster as child with the constant inclines and declines on the road. Then all the sudden out of nowhere appears a beautiful lush green environment filled with Waterfowl, Owls, and many other types of wildlife.

  

   It’s hard to image such a beautiful waterway in the middle of the desert, but it does exist thanks to the Colorado river and it’s fast moving currents. Even where the temperatures soar well of above the century mark, there is a great fishery with monster bass swimming in its waters.

   With my first experience at Martinez Lake I was skeptical because of the area’s surrounding the lake and river. Boy was i mistaken this is an excellent fishery with good bites on top water, cranks, and plastics. In the hotter parts of the year, the Bass hang out in the cooler currents of the Colorado River and it’s backwaters. As the weather cools, they move into the lake and the shallows of the backwaters.

The water was clear and inside the Lake I could go as deep as 8 feet in some parts. There are tullie's everywhere, along with lots of grass mats making a perfect fit for top water frogs. I was able to experience it first hand, I had some great blow ups in the morning and landed a nice 6 pounder just before dark on a Designer Bass Frog.

  

    The river and the lake are very kayak friendly, I would rate it a 7.5 out of 10 because of the multiple access points and the vast amount of backwaters. The current in the Colorado River is strong and something that you need to be cautious of when planning your trip. There are also many sand bars along the way to take a break and get in a quick swim to cool off.

    Temperatures easily reach 100 plus degrees 6 to 7 months a year, so staying hydrated is a challenge. Bring lots of water and make sure to start hydrating a few days before going out. Lakes like Martinez are why I live 2 kayak fish.  

Lake Toho Bass Fishing, Lake Tohopekaliga, FL

One of the most intense bass lakes I had ever experienced! Not only does it hold some of the Biggest bass in the country it also holds some of the largest gators in the country as well.


There is no feeling like facing a 10 foot gator in a 12 foot kayak. This like is not for the light hearted and I would recommend only experienced kayers because of the impending dangers of the gators.


Located in Kissimmee Florida just 20 minutes for Orlando this lake is easy to reach and fun to navigate. I would recommend launching from the southeast side of the lake. Access is easy, there is a store on sight in the marina, and bathrooms are in a good spot near the launch.


Topwater is golden here with The Designer Bass Frog know as the kind of these waters boating bass well over ten pounds. With tons of cover including Lily's, high grass, Tules, and Cypress Tress. You will never run out of places to throw your frog.

Lake Toho is a large lake with just over 22,000 acres and pretty shallow to boot keep the chop at minimal. The water is dark and visibility is low making sight fishing near impossible. Lipless crank baits and rattle traps work well, snag them in the grass and them pulling them through works well to alert the bass. The rule of thumb is the noisier the better.

The Cypress tree roots are great places for the big bass to hide especially late spring just after the spawn. Throwing frogs at the roots really get them going. Darker soft plastic worms and Rage tail craws are effective as well. Please careful of the gators they are very aggressive during the spring time during mating season.

Airboat traffic can be heavy at times and loud to boot causing some serious wakes. Besides that it is a great place to fish. The gators are normally not an issue with boaters but in a kayak they is a possibility they could pose a threat. Overall I would say Lake Toho is a 7.5 out of 10 for kayak friendliness. If you like the challenge of a big lake with lot's of cover then lake Toho is your lake.

The California Delta

The California Delta is considered one of the best bass fisheries in the world. Made up of 5 river's converging and flowing in the San Francisco Bay you have 100 plus miles of water to fish. The area is lush green with vegetation and has lots of sloughs to navigate through.


The main type of vegetation to fish in the area is Tules, Hydrilla, Water milfoil, and Giant Salvinia. There are 54 types of fish species in the Delta but most anglers focus is on Largemouth and Stripper bass.

Although most people wouldln't consider the Delta a Kayak Friendly area I would disagree. There are two main access point I would suggest Bethel Island and Big Break. Both of these area's have good marina's that are accustom to people fishing in Kayaks. Big Break marina is my favorite access point because it has a nice launch, easy access to restrooms, and the price to launch is the cheapest in the area at 8 dollars.


Both Big Break and Bethel Island are loaded with Tules and grass mats. Using a specific type of bait is difficult depending on conditions and the tide. Topwater works early morning most often but has been a tuff bite this summer. Punching mats is a favorite but I had more success drop shotting against the Tules with soft plastics like Robo Worms and Senko's.

Topwater Frogs are a favorite here and they will work well if the conditions are right. There is a big advantage fishing from a kayak because you can wedge into area's between the Tules that have open pools of water with some giant bass in them. A good Largemouth at the Delta is 10 plus pounds.

The sunken iron ship off of the Big Break also is good are to start depending the time of year you can catch Largemouth or Strippers. Although area's like Discovery Bay are deeper and have a better Stripper population especially during the winter time.


The last good hot spot I would like to mention for Kayaks is the Woodward ISL. This area is load with Tules and there are shadows casting on either side depending on the time of day. Topwater works really well try something you through up in the Tules for the best results.

Safety is always a concern in the Delta because of the amount of traffic and crossing sloughs. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and cautious of other boaters. The tide can also be a concern make sure you check with the marina before heading. The Delta is a large area it is important you take the proper safety precautions to assure a fun and safe trip.


I would rank the Delta an 8 out of 10 for kayak friendliness. You often run into others kayak anglers and they are always willing to give you some good tips on fishing the delta.

Tawas Lake, East Tawas Michigan

This lake is a great lake for Kayaker's because it has a great fish population, easy access, and is shallow at 2 to 5 feet deep. There is a collection of creek run off's that gather and then flow into the Tawas river for a short period of time then into lake Huron.


The Lake has monster Pike some over 40 inches, a great Bluegill population, and good size Largemouth Bass some ranging in the 5 to 6 pound range witch is an size excellent for Michigan. Also I have sighted lots of Gar Pike but they where smaller in size and near impossible to catch without a spear. The Smallmouth Bass are located mainly in the river at the south east end of lake. Soft Plastics (Senko's) and Mepp Spinners work well to target small mouth.

Cover at Tawas lake is thick with lots of lily's, tules, and water plants. This is an ideal lake for kayak fishing with adequate size and lots of big bass. Access is easy with a D&R launch ramp and plenty of parking. You locate the ramp by following Tawas Lake rd. until it ends and making a left.


Topwater frogs work great as long as they are weedless. Throw them against the tules or over the lily's and you will have great success. Just be aware the chance of you catching a pike is about 50/50 with a frog so be prepared to get them off the hook.

Cranks will work good in the spring along with soft plastics. Once the weeds move in your better off using topwater or weedless swim baits. You are dealing with a lot of cover but there is an explosive bite out there and you will enjoy it.

I would say this Lake would rate 9 out of 10 for Kayak friendly lakes. You will see other kayaks on the lake but there is plenty of room for all. There are many options with access to the river, creeks, and a large lake you have plenty of places to explore.