It’s another serene setting in the kayak on a cool summer morning. The lake surface is like glass with long legged blue heron stalking prey on the edges. The sun is bright and shines warmly on my shoulders. Casting the edges of dead tree lines usually proves to catching fish. After a few casts there is a huge jolt! Is the lure snagged on a log? Oh no! It’s something huge as the water is splashed by a large fish. Could this be the epic largemouth bass that anglers sometimes spend a lifetime trying to catch? The fish rolls! A glimpse of fins and the body color is a grayish brown. Could this fish really be a cat? As the kayak is pulled in the direction of the fish the pole is bent as far as it can go while the fish starts rolling and thrashing in the skinny water. No net, so the fish is grabbed and hauled into the plastic boat by hand. Time for a picture of this huge cat caught on a spinner bait lure. This same scenario is repeated numerous times this past summer while attempting to find those huge largemouth bass lurking the tree lines. Little do we know that there are huge channel catfish following the same daily pattern. While usually fishing for these cats at night we have found them to be very active during daylight hours as well recently. For years we used stink and cut baits for these monsters. Sure, most of us have landed a cat or two in the past on a plastic worm or other kinds of artificial lures, but consistently? This past summer of 2013 was epic for catching catfish on crank baits and spinner baits. Most of them were caught in one to two foot of water during the early summer. As the summer progressed more of the cats were caught on the edges of rip rap in deeper water. This included blue cats, flatheads, and channels. Inviting others to join in on the fun was even more exhilarating! Most days instead of hunting largemouth, we focused our efforts on the cats with huge spinner baits and even put a “stinger hook” on to guarantee hookups when a cat decided to pursue our lures. Sometimes the spinner baits were grabbed just as they hit the water for an adrenalin rush that would send chills down your spine! Go ahead, give it a try this next season! Tie on a spinner bait and fish those shallow channels where catfish lurk in the early spring. You might even get a joy ride!
Marty
Kayakjak’s passion for fishing started as a youngster fishing small freshwater ponds in Southern California and combing the area beaches with a surf rod. Growing up as a military child often put him in new environments with unique fishing challenges. He has lived in Nebraska since 1976 and graduated from college with a teaching degree of which he has put to use educating youth the last 31 years there. He also holds a Master Degree in Educational Administration. Marty is very active helping the youth of his community with various programs including a before school program called, “Early Birds” and other various activities including a State Championship Archery team, youth football, basketball, and fishing in schools program. As Nebraska’s only kayak fishing guide Kayakjak will work hard to provide his clients with a “unique” fishing and learning experience.
Marty Hughes (Kayakjak) is a highly respected and very experienced guide with over 42 years of angling experience. He has fished from a kayak for the past 15 years in Southwest Nebraska lakes and ponds. He has been Featured in NebraskaLand Magazine April 2003 and the Omaha World Herald in June of 2005. Kayakjak’s objectives include events for wounded veterans, environmental improvements, and promoting the interest of kayak fishing in the Midwest. He has organized many kayak fishing tournaments throughout Nebraska. Kayakjak's Outfitters offers professional kayak fishing instruction for any experience level. He can tailor guided trips to meet the needs of a complete novice or more advanced kayak anglers. Guided trips include Emotion Kayaks and all the equipment a person would need for a fun, adventure filled trip! Our goal is to provide for advanced kayak fishing instruction and an excellent outdoor experience for our clients. We are very blessed to offer these services in some of Nebraska's most scenic backwaters. "A Unique Experience, Everytime!"
What others have said:
Spring time in Benkleman has its challenges when it comes to fishing. kJ, Marty or KayakJak, take your pick, he'll answer to any of these names. I'm partial to KayakJak. This is a guy who's passion for the world of kayaking and especially kayak fishing is unsurpassed!
I've had the honor and privilege to have spent 2 days kayaking and fishing with KayakJak. As noted above, spring time fishing has its challenges. I've never met KayakJac live and in person. Talked to him a couple of times on the phone and pestered him for information by email and watched several videos of him on Utube. From the first minute of meeting him, I had the feeling that we had been friends for a lifetime. That's what type of guy he is. No hype and no air about him. KayakJak is the real deal, the Indiana Jones of kayak fishing.
Being new to the sport of kayak fishing, KayakJak's approach to the "newbie" was terrific. He's very professional without the stuffyness that sometimes follows a professional guide or instructor.
Talk about going out of his way to make your trip into a lifetime memory, I swear this guy planted some fish so I could experience what it's like to catch a fish from a kayak. While giving me space to practice some of the tips he had for me, KayakJak scouted ahead and found the hiding places of the ever elusive LMB.
Geez- I've just read thru the above, kinda sounds a little hokie and like he paid me to say the things above, no I paid him! And not near enough for what I got!
Jim B.
Latest from Marty
Advertisement
Recent Blog Posts
More Related Articles Below! ___________________________
-
Quest for kayak flatheads - Tactical adjustments
One of the things that I love about fishing in general and about kayak angling specifically, is the problem solving. Each day and each location are full of constantly changing variables… -
2015 New Species
The 2015 fishing season was a good one for me. The kayak fishing season for me started in April when the ice came off the lakes and continued up until… -
Two New Tournament Series for Michigan Kayak Anglers
As the sport of kayak fishing continues to grow in the Midwest, Michigan has been void of a sound tournament series to date. That is until 2016. Both the Michigan… -
Spring Crappie Fishing
Crappie get targeted often during the ice fishing season in Minnesota and then get overlooked during the open water months. Minnesota is home to both species of Crappie (White and… -
Backwater Bassin'
It's nearing the end of February here in Minnesota which means Cabin Fever is setting in! I still have a small list of modifications I want to add to my…
Top Blog Posts
Most Popular This Year! ___________________________
-
Quest for kayak flatheads - Tactical adjustments
One of the things that I love about fishing in general and about kayak angling specifically, is the problem solving. Each day and each location are full of constantly changing variables…