By Paul Lebowitz

Imagine yourself gliding across a glacial blue alpine lake, soaring mountains mirrored in the shimmering surface of the water. The glittering rainbow trout at the end of your line skips and leaps its way to your kayak. Or consider threading your way through a maze of narrow backwater channels on a river that flows slowly through miles of blasted desert. The tall aquatic vegetation that towers overhead hides big-whiskered catfish and bass that rarely see a lure. Perhaps you prefer to dream you are floating on one of the Southland’s reservoirs legendary for breeding lunker largemouth bass. Could today be the day you’ll reel in the long-awaited bucketmouth that will finally shatter old George Perry’s record?

Whether here at home in Southern California, or farther afield up in the high Sierras or down in the desert on the lower Colorado River, lakes and rivers have a lot to offer the kayak angler. Yet relatively few of us fish the fresh.

Nationally, there are a lot more freshwater fishermen out there than those of us who stick to the ocean. Want proof, albeit unscientific? Leaf through a Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s catalog and compare the saltwater and freshwater sections. The freshwater fishing pages are a good inch thicker. Shoot, the largemouth bass section alone offers more goodies than the entire saltwater selection. Kayak anglers who stick to the saltwater must be missing something. 

The arguments that dismiss Southern California’s inland waters go something like this:

“The fish are bigger in the ocean, and they’re more of them too.”

“I don’t like being nickled and dimed for lake permits and launch fees.”

“Who wants to be buzzed by bass boats and water skiers?”

“The freshwater fishing isn’t good here anyway.”

Wait a moment. Certainly a fishing trip to a lake can be an expensive proposition, especially if you have to pay a launch fee for each kayak in the group while that guy behind the wheel of that overcrowded pontoon boat only paid once. But there are fish that rival the size of most anything you’ll target from a kayak out on the salt. Broad-shouldered striped bass will drag your kayak on a freshwater “sleigh-ride.” You’ll need good luck and a lot of skill to land a 60-pound blue catfish, or stop an underwater freight train such as a big carp before it ties you up in the weeds.

Sure, it is sometimes difficult to find fish in our crystal clear drinking water reservoirs. Some of those same lakes, thanks to winter trout stocking and long growing seasons, are good bets to give up the record breaking largemouth bass. While your odds of catching fame and fortune might not be that great, there are plenty of smaller bass to chase, and while you’re doing it you can at least dream.

No doubt the reputations some inland waters have as powerboat playgrounds are well earned. It is true that speeding watercraft and kayaks don’t mix well. Many bays pose the same hazards, yet there is no shortage of kayak anglers who fish them anyway. At least on the lake you won’t be run down by a passing aircraft carrier or cruise ship. Even if you are in the mixed company of bass boats and Jet Skis, chances are you can find your own piece of water. Hunt out narrow creek channels, shallow back bays, and prop-snagging vegetation.

HERE KITTY KITTY – Low elevation lakes in Southern California offer good catfishing in the summer months. Ted DeBont hooked this one at Lake Hodges. PHOTO COURTESY RON CRITCHLEY

LAKES ARE KID STUFF –Martin Harding with his son Clay “the Fishcatcher” at Irvine Lake. The calm water is ideal for introducing kids to fun of kayak fishing. 

LUNKER? – The world record largemouth bass could be waiting for you in a local lake. This one caught by Scott Blaydes has a lot of growing to do before it reaches 22 pounds.

RAINBOW –Stocked trout are fun too. This is Jaime Near with a brilliant Irvine Lake rainbow trout.

Take full advantage of your stealthy go-anywhere craft to target the fish that others can’t reach.

While the open ocean and busy bays can be intimidating to the uninitiated, most bodies of freshwater are inviting. The calm, quiet waters of a small lake are tailor made for a beginning kayak angler to learn a new boat. Generally, wind chop and boat wakes are the only waves you’ll encounter. Nervous Nellies won’t dwell on the theme from Jaws.

Lakes are great places to hook kids on kayak fishing. Start at a lake teeming with bluegill or crappie. Since most kids prefer catching over fishing, they’ll love the fast action. If they can go swimming afterwards, catch frogs, or frolic at a playground, so much the better. Associate the lake and fishing with fun and you just might find a lifelong fishing partner. 

Unfortunately, it is a sad fact of life that kayak anglers aren’t welcome on all lakes. Many drinking water reservoirs just say no to body-water contact. If swimming is ok, or water-skiing, sail-boarding, or any other similar water sport is permitted, chances are you can fish from your kayak. If not, don’t fret. In the final calculation, things have a way of evening out.

There are plenty of places where the only folks fishing from the water will be float tubers and kayakers. Chief among these are our high Sierra lakes. Maybe there is no launch ramp, or motorized craft are prohibited. Either equals paddle fishing paradise, but you might have to work for it by wheeling your kayak down a trail or car-topping it along dirt roads. Either way, you are probably in for an adventure. For accessing remote, hard to reach fishing holes very little beats a kayak.