5 Tips To Keep Warm During The Winter Season

Winter has the majority if us tucked into bed and dreaming of spawning spring bass. For those that venture out, the winter season can yield outstanding results. The key to winter fishing is being comfortable. When you are comfortable, warm, you can cruise the lake and look for those stubborn and lethargic winter monsters. Todays post focuses on the five things kayak anglers can do to keep warm when the winter season raises her mighty hand.

1. Base Layer: The top layer we prefer the heavyweight 1/2 zip top by Columbia Sportswear. The Omni Heat technology uses your own bodies heat to maximize warmth while wicking away moisture. Columbia has two weights of tights that we prefer either the mid weight or heavyweight depending on temperatures. Base layer has to be tight to your body so that you have maximum opportunity to keep warm.

2. Mid Layer: When deciding on the mid layer decide how you want to look when you roll into the store to buy the morning coffee. We prefer to wear our tactical fishing pants or jeans. The Columbia Sportswear Blood & Guts pant offers comfort and stain fighting material that holds up for an entire fishing season. Up top we roll with a tactical fishing shirt covered by a fleece vest or long sleeve fleece depending on temperatures.

3. 3/4 Layer: This layer is what you should put on once you arrive at the ramp. When fighting the elements you need a quilting effect so that you ensure the insulation is working it’s magic. We have found nothing better to keep you warm than the fleece pant. When you are standing in the wind, cold water or flying across the lake in boat nothing keeps you warmer than fleece.

4. Outer Layer: This is where the rubber meets the road and we prefer the breathable hip wader, Columbia Sportswear Bugaboo Jacket, stocking cap, gloves and boots. This is the performance level that cannot be compromised. The waders allow us to launch and keep us dry if we slip in. When you pair the Bugaboo jacket with it’s element resistant qualities, the hip waders and boots you have an excellent system to keep you warm and dry.

5. Dry Bag: A change of clothes is key will be needed if disaster should find you. A good dry bag offers not only clothes, but a blanket, fire materials and a spare car key. Being prepared will save your life.

Winter is a great time to be out on the water. Some of the years largest fish are caught from January through April. When you decide it’s time to chase winter bass follow the five tips and you will be warm and ready to land the fish of a lifetime.

KEEP LIVING THE ADVENTURE!

What A Year!

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone! As you get older you begin to think about everything that went into the year that was from new friendships, opportunities and the experiences you had on the water. It’s funny that whenever you take time to reflect you seldom remember the negative. This year was an outstanding year for Kayak Bass Adventures achieving some benchmarks, analyzing setbacks and having a great time navigating the map to Living The Dream!

We would like to think all of our partners that make Kayak Bass Adventures happen; from our product relationships to our production company and to our financial backers that saw the passion and took a shot on us this year. We look forward to continuing our relationship while we navigate the higher roads leading to the summit. We realize that without the support of our friends, partners and backers that we could not do what we do.

THANKS TO:
Mariner-Sails, Xcite Baits, Hobie Fishing, Supernova Fishing Lights, TFO Rods, Plano, Power Pole, Yak Attack, Hydrowave, Smith Optics, Brute Outdoors, Valley, Heroes On The Water, Mystery Tackle Box, Sandlin Homes, EV Photo, Occasionally Genius, Anderson-Hanson-Blanton, Texas Pro Lake Management, Hopkins Outdoors

To all our friends and audience that we met this year thank you guys for your support. Our top priority for 2015 will be to continually produce content that’s worth your time. Looking back it has been a big year and we look forward to what is to come. There is plenty of opportunity out there for those wanting to Live The Adventure!
Happy New Year!

Three Steps To Great Father & Son Time On The Water

Fishing is a big deal to me. I have tried for a couple of years to instill that passion in my twelve year old son and finally he has caught the bug. Spending quality time on the water with my son is important o me because it is something he and I can share for a lifetime. I love looking at the photos and reading posts on forums about how a dad of 79 and son in his early 50’s are still getting it done in kayaks. My hope is that my son and I can share this bond for many years years to come. Here are three things I have observed about my son and I’s fishing relationship.

• Let The Game Come To You. I have learned that by having my son innate the fishing conversation he takes it more seriously and is a better listener when receiving instructions.
• Fish On A Kids Terms. I can fish for hours in any type of weather, kids usually cannot. I found that by breaking the trip up into segments of 1-2 hours help hold attention and will not burn out your child.
• Don’t Take It To Seriously. Remember you are fishing with a kid so don’t beat them down with over the top instruction and always encourage them, even when they backlash your best bait caster!

When Jack and I head to the lake I want to make sure he has a great time, learns a few things and enjoys being outside. I learned by taking the laid back approach to fishing with my son works best for all of us and fosters great memories and anticipation of our next trip. Of course it always helps to have great fishing action whether its fishing for bass or catching a ton of perch on Ultralight equipment. For all of us Dads out there I know there are no better words you can hear on the the lake than when your son yells, “Hey Dad I got one!”

KEEP LIVING THE DREAM

That Spring Time Fall Feeling!

The fall season has opened up with cold fronts, swinging temperatures and hungry bass! Other than football there is no greeter thing than the fall feed up. Last week we hung out with FLW Pro, James Biggs and were amazed at his tactics for landing big fall bass.

We all know that seasonal patterns play a huge roll in where and how too fish. James Biggs keys on these patterns and samples where the fish should be this time of the year. “It’s time to move shallow and enjoy that spring time fall feeling!” Biggs told me as he cruised a shallow flat waving his cranking rod as it were a magic wand. I replied back, “Spring time Fall feeling?” I was quickly schooled in what this term meant to a FLW touring pro. Here are three quick tips to give you that Spring time Fall feeling.

• Big flat banks with isolated cover produce big fish in the Fall pattern. The most effective way to probe these flats is with the Xcite Baits XB-1, Silent, crankbait.
• Faster is better in the Fall. Speed up the retrieve and look for pockets of bait fish because when you find the bait you find find the bass. You are playing the ultimate reaction strike with fish in a feeding frenzy.
• Be versatile. Should the crankbait bite be nonexistent don’t be afraid to switch gears and go with a brown jig. These fall fronts can knock the bite down for a day or so and if you find yourself caught in this pattern slow down and match the crawfish pattern.

Our day wound up being a combination of the above with a front pressing down the crankbait was the action of the morning producing big fish and then as the front passed through it gave way to an ever so slow jig bite. I learned two things from this trip. First, the pros are pros for a reason. I fished the same bait the same way and over the same spots as James, but at the end of the day James Biggs delivered bigger fish and was on a more consistent bite. Second, listen to the pro. if they tell you to slow down, speed up or get the net heed the warning and do what you are told because it will ut bigger fish on the end of your line. The purpose of a coach is to make you better. For more information on James Biggs feel free to reach out to him on Facebook at James Biggs Fishing. He will be happy to answer questions, share tips or just talk fishing. One last thing, that Spring time Fall feeling is going to be the only fast action you get until next spring so hammer down and get yours this fall. Feel free to share your Fall fishing tips and let us know what is working for you!

KEEP LIVING THE DREAM!