Specially designed flat-water kayaks fitted with rod holders and other fishing equipment are becoming one of the newest trends among anglers across the country, and they could be the next big thing to hit the waterways around Chattanooga.
“I think the growth of flat-water kayaking has folks looking at what else they can do on a kayak,” says Outdoor Chattanooga Executive Director Philip Grymes. “If anybody has ever caught a fish on a kayak, it’s twice as exciting on a small boat.”
The boats provide anglers with a stable and maneuverable method to get to where the best fishing is, and the small one-person crafts can carry all the equipment needed to land the big one.
Bass, catfish and crappie are just a few of the popular targets for area anglers looking for big catches, and they can all be caught from a fishing kayak. When most people think of bass fishing, the image that comes to mind is the big, high-powered bass boat charging across the water. But a good fisherman can get the same results on a fishing kayak at a fraction of the cost, according to Choo Choo Fly & Tackle owner Mac McGee.
“Whether you’re fishing for bass in five feet of water or in 20 or 25 feet of water, you’re going to be able to do the same stuff in a kayak that you can do in [a big bass boat],” he says.