I’ve enjoyed kayak fishing for over twelve years now. In that time, I’ve had the good fortune of trying a wide variety of types of fishing. I’ve kayak fished for marlin and tuna offshore, redfish in the salt marshes. I've pursued countless species of fish in freshwater, including bass, walleye, salmon, trout, and even arctic grayling.
On my trip fishing on Watts Bar Lake in Tennessee, I was to try something new. It wasn’t a new fishing style, or type of fish that I was targeting. I was going on my first real kayak fishing trip in an inflatable kayak!
Fishing on Watts Bar Lake: About the Lake
Watts Bar Lake is a reservoir on the Tennessee River that is created by Watts Bar Dam. Like many of the reservoirs along the Tennessee River, Watts Bar is considered a World class fishing lake. It was only 45 minutes from where I was staying in Knoxville. It was a no-brainer that I was going to chase some bass on the Lake at some point.
I hooked up with Mike Daugherty of the Watts Bar Kayak Fishermen at the beautiful Arrow Head Resort. Despite some strong winds and cooler temperatures, I was on a mission to catch one of the big bass that the lake was known for.
I decided to use this opportunity to test the Sea Eagle 385 Fast Track Angler kayak – an inflatable kayak designed for fishing. Now, the idea of doing an activity that involves throwing sharp objects around from an inflatable craft might not seem very smart on the surface.
Choosing a Kayak – The Sea Eagle 385fta
One of the biggest challenges that has come with kayak fishing is the weight and size of the specialized kayaks. For example, the Hobie Pro Angler that Mike was using on this day weighs well over 100 pounds. In order to get it around, a dedicated kayak trailer is the best option, and in many cases the only option. I was very happy to test a fishing kayak that was under 50 pounds and that fits in the trunk of a car with ease.
I will be posting a full review of the Sea Eagle 385fta very soon and the video review is below, but here’s what I can tell you at a base level. The kayak was great to paddle and fish from, but unfortunately it didn’t make me a better angler. 😉
My best catch of the day was a gnarly root ball that put up a pretty good fight! I did find some peace knowing that Mike struggled as well – although he did manage to land several fish over the course of the day. As anglers love to say, “that’s why they call it fishing and not catching”.
Kayak: Sea Eagle 385 FastTrack
Paddles: Aqua Bound Manta Ray Hybrid
PFD: NRS Odyssey PFD (Touring and Rec)
Clothing: NRS Short Sleeved Guide Shirt
Sunglasses: Wiley X
