Jeremy Miller is a Hobie Fishing and Alpenglow Mountain Sports pro staffer who fishes big rivers in the Pacific Northwest, like the Snake River, looking for fat, hungry smallmouth bass on his Pro Angler 14. Use his rigging style to setup your kayak for moving water monsters like a pro.
Kayak: Choosing the right kayak for your fishing situation is important, making sure that you have the proper stability and storage at the same time. It’s especially important when chasing smallies on big rivers. I chose the Hobie Pro Angler 14 for the stability, storage and comfort. With a capacity of 600 lbs it makes a great platform for a big river.
Propulsion: I use the MirageDrive to get around and it’s one of the many reasons I chose this kayak. The MirageDrive makes for great hands-free fishing when on the river and I can keep up with the current, which lets me get the most out of my time on the water. When a paddle is necessary I use the Hobie half paddle with the t-grip on the end.
PFD: The PFD is the most important thing when on the water. On a kayak you want to make sure you are comfortable and wearing it all day whether it is 100 degrees or 8 degrees. I went with the Onyx Manual inflatable PFD. If I catch some spray or it gets too wet from rain it won’t be inflated around my neck instantly.
Rods: One thing I have found fishing the Snake River is that certain flow levels and water clarity make the fish finicky. I typically carry 4-6 rods when on the water. A medium-light spinning setup for the Ned rig and wacky rigging, a medium spinning setup for dropshot, a medium casting setup for small cranks and small lipless baits, a medium-heavy casting for jigs, a frog rod and a medium-heavy jerkbait rod.
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Tackle: The Ned rig is an essential setup for fishing big water like the Snake. It’s a confidence bait for sure. The setup has been around for a long time but has become more popular over the last year and a half.
Z-Man makes the best components for this rig in my opinion. From the T.R.D worm and the Shroomz jig head. You can dead stick it in cold water and let it just drift with the current giving it a hop every minute or so or work it fast in the summer months. With such a small profile being about 3 inches in size it makes the bait easy for the fish to commit to.
Tackle Storage: Tackle storage is always key and the Pro Angler 14 has storage for two tackle boxes in the center console between your legs, more storage under the seat and a spot behind the seat for a kayak crate. I can carry 5-6 boxes with me and not worry if I left something that may be needed at home.
Tools: Having the right tools on the water keeps you on the river. I’m an expert at losing tools on the water. I always like to be over-prepared, as you can probably tell with my rod and tackle selection, and I hate having to bite off a section of line (plus I don’t like the dental bills that can follow). I carry 2-3 pairs of needle nose pliers and keep them in different places around my kayak. Fish grips are a great thing when on the river because they can be used to hold a fish when getting the camera prepped for a Grip and Grin picture.
Anchor System: When I target Snake River smallmouth I like to keep my anchor on a trolley. If I find a slow flowing stretch of river that is holding a good school I like to anchor either upriver or downriver and cast past the school. Retrieve accordingly depending on what type of lure you’re using. Fishing the Snake limits the use of a stakeout pole due to the depth of the water in most areas.
Wasting energy as a kayak angler is never a good thing when on the hunt for smallmouth or fishing on big rivers. I have found fishing parallel to the bank and staying within 30-50 feet of the bank helps with controlling your drift and even allows you to move upriver.
