Fall 2026
D
aniel Balaba isn’t just winning kayak bass
tournaments in 2026. He’s putting up numbers
no like no other. With multiple wins already this season, Balaba has broken the 100-inch mark twice, posting
a massive 106 inches at Lake Berryessa and another 103.75
inches in a victory at Clear Lake. He is the only angler to
eclipse the century mark multiple times this year.
But these accomplishments tell only part of the story. Balaba has built a résumé that includes wins on the California Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Berryessa and Folsom, while proving he can adjust from shallow-water techniques to offshore fishing on deep, clear highland reservoirs.
That versatility makes Balaba a threat just about anywhere he launches a kayak. We caught up with one of the West’s top kayak anglers to find out what is behind the wins and how he continues to adjust when the water, conditions and fish demand something different.
WB: Let’s start at the beginning. Tell us who got you started fishing.
Balaba: I was introduced to fishing before I can even remember. My dad started taking me when I was just three- years-old. We spent countless days fishing the San Francisco Bay for perch, crab, and stripers. I’ll never forget those days with the water with my dad. I was lucky to have a dad take me fishing and spending time with me. I always had a passion for catching bass. They seemed so hard to catch and as a kid that was the cool part. I remember trying to catch bass I could see and never be able to get them to bite.
As I got older and started educating myself on bass behavior. I understood why I couldn’t catch those fish and why they always seemed so elusive. It was 2007 when I bought my first kick boat and started competing in Bass n Tubes and SCBBC, local belly boat clubs. I met some of the coolest down-to-earth people I know who also happened to be some great fisherman as well. Years later, that foundation led me into competitive kayak bass fishing. I’ve
been fortunate enough to earn several tournament victories against some of the best anglers in the sport.
WB: During the fall, how do you locate bass and where do you search to find fish?
Balaba: Fall is one of my favorite times to fish in Northern California’s clear-water highland reservoirs. During this time of year, my focus stays on the main body of the lake or the larger creek arms closest to the main channel. I spend most of my time targeting offshore structure such as points, humps, flats, ledges, and creek channels that are adjacent to deep water. The keys for me are covering water and looking for bait balls.
In the fall, bass often follow schools of bait that can be anywhere from 30- to well over 130-feet deep. Many of these fish aren’t positioned on structure at all. They’re suspended and constantly moving. These pelagic fish can be challenging to locate, but once you find them, the action can be incredible. Another key is staying with the school, especially if they are the right size. A must-have is a Torqueedo 1103 motor with foot-steering because it helps me stay with the moving schools.
WB: Once you locate fish, what are your top-five baits you use to catch fish?
Balaba: First is a minnow. This is my fall confidence bait. If the fish are willing to eat a minnow-style presentation, it can be nonstop action. It’s my first choice for targeting suspended fish relating to bait. The minnow has a great hookup and landing ratio, and big fish seem to love it as well. Leading the fish is really important because the fish need to see it and won’t react as much when cast behind them. If I make a bad cast, I just real in quickly and make another cast trying to put it in their path.
My second choice is a spoon. It is perfect for vertically fishing beneath bait schools and triggering reaction bites from fish holding deeper in the water column. It is also a
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