Fishing from a kayak provides a singular expertise, permitting for a more in-depth reference to nature and entry to much less pressured waters. There aren’t any gasoline station stops or the loud revving of engines.
And infrequently, kayaks are allowed on lakes and waterways that motorized boats are usually not, giving kayak anglers extra variation in the place and the way they’ll fish. Kayak fishing is a extra energetic, hands-on expertise, as anglers paddle — or pedal — to entry potential honey holes and produce a unique sense of journey to fishing.
For all the advantages of kayak fishing, there are additionally downfalls that may diminish the expertise. During the last couple of years of kayak fishing, I’ve discovered a number of key gadgets which have enhanced my time on the water and stored me from feeling the necessity to have a fishing boat … principally.
A kayak is a unbelievable device for anglers to entry and discover smaller water and hard-to-access areas, however it sometimes lacks the normal comforts and instruments of a fishing boat. However with a couple of additions, you can also make your kayak right into a fishing juggernaut with out breaking the financial institution.
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The right way to Improve Your Fishing Kayak
Let’s be clear right here — there’s a time and place for all the things. Regardless of how kitted your kayak is, you’re not going to be in place paddling out onto the center of an infinite physique of water like Mille Lacs Lake on a super-windy day. And there are again bays and untouched ponds that you simply’ll by no means be capable to attain in your $100,000 bass boat.
For individuals who don’t need to drop the coin on a fishing boat, don’t have the storage, or simply need the simplicity a kayak has to supply, there are many choices to get your self on the water and discover fish. A kayak, paddle, fishing rod, and a few fundamental deal with can get the job achieved.
However in the event you’re on the lookout for methods to enhance the expertise of chasing fish in your kayak, you’re lined right here. Pedal drives, graphs, electronics, deal with group, rod storage, and different upgrades go a great distance in bettering your time on the water and serving to you catch extra fish.
Pedal to the Plastic: Get a Pedal Drive Kayak
When you have the choice to buy a pedal drive kayak or a kayak with the choice so as to add a pedal drive, it’s a game-changer.
I’ve fished from many various kinds and value level kayaks, and there’s nothing that adjustments the expertise greater than with the ability to pedal.
My foremost fishing kayak is an Outdated City Sportsman PDL 106, and it’s phenomenal. Extremely secure, modular, straightforward to move — the listing goes on. Probably the most important a part of the bundle is the pedal drive. It takes kayak fishing to a complete new stage.
Gliding throughout large water or navigating riverways turns into exponentially simpler with the pedal drive. Once you’re pushing into the wind, you may mix pedaling with paddling and actually cowl floor shortly with out turning into overly drained.
It may well’t be understated how handy it’s to be hands-free whereas fishing, both. You may cowl floor whereas trolling lures, pedal towards a brand new spot whereas rigging up, maintain your self in your spot within the wind whereas fishing, and usually expend much less power whereas exploring extra water.
A pedal drive is a kind of issues that spoil you — when you expertise it, you don’t know the way you ever went with out earlier than.
Sonar Imaging: Humminbird Helix10 + MEGA Dwell
Humminbird’s Helix 10 + MEGA Dwell modified the way in which I fish from my kayak. Earlier than utilizing the Helix 10, I might keep on with pedaling shorelines, fishing factors, or hitting topwater on the perimeters of weed patches or lilies. I might additionally keep on with only a few lakes that I knew properly.
Sometimes, I might attempt to use cellphone apps like Navionics to search out little cabinets or irregularities to fish. I discovered that fairly irritating and inconsistent. The Helix10 with MEGA Dwell modified all of that.
Discovering Honey Holes
With Humminbird’s electronics, I modified how I strategy fishing our bodies of water. I spend time navigating new areas of every lake, on the lookout for buildings underwater which may be ignored by different anglers. I get a stay view of what’s going on beneath the floor of the water and may find little humps, fallen bushes and logs, rocks, brush piles, cabinets, and extra.
With a large, full-color 10-inch display, the unit is simple to see each sitting and standing however is out of the way in which when I’m pedaling or paddling. And I actually love its split-screen choices. You may preset completely different break up screens to no matter views and knowledge you need.
For me, that is normally rolling with one-half exhibiting a graph of the lake and my route whereas the opposite half reveals me the MEGA Dwell imaging. I can monitor the place I need to be on the lake whereas nonetheless looking forward to any surprising buildings or suspended fish whereas I’m on the transfer.
Exploring new lakes is now not intimidating and has turn out to be way more profitable, as I can discover goal areas with ease.
MEGA Dwell Imaging
There’s nothing fairly like realizing fish are round you if you’re out within the kayak. Utilizing Humminbird’s MEGA Dwell imaging, you get to see the construction and fish habits in real-time beneath, out entrance, and throughout you.
As you’re shifting throughout the lake, you may look ahead to marks on the Helix 10 and see fish at anywhere within the water column. You may shortly get a bead for the place fish are and the way they’re behaving. This makes it far simpler to select the best bait and fishing model to usher in extra fish. You will discover an space with a pod of fish sitting suspended at 8 toes and throw a crankbait constructed to run at a 6-8-foot depth.
Watching Lure Motion
What’s extra, you may see your lure shifting by way of the water and see how fish react to it. It’s a rush to run a swimbait by way of a bunch of massive marks and see one slowly draw back from the group and comply with your bait till they strike. Alternatively, you may see if fish are usually not reacting — or worse but — shifting away out of your bait.
Making knowledgeable selections on bait alternative is priceless. You spend much less time guessing and extra time studying and adjusting. You may discover the lake on the lookout for fish on the Helix 10 utilizing MEGA Dwell and wait to start out fishing till you discover marks. Then, you may select a lure that matches the scenario and really shortly determine if the fish are reacting positively or to not what you throw.
The pairing of the Helix 10 with MEGA Dwell on the kayak is tough to beat. Construction is simple to find, fish will be discovered and monitored in real-time, and you may strategy new water with confidence. It ought to go with out saying, although, that this type of improve comes at a hefty value.
A Phrase of Warning
It’s price noting that I had assist from a good friend who’s skilled with rigging boats and kayaks to get this arrange. I used to be intimidated working energy from a battery to a unit on one thing that goes within the water and wished to make sure I had all the things achieved appropriately.
Your mileage might fluctuate, however I selected to err on the facet of warning and lean on my good friend’s experience for the setup.
Energy: Norsk Lithium Battery
I did a good bit of analysis earlier than pulling the set off on a battery and leaned on mates who use sonar for recommendation. I went with the Norsk 32AH Lithium battery. Whereas not low cost, it’s going to simply run the Helix 10 with MEGA Dwell for six+ hours with none points, and it comes with a charger and a 2-year guarantee.
It’s also very small and light-weight relative to batteries for the facility that it packs. It hardly takes up any area in my kayak storage space behind the seat and is simple to convey inside to cost and retailer.
Group: YakAttack BlackPak Professional Fishing Crate
House comes at a premium on a kayak, and group is essential. The BlackPak Professional fishing crate provides useable, protected storage in your kayak whereas holding its content material available.
Rod holders hooked up to the outside of the crate give anglers the choice to convey extra setups with out laying them below their toes and getting issues all knotted up. I’ve achieved this dance far too many instances. The frustration that comes with selecting up a rod with a tangled line is much an excessive amount of. Even with the rods within the rod holders, you may nonetheless snap open the BlackPak Professional and get to your gear.
The BlackPak Professional is designed to suit 3600-size deal with trays. It has loads of room for a bunch of different gear. I pack bulkier gadgets in right here — rain bibs and jacket, further hoodie, smaller meals storage, further batteries, and so on. The peace of thoughts realizing that I’ll at all times have the “necessities” with me on each fishing tour is nice.
I additionally love that I can convey it inside and pack it there earlier than attaching it to the kayak. I wish to pack forward of time, and this permits me to suppose by way of what I would like for the day, pack it, and neglect about it. When I’m able to go fishing later that day or later that week, I simply take the BlackPak Professional outdoors, connect to my kayak, and away we go.
ShortStak Improve
YakAttack lately added the “ShortStak” improve equipment for the BlackPak Professional, including much more storage and safety for gear. With a restricted footprint on a kayak, using what you will have is vital. The ShortStak provides the identical nice options because the BlackPak Professional and provides one other area to maintain necessities secure however nonetheless simply accessible.
I maintain go-to equipment inside that I need to get at with a fast attain — instruments, small snacks, and so on. Now, I can use the BlackPak Professional to carry gadgets that I would like much less available, like my rain gear, greater meals gadgets, further layers, and greater deal with trays.
Security: High quality Life Vest
This may not straight enhance your fishing, however your life is fairly essential, and security is wise. Sporting a life vest, or on the very least, having one accessible to you is paramount. I bounce between the Outdated City Lure Angler II and the Rapala AM24.
If I’m going to be fly fishing from my kayak or plan to sit down and fish, I’ll use the Lure Angler II. It has a excessive again that matches properly with the kayak seat, a Velcro patch for fly storage, stretchy mesh pockets that match tippet spools, and different small fly fishing instruments.
If I’m going to be sport fishing and doing a variety of standing and casting, I’ll rock the Rapala AM24. It’s low-profile and stays out of the way in which. It additionally shops rather well within the kayak when not in use. No matter what life jacket you utilize, don’t skimp in your security on the market.
Rod Mounts & Cellphone Holder
As a lot as I don’t wish to admit it, I maintain my cellphone near me always — together with on the water. The Rotogrip Cellphone Holder Professional retains my cellphone inside attain always. The design permits for fast one-handed operation and has two adjustable rubber wheels to make changes to suit nearly any fashionable cellphone. There may be an optionally available rubber harness you should use for added security as properly.
My favourite half about this cellphone mount is how easy it’s to regulate on the fly. When I’m sitting down and pedaling or paddling, it’s straightforward to maneuver it out of the way in which or tip so I can see the display. The identical goes for once I get located and transfer to standing and fishing — a fast adjustment, and my cellphone display will be dealing with up so I can see it.
YakAttack’s Omega Professional Rold Holder is easy so as to add to the monitor on the kayak and is well adjustable relying on what different attachments you will have in your kayak rail. This places one rod up within the cockpit with me always and makes trolling straightforward if you’re on the transfer.
Small Objects, Large Upgrades
You realize what they are saying, it’s the little issues in life. Nicely, that certainty rings true within the context of kayak upgrades.
You Can By no means Have Sufficient Cup Holders
I’ve added YakAttack’s Cup Holder, which inserts principally wherever you will have area in your kayak monitoring. It’s large enough for all the things from 12-ounce cans to stainless-steel tumblers and Nalgenes. I’ve used mine for holding instruments at instances, too.
My Outdated City has a built-in cup holder, however I’ve discovered that having the additional area is nice. I can maintain a water bottle in a single and an insulated vessel within the different.
Transport Instruments
I take advantage of an Outdated City Trailer Flag to move my kayak, and I take advantage of a Malone Mattress Extender to place it within the mattress of my midsize truck with a brief mattress. It hangs out fairly far, so the additional visibility is a pleasant contact, particularly when driving by way of the fast metro the place I stay.
Netting Like a Professional
You want fishing internet. In my expertise, boat-flipping an enormous fish in a kayak doesn’t finish properly in any respect. And I don’t belief myself lipping one subsequent to the kayak. So, I’ve leaned on a high quality fishing internet that I maintain shut at hand. I take advantage of the Fishpond Nomad because it doubles properly for me as a fly fishing internet.
The online bag itself is rubber, so hooks don’t get caught up in it as simply, and it’s “mid-length,” so I’ve some leeway to internet my fish with out taking on an excessive amount of area. I like that it has a leash and carabiner for attaching to the kayak as properly. You realize, simply in case.
Protecting Life Organized
Lastly, high quality bait and lure group goes a great distance in a kayak. You don’t have the area to only throw lures off to the facet — all the things must be comparatively calculated. I take advantage of a couple of completely different RapStack Sort out Trays from Rapala to maintain issues organized and simply accessible.
Different Issues
There are many additions that may be placed on a kayak, and this text solely touches on a couple of. You would spend hours digging by way of the entire little add-ons to buy, DIY updates, and boards on every kind of upgrades you may make relying in your scenario.
I’m eager to determine an anchor system. Outdated City makes an Anchor Equipment, and there are alternatives accessible on Amazon. Boards are filled with DIY choices, too. Finding a high quality fishing gap or piece of construction and anchoring can be useful.
A trolling motor isn’t one thing I’ve an curiosity in proper now, however it’s very talked-about with anglers right here within the Midwest. When you’re overlaying greater water, need to troll extra constantly, or have a much less bodily demanding expertise, a trolling motor may very well be improve alternative.
Ultimate Ideas
Improved storage, electronics, and kit can enhance your possibilities of catching fish and make your time on the water extra environment friendly and extra snug. And there’s no scarcity of upgrades and choices to personalize your rig. However on the finish of the day, upgrades are simply upgrades and aren’t essential to take pleasure in a day chasing bites in your kayak.
There’s a simplicity that kayaking brings to fishing that makes you are feeling extra in sync with nature and the whole thing of the expertise. Get on the market.
