Wesley Littlefield 04.25.25
Rigging a fishing kayak correctly will make your adventures exponentially extra pleasant. I’m typically requested why my kayak is decked out with a lot gear, and my reply stays that I take pleasure in it. Nevertheless, I perceive some anglers take pleasure in a way more simplistic strategy, so I’ve lined the spectrum on this article.
By the tip, you’ll higher perceive methods to rig your kayak from plain Jane to totally loaded and all the pieces in between. So that you’ve got the absolute best time on the water.
Plain Jane Method
Although I’m a little bit of a gear junkie, I really like the minimalistic approach. The wonderful thing about kayak fishing is that you simply solely want a kayak, a paddle, a PFD, a fishing rod, and some lures to start out catching fish.
That is my favourite approach to rig a kayak when fishing a river or after I’m restricted on time. I hold my rod mendacity throughout the deck or in my lap whereas I paddle, and my small sort out field below or behind my seat. There’s no have to run wires or work out methods to set up something, making this strategy interesting to rookies.
Traditionalists swear that that is the one approach to kayak fish, as a result of they consider that including further gear detracts from the spirit of kayak fishing. Whereas I perceive the place they’re coming from, I’d disagree that it’s the solely means. I consider a stability will be struck between minimalism and overkill.
Goldilocks Method
The Goldilocks strategy is that excellent center floor most kayak anglers will discover themselves in. Usually, rigging a fishing kayak this fashion entails adopting a minimalist mentality, incorporating electronics, using a unique technique of propulsion, and carrying further gear.
It’s additionally when studying methods to rig a fishing kayak correctly is extremely helpful. That is the place I began as a brand new kayak angler as a result of I already had a number of fishing gear, so I needed to discover ways to handle it in a small house.
Right here’s how I set up my kayak for many journeys:
I want to maintain the deck as open as doable, whether or not paddling, pedaling, or utilizing a trolling motor. This enables me to land fish extra simply and keep comfy, stretching my legs and standing up.
When utilizing my bow mount trolling motor, I’ve a plug within the entrance of the kayak, with wires operating to a plug within the again, the place my battery sits. I additionally hold my kayak crate (loaded with all my lures, rods, and internet) simply behind my seat for fast entry.
If I’m catfishing or trolling, I’ll have a few rod holders mounted to the tracks on both facet of the kayak.
My greatest mistake when studying methods to rig a fishing kayak was not testing the rigging I had achieved. I’d make an adjustment everlasting by drilling or screwing into the kayak earlier than I examined to see how I appreciated it. Inevitably, I needed to regulate it, however I didn’t need to drill extra holes. That’s why I like to recommend utilizing the gear tracks as a lot as doable. You may rapidly regulate your rod holders, electronics, and every other gear put in on them with out the necessity for extra drilling.
The Goldilocks strategy is all about testing and tinkering with what works finest for you, however typically you’ve simply gotta go huge or go residence.
Decked Out Method
We’ve lastly come to my favourite a part of the article as a result of it speaks to the gear junkie in me. Nevertheless, this strategy is overkill for 99% of anglers. Kayak event anglers and guides are the one ones who have to rig a kayak like this, however as a weekend warrior, it’s enjoyable to have at your disposal.
A decked out kayak usually has one or two motors (a trolling motor on the entrance and an electrical 2-3hp motor on the again), electronics (2 screens, one among which is devoted to reside sonar), a shallow water anchor, 6-8 rods and rod holders, and a kayak crate jam full of sort out bins.
You should grasp methods to rig a fishing kayak to have an pleasant time on the water; in any other case, you’ll battle your gear your complete journey. Belief me, it’s not enjoyable.
My typical decked-out setup is a bow-mounted trolling motor, fish finder, 6-8 rods, paddle, internet, totally loaded kayak crate, and a shallow water anchor. I nonetheless need my deck uncluttered as a lot as doable, so I hold the crate and rod holders behind my seat. I can’t do this with the fish finder, however I’ve it mounted on gear tracks, so it’s out of the way in which however accessible.
My greatest suggestion when taking this strategy is to do it in levels. I’m glad that I realized how I appreciated my fish finder arrange earlier than I put in my trolling motor.
Lastly, I’m nonetheless bettering my setup. Simply this weekend, I rigged up a few pull cords to make deploying and retracting my trolling motor a lot simpler. It’s one thing I want I had achieved sooner.
Parting Photographs: Rigging a Fishing Kayak
I continuously regulate my rig to match my journey, as I fish in varied places, together with lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds. So, on some journeys, I want all my electronics; on others, I want the naked necessities. Rigging a fishing kayak is a private endeavor, so my excellent setup most likely gained’t be just right for you, however you will get concepts from different anglers to enhance your rig.
Rigging a fishing kayak is a unending course of, so benefit from the expertise.
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