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nightfly
Posts: 506 Officer
kayak must haves?
nightfly
Posts: 506 Officer
I'm new to kayaking. just got a 10' native redfish and i'll be fishing inshore/backwater light spinning and fly. I have an anchor trolley set up on it with a stick it anchor and a small anchor. I have dry bags, spot, life jacket, etc.. what are some other things that you carry along to make things more easier/comfortable. thanks
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680k views 360 plus posts Deleted by a so called Mod over a little cleavage
member since Oct 1998 long before most of You
Agree ! Especially if you like to fish all day. Being wet can get miserable, to be able to stay dry and comfortable can make or break a day on the water.
Different strokes for different folks....If I am in a hurry for a quick trip, then yes. Otherwise like bringing multiple poles so that I can respond quickly to most frequent situation. Sometimes the time it takes to change a rig is the difference between seeing in catching.
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr
Stuff happens when you least expect it. Got mine last year and have used it twice.
Good reminder!
I'm going to put together my waterproof first aid box before my first trip out this year.
"Spot" was mentioned-Flashlight? In case you end up out there after sunset, legally,you need to have a light.Practical and essential anyway. I stow a small but capable 1,000 lumen flash light.
(And a .38 S&W J Frame)
Curious, what is your choice for waterproofing the .38 S & W J Frame ?
"Spot" is a step up from just having a VHF with DSC. A step up from "Spot" is the PLB (Personal Locator Beacon): a miniature version of the EPIRB that has been the ultimate ocean Rescue saver for decades. Bear in mind if one ever decides to activate the unit, one might receive a bill from the rescuer for expenses incurred. If ones kayak is motorized, having a PLB qualifies for a discount on registration. It is worth spending a little extra for a high quality water proof light -- the water resistant ones fail after a trip or two.
Pioneer 197 Sportfish
Suzuki DF150
FAK is a must. I have it in a dry bag I call Emergency which includes a mirror, light, advil, glow sticks. The bag has a strip of velcro on it and I've put another strip inside the center hatch to attach it to the hull. I also like the idea of a PFD with lots of pockets. I don't like fumbling around for a bandaid or alcohol wipe, or a new hook or jig, or leader, so I keep those in my PFD along with a pair of scissors. A small 4 section tackle box holds it all. Another pocket holds a small do-it-all tool and a whistle on a lanyard.
I've got a Hobie, so I've got lots of pockets for pliers, washcloth, etc. I always take a plastic bag of snacks with a little bottle of frozen gatorade in it, in addition to my water bottle. I don't know why I might need it, but I wrapped Gorilla tape around my paddle in two places. Leash everything you care about. A DIY leash costs about a buck and a half. I also always carry a knife.
I put on sunscreen before I go and also carry a small tube just in case. I usually paddle alone and I lost a nephew in a canoe accident, so I text my wife when I get in and out and leave a Float Plan on the dashboard of the truck. I also have a pre-paddle checklist. I've seen too many people who forgot to screw in their drain plug or left their paddle at home.
Jeff Cooper
I'll offer another angle from the many minimalist comments earlier. Minimalism can be a big benefit, especially in a little kayak where space is limited, but if I'm going to all the trouble of unloading and loading up the kayak, and paddling mile after mile over the water, I don't want to get to the other side of the earth and realize the bait, lure, or set up I need are all back of the car. So I try to fit or jam as much gear and combos as I can and still be safe and comfortable. This isnt always easy, and I had to hack my kayaks a little bit so they would accommodate my cooler, all the rods I wanted to use in a single fishing system, live bait system, etc. It isn't always easy to add things to a factory kayak, but if it is something you find you really need or want, it's well worth the effort.
Like someone said early on, if you want to know what you need or want in a kayak, just take the kayak out and you'll find out pretty quickly everything that's missing. And if you are looking for ideas, or if you have ideas and are not sure how to implement them, I would recommend going to YouTube and checking out a guy's page named Zoffinger. He has hacked his yak so much he should call it a chopper. And the good thing about this guy's videos is that he has a whole series of instructional ones that show you how to do pretty much everything that he's done to his kayaks. Unfortunately for me, I discovered this cat after I'd already done all my hacks. So I had to fumble and bumble through everything by trial and error. You may not want to do any of his hacks, but they might give you some ideas. Also, since you're new to kayak fishing, you may benefit from some of his regular fishing videos.
Why bother to comment if you've got nothing productive to add?
Pioneer 197 Sportfish
Suzuki DF150
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr
We've all been there; it's an expensive lesson for sure.
I flipped/swamped a sit inside kayak Downtown Jacksonville.......never did let go of my prized fishing rod! Just lucky,or maybe clutching on to the rod in Fear.
Amazing how so much gear just sinks or floats around and away.Yes add to 'must haves' a couple of tie down lines/tethers,and use 'em.
And after the Downtown Jacksonville sit inside swamping,no decent shore access/seawall/barnacles....I decided I Must Have a Sit On Top version!