From Plain Jane to Decked Out

Rigging a fishing kayak correctly will make your adventures exponentially extra fulfilling. I’m typically requested why my kayak is decked out with a lot gear, and my reply stays that I get pleasure from it. Nonetheless, I perceive some anglers get pleasure from a way more simplistic strategy, so I’ve coated the spectrum on this article.

By the top, you’ll higher perceive the best way to rig your kayak from plain Jane to completely loaded and the whole lot in between. So that you’ve got the absolute best time on the water.

Plain Jane Method

Despite the fact that I’m a little bit of a gear junkie, I like the minimalistic approach. The beauty of 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 option to rig a kayak when fishing a river or once I’m restricted on time. I preserve my rod mendacity throughout the deck or in my lap whereas I paddle, and my small sort out field underneath or behind my seat. There’s no have to run wires or determine the best way to set up something, making this strategy interesting to newbies.

Traditionalists swear that that is the one option to kayak fish, as a result of they imagine that including additional gear detracts from the spirit of kayak fishing. Whereas I perceive the place they’re coming from, I might disagree that it’s the solely means. I imagine a steadiness may be struck between minimalism and overkill.

Goldilocks Method

The Goldilocks strategy is that good center floor most kayak anglers will discover themselves in. Typically, rigging a fishing kayak this fashion entails adopting a minimalist mentality, incorporating electronics, using a distinct technique of propulsion, and carrying extra gear.

It’s additionally when studying the best way to rig a fishing kayak correctly is extremely useful. That is the place I began as a brand new kayak angler as a result of I already had numerous 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 desire to maintain the deck as open as attainable, whether or not paddling, pedaling, or utilizing a trolling motor. This permits me to land fish extra simply and keep snug, 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 working to a plug within the again, the place my battery sits. I additionally preserve my kayak crate (loaded with all my lures, rods, and web) 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 aspect of the kayak.

My largest mistake when studying the best way to rig a fishing kayak was not testing the rigging I had carried out. I might make an adjustment everlasting by drilling or screwing into the kayak earlier than I examined to see how I preferred it. Inevitably, I needed to regulate it, however I didn’t wish to drill extra holes. That’s why I like to recommend utilizing the gear tracks as a lot as attainable. 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 massive 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. Nonetheless, 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 in every of which is devoted to stay sonar), a shallow water anchor, 6-8 rods and rod holders, and a kayak crate jam full of sort out packing containers.

You need to grasp the best way to rig a fishing kayak to have an fulfilling time on the water; in any other case, you’ll battle your gear your entire journey. Belief me, it’s not enjoyable.

My typical decked-out setup is a bow-mounted trolling motor, fish finder, 6-8 rods, paddle, web, absolutely loaded kayak crate, and a shallow water anchor. I nonetheless need my deck uncluttered as a lot as attainable, so I preserve 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 largest advice when taking this strategy is to do it in phases. I’m glad that I realized how I preferred my fish finder arrange earlier than I put in my trolling motor.

Lastly, I’m nonetheless enhancing 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 carried out sooner.

Parting Photographs: Rigging a Fishing Kayak

I continually regulate my rig to match my journey, as I fish in numerous places, together with lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds. So, on some journeys, I would like all my electronics; on others, I would like the naked necessities. Rigging a fishing kayak is a private endeavor, so my good setup most likely received’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.