From Plain Jane to Decked Out

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Rigging a Fishing Kayak: From Plain Jane to Decked Out

Rigging a fishing kayak correctly will make your adventures exponentially extra gratifying. 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 method, so I’ve coated the spectrum on this article.

By the tip, you’ll higher perceive how one can rig your kayak from plain Jane to totally 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 wonderful thing about kayak fishing is that you simply solely want a kayak, a paddle, a PFD, a fishing rod, and some lures to begin catching fish.

That is my favourite strategy to rig a kayak when fishing a river or after 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 below or behind my seat. There’s no must run wires or work out how one can set up something, making this method interesting to freshmen.

Traditionalists swear that that is the one strategy to kayak fish, as a result of they imagine 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 imagine a stability will be struck between minimalism and overkill.

Goldilocks Method

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

It’s additionally when studying how one can 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 a variety of fishing gear, so I needed to discover ways to handle it in a small area.

Right here’s how I set up my kayak for many journeys:

I choose to maintain the deck as open as potential, whether or not paddling, pedaling, or utilizing a trolling motor. This permits 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 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 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 how one can rig a fishing kayak was not testing the rigging I had accomplished. I’d 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 potential. You may shortly regulate your rod holders, electronics, and another gear put in on them with out the necessity for extra drilling.

The Goldilocks method is all about testing and tinkering with what works greatest for you, however generally you’ve simply gotta go massive or go dwelling.

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 method is overkill for 99% of anglers. Kayak event anglers and guides are the one ones who must rig a kayak like this, however as a weekend warrior, it’s enjoyable to have at your disposal.

A decked out kayak sometimes has one or two motors (a trolling motor on the entrance and an electrical 2-3hp motor on the again), electronics (2 screens, considered one 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 bins.

You should grasp how one can rig a fishing kayak to have an gratifying time on the water; in any other case, you’ll struggle 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, internet, totally loaded kayak crate, and a shallow water anchor. I nonetheless need my deck uncluttered as a lot as potential, 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 greatest suggestion when taking this method is to do it in levels. I’m glad that I discovered 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 accomplished sooner.

Parting Pictures: Rigging a Fishing Kayak

I always 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 in all probability received’t be just right for you, however you may get concepts from different anglers to enhance your rig.

Rigging a fishing kayak is a unending course of, so benefit from the expertise.