“ i use too much gear to fish from a kayak .”
While it ’ s true that you ’ ll never be able to carry the amount of gear in a kayak that you can in a 19- or 20-foot bass boat , with the right kayak and storage system , you shouldn ’ t have to leave much behind . Gear tracks and accessories mounted strategically around your kayak can easily allow you to safely carry as many rods as you need . On a normal day of fishing , I often carry six to eight rods with me .
The key to taking this many rods is having rod holders to store them in when not in use so you have plenty of room to cast and land fish . Rod holders from companies like YakAttack enable you to secure rods and stow them out of the way and safe from potentially falling overboard .
As far as tackle , a kayak ’ s main storage usually comes in the form of a crate behind the seat . The simple crate is the heart of the kayak fishing craft . You want a crate that will hold multiple tackle boxes and gear that you may need to quickly access .
Many people prefer to make their own crate , but you can also buy one that ’ s designed specifically for kayak fishing .
Kayak anglers don ’ t need to sacrifice when it comes to electronics , either . With some simple rigging and lightweight lithium batteries , you can run the same high-tech electronics you might run on a bass boat ( such as standard sonar , forward-facing sonar and Power-Poles ).
Ultimately , the options are available to give you all the technology a bass boat has , but in a smaller , less expensive package . trust me , if you ’ re able to climb into a bass boat at the ramp , you ’ re able to get in and out of a fishing kayak .
“ i ’ m too old and out of shape for kayak fishing ”
Many people ’ s first experience on a kayak is in a low-end big box store sit-inside kayak . While these are great platforms for getting people out enjoying the water , the difference in comfort between those kayaks and well-designed fishing kayaks is night and day .
With the increased stability of contemporary fishing kayaks comes the added benefit of a raised seat , which makes sitting more comfortable and standing much easier . The raised seat takes stress off your lower back as well as allowing you to easily stand and stretch your legs throughout the day . I often go well over eight hours in my kayak without ever getting out or standing up . Another benefit of having a stable kayak with a raised seat is the ease of getting in and out . Simply twisting sideways in the seat and stepping out onto the bank makes it easy — no matter your age or skill level .
Trust me , if you ’ re able to climb into a bass boat at the ramp , you ’ re able to get in and out of a fishing kayak .
Fishing kayaks can be outfitted with just about every bell and whistle that you ’ d put on a bass boat .
PHOTO BY MATT BALL
JUNE-JULY 2021 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 53