Thread: Where to keep the fish

X2 on a stringer causing drag,if you paddle,your gonna need to eat some spinach to keep your strength up.i started with a basket hanging over the side,even when empty,it caused much drag.I now use a cooler positioned directly in front of my dashboard,the wieght is balanced,and it's a simple task to flip the fish into the cooler.

Originally Posted by mquast200

Hi all , I've been fishing out of my kayak lately, and for brim it's wonderful but I'm thinking about starting some limb lines/jugs. My question is would having some decent sized cats on a stringer off the side cause quite a bit of drag/ weight? I was thinking about having my ice chest out with a inner tube wrapped around and throwing the cats in that. Any advice?

Are you talking about running trot lines and putting the catfish in a cooler attached to the yak while you're doing that? If so, I would think having an ice chest in an inner tube, with the weight of the fish in the ice chest, would cause more drag than just having the fish on a stringer. I'm not sure how large the catfish you're talking about are.

im thinking mainly eater sIze and the occasional 10-15 pounder...I guess the only problem I have is figuring out a way to attach my cooler to the kayak. May need to think of upgrading. Started out with the pelican bounty 100 and I'd put the cooler on the back but doesn't look like I could fit a decent cooler on it.

If you upgrade you can use the pelican. As a fish hauler. Plenty of room for a cooler.

Your correct about the Pelican 100 not having a lot of room for a cooler... however, I think that I have a solution for what I think you want to do and would work for your particular kayak. Its one of those fish cooler bags. Many of the salty ocean fella's use 'em for beyond the breakers and such. This particular one is only 25 inches long even though you can get them in almost any length you want. Since you have a "sit in" kayak, you could either place it inside towards the front where the access panel would be between your legs or the more traditional way of strapping it to the top front. It has multiple tie down options. This one came from Academy, but everybody sells 'em that is in the kayak business. I hope it helps or at least gives you some ideas.

The fish bags are nice but a cat fish barb will eventually tear it. I had one and it was a real pain to keep clean. I replaced it with a dirty old croaker sack that I used as a mullet bag when wading with a cast net. I just put the catfish in it, laid it behind the seat and they flounced but never flopped the bag outta the yak. Catfish will live a couple hours outta water so plan appropriately

I would consider an upgrade if possible.

that bag looks like a great idea as long as it wouldn't puncture from the cats. When you say croaker bag do you mean basically a burlap sack? I have no problem throwing them over my head onto the storage behind me, just worried they'd figure a way to get off, but a sack would ensure they don't.