Thread: Rigging

Rigging is half the fun. Best advice I received when I first got my kayak was put it out in the front yard, practice casting and putting fish in your cooler, getting lures out of your tackle bag....just play like you are fishing and make sure you are happy with everything before you do too much rigging....spend 30 minutes in it in the yard or if the weather is like it is here you might have to sit it in the living. My first outing in my kayak I loaded it down with the my tackle crate, cooler and went out after some bream. They were biting real good and I probably caught close to 100 in 2 to 3 hours. Most in the 9" range. I was really hoping to bring home a limit. Figured out on the first fish though that that would not happen, I planned to keep them in a cooler in the back of the kayak but real quick realized I could not reach the cooler all the way in back of the kayak. I should have tried it out in the yard, if I had I would have carried my fish basket or stringer.

Originally Posted by flintcreek

Rigging is half the fun. Best advice I received when I first got my kayak was put it out in the front yard, practice casting and putting fish in your cooler, getting lures out of your tackle bag....just play like you are fishing and make sure you are happy with everything before you do too much rigging....spend 30 minutes in it in the yard or if the weather is like it is here you might have to sit it in the living. My first outing in my kayak I loaded it down with the my tackle crate, cooler and went out after some bream. They were biting real good and I probably caught close to 100 in 2 to 3 hours. Most in the 9" range. I was really hoping to bring home a limit. Figured out on the first fish though that that would not happen, I planned to keep them in a cooler in the back of the kayak but real quick realized I could not reach the cooler all the way in back of the kayak. I should have tried it out in the yard, if I had I would have carried my fish basket or stringer.

Bet that could get some odd stares from the neighbors.

I learned years ago that one yak no matter how large isn't big enough for all needed on a trip. Sometimes towing a second yak doesn't help with space, but you do get to carry more.

Originally Posted by 27458

Bet that could get some odd stares from the neighbors.

Next to no neighbors here.

Hey set yourself up a 16" radialvinner tube FER coolers and stuff!!!!!

My son was in the clearance section of walmart. The girl had 2 floating cooler kits on her cart. He said they would be nice at $2. She scanned the bar code with her price gun. Nope, can't reduce them that much. Guess she didn't adjust the gun, got them for $2.

Yeah - definitely enjoying the rigging/customizing part. My short list includes some recessed rod holders (probably behind the cockpit), extra bungees over the front, a rod holder in front for when I'm unhooking fish, retying, etc, cutting out the 'dry compartment' behind the cockpit to have additional space in the bilge. And maybe installing 1 or 2 anchor trolleys. My Old Town has one but honestly not sure it really had been any better than just dropping a light weight anchor over the side. But in fairness, I really haven't fished much in any sort of wind, so that's probably a factor too. But if I'm just cruising down a shoreline and casting as I go - (my typical) - I don't really need it... I'll also add some pad eyes for strapping dry boxes, stringers/baskets, etc etc etc...

Other additions you can't live without?

The addition I am enjoying the most right now is my depth finder. I feel like I have actually caught several fish on mine that I spotted on the screen. I know there are fish under me and I feel like my fishing is more productive.