Keeping Accessories Organized In Your Kayak

[the reel ess]

Do you guys have a system for keeping things like pliers, clippers, grips and any other accessories you use a lot organized and at-hand in your kayak so you don't have to go to the crate whenever you need them? Grips and pliers won't just fall out, but I've dropped pliers. Clippers will fall through a scupper. And I usually forget something. Last night it was clippers and I can't just bite off braid.

[Dye99]

sunglasses, sun gear, pliers and scale in life vest.

6 rods with rod covers in hatch with paddle and go pro mounts.

black pac with tackle, go prop camera and fish finder until I hit the water.

[the reel ess]

Yeah, I must admit I don't like wearing the vest. I will if it's cold or moving water. But I'm often guilty of leaving it in the truck. Even if I did, it's not a "fishing" vest with places to stow accessories. I have the crate with rod holders in the back and it can hold tackle. I was thinking more of a way to "tether" it all in the cockpit.

[Choporoz]

I wear line cutter on lanyard around my neck.  Fortunately, my Wilderness has great little pockets on both sides by my thighs - deep, with a rubber web half-cover to keep them out of my way when I don't need them.  Always have pliers, scale, fish grips, bag of plastics, etc in those handy spaces.  Tackle bag goes in the hatch right in front of my seat.  I'm pretty new to this kayak thing, but I'm happy with how handy stuff is so far.  In the crate, I keep one long 360 box with most everything else: frogs, hardbaits, terminal, etc.  I like that its an extra long box, sticks up and is easy to reach.

[buzzed bait]

i don't have a picture to show, but i've zip tied some little plastic cup type holders i had lying around to the outside of my crate.  I then keep my junk in those, out of the way and easy to get to.  I keep scale, pliers, megastrike, small anchor, etc. in those things and have been for nearly a year with no problems.  I for one can't stand the thought of tethering stuff to the yak because i have a ridiculous fear of getting caught up in all of that mess if i should ever get in a real bind.

and just wear the life jacket.....  one of these days you or your loved ones will be glad you did.

[the reel ess]

I like to put loose bags of soft plastics behind the seat.

[ThatZX14Fella]

Mine is a sit in. I just keep my clippers, pliers, and scissors on the left side so they're easily accessible, but not in the way.

[Dye99]

Yeah, I must admit I don't like wearing the vest. I will if it's cold or moving water. But I'm often guilty of leaving it in the truck. Even if I did, it's not a "fishing" vest with places to stow accessories. I have the crate with rod holders in the back and it can hold tackle. I was thinking more of a way to "tether" it all in the cockpit.

That was my issue as well. So I picked up a NRS chinook, then loaded all my go to stuff in it. Now I just put it on most of the time....Its teaching me to wear a vest no matter what....Im getting better at it I guess!

 

My OK trident, and Native slayer are a bit harder to store stuff. But with my atak, its downright easy to find a place for everything.

[flyfisher]

I find that having items in my PFD are more of a pain to get to.  In my ATAK it is pretty easy to store things but on previous boats I would use a cup that was mounted to a track or, depending on the item, I would just lay them in front of me.  the only item i kept in very close reach was my lip grips as they would be needed for landing a fish at times, all the other items weren't needed often so if they were a little more out of the way, it really isn't a big deal.

[IndyGlockMan]

I try to keep it simple because I have a sit-inside wilderness systems yak.

2 rods, small drink cooler, small tackle bag with what I need for the day.

Clippers on my vest and I keep a pair of needle nose pliers in the tackle bag just in case along with my cell phone & fishing license.

Glock 40cal in a mounted plastic holster up under the the front part of the opening with in easy reach.

[Fun4Me]

Just spitballin here, and maybe this is not the greatest idea, but what about gluing a strip magnet somewhere. It would only work for the metal objects though. You could also do something like a plastic jar, with a lid, and velcro it to something, or make it fit into a cup holder or some place easily accessible. 

[flyfisher]

Just spitballin here, and maybe this is not the greatest idea, but what about gluing a strip magnet somewhere. It would only work for the metal objects though. You could also do something like a plastic jar, with a lid, and velcro it to something, or make it fit into a cup holder or some place easily accessible. 

 

don't see why it wouldn't work.  I have seen guys use pool noodles cut and glued somewhere then you just stab your items in there.  Also works well for holding baits you want to let dry or don't feel like putting hem away right away.

[Caliyak]

Do you guys have a system for keeping things like pliers, clippers, grips and any other accessories you use a lot organized and at-hand in your kayak so you don't have to go to the crate whenever you need them? Grips and pliers won't just fall out, but I've dropped pliers. Clippers will fall through a scupper. And I usually forget something. Last night it was clippers and I can't just bite off braid.

What make and model kayak do you have?

On my tarpon, I bought a cutting plastic board for 99 cents. Added some hardware and drilled and cut holes for my gear. I placed the board on my trax. Easy on and off and easy access. I even put my rod in a hole while retying. I hope this made sense.

[the reel ess]

What make and model kayak do you have?

On my tarpon, I bought a cutting plastic board for 99 cents. Added some hardware and drilled and cut holes for my gear. I placed the board on my trax. Easy on and off and easy access. I even put my rod in a hole while retying. I hope this made sense.

Thanks. I have the Perception Sport Pescador. No trax.I'm still studying on it. 

[Caliyak]

Thanks. I have the Perception Sport Pescador. No trax.I'm still studying on it.

The pescador and tarpon are the same boats. If you can, add a set of trax and I promise that your life would be 100% better. You can add accessories with making holes on you yak. Hook One has them.

[J Francho]

You can add gear track to any boat. Yakattack sells everything you need in both light and heavy duty.

[the reel ess]

The pescador and tarpon are the same boats. If you can, add a set of trax and I promise that your life would be 100% better. You can add accessories with making holes on you yak. Hook One has them.

From my understanding, the Pescador is the Tarpon from about 6 years ago. But looking at the two I see your point.

[DCBX2]

I use a dozen of these coated rare earth magnets that I glue in strategic place in my YAK, They work great.

 

http://www.magnet4less.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_123&products_id=142

 

 

Dave

[Fin Stalker]

The two tools I use most are my scissors and hemostats and I keep them on a string that is attached to the center hatch. The other two tools that get the most use are my camera and net the camera is on a monopod that I jam in one of the front scuppers for hero shots and shooting video and the net I just lay on the front of my kayak out of the way. I'm not 100% sure on this but I think a large peanut butter jar will fit into the small hatch that is in-between your legs. You can screw the lid to the hatch cover and have an easy/cheap way to access the small tools you use most. Another option is one of those small bags that fit in those small hatches. 

I found it!

This should fit.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/469/Wilderness-Systems-Tarpon-Kayak-Cat-Hatch-Bag.html

[lectricbassman]

What make and model kayak do you have?

On my tarpon, I bought a cutting plastic board for 99 cents. Added some hardware and drilled and cut holes for my gear. I placed the board on my trax. Easy on and off and easy access. I even put my rod in a hole while retying. I hope this made sense.

I just purchased a used tarpon 100 and am trying to get a feel for mods. A dashboard was one thing i was considering, could you post some pics of your setup?

[Caliyak]

I just purchased a used tarpon 100 and am trying to get a feel for mods. A dashboard was one thing i was considering, could you post some pics of your setup?

 

I hope this helps. This is my FF board. I have my battery at my feet by the foot peg. I have another cutting board on the other side for my gear like pliers and stuff. The rod holder can go in front or behind the board. you also have to two trax behind the seat to add more stuff. My biggest thing was "no holes" in my yak. 

[Rhino68W]

I keep my stuff in my vest. I have 2 hoops that I can put my pliers and scissors in so they are very accessible. 

 

Any kayaker who doesn't wear his PFD is WRONG. I don't know about you guys but I don't think anyone goes kayak fishing, and plans on drowning.