Help me with my kayak tackle

[AdamSean]

I have just recently started fishing from a kayak and have learned to start downsizing a bit. I used to take my whole tackle bag that sat on the floor between my legs. But I found myself not using everything and it just got in the way. I picked up a Plano 3750 and grabbed a little of each. Some spinners, cranks, plastics, top waters, hooks, and weights. Take a look and tell me if I need to add or remove. What works for you? 

 

[buzzed bait]

give a few details about where you live and/or where you usually fish and that may help with the input you receive.  that said, i didn't see any jigs in there, do you ever fish them?  if not, you might be missing out!

[avidone1]

You did real good.   Now go out and fish

[flyfisher]

I have a crate and a bunch of plano boxes so i will be of no help lol  it does look like you have the bases covered.

[J Francho]

Take your whole bag for a few trips. What ever you use, put in an empty box. Now build your inventory from those few baits. 

[Deleted account]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Take your whole bag for a few trips. What ever you use, put in an empty box. Now build your inventory from those few baits. 

Perfect. Less is more in the Yak.

[J Francho]

It doesn't translate that way in my kayak, lol. 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Adam!

I take a good deal of soft plastics with me
as that's what I fish the most. I have a 
separate box for my hooks and weights.

You're off to a good start, though. Looks 
like your worms are mostly natural in color,
which is what I would suggest as good to 
start with...

[AdamSean]

1 hour ago, buzzed bait said:

give a few details about where you live and/or where you usually fish and that may help with the input you receive.  that said, i didn't see any jigs in there, do you ever fish them?  if not, you might be missing out!

I do have some jigs in there. I use them quite bit. Also, I live in AL and I mostly use my kayak on a clear water lake. Sometimes I take it on a murky small river when I get tired of casting from the bank.

[buzzed bait]

i'm with J and flyfisher on this one though, i have a crate and number of planos in the kayak... i take WAYYYYYY more than i need, so i won't be of much help to your minimalist approach!

i don't fish much clear water to be honest, but if i did, i'd have a jerkbait or two in there as well.

[seyone]

Down sizing your tackle is a good idea, but like some in here i don't follow that advice. I have multiple plano boxes in a crate and carry along about 5 rods. I could probably get away with just taking along the tackle that i carry when on foot.

[lakeannaangler]

You have a good start. I would add some jerkbaits and some craws

[Dye99]

I started yak fishing with a crate with plano boxes. That eventually went to more boxes that were marked for what they were, (cranks, jerks, terminal, spinner baits, jigs, ) then when I started paddling greater distances I started going lighter. I just got tired of hauling gear that I wouldnt use. Many times I search whats working, then fish that technic until is expires before I start trying to search again.

Now Ive gone to using one of my company trucks and turned it into a "fish truck" and I carry all my tackle organized in a mounted tool box, with 6 tupperware bins with all my different plastics...Kayak mounted in the bed with a T-bone rack, and 6-10 rods and reels in the boat..

 

So my suggestion would be to try to mother ship your gear, as in get doubles of your different style baits, and keep them in your vehicle, so when you drop the yak in the water, you have the ability to chose different stuff depending on weather conditions or time of day out of the car without hauling everything with you on the boat....

 

[Caliyak]

4 boxes; plastics, cranks, jigs/spinners/chatter, hooks/weights/accessories

Keep it simple. 

[boostr]

You need waaay more tackle...

[Choporoz]

Simple solution: kayakkaddy.com

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

Simple solution: kayakkaddy.com

Oh man, we laughed pretty hard at that when it came out.

[hoosierbass07]

I fish from a kayak.  I used to take a lot of stuff but I found I hardly used most of it.  As others have said, less is more.  After packing up the kayak, loading the kayak, driving to the pond, unloading everything, paddling around, I'm really not in the mood to change lures a lot.  I want to cast and have my lures in the water, not in my hands tying knots all the time.  Often times I stick with what is already tied on my rods - soft plastics, and don't change.  

[Fish the Mitt]

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Simple solution: kayakkaddy.com

Totally thought that said kayakdaddy. Not until I was on the site for 5mins did I realize the difference....

[MassYak85]

Considering I have a milk crate with 5-6 plano boxes filed to maximum capacity with lures....you did very well. 

[IgotWood]

I do a lot of kayak fishing. I have seen many anglers hit the water with enough gear to stock a tackle shop. I too carried way more than necessary. It gets in the way, and it drags your boat down, making you work twice as hard to paddle. For me, there are two things I do to minimize my gear effectively....

1. Try different style/techniques from your kayak, and figure out which ones are most comfortable and effective from your yak. Certain techniques that I use from shore or boat do not quite translate to kayak fishing, for me personally.

2. Know your water! Now that you know how you can/can't fish from your kayak, bring what you know works on that particular body of water. For example, a lake that I fish often and know pretty well, I know that it is shallow, and that I catch most fish on wacky rigs, keel-weighted swimbaits, and the occasional chatter bait. Not to say they won't hit anything else, but based on my experience, those baits work best. I usually only carry 3 different colors of each. I know the depth, therefore I know what sizes/weights I'll want. 

I carry Two plano boxes that conveniently fit behind my seat, and I can easily access them without tipping, or making any noise. I have a large ziplock bag in my milk crate full of bags of extra rubber baits, and a couple of back-up tools. THAT'S IT!!! I don't have any gear in my lap, or on anywhere on the deck in front of me when I'm fishing. I know what I need to bring. I leave a little bit of room in my boxes to bring a couple of experimental baits. Oh, and I should also add that I bring NO MORE than 3 rods with me. I have to make due with what I have. That goes along with rule number one, which i talked about previously. Hope this helps. Good luck!!!

[avidone1]

On ‎5‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 1:38 AM, Caliyak said:

4 boxes; plastics, cranks, jigs/spinners/chatter, hooks/weights/accessories

Keep it simple. 

what he said

[Luna2406]

I'm sure they are in there but don't forget extra hooks and weights for soft plastics.

I have one Plano box I take that I call my A-team, it's all my confidence baits plus one or two I'm trying out. Once you fish certain areas enough you get to figure out what works and you can change out the "team" depending on where you go. 

Then I have another plano with about 8 bags of worms/rodents with a section of it filed with hooks and another with weights.

Limiting what you take with you, in my opinion, can make you a better angler. I like to take things I'm not good at (worm fishing) and force myself to only use that. I've learned a lot and I've had some great days by doing this. 

[faygo1979]

I seem to add more and more crap to my kayak.   I normally bring 3-4 rods and 3-4 3600 size boxes.