For those of you cold water kayak anglers - spring

[crankbait2009]

For those of you that fish out of a kayak in every season.

Do you dumb down your arsenal for each season?  Meaning, let's say, you're fishing in the spring (whether it be pre-spawn/spawn/post).  Would you only bring your lures that would relate to the time of season, or do you bring everything you own, JUST IN CASE?

 

I was thinking about this, if I dumbed down, I could have the top 5 cold water lures all in one box, and all the extra "Stuff" wouldn't need to be gone through. Not that my arsenal ever gets in my way while fishing, but it would certainly take up less space.

 

so, do you only take what you need for the specific time of year?

[Choporoz]

My crate almost always has five boxes:

 

spinnerbaits/chatterbaits

trebles

terminal

jigs

other - generally, one labeled 'primary' - packed for that day's expected usage -- so the others are mostly back-up

 

I move stuff in and out of boxes nearly every day, even when I'm not fishing...

But, especially, the 'primary' box -- as far as the "wouldn't need to be gone through"....that isn't something I've ever been concerned about -- I REALLY enjoy 'going through' my 'ready-use' boxes and plastics.  If not, I'd go nuts on days I 'can't' fish

[Dens228]

I have the following boxes......

1..Cranks

2..Jigs

3..Jerk and swim baits,,,,,,,,this includes my underspins

4..Top water,,,,,,this has frogs, poppers, wakes, walking

Worm binder has spinnerbaits and buzzbaits

Two smaller boxes have all my plastics

 

I would have to say that I bring all of it each time I go out, what may change from season to season as well as depending on where I'm going is the rods I take based on what lures/presentations I'm going to emphasize.  

 

[Tizi]

I bring what is typically going to work for the season and lake I am fishing.  If I brought everything with me, it would sink my kayak.  I bring 3 3600 waterproof boxes, a bag of plastics and small 3500 box of terminal tackle.  And 3 to 4 rods, again based upon season and lake.

[crankbait2009]

ya, lucky for me, I always have 3 rods, 3 3700 planos, and 1 gallon ziplock bag that holds my plastics.

so I travel light to begin with. 

 

Considered knocking it down to 1 3700, and a couple plastics for cold water fishing. (just a thought)

 

With my inventory being so simple, it certainly isn't much of a downsize

[MassYak85]

I bring way too much, I'm rigged up I can bring almost all my gear (6 rods, 7 or 8 Plano 3700 boxes) if I want. I usually bring less but to be honest the main reason I don't downsize is if I'm going on someone's boat I can easily throw everything in a boat bag and switch back and forth. I just don't want to be picking and choosing individual lures to bring each trip. 

[fishwizzard]

Right now I only roll out with four rods although I am scheming to find a way to add a fifth for this coming season.

 

Because of the limited rods and rather large variation in water/cover around here I pack specifically for each outing.  
 

4 hours ago, Choporoz said:

 -- I REALLY enjoy 'going through' my 'ready-use' boxes and plastics.  If not, I'd go nuts on days I 'can't' fish

 

Hah, yep. I have about two dozen 3600/3500 boxes packed into little kits for all the various fishing I do and I am forever tinkering with and reworking them.  It’s a fun way to pass the time and it means that I could grab a rod and a couple boxes and be out the door in moments whenever I get a chance to.  

 

 

[Dens228]

2 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I bring way too much, I'm rigged up I can bring almost all my gear (6 rods, 7 or 8 Plano 3700 boxes) if I want. I usually bring less but to be honest the main reason I don't downsize is if I'm going on someone's boat I can easily throw everything in a boat bag and switch back and forth. I just don't want to be picking and choosing individual lures to bring each trip. 

I do the same thing.  Everything in my crate can fit in my tackle bag for boat or shore.   Although I tend to bring FEWER rods on a boat.  In my kayak I bring six and am fighting the urge to bring 7 or 8 this year as I expand my techniques. 

 

[Smalls]

I bring whatever the season dictates, but I'll throw a couple extra Planos of "it's not really the time of year for this, but it's close, and if I leave it at home I know it's what they're gonna be biting on"

 

It all fits in the crate, so it's not really any more of a hassle to bring. I'll only start admitting I bring too much tackle when I have to figure out how to fit 2 crates on the boat

[kdubracing]

I’m going to begin kayak fishing this year. I don’t have a ton of tackle, so 4-5 3600 boxes will cover me and all fit in the crate with room to spare. I do have quite a bit of soft plastics though. What do you guys use for those? I’m debating on a couple of gallon ziplock bags or a couple of KVD worm bags.

[crankbait2009]

For me, to limit the amount of planos I have, I place my dozen or so bags of plastics in a gallon ziplock bag.  I haven't had no problems with that method.  But I also don't have a lot.

[Dens228]

18 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I do the same thing.  Everything in my crate can fit in my tackle bag for boat or shore.   Although I tend to bring FEWER rods on a boat.  In my kayak I bring six and am fighting the urge to bring 7 or 8 this year as I expand my techniques. 

 

The funny thing about me bringing all this is that even though I bring 4-5 3700 Plano boxes in the crate I always load a 3600 box with what I think I'll actually use and put that under my seat.   90% of the time I never reach behind me for anything else.  It's just that one time I'll need something that keeps me loading that crate up!  Plus I'd hate to be killing it with a specific colored crank or jig and then lose it without having a back up behind me. 

[flyfisher]

Only baits I don't take with me when it is cold is my topwater and frog stuff.  Everything else stays in my crate.  I have caught fish in 35 degree water on just about any technique which leads me to believe it is more about locating and presenting more than the bait itself, much more so than in warmer weather.

[Landis Carrier]

On 2/10/2020 at 12:23 PM, MassYak85 said:

I bring way too much, I'm rigged up I can bring almost all my gear (6 rods, 7 or 8 Plano 3700 boxes) if I want. I usually bring less but to be honest the main reason I don't downsize is if I'm going on someone's boat I can easily throw everything in a boat bag and switch back and forth. I just don't want to be picking and choosing individual lures to bring each trip. 

This is me! I always bring pretty much everything! 

[Bluebasser86]

I always bring down just what I need.