I am suprised how efficiently you Kayak anglers can fit everything into your hull.

[Holetail]

On 12/15/2021 at 7:54 PM, JG233 said:

I'll take the kayak salute. I learned my lesson this year too and finally got a few leashes for my gear. The tipping point was losing a brand new pair of stainless steel pliers to the drink after owning them for less than twenty-four hours. It was completely demoralizing.

Although not fancy pliers, I have found this works nicely rather than a leash. 

[cyclops2]

Well fed water animals are not going to attack stringers.

[TnRiver46]

7 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

Well fed water animals are not going to attack stringers.

I’ve had it happen in fresh water from snapping turtles and river otters. The otters took the whole darn thing, snappers always leave me the fish heads. I failed to ask either group of critters what their nourishment level was 

[schplurg]

On 12/16/2021 at 6:12 PM, Koz said:

.... snip ......

 

But what gets me is why doesn't every kayak have a hatch on the deck right in front of the seat where you can keep a set of pliers and a handful of your top baits? That seems like a no brainer.

 

My old Ride 115 has that hatch and, at least for me, it's in the way when standing. Probably break over time if I stepped on it, and it isn't flush with the floor.

 

My new PDL 106 has a pocket on each side on the gunwale for small Plano boxes or loose pliers, scale etc. Actually the pedal drive itself has a nice dry storage box built in as well. I keep my phone and wallet in it and it will fit more. I can also strap another very small box on top of that if I want.

 

My seat has a mesh area beneath me that I can store two 3600s in. The mesh keeps the boxes off the floor and dry, it's basically a mesh shelf under my butt. If that wasn't there I would think about making some kind of drawer, like Greg Blanchard uses. That would be better than the mesh thing really.

 

Anyways, my milk crate will hold 4 or 5 3600s even with my battery box in there with them, and other stuff. I don't usually carry that many but sometimes I do, why not? They aren't heavy

 

And with the 106 I can twist around or just stand up and kneel on the seat to reach the crate. My Ride 115 gets tippy even if I twist around wrong.

 

[bulldog1935]

While kayak fishing is intimate with the water, fly fishing is even more intimate, reading the water, and most often sight-fishing.  The thought of multiple fly rods seems like an antithesis. Especially since I've culled my number of effective fly patterns over 40 years. 

When fly fishing is go-to, I use two different boats, rigged simply, and different goals from my big T160. 

39-lb kevlar Kestrel 140SOT is my fast taxi to wading water.  Note I also carry a 3-pc bait rod in the sternwell netting to put together for that opportunity. 

This boat is old school fast, and needs thigh-straps to keep balance and turn. 

Coming back to fish the pass into the channel with both rods rigged - you can't turn around in this boat, but have to get out to mess with stuff behind. 

 

Bow ballast is pretty much mandatory for stability, here an ice mule and, um, breakfast beer to share. 

 

In our hill country limestone creeks, the 44-lb Heritage Redfish 10 is fast, nimble, stable, and easy to portage.  Again, just taking out one fly rod, though I can add a second and even 3rd rod with sternwell rigging and milk crate. 

 

 

for wind control, this boat needs a skeg addition

[Yakalong]

It's interesting when I take the kayak out, I only take 3 rods at the most depending on what and where I am fishing. In the boat it will be 10-15 rods with all the tackle. However, in the boat I still usually only use maybe 3 rods. 

[OldManLure]

8 minutes ago, Yakalong said:

It's interesting when I take the kayak out, I only take 3 rods at the most depending on what and where I am fishing. In the boat it will be 10-15 rods with all the tackle. However, in the boat I still usually only use maybe 3 rods. 

Whether in one of my sit-ins or my sit-on, I take 5…1 in hand and 4 in holders.  The rods are rigged for entire water column…..top, spinnerbait, shallow crankbait, deep crankbait, and finesse worm.  There have been numerous occasions when I’ve anchored, parked in an eddy,  or wedged in rocks and used all 5.  If I retie, it’s almost always for color rather than action.

[Dens228]

This is how my kayak fishing has progressed. 

Two 3700 boxes, to rods.

I somehow got up to seven rods, and six or seven 3700 boxes.

Now I keep it to five or six rods, it's still six or seven 3700 boxes but they are the thin ones so hold half the lures.  I used to bring everything I could in case I needed it.  Over time I realized that what's originally tied on when I hit the water pretty much stays on unless I lose it.  Towards the end of this past summer I started only bringing the boxes that contain what I know will work where I'm going. Hopefully I can trim down a bit more.......

[schplurg]

17 hours ago, schplurg said:

 

My old Ride 115 has that hatch and, at least for me, it's in the way when standing. Probably break over time if I stepped on it, and it isn't flush with the floor.

 

 

Actually the storage area that is in the PDL drive I showed above IS that hatch, pretty much, except the PDL one is narrower and flat. There is no room for an additional hatch between the seat and the drive, unless maybe I scoot the seat way farther back.

 

There is a hatch behind my seat but I don't have a use for it really, except again, hull access. I only use the front hatch, and it holds a box with an extra prop ($10) and shear pins, essential tools, first aid, and a small soft cooler if I bring one.

 

I didn't stand much in the Ride 115, and I suppose I'm usually standing with a foot on either side with the PDL 106 anyways. I could stand and put weight on the 106 one. It's right next to my desk now and it is really sturdy.

[Darth-Baiter]

On 12/16/2021 at 6:12 PM, Koz said:

 

 

But what gets me is why doesn't every kayak have a hatch on the deck right in front of the seat where you can keep a set of pliers and a handful of your top baits? That seems like a no brainer.

As I understand it.  The hatch would need to support weight so you can stand on it. 
and most people don’t open the hatch all the time. I rarely do unless I’m desperately changing out crankbaits.  It’s where I keep my hard baits. I don’t like opening it because that’s where the water that sinks me will enter. Haha.  I like it slammed shut.  Items used often gonn by into the side pockets. 

[Matt Hoo]

When bass fishing I’m a 6-10 rods kind of guy. I bring a tuffcrate premium with 5 3700 cases. I have every possibility of lure available. I let the fish decide what they want to bite. Throw in a huge case for plastics, panoptix, and a 106ultra. The funny thing is when I’m inshore or salt water fishing I bring a small bag and 3 rods. Stripers, specs, and reds tend to have a more predictable bite. 

[Bankc]

6 rods.  When I built my trolling motor mount, which I use even when I'm not using my trolling motor, I was able to install 6 rod holders onto it.  So I always take 6 rods.  I usually use 1-4 rods, but the amount of space and hassle is the same with 1 or 6, so I go with 6, just in case.

 

I have one tackle bag with 7 3600 trays.  Every bait I own is in those 7 trays.  That's my rule.  If I don't have room for something new, I don't buy something new.  If I feel like I need something new, and don't have room for it, I get rid of something.  It keeps the bait monkey at bay and makes load-in/loud-out easier.  Everything I need is in one spot and easy (enough) to reach.  This somewhat limited approach helps to keep me from concentrating on bait too much, and focusing more on location.  Only my favorite and most used baits, do I own in multiple colors.