New Kayak Owner - Crate/Bag Weight?

[Josh Schiller]

Hello,

 

I just purchased my first fishing kayak. I plan on doing some kayak tournaments in my region here up in western PA. The kayak I purchased is a Pelican Power 100. Waiting for it to arrive and can’t wait!!

 

In the mean time, I’ve been buying Scotty attachments for a rod holder and other Scotty accessories. I have paddles coming in and now I’m just pondering what type of crate or bag I’ll hold behind the seat?

 

I plan on storing all my fishing gear in this area. For some reason I like to store way to many fishing lures and terminal tackle in my bag. I weighed it and it’s 30lbs. Is this too heavy of a bag to store in my kayak? Also, any tips for storage for a first time kayak owner? 

[Koz]

I have the Flambeau Tuff Krate Premium. I've never weighed it after it's loaded, but it's usually full. In the bottom I'll have five or six Plano boxes plus a container of soft plastics. In the top section I'll have a few bottles of water, gaiters, and gloves, snacks, fish gripper, scale, scissors, and pliers.

 

I have a lot more loaded each trip including my Lowrance, battery, transducer arm, lithium battery, YakkAttack CellBlok, safety flag with light, dry bag, and my CTug, paddle, 3 or 4 rods, and the pedal drive unit.

 

I'm not worried about the weight on the water, but then again I have a stable, 12 foot kayak. That being said, my goal is to pare down the tackle I am carrying this year, but not because of the weight. I want to stop overanalyzing my approach. My goal is to get down to 2 or 3 Plano boxes and a few bags of soft plastics.

[Jmilburn76]

The best thing is to take it out a few times with only the basics before rigging it out, especially before drilling any holes. Stuff that looks good and you think will work may change after you get it on the water. I have changed stuff several times on mine the 3 years Ive had it.

 

Most of the time I take 3 rods, two 3600 boxes that fit in organizer under my seat, and a small KVD speed bag that holds soft plastics. The saying less is more. If Im fishing a tournament and decide to go all out, 6 rods, eleven 3600 boxes with 9 of them in Blackpak and Ketch board. Id guess the Blackpak is 45lbs.

[Bankc]

Mine tackle bag weighs about 30lbs.  It's fine on my kayak.  It's a good idea to keep the weight down, but so long as you're not pushing the maximum weight of the kayak, I wouldn't sweat it.  The PWR 100 hold a maximum weight of 350lbs.  However, if you're adding a trolling motor and battery, it might be wise to look into a lithium battery to save some weight, as they can get pretty heavy.  It also might be wise to no get crazy with the trolling motor.  A trolling motor can weight 30-40 lbs, plus another 60 lbs for the battery, if you go lead acid.  

[Danika 327]

12 hours ago, Josh Schiller said:

I plan on storing all my fishing gear in this area. For some reason I like to store way to many fishing lures and terminal tackle in my bag. I weighed it and it’s 30lbs. Is this too heavy of a bag to store in my kayak? Also, any tips for storage for a first time kayak owner? 

i like to just fill my fishing bag up and then take no more other than what can fit in my backpack but if you are worried about the weight limit you are good. your kayak can hold 450 pounds you are just fine. 

[DruC]

Anyone ever use the Plano V-Crate or the YakGadget Low Pro Crate? I'm doing away with the standard milk crate and can't decide between the 2. I like the idea behind these 2 systems of not having to do a 180 to open a box and looking inside to know which tackle box I'm grabbing.

[schplurg]

Never heard of it. Looks like they're around $100. Not sure about it yet, I need to take a good long look at it. It's a bigger profile for wind to grab I'd say. It has a lot of space I don't think I'd use because of my front hatch. I think it needs a lid on top. I couldn't use it for my setup, but definitely interesting.

 

 

 

I definitely could not use the YakGadget Low Pro Crate. I don't see anything I like about it. The XD I saw was priced at $169. No way. For what?

 

https://yakgadget.com/products/lowpro-crate-xd?variant=37552278569117

Quote

The LowPro is a leaning crate with angled dividers. That way, your boxes are leaning towards you so they can be reached without turning your body.

 

How's that? I like my Plano boxes side by side so I don't have to reach toward the back of the box for any of them. Maybe you can do a no-look reach with this kit but opening it looks ... I dunno hard to tell.

 

I mean it holds a few Planos and has rod holders, a zipper pouch, and is $169.