Kayak Combos

[Jeffrey Walker]

 

Now that I have my kayak, i went with the pro angler 12.  I’m thinking of having  either a 4 rod set up to cover a variety of techniques or 8 rods set up to cover a variety of techniques. 

 

flr those that fish from kayaks i’d love to hear what combos you bring Rod/reel/line you bring snd for what purpose(s) or technique(s).

[casts_by_fly]

I tend to carry 5 rods. I have a 4 rod horizontal holder plus the one in my hand. Which ones depend on time of year and lake I’m at. Earlier in the year I have my lighter crankbait/lipless rod and leave the heavy pitching stick at home. YMMV.

[Jeffrey Walker]

What are the 5 you tend to carry? 

[flyfisher]

i carry 5 BC and one spinning

frog

crank

jig

chatter bait 

small swimbait

 

spinning is weightless soft plastics

 

fly rods it is usually 

9' 8wt floating line

9' 10wt floating line

9' 7wt floating line

9' 8wt sink tip

 

going after smallies i will take out the 10 and usually add another 7wt

[JackstrawIII]

When I fish from my kayak, I carry 4 rods:

 

- cranking rod (MH moderate action, 12lb YoZuri)

- some sort of texas rig setup (M fast action, braid to 15lb YoZuri leader) 

- a lightweight rod for small paddletails and finesse presentations (ML fast action, 15 lb braid to 8 lb fluorocarbon) 

- misc. depending on what I'm doing (usually end up with a wacky rig tied on)

[ne_dan]

In my kayak I have 9 rod holders on my crate.  Most I've taken is 6 but most of the time its 4.  

 

Crankbait 

Frog

Chatterbait

Topwater

Jig

Swimbait

Sometimes a spinning rod for senkos/dropshot

 

I can combine a couple techniques on one rod like topwater/chatterbait, and frog/jig.  If I'm fishing a lake I'll bring more rods if its a river less because of the overhanging trees, current and crappy launch spots

 

[Choporoz]

I take 7 or, usually 8.   Almost never the same 7 or 8.  Depends on many variables.   On four consecutive outings, I might be on a clear lake, a tidal river, a muddy reservoir and a fast river.  The only four I almost always have are a MF spinning, and 3 baitcasting: MHF, LMHF, and HF. The other four vary greatly. 

[NYWayfarer]

3 combos.

 

I have 2 rod holders behind my seat and 1 rod holder in a Scotty mount up front.

 

2 Casting combos. Medium Heavy and Medium 1 for topwater and 1 for jig and worm

 

1 Spinning combo. Medium light for dropshot, finesse and panfish action.

 

Nothing longer than 6’10” as longer rods are cumbersome to untangle from a sit in kayak.

 

 

[Ryanralston07]

3 Combos:

 

1 Spinning combo

2 Casting combos: MH/F and a M/F

[FishTank]

4 hours ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

 

Now that I have my kayak, i went with the pro angler 12.  I’m thinking of having  either a 4 rod set up to cover a variety of techniques or 8 rods set up to cover a variety of techniques. 

 

flr those that fish from kayaks i’d love to hear what combos you bring Rod/reel/line you bring snd for what purpose(s) or technique(s).

Are you wanting to know specific brands or just a general idea of what we use.... Rod length and power, types of reels, etc. ?

[Jeffrey Walker]

If 8 rods, then i’m thinking inwould want…

 

1) M spinning for for drop shot, weightless, other spinning applications - windbuster or NRX 872/Stella 

2) M casting for reaction/topwater - poison adrena M+/ steez ct

3) MH casting for light texas rig, bottom stuff  - NRX 893 with steez reel

4) MH casting for heavier reaction, chatter bait, swimbaits, crank etc - p5 Madbull/steez

5) H casting for jigs and heavier texas rig - NRX 894/metanium dc

6) XH casting for frog, punch / dobyns 765

7) extra slot 

8) BFs setup for fun. poison adrena ML/conquest bfs 

 

How does that sound?

 

 

6 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Are you wanting to know specific brands or just a general idea of what we use.... Rod length and power, types of reels, etc. ?

Looking for techniques and pupo sea like Frog rod, and if you have the make and model then that would also be helpful 

[FishTank]

4 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

Looking for techniques and pupo sea like Frog rod, and if you have the make and model then that would also be helpful 

 

Here is what I do.... I considered a few things before I go out. First, where I am going and what conditions will I be facing (wind, rain, depth, muddy water, etc.). Next, am I fishing up close or deep or both. Finally, how long am I staying out. 

 

In general I take the following setups.....

 

1. Texas Rigged Soft Plastic > MH Fast 7' with 12lb FC

2. Wacky Rig > M X-fast 6'8'' Spinning 16lb Braid with Leader

3. Crankbaits > M Mod 7'4'' 10 or 12lb Mono

4. Jigs > H X-fast 7' or longer 15lb FC

5. Topwater, Spinnerbaits or Swimbait > H Fast (soft tip if possible) 7' 40lb braid or 15lb mono

6. BFS > All else fails, this is just fun

 

It varies a little but I might switch to a heavier rod for deep diving cranks or shorter rods if I am fishing close to the bank.

 

Enjoy the PA 12.  I have loved my PA 14 so far. 

 

 

 

[Kevhead19]

PA14 fisherman. 

 

7ft M / fast spinning  20lb braid, 8lb leader, 

6'9 M / fast casting 30lb braid, 14lb leader 

7'4 MH / fast casting 16lb fluoro

7'4 H Glass / Regular casting 17lb fluoro

 

5th combo varies from a heavy frog rod, a 1 - 5oz swimbait rod or a medium glass rod depending on location and my mood.

 

I have more rods (don't we all) so the top four may change if I want to just do xyz technique.

 

7'4 Heavy glass, 7'4MH and my swimbait rods get used the most.

 

PA14 fits 6 in horizontal holders. I run with 5 as I have found I like having a free spot on top right holder to lay down my rod when moving or tying a lure.

[Cbump]

1 hour ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

How does that sound?

Expensive 

[casts_by_fly]

4 hours ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

What are the 5 you tend to carry? 

i pretty much always have my 6’10” mh and h rods (finesse jig and head turner falcons, both are 1/4-3/4 but different power lower). Super versatile.  Throw a chatterbait or pitch a jig. Most of the season those rods have those lures on. The finesse jig is also my walking bait rod in the spring (and throws lots of things well otherwise). Either one will get a jerkbait if I decide to throw one. Both will fish a spinnerbait a bit. 

 

I have been carrying my 7’3” hudson special (3/8-3/4, 5 power mh MF) most of the time.  It’s my buzzbait and plopper rod. It’s also a great crankbait rod. I think with braid it will be an amazing lipless rod in the spring. This is usually one of the five. 

 

After that it depends on the lake and time of year. Spring I will throw in my 7’ mh/MF trapcaster. It’s my lipless rod and smaller crankbait rod. It also throws smaller keitechs on a jighead. Last year I threw a lot of stuff on it but didn’t love it. This year with light braid it has come alive and perfect for what I use it for. 
 

From about June on I will always have my amistad which is a 7’3” heavy/F with 50 lb braid. That’s mostly a pitching rod or frog rod that time of year. In the spring I’ll sometimes bring it with an Alabama rig tied on.  Also fishes big soft swim baits or really heavy spinnerbaits. 

Early season I will often bring my 7’ mh/MF ‘crankbait’ rod (shimano im10 crucial). I rig it with 12-15 fluoro and fish it either with a crankbait or chatterbait. Early season I might have 2 or even 3 chatterbaits tied on at one time so in that case that rod gets one. In summer or fall if I am going to a less grassy lake with Crankbaits I might bring it. It’s probably slower than a MF action and a bit specialized. After may it rarely gets used. 
 

i have a bucoo version of the head turner that I will put 50 lb braid on and throw frogs on it if I want a dedicated frog rod.  That keeps the amistad for bottom contact. 
 

i have a 7’heavy MF bucoo that is versatile that I will throw in some times. It’s a great 110 plopper rod or heavy chatterbait rod. 
 

i just picked up the 7’4” heavy cover jig rod (cara lineup) and while I need to fish it more and see what it does for me, it will probably be a permanent member of the list.  It’s any kind of jig rod (1/2-1 oz jig really) but I can see a lot it can do. 
 

Every now and then I’ll bring a spinning rod. More often than not I’ll grab the cheap rod that is two piece and it goes in the rear well of the boat and not take up a space. 

[Wprich]

I carry 5 rods 2 baitcasters and 3 spinning setups.  Change based on where I’m going or what I plan to fish but below is my main 5 rod arsenal but have a few more like a dedicated cranking rod and 7’6” spinning rod for underspins/okashira heads/spybaits.

 

Baitcasters

7’ MHF-Jackhammers/Mini Max

7’5” MHXF-Jigs and heavy TX Rigs

Spinning

6’10” MLXF-Ned/Drop Shot

7’ MF-Light Texas rigs/light cranks(1/4 red eye shads/shad raps)

6’10” or 7’1” MXF-Wacky/Neko rigs

[Tatulatard]

I take 4 and they vary depending on what I want to cast.  I could take more in a rod rack but I can't have anything sticking up behind me while I'm casting.  I cast at all sorts of angles skipping cover and can't have anything back there so the rods get layed out in front.

[Alex from GA]

Since I only kayak fish small rivers I usually take one spinning rod with 6 lb mono for finesse worms.  Occasionally take a bait caster with 15 lb mono for buzzbaits or topwater baits.

[LCG]

6'8" ML- F spinning

6'10 M-F casting

6'10" MH-R casting

 

I only take two rods on the kayak. Space is cramped, so organization is key. Which rods depend on season and conditions. Always wear a life vest and have lots of water and sunscreen. Safety first. 

 

[Koz]

I have 6 stand up rod holders and two laydown rod holders but I usually bring only 4 rods with me.

 

Three of those are baitcasters in 6:x, 7:x, and 8:x reel speeds. Two of those are on 7' MH Expride rods and the third will either be on a heavy rod or a medium rod depending upon what my game plan is. I also grudgingly bring one spinning rod with me (you'd need to see my thread from last week to understand the joke).

 

I do use one of the standup rod holders for my safety flag. I may add a BFS combo later this year.

 

But honestly, sometimes I think bringing all of that is overkill and I'm carrying too much on my kayak between gear, giant crate stuffed with Plano's cooler, electronics, camera gear, pedal drive, dry bag, C-Tug, and whatever else. It's getting crowded and heavy.

[Darth-Baiter]

congrats on the PA12.

 

360 drive?

 

I think buy a few general setups and go for it.  hate to steer you wrong with my experiences fishing my local waters.  you find what you like soon and buy it all up, plus then some.  

 

PFD?  a NET?   hahha..

[Jeffrey Walker]

Thank you! yes 360! very excited.

 

 

[Jeffrey Walker]

On 9/9/2022 at 11:41 PM, Cbump said:

Expensive 

LOL!

[Jeffrey Walker]

i really appreciate the feedback so far. Also thanks to those that offered power action and specific use. So, looking back at the replies, here is some observations…

Frog rod - seems to be a technique that needs a specific rod.  Also sometimes combined with Flipping and even punching (not in this thread)

chatterbait - not sure why, i really don’t understand why does this bait require a dedicated chatterbait rod?

topwater - also i noticed that people mentioned topwater rod in addition to the frog rod.  Is this for walking baits?? 

Jig rod - defiantly seems to be a specific rod. ben separate from a texas rig rod.

  
Swimbait - also a rod that seems to be unique 

spinning/dropshot/wacky/Ned - i noticed that spinning seems to be preferred for ned rigs, wacky rigs and most definatmey drop shotting 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

i really appreciate the feedback so far. Also thanks to those that offered power action and specific use. So, looking back at the replies, here is some observations…

Frog rod - seems to be a technique that needs a specific rod.  Also sometimes combined with Flipping and even punching (not in this thread)

chatterbait - not sure why, i really don’t understand why does this bait require a dedicated chatterbait rod?

topwater - also i noticed that people mentioned topwater rod in addition to the frog rod.  Is this for walking baits?? 

Jig rod - defiantly seems to be a specific rod. ben separate from a texas rig rod.

  
Swimbait - also a rod that seems to be unique 

spinning/dropshot/wacky/Ned - i noticed that spinning seems to be preferred for ned rigs, wacky rigs and most definatmey drop shotting 

 

 

if you’re referencing my recommendations, I only mention the lures because that’s what I’m fishing on those specific rods. All of my rods are multipurpose. I will use my head turner as my primary chatterbait rod and it’s great for that. It also is a nice lighter pitching rod for jig and Texas rigs. It works well for bigger walking baits. I throw spinnerbaits on it. It’s my primary swim jig rod. It’s also a good rod for frogs in light cover. 
 

you don’t need a dedicated chatterbait, Texas rig, or most any other technique specific rods. But if you always have one tied on then it might make sense to have a rig a bit more specialized. From April to June and even until now I will usually have a chatterbait tied on one of my rods and it’s usually the head turner, hence I call it my chatterbait rod.