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It's not a Canoe, It's not a Kayak, It's a NuCanoe
Back to Basics: KayakingBy Rich Jones
Keep your rigging simple and you'll be on the water quickly and often.
Some have called me "hardcore" and some call me a "die-hard," because of the way I have taken to kayak fishing. I have been kayak fishing for quite some time, and a couple of years ago I received an offer to work and guide for Everglades Kayak Fishing.com. Since moving to the Everglades area on Chokoloskee Island, I've never looked back.Over the course of time, I have kayaked and fished many exciting places in Florida. I've fished numerous tournaments and was able to gain sponsorship from several companies for both kayaks and rigging gear. The tournaments were fun and I placed "in the money" in a couple, but what I really liked was meeting fisherman from all over and observing their kayaks and how they were rigged.
Nowadays, I don't do as much traveling as I used to and I don't venture out of the Everglades area very often, but I really have no need. I have a couple-million acres to fish and explore outside my backdoor. With this area known as kind of a kayaking mecca, I regularly get to meet kayak fisherman, not only from Florida, but from all over the world.
I have probably seen just about every conceivable way to rig a kayak for fishing; from rod holders, to fish finders, to anchoring systems, to camera mounts. Anglers are a resourceful group, and I have to say; there really are a lot of cool boats out there and a lot of ingenious ideas on rigging.
Rigging your rig.
Rigging is a personal thing. Each angler has personal preferences for their boats and for the type of fishing they do. I, on the other hand, over time, have regressed. I have found that "less is more" - at least as far as kayak rigging is concerned. With some basic rigging, I can handle pretty much any fishing situation and be successful. Generally, I fish the inland creeks and lakes out to the coastal bays. However, you can also find me amongst the outer barrier islands and in the open waters of the Gulf.
Recently, I have been using two different boats for the most part. The Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 and the Redfish 14 by Heritage. The Ultimate is a kayak-canoe hybrid, to which I have added no rigging. I fish it, as they say, "right out of the box."
To my Redfish 14 (a sit on top kayak or SOT), I have only added basic rigging. The style of the Redfish is pretty typical of most SOT's available today from many different manufacturers. All are basically similar, but, of course, each has a few design differences. I prefer the Redfish 14 for its hull design. It glides quietly in the water and its width makes it very stable and fairly easy to stand in. I have used these boats since they were first introduced and they have always been able to handle all of the situations I've found myself in.
Got milk crates?
I prefer to keep things simple and easy, so I use a milk crate... yep, the same one used for milk deliveries to convenience stores. To it, I have attached a couple of single rod holders. These are the common white ones that can be found at most marine supply stores and are relatively inexpensive. Heavy-duty tie-wraps work well for securing them.
The milk crate carries my anchor, Boga Grip, tackle and miscellaneous other fishing gear, and fits easily in the stern "tank well" area of the boat. It basically stores everything I need while I am fishing, and when I am not, I simply remove it from the kayak with all of its contents and put it in a convenient place. When it's time to fish again, I grab the crate, a couple of rods, my life vest and a paddle and I'm off. Another nice thing about this setup is I can move the crate to whichever boat I plan to use and not forget anything.
Staple installmentss
The flush-mount rod holders rigged on many kayaks position your reels very close to the water causing them to get wet, especially when paddling in rough or windy conditions. The crate-mounted rod holders work just as well and keep my rods up and away from the water. Because of this, I have no rod holders installed on my boat. The only rigging I have on my Redfish is a paddle-keeper on each side of the boat and an anchor trolley. My anchor trolley is a typical setup, operating much like a clothesline on a pulley system.
Anchor trolleys are available from suppliers like: Capt. Dick's Kayak Accessories, Hook 1 Tackle, Kayak Fishing Stuff, etc. However, I chose to make my own, since the parts needed were readily available.
I recommend mounting the trolley from the stern to only three-quarters of the way to the bow. This prevents having the anchor line straight out from the bow when deployed. When hooked up, a big fish can circle the kayak many times before being subdued. Just like in a traditional boat, the anchor line presents an obstacle that you need to deal with.
The "three-quarter" technique keeps the anchor line within easy reach, should the fish get entangle in it. An anchor line straight off the bow would make for a very long reach. Also, the ability to adjust the anchoring point from bow to stern allows you to correctly position the boat when anchoring in wind or currents.
The other rigging on my boat is the paddle-keepers. These are simply side-mounted bungee cords that keep your paddle attached to the boat when not in use. It is a simple set-up using a short, 18-inch section of 1/4 inch bungee cord, stretched between connectors on the ends. One additional holding clip is centered and mounted above this bungee. On one side I stow my paddle and on the other I stow my push pole or stake-out pole. This is a very simple installation with plenty of kits and parts available.
There is one other accessory you might want to consider, and that is a rudder. I've had rudders on my last few boats, but for me, they are more of a luxury than a necessity. I usually only use it when making a long crossing on open water, as it helps the boat track better - especially in windy conditions. However, many kayak anglers really love their rudders.
So that's it. Keep your rigging simple and you'll be on the water quickly and often. Everything will be within easy reach when you need it and your boat will remain free of clutter. You'll be able to fish seated or standing, without any obstacles in the way. Besides, what angler needs more obstacles? The Everglades provide more than enough for me already.
Good luck rigging your yak. See you on the water!
Website by Pat Weston
St. Louis MO