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Kayak fishing equipment tips from Dean Thomas
Kayak fishing is all about the gear. Following are Dean “Slowride” Thomas’ tips for what to bring.
Clothing
Reflection off the water is really powerful and getting a bad sunburn can happen easily. Protect your whole body with lightweight clothing and long sleeves. Make sure it’s lightweight so it stays cool but fully covers your body. Also wear big hats, sunglasses and use lots of sunscreen.
You need good footwear to protect your feet when wading. The ocean bottom is often littered with sharp objects. Plus there are oysters and reef, both of which can cut your feet.
First Aid
Cuts are a huge problem with all the lures and fast moving lines that can shred your skin. A good first aid kit is key.
Technique—We emphasize good paddling technique. Wind is your number one enemy on the water. Learning to paddle properly saves wear and tear on your body, especially when you’re crossing a big, open, flat section with a headwind. I hate to see people slouched in their seat when they’re paddling. The ACA offers Quick Start and Smart Start classes to give you a good paddling base. I highly recommend taking one. Those classes will apply to any type of boating you want to do.
The Boat
Kayaks used for fishing are always sit-on-tops. Usually in the 14-foot range. This seems to be the right length for tracking and stability. Anything smaller gets beat around out there and anything longer can be pretty bulky. Fishermen tend to be gear freaks. I like to scale down gear to necessity only. I keep the deck as streamlined as possible, only carrying what I need.
Fishing Gear
The type of fishing gear matters only to the people using it. Kayaking lends itself well to fly fishing because you’re always sight casting and kayaks allow you to work yourself into position in silence. But I use lures all the time too. It’s a personal preference.
Anatomy of a Fish Kayak
Slowride has customized his ride. Here’s his spiel on the most affective way to outfit a kayak for a day on the water. Bow“There’s usually a front dry hatch where you keep everything you probably won’t need during the day like a first aid kit, raingear and a breakdown paddle (hopefully you don’t need that stuff).”
Cockpit
“I keep my camera in a Pelican Case right under my knees for easy access. You never know when a good photo opportunity might come up. Most kayaks come with a standard seat but I add a high back seat because I’m usually on the water so long and it’s more comfortable.”
Behind the Chair
“Right behind me are four, flush-mounted rod holders (sunk into hull of the boat). I keep two fly rods and two conventional rods on the boat at all times so I’m ready for any kind of fishing.”
Milk Crate
“I have a milk crate right behind the rods for easy access. I keep a tackle box and fly box in it, along with pliers, line, measuring tape and an anchor. I can remove all this at the end of the day, take it in and repack it again for the next trip.”
Stern
“Beyond the milk crate, on the stern of the boat, I bungee an extra tackle box with emergency fishing gear in it. I never plan on getting into it. Everything I keep in the bow or stern is stuff I don’t need to get to very often.”
Kayak fishing is all about the gear. Following are Dean “Slowride” Thomas’ tips for what to bring.
Clothing
Reflection off the water is really powerful and getting a bad sunburn can happen easily. Protect your whole body with lightweight clothing and long sleeves. Make sure it’s lightweight so it stays cool but fully covers your body. Also wear big hats, sunglasses and use lots of sunscreen.
You need good footwear to protect your feet when wading. The ocean bottom is often littered with sharp objects. Plus there are oysters and reef, both of which can cut your feet.
First Aid
Cuts are a huge problem with all the lures and fast moving lines that can shred your skin. A good first aid kit is key.
Technique—We emphasize good paddling technique. Wind is your number one enemy on the water. Learning to paddle properly saves wear and tear on your body, especially when you’re crossing a big, open, flat section with a headwind. I hate to see people slouched in their seat when they’re paddling. The ACA offers Quick Start and Smart Start classes to give you a good paddling base. I highly recommend taking one. Those classes will apply to any type of boating you want to do.
Kayaks used for fishing are always sit-on-tops. Usually in the 14-foot range. This seems to be the right length for tracking and stability. Anything smaller gets beat around out there and anything longer can be pretty bulky. Fishermen tend to be gear freaks. I like to scale down gear to necessity only. I keep the deck as streamlined as possible, only carrying what I need.
Fishing Gear
The type of fishing gear matters only to the people using it. Kayaking lends itself well to fly fishing because you’re always sight casting and kayaks allow you to work yourself into position in silence. But I use lures all the time too. It’s a personal preference.
Anatomy of a Fish Kayak
Slowride has customized his ride. Here’s his spiel on the most affective way to outfit a kayak for a day on the water. Bow“There’s usually a front dry hatch where you keep everything you probably won’t need during the day like a first aid kit, raingear and a breakdown paddle (hopefully you don’t need that stuff).”
Cockpit
“I keep my camera in a Pelican Case right under my knees for easy access. You never know when a good photo opportunity might come up. Most kayaks come with a standard seat but I add a high back seat because I’m usually on the water so long and it’s more comfortable.”
Behind the Chair
“Right behind me are four, flush-mounted rod holders (sunk into hull of the boat). I keep two fly rods and two conventional rods on the boat at all times so I’m ready for any kind of fishing.”
Milk Crate
“I have a milk crate right behind the rods for easy access. I keep a tackle box and fly box in it, along with pliers, line, measuring tape and an anchor. I can remove all this at the end of the day, take it in and repack it again for the next trip.”
Stern
“Beyond the milk crate, on the stern of the boat, I bungee an extra tackle box with emergency fishing gear in it. I never plan on getting into it. Everything I keep in the bow or stern is stuff I don’t need to get to very often.”
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