How do you guy's set up your yak?

So as you might of read my previous topic a while back how the old man is going to get yak’s soon. I guess my question is what do you generally carry? I was thinking two rod’s to start off with, one with a popping cork or lure and the other with a carolina rig(how many rod’s do you guy’s generally carry?). What other nessesity’s? I was thinking a cast net in a five gallon, flow troll, milk crate with a box or two(put flowtroll in here when I’m on the move). But honestly I have no idea what I should bring. All I know is I will be fishing in a 12-14ft. yak. I will really appreciate all the help you guy’s can give me. All help is appreciated in advance, thank’s!

I’m so salt life I sued google earth for giving away all of my fishing spot’s.

milk crate=kayak fishermans best friend put tackle in it, rod holders on the side, almost anything. I recommend a 3-4ft net to throw for bait with. If you can, learn to stand up in the kayak and it will help you with casting for bait, casting rods, etc. I also recommend a 6 or so foot rod so you can access the tip easily.

“In every species of fish I’ve angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that keep fresh in my memory. So I say it is good to lose fish. If we didn’t, much of the thrill of angling would be gone.” Ray Bergman

I use a milkcrate in mine. I have a 3 pack rod holder on it from west marine. It had a place to hold rigs and hooks and knife and pliers. I also put a rodholder in each crner of the crate for ky net and anchor pole. In my milk crate I keep a small Plano series plastic tackle divider for my tackle that day. It also has a small soft sided cooler for food and water. I I keep a dry bag with phone and inhaler as well. When it gets cold I keep a change of dry clothes and warm jacket. I also keep a cast net, I need to get a small one that I can throw from the yak, I have to get out at low tide and throw it not from the yak. I also keep a stringer for when I keep my fish. I have a paddle leash ofor my paddle as well as anchor pin and deep (8’ of rope) anchor trolley. As for rods, there is a lot of different opinions. I have a 7’ dock redfishing combo, a 7’ light action trout combo and a 6’% combo. Im glad I went with these early because I have been ininstanc where I would have broken a longer rod. Now that I have more experience, when I repower my arsenal I will be getting another 7’ dock fishing combo, a 7’6 with battle 2000 for throwing lures a country mile, and a 7’4 shimano teremar with 3000 Sahara for all around and a kng 7’+ trout rod for throwing topwaters and popping corks. As for how many, look at toobusy’s tech tips on YouTube. It’s called the 3 rod prospecting method 1 rod for throwing plastics, 1 rid for corks, and one rod for dock fishing redfish. On Sunday were having a show for everybody to show off there yaks and meet. Come on down ( see post about brittlebank park).

Hunter P. Hames
11’ Tarpon 100
19’ Sea Fox 125 merc

I have less experience kayak fishing than many on this site. I take two rods rigged just as you suggested. I tried a small anchor when I first started and now use a pole. I’ll take a cast net and flow troll sometimes - not if I’m flats fishing. Drinking water…

I try to keep it to three rods - one with a bottom rig of some kind (usually two or three split-shot on a flouro leader, with a circle hook), one set up with jighead, and the last with popping cork (Too Busy’s three-rod prospecting tip!)

My tackle stuffs include two small tackle trays, long-nosed pliers, braid scissors, fish grip, and small landing net.

I bring a stick-it anchor pin when fishing shallow water, like creeks…or bring an anchor and rope when fishing deeper stuff. Usually I keep one or the other home, for weight’s sake.

For bait, a small cast-net and flo-troll for live bait. I bring a small 24-can soft cooler for water/snack/and the occasional take-home fish (usually release 'em)

I have cut down on a lot of stuff I used to bring…mostly on the tackle side.

-Lewis

Jackson Kayak Cuda
WS Ride 135

Everyone’s style and needs are different. I tried a milk crate at first but found it didn’t work for me. I find an anchor is more versatile than a stick-it pin. I’m sure there are things others have thought of that I wish I had. (I remember the first time I saw an anchor trolly I thought it was genius!)

Yakman’s advice to come to Brittlebank on Sunday is good. You’ll see a variety of setups and get some ideas to try out.

It all depends on you really. Some of us give Lost@Sea a bunch of grief for looking like a Russian trawler but he has very specific rods for very specific things. I used to take between 4-6 rods with me all rigged differently so I could switch up tactics quickly. Now I have one fly rod, a box of flies, 2 spools of leader/tippet, a boga, a pair of pliers and a stake out pole. I have gone out before with just a fly rod a few flies in a pocket and a pair of pliers… Take what you feel comfortable paddling around. we all start out with a ton of gear and eventually pare it down as we get to know what we want to do. If I am taking a client out I am going to have a LOT of extra gear in case they need it. Bring what you think ya need and after a few trips if you realize ya don’t really need it, leave it at home the next time.

“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os

A word to the wise, how ever many rods you choose to take out with you, you should tie them down. I’ve donated more than one favorite fishing rod to davy jones locker.

And another piece of advice… don;t have too many rods out… I had a redfish have me so wound up in mono I had to cut my way out… :wink: One fish can run across all yours line pretty quickly…

“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os

What is bad is I usually carry 5 rods, two heavy ones, a medium one and two light ones (which one has a sabiki rigged tied to it). The two heavy ones I use to troll and live bait, one with just a hook, and the other with a lure. For the trolling I use 90 degree elbow with PVC sticking sticking out past the yak to keep a good spread and toss the lure while trolling. But just like nikonjedi a large fish will cause havoc with extra lines out…especially sharks who enjoy running under kayaks. An anchor trolley is wonderful to have and opens up angles that only someone highly trained in yoga could get to without one. KISS (keep it simple silly) is the best advice…

Here’s an article I wrote a while back about gearing up.
http://kayakfishsc.com/2010/09/gearing-up-for-kayak-fishing/

I tried to make it a good introduction to kayak fishing

Who’s Ready for a Sleigh Ride? www.KayakFishSC.com

I widened the front hatch a few inches to hold the kegerator 2000, rigged a small generator in the stern to run the Sattelite TV and used a bbq grill off the port side to offset the weight of the sashimi station. Football season begins tonight. Go Gamecocks!

If two wrongs don’t make a right, try three.