I know this has probably been asked 100 times, but how does everyone keep what the catch while on the yak? I got a milk crate and spinning rod, and fly rod, and some gear…so where do the keepers go??? Not sure I want to troll through the inlet with a stringer of fish haha.
I don’t have one(yet) but I do know a lot of people use the cold/hot bag’s but I don’t know if they put any ice in them. The one thing I do know is YOU HAVE TO clean them out otherwise it’ll smell ungodly and you’ll have to get a new one lol.
Light travel’s faster than sound. This is why some people appear smart until you hear them speak.
I use a stringer (when I keep fish), and let them swim while you fish, pull them up while you paddle, watch out for the crabs though haha
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
I specifically went to Sams to get one of the bags that everyone said were so good but they were out of them and I was told they haven’t had them for weeks. Then I came across a brand new fancy one with Rachel Ray’s name on it and everything at a yard sale. So now it’s me and Rachel Ray out on the water. I put 3 frozen liter bottles in it. Last trip I was out from dawn to about 2:30 in the afternoon and brought back 2 nice trout, 2 slot reds. There wasn’t that much ice left in the bottles by the time I came in so maybe 4 bottles next time.
It is a little awkward rinsing and drying the thing out and mine is starting to carry an odor.
I think the ideal solution would be a long narrow cooler, maybe even something custom made to fit a specific yak but I don’t know how to make/where to find such a thing. For me, a milk crate takes up too much room and I just don’t carry that much stuff when I go out.
Thanks for all the ideas. I actually have one of those hot/cold bags and never thought about using that. I also have one of those mesh bait bags I thought may work well, but a slot red would be a tight fit and two would never fit. I am wil you on the milk crate. Its starting to get to bulky and with me mostly using a fly rod, its just something else in the way. I used to double it as my homemade yak cart but most places I park close enough to just carry it to the water now.
I do the stringer thing too.
Maybe even better would be a nice streamline floating cooler?
Tidewater 196DC
Yamaha F115
Pungo 120what do you stringer guys do with the stringer if you want to paddle somewhere that takes 20 mins to paddle to?
I stringer mine but added a float to the opposite end so the fish can’t swim too deep under the yak. I just drag it along when I move from one spot to another. Once I plan on heading back to the landing, I have a soft bag I put may catch in along with some frozen water bottles. I usually only keep a couple so it has always worked well for me.
quote:
Originally posted by LocalHerowhat do you stringer guys do with the stringer if you want to paddle somewhere that takes 20 mins to paddle to?
Start the engine. LOL
Seriously, I mostly have been releasing my fish, but I do have a cold bag I can bring, or a small folding cooler, which holds some frozen water bottles.
Was fishing out of Copahee once in the creeks near the ICW. I was out wading a hard shell bar slaying the trout. Buddy of mine was about 20 yards away fishing the other edge with couple trout on his stringer. I hear splashing and see his kayak do a 360 in about 2 sec he and pulls up about a foot of his stringer that is left. I get back to my kayak with out even touching the water. I use a big 2 x 2 cooler bag from costco now.
A 10’ alligator swam by me in Florida, while I was wading. I didn’t know there were alligators in that water, as it’s mostly brackish/salty. They say it’s the one you don’t see that’ll get you.
quote:An thats why I dont like the stringer idea. I think toobusy has the ebst idea with the polar bear cooler. I will be using atleast some version of a soft cooler or hot/cold bag it seems. Thanks for all the input fellas.
Originally posted by 5151Was fishing out of Copahee once in the creeks near the ICW. I was out wading a hard shell bar slaying the trout. Buddy of mine was about 20 yards away fishing the other edge with couple trout on his stringer. I hear splashing and see his kayak do a 360 in about 2 sec he and pulls up about a foot of his stringer that is left. I get back to my kayak with out even touching the water. I use a big 2 x 2 cooler bag from costco now.
I have a polar bear cooler and an AO cooler. They both seem to keep ice cold equally well, but the AO seems to have much more beefy zippers . I always hear people talk about stringers , not sure how you paddle with one of those dragging behind you! Besides, cold beer and sandwiches taste better with a little bit of fish slime on them!
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!
I use a cooler bag I got from Sams club
Works great - with a couple of gallon Zip Lock bags of ice keeps everything cold
The bags work good - accessible on the kayak + easy to carry
Capt Dave
quote:
Originally posted by dlwhite001I use a cooler bag I got from Sams club
Works great - with a couple of gallon Zip Lock bags of ice keeps everything cold
The bags work good - accessible on the kayak + easy to carry
Capt Dave
I was actually at Sams here in Myrtle yesterday and saw the 56 can bags for $8. Cant beat that. Thanks for all the input, that is def the way I am gonna go.
I’ve heard of people using those plastic bags that the grocery stores have at the entrance to put wet umbrellas in. They put the fish in those before they put the fish in the cooler (some call it a fish condom). Helps keep the cooler/bag clean. You could aslo carry an extra kitchen trash bag and put the fish in there before you put them in the cooler.
If you’re lucky enough to be fishing, you’re lucky enough.
I like to pack essentials when i take out the kayak. A stringer takes up little to no space and leaves room for my tackle bag rather than a cooler. If i keep a few i tie them to the back and when its time to paddle i get my cardio in for the day. Haha. It makes a big difference when youre dragging some fish behind you, it really slows you down. Tried the cooler with the little playmate coolers. The ones with the flip lid, it worked well too. I prefer the stringer however.
I have a soft-sided cooler, with a plastic tub insert. I carry a frozen half-gallon jug to keep everything cool inside. Keep the cooler in my crate.
-Lewis
Jackson Kayak Cuda
WS Ride 135
I’ll have to look for the fish condoms. I kept 6 fish yesterday and I do put them in bags but in the process of going in and out of the cooler bag, the plastic bags invariably tear. I don’t put only one per bag though, maybe that would make a difference.