Outfitting a kayak for fishing

[VAN]

Hi Guys,
Hope you can help me out.
I was just up to the Cape and bought a used tandem kayak.
I used it twice with great success but realize that for fishing I could outfit the boat to make life easier.
Do you recomend any particular rod holders (fly rod) and I thought an anchor would be a good idea. I would like to hold in sandy areas so what type of anchor would you recomend?
And I 've seen a ?striping? skirt - sorry I don't know the name of the thing.
I would be grateful for any input.
Thanks a lot,
Van

[joev]

Van I think the Scotty fly rod holder is one of a few.
Check out this site for that and other yak fishing stuff.
www.kayakfishingstuff.com
Welcome to Yak fishing
JoeV

[G-Man]

Hi Van,
When you say "skirt thing" does that mean you got a sit in type kayak?

I could help you rig a sit on top, but there are plenty others here with sit-ins that can off suggestions. Just remember there is no "right way" to rig it. You get starter input then it's a discovery process of what works for you. I'll try to put together some pics and links together this week just for suggestion.
Good Luck

[VAN]

G Man,
Yes this is a sit in tandem kayak. The Perception - Jocassee
It's big at 16' 6" but I found it very stable especially with my wife & child but I can easily handle it alone.
Thanks,
Van

[FLYRODER]

I agree get the Scotty Fly Rod Holder. Check out your local West Marine or Boaters World some do sell the fly rod holder and they also sell a 3lb grapnel anchor.

The site listed above is good 1 heres 3 more you can also check out for the cheapest prices on whatever you want to buy:

http://www.sierraoutdoorsports.com/cart/index.htm

http://www.outdoorplay.com/

http://www.altrec.com/shop/dir/paddle/

[ekg]

I amm assuming you already have good pfds. Bluewater makes a flyrod holder that works well using the seayback straps. Now the other thing you really ought to get is a paddle float. I also have a large stable sit in(Loon 138) kayak. I managed to get myself in a position where the boat went over (Thanks again G-Man) without help I would have been truly screwed. I practiced with the paddle float and will no longer go anywhere without one. Besides that get a good pump. also a big bailing sponge. Acan of boeshield spray for the locking springs in your paddles as well as the tube for the seats. It works on reels as well. I didn't see the need for a paddle float untill I needed one. A throw bag and line is also a good thing to have. EKG

[ruge13]

As for the anchor...the standard 3 or 5 lb anchors for kayaks don;t hold well in sand. They are great for rocky areas but in sand or muscles you need to add a 3 foot section of chain to weigh down the anchor. Then it will hold in anything. Check previous posts on anchors in this forum ther eis alot of usefull info. As for fishing, Both the scotty and bluewatr rod holders are good. The skirt you refer to is a Spray skirt. If you are going to be doing heavey paddling or paddling when you really really want to keep your lap dry, get one. Probably cost you about $80-$125 for a decent tandem skirt. There are lots of good companies. get one with suspenders...this will prevent pooling and leaks. If you are going to flyfish you will want the open cockpit anyway so you can strip into. as for the paddle float...get it. or at the very least, geta paddle leash. When fly fishing you will need both hands, this will allow you to toss the paddle in the water and let it float with you less to worry about. I used to balance the paddle accorss the rails of the boat but I found that when casting and stripping I wuld hit the paddle and it would make noise. This echoed through the boat and through the water. I didnlt think this was a big deal unitl I could see stripers folling bait to my boat until I bumped my paddle and the flew off. So now I float it next to me with no sound. Get a PFD. If you paddle that far or even on foggy mornings...a compass may not be a bad idea. I know in heavey fog I have been turned around before, its eirie not knowing where to go, a barking dog saved me. and of course a paint ball gun for boats that pass too close. In the future if you venture off pretty far, you might want to invest in a pair of gloves for blisters and some other safety stuff like flares but foir now, the pfd and paddle floats leashes etc are much more important. Above all, practice dumping the boat, nothing worse than going over for the first time in deep water with fishing equipment...trust me. You will swear alot!

[VAN]

Thanks a lot everyone for all the great info.I knew this was the place to go.
Shaun - the chain idea sounds real good - I do have a 6 lb. mushroom anchor that I've used in fresh water in my canoe- do you think it would work in sand?
And do you think an anchor is important at all.
One more thing - The paddles I have float - I thought they all did so why is it so important to have what you call paddle floats? If that's what they do. I hope I don't sound too stupid.
Thanks again,
Van

[ekg]

A paddle float doesn't keep your paddle from sinking. I thought the same thing at first. Paddle floats are self rescue devices. They get inflated and stuck on one end of your paddle, the other end gets stuck in your deck rigging. Insantant outrigger. Makes getting back into your boat if you rolled it. or just are interesed in getting out to wade on some flats. A bag of air at the end of a paddle can add a huge amount of stability as well as giving you a neede boost in a deep wet reentry. If you ever roll and don"t have one.you will wish you did. I learned the hard way. Any kayak outfitter will be happy to exlain the use of the things. Also paddling.net has some very good articles on rescue techniques for kayakers.
EKG

[FLYRODER]

6lb mushroom anchor will work in the sand. But you should only use an anchor in areas with a slow current. Don't ever use an anchor in fast or strong moving current. Its dangerous and you will get pulled under if you do so. You should get yourself a Drift Chute/Sock. In strong or fast moving currents a Drift Chute/Sock will work like a charm. Its great to use when its windy. It keeps your kayak/canoe moving slowly with the direction of the current. If the current is moving fast or you have a wind with the tide it(Drift Chute)will slow your drift down. A Drift Chute/Sock is used a lot more than an anchor. Its also a lot safer to use.

[ruge13]

I agree, anchors are good to control a small current or drift and the mushroom is fine but Iwould get a small section of chain. As for the drift chute, I have never used one so I don;t know anything about them othetr than people who have them swear by them. Personally, I prefer to drift in the current most of the time. As for the paddle floats, get them, even if you never use them, the one time you might need them, you will wish you had them. There is nothing worse than being 100 yards form shore in a strong current kicking behind your boat because you couldn;t get back in it...I've done it. It sucks.

[Wes]

Paddle floats are only useful if know how to use one. Get some instruction or even just a book and practise. You may want to add some rigging to your yak to strap in the paddle. You should have a paddle leash, an air horn, a light, a pump, a compass, I'm sure there's more I forgot. Paddling with a buddy is smart. PFD required and should be worn.

Drift anchors are great for floating with the current, they negate the effect of the wind and you can orient the boat to face where you want to fish with a little ingenuity rigging them. Mine's simple, I tie the anchor wide end to a short line (just long enough so that line plus anchor reaches either end of kayak from cockpit) that I usually snap on the stern loop or toggle, but could be bow or any point you want depending on conditions. Another longer line (length of anchor line plus at least length of anchor) is attached to the small end of the anchor and is tied off near the cockpit. The stern line holds the anchor, the cockpit line is slack in use and retrieves the anchor backwards when you want to pull it in. When not in use the anchor and is stowed under bungees behind or in front of the cockpit.

[Florian]

Until recently I let my paddle float next to the boat when casting and fighting fish...but I am just coming back from a trip to the Kennebec, and I have changed my mind about paddle "clips" or attachments: while drifting downcurrent and casting my fly rod, my paddle kept being pulled back towards the boat and bumping into it, making a big noise that onlygets amplified in the water and might spook fish (it probably has...:(
I will try to get my hand on some way of strapping my paddle against the side of my SIN yak (Manteo by Wild Sys, a sort of 140 Pungo not on the market anymore).

Anybody has some experienced with this kind of attachments/clips/straps and how to mount them on the yak ?

[Ray]

Florian,

I sent you a PM detailing the paddle clips for my Pungo 14.

Ray

[Florian]

Up to now I was keeping my flyrod between my knees/feet, angled to the rear (tucked under my arm). This works OK, but a bit of sand in my SINK cockpit and my reel is starting to get scratches, without mentioning that the reel bumping in the cockpit makes a sound that is amplified in the water.
...so I have finally decided to get a rod holder...difficult decision when you always have a minimalist approach to fishing :)
anyway, I have looked at the comments on kayakfishingstuff.com, as well as on some other sites, and have narrowed down my choice to the RAM Rod holder and Scotty Fly rod holder.
Any comments on those 2 ?
As well, should I mount it in front of or behind the cockpit ? In front seems more handy if you want to get to the rod fast and without having to twist around...as well as not having the holder behind you on th cockpit's rim where you might want to sit onto when getting into or out from the SINK ...but I see most of the people putting them on the rear...any cooments before I drill my holes ?

[Ray]

I use Scotty rod holders. They are mounted behind my cockpit using the flush mount options. I currently have 1 for a spin rod and 1 for a fly rod. This week I am picking up a 2nd fly rod holder.

Though I haven't used other brands, the Scotty ones work well. I have caught several fish when trolling and have not had any probleys with the rods moving or removing them to fisht and land fish.