Extremely new to kayak fishing

[Tom Lagana]

Hello Everyone!,
Just joined the forum this morning. It looks fantastic, so much great information. I am brand new to this as in I am going to buy a Hobie Revo 13 this afternoon. I'm going to be practicing in a calm creek before I go out. Can anyone suggest some must have gear for the kayak? Also some advice on tackle for fishing in the bay, and surrounding smaller bodies of water would be invaluable. I know this is asking a lot but I have no idea where to start. I have mainly done surf fishing and small bass ponds as a child. I cannot wait to get back on the water!
Thanks!

[Ken kayak]

Welcome to main forum.


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2014 Hobie Outback Blue

[golfmack]

Just search new to Kayak fishing here and you will get a lot of information

[Cowpokey]

Welcome ah bored.

Hello Everyone!,
Just joined the forum this morning. It looks fantastic, so much great information. I am brand new to this as in I am going to buy a Hobie Revo 13 this afternoon. I'm going to be practicing in a calm creek before I go out. Can anyone suggest some must have gear for the kayak? Also some advice on tackle for fishing in the bay, and surrounding smaller bodies of water would be invaluable. I know this is asking a lot but I have no idea where to start. I have mainly done surf fishing and small bass ponds as a child. I cannot wait to get back on the water!
Thanks!

Hobie Outback.

[Cowpokey]

As for tackle, medium to medium heavy spinning rods with 3000 series/size reels loaded with 20# braid will handle everything in the bay that I've encountered. 1/2 ounce jigs with 4-6" paddle tails will get you catching rocks and blues.

[Scrumptrelecent]

Start off by getting you a nice PFD. I wear a NRS Chinook and wish I wouldn't have wasted money on my first cheaper PFD. Some other things I always take out are my back water paddle (good for a beater stick, adds reach if you get hung up, and helps backing up in a hobie without having to reach for your full paddle). Put you an anchor trolley on your yak so you can position your boat if you're sitting in any current. Build a milk crate with rod holders (you can search youtube and find several videos on this). I made a lid on mine out of another crate in case I turtle. Get you a good, bright 360 degree light for early morning/evening hours. Get a pair of fish grips or boga grips. I prefer to use grips instead of a net but that's personal preference. Buy a hobie cart or make one so you can keep the bottom of that expensive piece of plastic scar free. When you go to start rigging that Revo out, make sure you like where everything is going to go prior to drilling holes in it. When I started kayak fishing I wanted every bell and whistle on my PA14 and I had it cluttered up in no time. Less is more. Make a leash for your mirage drive so if you flip you don't lose it. Yes it clicks in place but it will still fall out. It's a $500 mistake you don't want to make. Well that's all I can ramble off for now. Welcome to the addiction!

[J.A. Veil]

Start off by getting you a nice PFD. I wear a NRS Chinook and wish I wouldn't have wasted money on my first cheaper PFD. Some other things I always take out are my back water paddle (good for a beater stick, adds reach if you get hung up, and helps backing up in a hobie without having to reach for your full paddle). Put you an anchor trolley on your yak so you can position your boat if you're sitting in any current. Build a milk crate with rod holders (you can search youtube and find several videos on this). I made a lid on mine out of another crate in case I turtle. Get you a good, bright 360 degree light for early morning/evening hours. Get a pair of fish grips or boga grips. I prefer to use grips instead of a net but that's personal preference. Buy a hobie cart or make one so you can keep the bottom of that expensive piece of plastic scar free. When you go to start rigging that Revo out, make sure you like where everything is going to go prior to drilling holes in it. When I started kayak fishing I wanted every bell and whistle on my PA14 and I had it cluttered up in no time. Less is more. Make a leash for your mirage drive so if you flip you don't lose it. Yes it clicks in place but it will still fall out. It's a $500 mistake you don't want to make. Well that's all I can ramble off for now. Welcome to the addiction!

The original poster asked for "must have gear" for a kayak. I make a clear distinction between things that are either required by regulation or are needed to safely operate a kayak. In the necessary list, I include a paddle, PFD, noisemaking device, communication device (cell phone and/or VHF radio), lights if you plan night use, and seat (for those models that do not include a seat). There is a longer list of items that many Snaggedline members put on their kayaks for convenience or to make their fishing better or more enjoyable. In this second list I include the following:

A. Additional Gear for safety/personal comfort
- visibility to other boaters (flag pole, bright colored paddle blades)
- basic first aid kit
- spare dry clothing in dry bag
- extra seat cushion
- cart or wheels for moving kayak on land
- digital still camera and/or video camera (possibly with mounting poles)

B. Additional Gear for Fishing
- rod holders (flush mount vs. surface mount vs. rocket launcher) for multiple rods
- fishfinder w/ or w/o GPS (will require battery)
- extra tackle storage (milk crate, tackle bag, etc)
- knife, pliers, and/or lip gripper tool
- fish measuring board (like Hawg Trough)
- anchor and trolley (also stake-out poles or Powerpoles)
- electric motors and large batteries
- cooler
- net
- live wells (to keep bait alive)

I have never considered either a crate behind the seat or an anchor trolley as "must have" gear. In fact, in 14 years of kayak fishing, I have never used a crate or other bin behind my seat, and have used an anchor fewer than 10 times when fishing in the Chesapeake. I created a temporary anchor system that involves drilling no holes in the rare event I do want to use an anchor.

The advice given above about getting to know your kayak and how you want to use it before drilling holes to add accessories is good advice.

P.S. - If you are in Solomons on Mon evening, I will be giving a talk on kayak fishing, including how to rig them out. I made a separate post giving the details of that presentation.

[fishinggod]

welcome to the boards and kayak fishing. i myself just started a few months ago and found this site. it has been an endless amount of reading and learning and then asking questions and learning more. this site is full of nothing but helpful folks that are seriously addicted as you will be very soon. take it all in and ask away. the search engine here works dang well too.

[Cowpokey]

Start off by getting you a nice PFD. I wear a NRS Chinook and wish I wouldn't have wasted money on my first cheaper PFD. Some other things I always take out are my back water paddle (good for a beater stick, adds reach if you get hung up, and helps backing up in a hobie without having to reach for your full paddle). Put you an anchor trolley on your yak so you can position your boat if you're sitting in any current. Build a milk crate with rod holders (you can search youtube and find several videos on this). I made a lid on mine out of another crate in case I turtle. Get you a good, bright 360 degree light for early morning/evening hours. Get a pair of fish grips or boga grips. I prefer to use grips instead of a net but that's personal preference. Buy a hobie cart or make one so you can keep the bottom of that expensive piece of plastic scar free. When you go to start rigging that Revo out, make sure you like where everything is going to go prior to drilling holes in it. When I started kayak fishing I wanted every bell and whistle on my PA14 and I had it cluttered up in no time. Less is more. Make a leash for your mirage drive so if you flip you don't lose it. Yes it clicks in place but it will still fall out. It's a $500 mistake you don't want to make. Well that's all I can ramble off for now. Welcome to the addiction!

Good point(s), especially on the PFD. I have a Stolquist, not sure what model but it's a kayaking PFD with high back and plenty of room to swing a paddle in the arm holes. I actually bought it for whitewater kayaking, but it works well as my fishing vest too.

When you get a cart; at a minimum get the HD wheels, better yet is the Trax 2-30 beach cart if you plan on launching in sand...ever.

[RavensDfense]

John's post made me realize just how much money I have spent over the last few years!

[Cowpokey]

John's post made me realize just how much money I have spent over the last few years!

Funny, my wife recently asked me how much I've spent on fishing since we got back to the States last spring. I may or may not have told her the truth...I'm leaning toward "may not".

[Scrumptrelecent]

Funny, my wife recently asked me how much I've spent on fishing since we got back to the States last spring. I may or may not have told her the truth...I'm leaning toward "may not".

My wife lets be buy as much tackle/gear as I can hide from her.

[Ken kayak]

Don't tell wife the truth when you spend on fishing stuff


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2014 Hobie Outback Blue

[Mark]

Tom,

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your Revo ownership.

I thoroughly enjoy mine.

Your kayak rigging needs will evolve. Let that evolution happen naturally and let it be based on your preferred fishing techniques, your proficiencies and your angling experiences. Don't buy or install anything (aside from required safety equipment) until you are convinced that it will enhance your on-the-water experience. Even after careful thought, you'll buy some things you won't use regularly. But that's OK. Your Revo is quite adaptable to a variety of fishing styles. Sometimes I "dress" mine up to troll. Sometimes to fly fish. Sometimes to cast lures. And sometimes to do a combination of those styles.

Again, congrats on the new boat and welcome to Snaggedline.

[Tom Lagana]

Thanks, go out 8am tomorrow morning!