With the advent of loop-to-loop connections from fly to leader, many fly fishers have gotten away from the tried-and-true nail knot. I’ve tried both (and other options), and among them all I find the nail knot to be the strongest connection with the least likelihood to “hinge”. My long-time tool to make tying the nail knot easier was an inexpensive small U-shaped channel that was attached to a nipper. It was great for years in fresh water, but only a year in the salt had the pivoting joint bound up tight in spite of being cleaned and lubed after every trip. I went online to dig up a replacement, and found the Duncan “Tailknott’r”.

Last fall, I received a YakAttack “Mighty Mount™ Scotty® 241 Track Mount Kit” to try out. This kit comes with two “Mighty Mounts”, a Scotty “241” base, and the hardware to install it on Wilderness Tracks (5/8” track) or ½” wide tracks like the YakAttack “Gear Track”. The kit retails for $30 on YakAttack’s website, and for an extra $5 you get both sets of hardware so you can mount it to any track system. I don’t have a kayak of my own with a track system, so I had to sneak my wife’s Tarpon out to give it a try.

Last winter, I was looking for an inexpensive spinning reel for chasing Stripers on the kayak. By inexpensive, I in no way mean cheap. These reels would be expected to stand up to large fish and salt water fishing from a kayak for at least a few seasons. To fit my requirements, they would need to have a smooth enough drag so the fish can turn and run without pulling hooks, but be stout enough to keep the fish from running back into the rocks.

Often the term stake out pole is synonymous with flats kayak anglers around the Gulf Coast. Being over 600 miles from the nearest salt water flat, this review of the YakAttack ParnNPole is from a land locked kayak fishing in lakes and rivers perspective.

As a conservation minded kayak angler, I now release the vast majority of the keep able fish I catch. But sometimes I target a species that isn't being overfished nor in serious decline. Plus, there's always something special about harvesting food for yourself and/or your family (as long it's done responsibly).