The original solutions was the tackle that I plan on using regularly I store in boxes in the hatch between my legs on the X-Factor. This worked however, during the J-Bay Tourney in May I had a wave or two come over the side of my yak when I had my hatch open, so I ended up with 4”-6” of water inside. While bailing out the kayak after paddling to a nearby island I decided I needed to find a better and safer solution.

After the tournament I started to look at different options and tried a few different homemade contraptions that didn’t work for me. That’s when I contacted Patrick Price at YakDaddy.net. I had seen the Slider in action on Mark “Landing Crew” Wheeler’s yak down at the YakAngler Boondoggle and liked the concept and saw that it was well made. However, I did have some questions on how it would stand up trolling up for some of the big stripers we chase up here in New England. So after talking to Patrick he convinced me that it would hold up with no problems and that he would send me one to try out and if I liked it he would like to have me join his ProStaff.

I received my Slider set-up and within an hour I had it installed on my yak by only drilling 2 new holes. The first time out in fresh water I loved having access to all my tackle, I could also troll 2 rods and see them, and my sonar/GPS was out of the way, but I could still get to it to adjust the settings or mark waypoints. After a few uses the one issue I had was that I was getting a lot of flex in my kayak from the front mount of the Slider. One call to Patrick and a few days later I had a backing plate installed which fixed the problem completely. Now some might think they did that special just for me but have I since met a few other customers that got the same personal service from YakDaddy, to make sure their Slider fit just right on their yak.

I have spent over a dozen days on the water and they have been some of the most productive days I’ve had on the yak. Now when I think I want to change a lure or try something different I never think “crap that lure is in the bottom of my crate” because it’s always within easy reach right in front of me. I can change tackle faster, easier, and quieter than I could before. It also has encouraged me to experiment more and try techniques that were out of my comfort zone.

Any questions I had about it being able to stand up to big salt water fish have been totally debunked. I have hooked up a couple of dozen stripers while trolling tubes and eels as well a few lobster pots that turned my yak 90 degrees instantly. The Slider so far is showing no wear and tear and there have been no other issues with flexing the hull of my yak.

So after a few months of testing I am proud to say that I am part of the YakDaddy ProStaff, but even if I wasn’t, you would see me with a Slider on the front of my yak. It’s a great innovative product that makes fishing easier and more comfortable, especially for us anglers that aren’t quite as flexible as we used to be.

I would rate the YakDaddy Slider a 9 out of 10.

About the Author:  Gregg Crisp has been an avid fisherman all of his life. In 2008 he discovered kayak fishing and has never looked back. As an environmental contractor he has traveled and lived all over the United States, having fished in over 20 states. He currently resides in New Hampshire with his wife and two sons. Gregg is part of the Yak Angler and YakDaddy.net Pro-Staff. He is also the author of the Blog YakFish.net.