Each time you rig a kayak, there are new products and ideas that could be implemented to help make your human-powered watercraft catch fish - or so we think. The word that always comes to my mind when making rigging decisions is “convenience”.
All too often, we hear of kayak anglers losing their rod and reels. Most loathe the thought of having lost “X brand” reel on “Z brand” rod, and reiterate the loss by giving the cost of the setup. To remedy this, many anglers use rod leashes.
Early on in my kayak career I decided to add a fish finder. I did a little research, found one I could afford, and took it home. That’s where the problems started.
How to: Wilderness Systems "Ride 115x" fish finder install
Written by Mark Watanabe
In this month’s How-To Kayak Rigging segment, Wilderness Systems Pro Staff member Bobby Clark walks you through the basics of installing a fish finder in the Wilderness Systems “Ride 115x”. Unlike many of today’s fishing kayaks, the Ride 115x makes installation a snap with a few basic tools.
So you have a kayak and you like to fish, and now you’ve decided to install a fish finder. So after picking out that cool new unit you’ve been wanting, you realize that you need to get a battery and you’re wondering what size and type to purchase. Maybe you have a basic understanding of electrical principles, or maybe you have no idea what any of those numbers mean. This article is aimed at giving you a basic understanding of what you should know.
Last winter I picked up my brand new Jackson “Illuminati Cuda 14”. Between hockey practices and games, a Boondoggle, and building a new bed for my son I am finally (five months later) getting around to rigging for the coming fishing season. In 2012 I set my last Cuda up with a YakDaddy “Slider” that worked very well for me and made it a very versatile kayak. This year I decided to see if I could rig the new kayak by drilling or cutting as few holes as possible.
You are going out on a nearby lake or pond, and need to rig your kayak for the numerous possibilities that might occur while paddling and casting for your favorite fish. By now you have a kayak that fits your type of fishing, and you are able to transport it easily to the water. Most everything you need can be preassembled so that when you arrive at your launch point, you can load and launch in less than five minutes.
I have up to three GoPro cameras mounted to my Ocean Kakak “Big Game”, so when it came to rigging the Hobie “Outback” I also needed to take the photography aspect into consideration. It does take me quite some time to plan and rig my kayaks; I sit back, consider everything, and try to produce the cleanest setup possible that matches all rigging possibilities.
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