Kayak Rigging, Anchor Trolley System

Kayak fishing, just like any other hobby that we all seem to get into, has an endless amount of upgrades and accessories that can be installed. Since there are so many options out there, I've decided to start a series of blogs covering one upgrade/accessory at a time. If there is something specific that any of you want to know about send me a message and I'll write about it. In this post I'm going to cover a very important accessory, an anchor trolley system.

An anchor trolley system, while not absolutely necessary, is a very important system for your kayak. It allows you to get in the best position to catch more fish. If you are in a body of water that flows or in windy conditions, this system is a must. I've been out in windy conditions without an anchor and it was a huge pain. I spent more time paddling into position than I did fishing. After that I purchased an anchor to use. That was better, but I could only tie it off in the middle of my kayak. No matter how I did it, I could never get my kayak to face the direction I needed it to. So I purchased and installed an anchor trolley. What a huge difference it has made. I can position myself exactly how I need, so I can catch those big ones. 

I would say an anchor trolley system is one of the best upgrades that you could make on any kayak to improve fishability. You can purchase this entire system from HOOK1 Kayak Fishing Gear

D.S

#HOOK1KFG

#PowerTeamLures

    

Getting into kayak fishing

"What made you want to fish from a kayak?"  I have been asked that question many times, and the answer is really simple.  I wanted to fish on the water, but didn't want the expense of owning a boat.  Not only that, with a kayak, I am able to fish almost anywhere I want.  Lets compare the differences between owning a boat versus owning a kayak. 
     
First a boat will cost much more to purchase.  Bass boat, new, will cost at least $9k.  Then you need to pay taxes on it, buy plates, get the boat registered etc.  Then there is the operating cost of fuel, motor repairs etc.  All this can add up to thousands of dollars per year.  You also need a place to store this boat when not in use. 
     
A kayak, on the other hand, can cost as little as $500 brand new.  Then you need to buy a paddle and maybe a seat.  My first paddle cost me $40 new, and a COD seat was $90 new.  That's it, now you go fish.  Of course as you get more into the sport you will find accessories that you just have to have.  It can become fairly expensive, but can also be a very cheap way to get out on the water.  Storage is simple, transport is easy and cost is relatively low.  My first setup cost me under $500 for everything I needed to get out there. 
     
So my decision was based primarily on cost.  That was the easy part.  The hard part was selecting the kayak I wanted.

D.S
#HOOK1KFG

What is (CPR) method?

My first fishing tournament experience was a kayak fishing tournament hosted by a local Marina. While reading the rules of this tournament, I came across this term (CPR) and had no idea what it meant.  After asking a buddy what it stood for I felt dumb for asking.  So to avoid any of you feeling that way, I'll explain it.

(CPR) stands for Catch, Photo & Release.  This is a very common method of "weighing in" your catch to be tallied.  It is the preferred method for kayak fishing tournaments all over the country.  You will need a measuring device, some tournaments require you to have a specific one so check first. You also need a camera obviously, you may be able to use your phone for this. Finally, you will more than likely need a "Photo Token" which will be designated by the tournament director.  This method works extremely well and promotes Catch & Release which we, as responsible anglers, should be following. The most common measuring device is a Hawg Trough which can be purchased at HOOK1 here http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/

Now get out there, fish some tournaments and have fun.  

D.S

#HOOK1KFG
#PowerTeamLures

Choosing a kayak

So you have decided to get into kayak fishing, welcome to the sport. Now you need to select a kayak to fish from. The choices seem endless and can be a bit overwhelming. The type of fishing you plan to do and any transportation limitations you may have will dictate what kayak you should buy.  

So we'll start with the first decision that must be made, sit-in or sit-on-top (SOT). Most kayak anglers choose the SOT. This type offers a better fishing platform than the sit-in. Not saying you can't fish from a sit-in kayak, but a SOT is better in my opinion.  

So lets assume that you decide on a SOT. The next important choice is length and width. These two are very important for function and performance. Generally the shorter and wider the kayak the slower, but more stable it will be. The longer and narrower the faster, but less stable it will be. My kayak is a Malibu Mini X. At 9'3" and 33" wide, it's a very stable kayak, but you wont win any races in it. I am able to use this kayak everywhere from lakes, rivers, bays, bayous and even the Gulf of Mexico. A very common size that works for most situations is 12', that will give you decent speed and agility and still be easily transported.  Most kayaks that are designed for standing will be at least 30" wide and some are 33". 

I fish in all sorts of water so I needed a very versatile boat, but I needed a kayak that could be easily transported on my Jeep Cherokee. The Malibu Mini X was great for that, at only 40lbs it was very easy to load and unload on my Jeep. Basically you just need to figure out what you plan to use it for and select the best option that works for you. I highly recommend testing several different kayaks out before you purchase. Most dealers have demo days for that reason. Any kayak can get you out on the water, and that's the important part.

D.S   
#HOOK1KFG

Family Fishing Fun

Is there anything better than watching your children apply things that you have taught them? I didn't think so! Here's my two future Pro Anglers fishing at the lake.

The only thing we caught all day was this tiny Bass.

Red Snapper

I had the chance to go Snapper fishing again, and since the first trip was so awesome, of course I went. It was another short trip, but we limited out. The conditions were just phenomenal.

My First Red Snapper Trip

My first Florida offshore fishing experience was awesome. My boss took me out with another co-worker and we limited out on Snapper in less than an hour. I had never been so far out from shore before, 17 miles. Absolutely incredible experience.