At what point do accessories become excessive? Is LiveScope "cheating?" How many fishing poles are too many? One major drawback to fishing kayaks is the inescapable trait of limited space. Now, some fishing kayaks, like the NuCanoe Unlimited or Hobie Pro Angler 14 (among many others) have far more space than a more compact fishing kayak. Still, all fishing kayaks face a reality of needing to utilize every inch of free space.
A debate I've seen picking up more steam in fishing circles lately is when do accessories become too much? Is it better to rig your kayak to the max or strip it down to the basics? In short, the answer probably lies somewhere in-between, but it is really a case-by-case basis. Personally, I'm leaning more into minimalism as time goes on. Let's make a case for each scenario and then we'd love for you to jump into the discussion (argument?) to share your setup and thoughts on the matter.
Rigging Your Kayak to the Max
Every fishing kayak comes with a certain amount of accessory tracks with the ability to add even more tracks with products like YakAttack. Accessory rails are a critical part to a fishing kayak. Unlike a boat, where you can throw anything anywhere, your accessory rails are the key component to holding nearly every piece of gear you want to bring with you in your fishing kayak.
Accessory rails hold fishfinders, rod holders, camera mounts, anchor systems, paddle holders, phone holders, transducer arms, tie-down cleats, gun holders, and anything else your brain can imagine. Beyond tracks, many fishing kayaks also come with pre-drilled brass inserts for mounting trolling motors and/or anchor poles. Gone are the days when kayaks were simple sit-in pleasure paddlers.
Fishfinders have come a long, long way in the past handful of years. With the introduction of LiveScope, anglers are getting the advantage on fish. Is LiveScope cheating? Kidding, that is an entirely different argument for another day.
You can add a fishfinder to any kayak. Some kayaks come with built-in wiring ports and transducer cavities and those than don't can utilize the accessory rails with transducer arms and battery box combos.
Exactly how they sound, a fishing crate is a storage box to hold your gear. Typically they are stowed behind the seat and can be strapped down using bungees or accessory rails.
Crates can keep your gear organized and safe if secured properly. Another advantage to some crates is the ability to add attachments to them like rod holders. Accessories upon accessories? Why not, if you are rigging to the max.
How many rods is too many? For some, one is all you need. For tournament anglers, we've seen up to 8+. Many tournament anglers (boat & kayak alike) have multiple rods rigged with different setups so they can switch quickly. In a tournament, you don't want to waste time retying and changing out tackle.
Almost every fishing kayak on the market will come with molded-in rod tubes. However, most kayak anglers add aftermarket rod holders whether that is on accessory rails or the above-mentioned kayak crate. How many rods do you carry?
Camera Mounts
Fishing videos are growing in popularity. If you didn't record it, did it really happen? GoPros and action cameras are a great way to document your coolest catches and sometimes the serenity of kayaking in general. The easiest way to do this is utilizing a camera mount typically attached to accessory rail.
Camera mounts are an easy way to capture your adventures. A downside of bringing your camera, however, is the amount of time you may spend fidgeting with batteries, SD cards and of course the lengthy process of post-production work. Is it always worth the extra effort? Sometimes it isn't, but I can personally say I left it behind one time to just enjoy myself and caught a trophy brown trout. I would love to have the video of that catch (and me freaking out to no one) to go along with the fish...
"Just buy a boat already!" Prepare yourself for this response if you add a motor to your kayak and post your videos on social media.
Kayak-specific motors have come a long way. They are efficient, quiet and highly adaptable. You can put a motor on any fishing kayak on the market today. Whether it be bow, stern or thru-hull mounted, a motor can change how you fish. You can cover more ground, utilize integrated GPS as an anchor, and remain hands-free at all times while fishing.
More and more fishing kayaks are hitting the market with integrated motors, like the Old Town AutoPilot, ePDL+, MinnKota 106. And many have motor additions that can be added to pedal drives like the Feelfree MotorDrive. If you have a motor on your kayak, always be prepared for that motor to possibly fail despite their reliabity. How far can you paddle a fully rigged, large fishing kayak in an emergency situation?
Anchoring in your kayak can be as complex (and motorized) as you want it or as simple as dropping a traditional weighted anchor. If you've been on a boat or a kayak, there isn't anything much more frustrating than never getting your float pattern right. You can never seem to track correctly in any current or ever have your vessel pointed in the right direction.
Shallow water powered anchors mount directly to your stern. They are a great way to drop anchor in shallower water. Anchor trolley's are systems that mount on your accessory track and include a crank to raise and lower your anchor. Match the anchor you'll need to the water that you typically fish (shallow or deeper).
So Who is Rigging to the Max?
Most anglers who load their kayaks down with everything imaginable are tournament anglers – though, not always. You have a limited amount of time on the water and unlike boat tournaments, you have to be precise in your locations and your gear. You have to adapt quickly on the water which means carrying many rods and equipment to give you the best chance at ending on the podium. This is a main scenario where we see many anglers saying rigging to the max is an essential component of success.
The Case for Stripping it Down to the Basics
Less Clutter
Kayaks are a very confined space. No matter how big of a fishing kayak you buy, you will always be battling space. It is part of the "art" of the sport in my opinion. You have to hone in on your gear and be precise in what you bring along. It takes more preparation and planning than throwing everything in a fast fishing boat.
No matter how much, or how little, you bring, any amount of clutter can lead to frustration on the water. Lines can get caught on pedal drives, nets, gear, or your anchoring systems. Landing fish takes more practice and precision. The more gear you have, the more obstacles you have when landing a fish or standing up. Less gear gives you more space to operate and less hazards to navigate when catching fish.
Quicker Launching & Loading
Perhaps my personal biggest frustration is launching and loading a fishing kayak. Unlike a boat, you need to strip a lot of gear off of your kayak during transport. Simply put, the more stuff you bring, the more time you spend in the parking lot or at the boat launch. This process is the same when loading your kayak to leave for the day.
This all comes down to the individual angler. Some are probably more efficient than myself, and you can certainly find ways to transport your kayak partially rigged and ready. However, don't overlook how much time that needs to be set aside for getting your kayak rigged out at the boat launch and stripped back down when you are done.
The More You Have, The More You Fiddle
Again, this may not be true of everyone. In my experience, the more gear you have the more time you spend fiddling around with things: Switching gear, staring at the fish finder, messing with your cameras, cleaning up clutter around you as you realize you have no space to operate.
Another example is calling back to things like LiveScope. I've heard from multiple anglers that when the day is over you realize you spent your entire day staring at a computer screen. You may catch more fish, but at the expense of what makes kayak fishing great in the first place – being more in tune with nature in spots boats can't always make it.
Challenging Yourself to be More Precise
Can you challenge yourself to strip your gear down to the absolute basics? Are you able to hone in on your target and only bring the gear essential for that day? Whether you are in a boat or a fishing kayak, do you ever actually use all of the gear you bring along? Chances are, 90% of your tackle stays in a perpetual state of purgatory in your tackle box.
Boat anglers will tell kayak anglers to just "buy a boat," quite often. But you could offer the rebuttal of challenging them and their fishing skills – Because there is no doubt kayak angling takes more skill and preparation than simply throwing everything in a boat and covering miles of water in a day.
Where Do You Stand on the Issue?
Share your opinion and your kayak setup preference in our community discussion, "Rig to the Max or Strip it Down? At What Point do Accessories Become too Much?
Anglers have already weighed in on the subject and many say it completely depends on the situation and the body of water. Many said when river fishing it is better to have less gear as you are more likely to flip. Tournament anglers said they rely on a lot of gear to get them through a tournament day or weekend. Where do you stand? We'd love to hear from you.
Hooked! The Kayak Anglers Resource is your one-stop resource for all things fishing kayaks. Watch, listen and engage with kayak anglers like you. Our experts cover everything from kayak fishing for beginners, fishing kayak accessories to fishing kayaks with a motor. Whether you are new to the sport or an experienced kayak angler looking to learn new tricks, the Kayak Anglers Resource aims to help every kayaker of all levels of experience.
Sometimes, it is easier to take fellow kayakers' word for it rather than a retailers. That's why we created the Kayak Anglers Resource - community for kayak anglers to share their experiences, ask questions and give honest reviews and assessments of kayaks and accessories.
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