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Fishing from Kayaks and Canoes

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  A few thoughts
  Posted by: Big_D on Mar-30-11 10:41 PM (EST) 

I think filling a large bucket with tackle and putting it onto the deck of a small boat is asking for a capsize. Not only will you get really wet and have to do a self-rescue, but you'll lose your stuff too.

I use a 10' decked boat for fishing. But before that I had an 8' creek boat that I used for fishing.

On the 10', what I've done is mount a single Scotty holder in front of the cockpit. Just beyond that, I've rigged bungee tie-downs that can readily fit the flat Plano tackle boxes. But usually I don't use those. What I mostly use are a little tackle binder with handles, and then another tackle binder to hold some spinnerbaits. This particular kayak has a center post to add rigidity. I poked a hole through it and ran a rope through. Then I tied a clip on each end of the rope so that one is on either side of the post. I clip the clips to the tackle binders. Finally, I have a small (roughly 4"x7")double-sided Plano box. I carved a little shelf out of the foam post that the Plano box fits into. Finally, I poked another hole through the post and ran a strap with a closing snap through the hole. I use it to snap the Plano box in place. With this set up, I can capsize and not lose a thing. You have to go very light on tackle (obviously), but not as light as you'd think. You can fit a lot of things in two tackle binders and a small Plano box.

In the 8' boat, I had a flat tackle binder with a lot of pockets. It folded up like a portfolio. I cleaned the plastic of the kayak and the binder thoroughly with some denatured alcohol, then used some industrial indoor/outdoor velcro. I velcroed the binder thingy down to the deck of the kayak where it stayed securely even when the deck was awash or I flipped. I hung a loop of line off the front grab-handle and another off a grab-handle that was amidship just behind the cockpit. I would put the tip of the rod through the front loop, then the handle through the rear loop. I could then paddle through what I had to paddle through without worrying about losing stuff.

- Big D