RIGGING SKILLS:
TACKLE YOUR TACKLE
Spend less time loading and unloading gear and more time on the water. Instead of carrying all of your rigs, lures, hooks and terminal tackle on your kayak, create a day box specific for the species and water you will fish. Start with a tackle tray for each type of lure: topwaters, spinners, jigs, crankbaits, etc. Then, before each trip, fill an empty tackle tray with the lures you expect to use that day. Leave the tackle collection in the truck and take your tackle selection onto the kayak. This cuts down on weight, frees up space and keeps you from losing the family fortune if you capsize. Brendan Bayard
CARRY THE LOAD
Reel Clean
Fishing reels are high-tech, fine- tuned machines built to survive the worst elements. Still, a little mainte- nance will go a long way. Each time you use your reel, rinse it with a light spray of freshwater. It’s best to rinse your reels immediately after leav- ing the water. In my truck, I carry a garden sprayer filled with freshwater to spray off my reels, lures and other gear. A damp cloth will remove grime and fish goo. Never dunk a reel in water. Once or twice a season, pull apart the reel and wipe grime off bushings and drag washers. Clean the bearings with a degreaser, wipe completely dry and reapply fresh grease. Drip a few drops of light oil on the spool bearings and coat the worm gears or one-way gears with grease. Wipe away all excess grease and oil—not only will it attract grit and dust, but it makes the reel and rod slippery, which could lead to an extra-long cast. To learn more about servicing and tuning your reel, visit
www.tackletour.com. Brendan Bayard
Load as much gear as possible in the kayak before leaving the house. I transport my kayak upright so I can leave my seat and crate on the boat. I have added sealable pouches to my crate to hold small items such as sunscreen, bug spray and leader material. I installed a cockpit hatch to hold tackle trays below deck. The rest of my gear, such as scis- sors and clippers, is either clipped to the boat or stored in pouches so I can carry the loaded boat at highway speeds without losing my stuff. I carry the rest of my gear in a duffle bag so I only make one trip between the car and the kayak. Smaller bags inside the duffel bag hold gear, electronics and
TACKLE YOUR TACKLE
PHOTO: CHRIS FUNK
lunch so I’m not hunting around for bits and pieces. A Velcro strap holds my rods together so I can easily carry them with one hand. After all, less time spent on land means more time on the water. Brendan Bayard
THINK ON YOUR FEET Over the years, I’ve noticed many kayak anglers fishing barefoot. It’s really important to protect your feet against oysters and rocks, loose hooks and sharp fish teeth. There are many options for water shoes that have a fast drying upper and quick draining sole. Look for a shoe that has beefed up toe and heel protection and a non-slip footbed. EVA foam clogs, like Crocs, are quick to dry and maintain good traction when wet. Best of all, you can throw these simple shoes in a bucket of water with a couple ounces of bleach to clean and freshen them. Bob Bramblet
LINE MANAGEMENT The number one law of fly fishing is: if something can tangle your line, it will. Casting and working a fly leaves a lot of line lying on the deck. Stripping baskets or buckets are cumbersome and they take up space. Instead, I cover the deck with a damp towel. The towel covers any snags and stays in place in the worst wind. At the end of the day, I wring out the towel and throw it in a hatch. Chris Funk
THINK ON YOUR FEET
CARRY THE LOAD
www.kayakanglermag.com… 65
PHOTO: BRENDAN BAYARD
PHOTO: BRENDAN BAYARD
PHOTO: BRENDAN BAYARD
PHOTO: JEFFREY FORTUNA/HOBIE KAYAKS
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