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FRESH CATCH


CUT THE FAT AND GO FARTHER, FASTER. PHOTO: BEN DUCHESNEY


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[P RO GEAR] FEATHERWEIGHT GEAR


The beauty of kayak fishing is accessing inacces- sible water in a lightweight craft. So why do so many anglers load their boats with heavyweight gear? Every ounce you carry in the kayak is an ounce you have to pull with the paddle. Just be- cause your boat can carry 500 pounds, doesn’t mean it should. These six gear picks will help you shave those precious ounces. BEN DUCHESNEY


[1] MUSTANG SURVIVAL ELITE INFLATABLE PFD $300.40 | 1.6 lbs | www.mustangsurvival.com Some kayak anglers refuse to wear a PFD. “It’s too hot and heavy,” they cry. No more excuses. The Mustang Elite’s 3D chassis is formed to fit any body shape with a wind-tunnel-tested profile that won’t interfere with casting or paddling. The PFD inflates automatically if it is submerged in more than four inches of water. I found it liberating to wear a reliable PFD that weighs less than two pounds.


[2] AQUA-BOUND SURGE CARBON $374.95-$394.95 | 25.5 oz | www.aquabound.com Not only is a heavy paddle harder to hold aloft, but swinging bulky blades through the air is a pain in the neck. Aqua-Bound’s Surge


60…KAYAK ANGLER


SUPER-LIGHT FISHING ESSENTIALS WILL HAVE YOU FLOATING ON AIR


Carbon’s large, high-angle composite blades feel weightless and provide enough surface area to pull a sit-on-top kayak through the rough stuff. The adjustable model can be extended to a 240 cm shaft, perfect for boats over 34 inches wide with a high seat. And this beauty is tough as a beast. I’ve used it to pole my way along, push off pilings and defend myself from rocks, shells and muck.


[3] LOGIC LURES CERAMIX SCISSORS $23.95 | 0.9 oz | www.logiclures.com


How many scissors have I broken, lost or worn out? Logic Lure’s CeramiX is the last pair of fishing snippers I’ll buy. The ceramic blades are as sharp as steel but they never dull or corrode.The scissors will cut braided line, mono or fly line and feature rounded tips to prevent injury. These blades have found a million uses in my kayak.


[4] BOMBER GEAR PALGUIN DRYTOP $399.99 | www.bombergear.com Bomber Gear’s new Palguin drytop was sitting pretty at Outdoor Retailer tradeshow last summer when it won the Gear Institute’s Best New Gear award. Bomber Gear is the first drytop manufac- turer to use Polartec Neoshell, a moisture-wicking material that excels at venting and is lighter than similar fabrics. The hardshell


is abrasion resistant and keeps out 99 percent of wind. I was equally dry and warm whether paddling or waiting for a bite.


[5] KEEN CLEARWATER CNX $100 | 8.4 oz | www.keenfootwear.com Keen’s Clearwater CNX sandal features a webbing upper and closed toe to save weight while increasing protection and provid- ing support. The sole is grooved to maintain maximum deck contact and sticks like a sucker. Whether I’m slogging through oyster shells and river rocks or standing and fishing all day, these lightweight sandals make the journey as pleasant as the destination.


[6] ST. CROIX LEGEND ELITE BASS $350 | 3.7 oz | www.stcroixrods.com


Fishing can be a game of a thousand casts, and a heavy fishing rod will make a thousand feel like a million. Using a superlight rod encourages me to make more casts, which usually results in more fish. St. Croix’s Legend Elite is built of super-sensitive, reinforced graphite and a fortified resin system that produces a strong and sensitive rod. The slim-profile ferrules and Fuji SiC Concept Guide System with titanium-finished frames further reduce weight.


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