A WELL-DESIGNED CRATE OFFERS ENDLESS OPTIONS FOR MOUNTING ROD HOLDERS, CAMERA
BOOMS, MEASURING TROUGH AND OTHER GEAR. PHOTO: BOBBY CLARK
FIVE TIPS TO MAKE YOUR RIDE STAND-AND-FISH READY SkillJUNK IN THE TRUNK
Kayak anglers have discovered that a box secured to the tankwell works wonders to haul gear, hold tackle and even host cameras. Before you grab a milk crate and bun- gee it to your boat, check out these pro tips for tricking out a storage system that suits your needs.—Ric Bunley
NEW CRATE ON THE BLOCK
CRATE: Hobie H-Crate ACCESSORIES: Hobie H-Rail Accessories AVAILABLE:
www.hobiefishing.com COST: $129
Hobie made a big splash this year with the new H-Crate—a four-sided crate that collapses flat in seconds. “I love how light it is,” says Hobie product manager Morgan Promnitz about the H-Crate’s 5.8 pounds. The side panels have predrilled holes that will accept accessories from any of the major brands. Hobie’s new H-Rail 12-sided tubing allows an angler to attach any of the company’s matching accessories. Promnitz attached a horizontal rod holder to each side of his crate to hold his rods flat when he paddles under an overhang. Each corner of the crate is made of three-sided tubing that doubles as a vertical rod holder. “There are even integrated tie-downs,” Promnitz adds.
CUT AND PASTE
CRATE: REPURPOSED MILK CRATE | ACCESSORIES: PVC PIPE, CABLE TIES, CAMERA TRIPOD AVAILABLE:
WWW.MILKCRATESDIRECT.COM | COST: $5.50
“My crate is all the way customized,” says Johnson Pro "Kayak" Kevin Whitley, “I consider it my desk; it holds everything I need.” Whitley cut the front and sides down halfway and left the back of the crate to hold his rodtubes. “That way I’m not reaching over the lip to get to stuff inside,” he explains. To keep the inside of the crate open for gear and tackle, his point-and-shoot camera, pliers, rod holders and net holder are zip-tied to the outside of the crate. Whitley’s crate sits on two steel bars that are zip-tied over his tankwell. “This gets the tank out of the water and provides a place to store bait.”
40 PADDLING MAGAZINE This article first appeared in the 2015 Spring issue of Kayak Angler. BLACK PAK OPS
CRATE: YakAttack BlackPak | ACCESSORIES: GearTrac, Mighty Mount, Stainless Steel U-bolt AVAILABLE:
www.yakattack.us | COST: $125
YakAttack’s BlackPak starts with a hard plastic box that is predrilled to accept accessories from a variety of manufacturers. Wilderness Systems pro angler Bobby Clark has pimped out his BlackPak with rod holders, and a U-bolt on the front holds his fish-gripper and a GearTrac on top keeps his Mighty Mount and GoPro steady. “I can move the camera along the gear track to get different angles while I’m fishing.” Clark says he can add and remove accessories as needed. “I can quickly change the configuration depending on where and how I’m fishing.”
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