Riverbasser
PRO Jackson Kayak pro Drew Gregory (
www.drewgregory.com)
is host of River Bassin’ Kayak Tournament Trail and Hooked on Wild Waters web show. He knows a thing or two about rigging a kayak for swiftwater fishing.
KAYAK Jackson’s Coosa HD was designed with high volume and offers a wide stance specifically for river fishing. The boat has a shallow draft to keep me bouncing down rocky rapids, but it is wide enough to stand and fish with confidence.
PADDLE Bending Branches' Navigator paddle has natural red alder and roasted basswood blades. When I slam it into rocks, I like the extra give provided by the wood blades and my arms and joints don’t hurt at the end of the day.
SEAT Jackson’s latest Elite seat can be adjusted up and down and even removed for a camp chair. After a long day on the water, the Therm-a-Rest lumbar support keeps my back from aching. And the integrated line-cutter on the seat frame makes changing lures quick.
ROD HOLDERS If my kayak flips in the rapids or I paddle beneath an overhang, I don’t want my rods sticking up in vertical rod holders. I keep my rods in horizontal rod holders that run down the side of the kayak. Rod-tip protectors at the bow protect my sticks from snags.
50…KAYAK ANGLER DREW GREGORY'S COOSA HD IS RIGGED WITH HORIZONTAL ROD
HOLDERS TO REACH THE DEEPEST, DARKEST WILD WATERS. PHOTO: CRISTINA GREGORY
TACKLE/GEAR I carry my tackle in Plano Hydro-Flo trays. The lid and bottom are perforated so my lures dry inside and the box fits in a standard tackle tray holder.
GADGETS A drag chain is one of the most essential accessories for river fishing. I attach a two-foot piece of chain to the line coming from an Anchor Wizard windlass that connects to a GearTrac near my seat. Turn the handle of the Anchor Wizard and quickly recover up to 60 feet of line. I cover the chain with a bicycle tube or wrap it in Gorilla Tape to keep it from making noise as it drags through the rocks.
ELECTRONICS GoPro’s new Hero4 Session mounted in the bow. I can hit one button and the camera starts filming. It’s small and simple, making it easy to get creative angles and shots.
PFD For river fishing, I prefer a foam PFD that will keep me afloat if I should flip and headbutt a rock. I keep rigging to a minimum so I don’t get tangled in tethers or lose gear.
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