SkillULTIMATE POND-HOPPER RIG YOUR SIT INSIDE FOR POND-TO-POND, GO EVERYWHERE FISHING
The best fishing is always farthest from the road. To hit hidden creeks and ponds that I discovered on Google Earth, I rigged up a lightweight, compact sit-inside kayak with an adjustable rod holder, tackle tray and even electronics. Because they use less material than sit-on-top kayaks, sit-insides tend to be lighter. The latest generation of sit-inside kayaks are stable and adaptable platforms for fishing. And the open cockpit makes it easy to throw the boat over my shoulder and hike to any secret hole, no matter how far from the road. —Ben Duchesney
[1] TACKLE YOUR TACKLE
You have to be light on your feet to jump from pond to pond. I limit myself to one tackle tray stuffed with lures. Flambeau’s TuffTainer with ZeRust (
www.flambeauoutdoors.com) holds everything I need for the day and ZeRust inserts emit a vapor that keeps hooks and terminal tackle from rusting. I choose tackle that fits three categories: topwater, soft plastic and hard baits. That way I cover the water column without blowing my tackle budget. If it doesn’t fit in the tray, it doesn’t go with me. To hold the tackle tray under the deck, I built an easy-to-reach bracket.
I started with three pairs of L-brackets, some screws and silicone sealant. I placed brackets in front, middle and behind the box and secured them with screws and sealant. The brackets suspend the tray from the deck between my knees, where I can reach it without it getting in the way.
This article first appeared in the2015 Summer/Fall issue of Kayak Angler. 34 PADDLING MAGAZINE
[2] ROD RULES
Take one rod and install one rod holder. Yes, just one. Scotty’s new Gunnel Mount Rod Holder (
www.scotty.com) is a fast and lightweight solution to securing a fishing rod without drilling any holes. The rod holder is attached to a C-clamp that can be tightened to any part of the kayak’s cockpit. I can move the rod to the front for casting or to the back for trolling. The rod holder comes off in seconds making it easier to load and store my sit-inside. To move as quickly as possible, I choose one medium-action rod that can
cover the whole water column. I like a shorter rod that doesn’t get in the way in the kayak and stays out of trees and bushes between ponds. I bring plenty of leader; small backwoods ponds mean clear water and lots of fish.
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