Say you have a kayak and want to fish from it, but it’s more of a cruiser and not at all set up for fishing. Maybe you want to modify it to accommodate your fishing fancy, but you’re not sure where to start. Besides, who in their right mind wants to purposely put holes in their boat? Trust me. You do! With a few simple tools and some patience, your cruiser can be transformed into a fishin’ machine.
Rod Holders
This is pretty obvious. Rod holders come in many forms including flush mount and pedestal. Often they are specific to spinning, casting or fly gear. Brands like Scotty, Seadog and Yak-Gear are great, and installation is straightforward. Most manufactures provide simple how-to instructions, which are nothing more than tracing a template, drilling the appropriate size holes and riveting or bolting it down. Always use the hardware provided. If you opt for rivets, use aluminum tri-fold rivets. They expand much farther for greater holding strength than pop rivets.
For flush mount rod holders, a Dremel tool or hole saw can be used to recess the rod holder. Use the template and the exact size drill bits and hole saw to ensure perfect fit. It’s also very important to locate your rod holder within arm’s reach. Sit in your kayak and experiment with different locations before deciding where to put it. You want it out of the way for paddling but easy to reach.
Before locking everything down, seal the base and each hole with Goop or all-weather silicone caulk to prevent water from seeping in. The pressure from the rivets or screws will hold everything in place while the Goop/caulk sets.
Seats
Forget about rods, rod holders, reels, drag settings, bait and even fishing if the seat is wrong. You want your trip to be remembered for the fish you caught, not how uncomfortable you were. Multiple straps that allow you to adjust lumbar support are critical and arguably mandatory. I spent the first few trips sitting on the bottom of my kayak with a stock plastic back support. Never again.
I replaced my stock seat with fully adjustable padded seats that allow me to dial in comfort and support by tightening or loosening the straps. Some seats provide a slightly elevated platform, making it easier to cast and land fish. A nice trick to keep your seat from sliding around is to add a 12” x 12” piece of rubber dish mat underneath your seat. It’s amazing how well it holds the seat in place. Without the proper seat, your kayak will spend more time in the garage than on the water.
Handles
On my first paddling trip, I quickly realized that I had nothing to grab onto when loading and unloading my kayak. The only handle my kayak came with was the front pull handle, so I installed grab handles on both sides and one at the rear. I used the same tri-fold rivets, and they’ve held up beautifully. For greater strength, you may opt for stainless-steel bolts instead. I can load and unload much easier now.
There are many more options available to anyone interested in outfitting a kayak for fishing. With a little patience, a little planning and a few simple tools, you can turn your weekend cruiser into a weekend fishing machine.