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RamblingBen

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Hey guys,
It seems like a lot of people on the WCF fish from kayaks. I see why considering they are a great way for one person to fish everything from rivers to smaller lakes. With the hundreds of options out there I wanted to know how everyone here likes to rig their kayak. What are the most important features? what does and doesn't work. Post em up! I'm looking for new ways to upgrade my yak and I know others would appreciate the info.

My yak
I was on a pretty tight budget but I'm very happy with my Trophy 126.
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Its got a dihedral hull which is great for stability (my first trip down a fast small winding river proved this) It also came stock 2 flush mount rod holders in the back 2 drain plugs and adjustable foot pegs. I added a scotty rod holder in the front along with a anchor trolley and paddle holder. The trolley and paddle holder are custom made to save some cash and work great. I think they are probably the most important features. The anchor is just a rubber coated 3lb dumbell which works like a charm. I love this thing! It's smaller and agile enough for small backwater creeks and rivers. Along with being stable enough for lakes and since its a sit in I don't get wet but the cockpit is open enough for me to move around and have my camelpack inbetween my feet. The only downfall is the seat. There is little to no back support and your lower back will hit the plastic of the kayak. I fixed this by cutting some foam and using binder clips to clip it on the yak (you can see the back of it in the photo) I hope to get a fishfinder soon along with better rope with less memory.

So any suggestions or comments are appreciated!

and heres a pic of a catfish that decided to attack a spinnerbait. It hit so hard I thought it was a bass at first, kind of a letdown once it surfaced but a fish nonetheless.
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My new fishing vehicle arrived this week. It's an Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident Angler 13. After a lot of research, I had my choice narrowed down to this model or the Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Angler.

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You're probably used to seeing my big "battleship-looking" dashboard on my old green machine that held all my stuff. This model has accessible below-deck storage, so the new dash is simple and uncluttered.

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I hacked the bracket adapter off my transducer, epoxied on a threaded plumbing fitting and mounted the transducer permanently in the hull.

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With the two flush mount rod holders behind me and the below deck rod storage, I'm not planning for now to even add any rod holders.

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Here is where the battery and wiring will be neatly tucked away,

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I took it for a test run yesterday and was impressed. You can stand on it or sit sideways with your feet in the water and fish. I can't wait to break it in. 8)

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RamblingBen said:
I was on a pretty tight budget but I'm very happy with my Trophy 126.
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So any suggestions or comments are appreciated!
Looks nice and also agile. Good ingenuity on the mods. Anchor trolley looks good. I like the dumb bell for an anchor idea. (Now why didn't I think of that??)

Good idea on the seat back. In my previous sit-in, I was blessed with a wonderful factory seat. I spent 7 hours straight in it one day and never got uncomfortable. I can tell my new seat is not the same and might have to tinker with it.
 
RamblingBen said:
wow :shock: I'm really digging the rod storage and electronics setup too. The more streamlined the better in my book. Do you have an anchor setup on that beauty?
Yes, I have a trolley very much like yours from my previous yak. I prefer to anchor from the back. In the front, if fighting a fish, it might get tangled in the anchor rope. It's a preference thing.

On Lake Michigan, I drift more than anchor. Sometimes using a drift sock.
 
WOW THESE ARE GREAT SPECIALLY RONG YAK. How did you do the 2x4 setup for the trolling motor how were you able to mount the thing on ?
 
danysdman said:
WOW THESE ARE GREAT SPECIALLY RONG YAK. How did you do the 2x4 setup for the trolling motor how were you able to mount the thing on ?
It's a metal, not plastic, old milk crate. The 2x4s are bolted onto the front of the crate. I ran the tie-down strap through the 2 scupper (drain) holes in the back and then over the battery. It's pretty simple. I hope to test it tomorrow and will report back here if it's a success or failure or what needs to be changed.
 
Hoffman said:
yak looks great ron! u going to put a 5 hp on it next?
5 hp? I'll take you waterskiing :lol:

2 hp might be nice

I have a 1.2 hp that I'd like to try if I can get the pull starter fixed. It weighs only about 15 lbs. You know what a big trolling battery weighs. I'd love to be motorized without a battery that is the exact same weight as the kayak empty.
 
I was looking thru my pics, but couldn't find one that showed my entire yak....so I just went out to the garage and snapped one:

Hobie Quest fisherman (2006 model)...Nothing fancy, just one added rod holder and an anchor trolley...love it though!!
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A little pricier than some models, but it came with rudder, anchor, dry bag, kayak cart, paddle, and they even threw in a pretty nice cooler bag.
 
Time to get in on the YAK ATTACK!!

what's up guys...i have two kayaks I fish out of. Both are pretty much on the lower end. One is a sit-in kayak (pamlico 100 by wilderness systems). I bought this one off craigslist a few months ago. The other is a SOT (Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT Angler Edition). I made some small modifications to them and am hooked! This is my first time posting pics so i'll give it a shot.

I also made a video on youtube showing off the Scrambler...check it out. Yak On Fellas. We definitely need to do an outing with all the WCF yakers. Maybe even a tournament sometime this summer 8)

(Scrambler Video)

I also posted a video report up in the lake opeka section of a quick outing this morning

Pamlico 100

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Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT Angler Edition

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chitownyaker - I didn't know you were JonRamos. I saw you comment on Youtube on my vids and I watched your Mississippi River catfish video about a month ago.

He's got some cool videos - check 'em out!

The Scrambler looks real nice.
 
I ordered one of those cheaper sit on top kayak. I never went yaking but was really into canoeing I will def modify my yak.

Thanks ronG for all the ideas I saw your older yak and made me want a kayak bad.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU GUYS PLAN ON DOING AN OUTING IM IN!!!

thats my canoe I also got a trolling motor not installed in the pic.
 

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