By Paul Lebowitz

The companies that manufacture our favorite fishing kayaks haven’t made a perfect one yet. Oh, the boats fish better every year as the big companies jostle for supremacy, but each new model still has its share of minor flaws.

Hard as it is for us to believe, nearly all of the front-line fishing kayaks are made with the recreational user most in mind. No matter how many fishing-savvy pro staffers or consultants a manufacturer brings in, their design engineers usually live in the pure paddling or even sailing worlds, so they don’t understand just how annoying some of their outfitting choices can be.

Take carrying handles for example. Plenty of fishing boats still come with hard plastic bow and stern handles that dangle from hook-catching cords. Fortunately, it’s an easy thing to fix. That brings us to the theme of this month’s column, quick and inexpensive rigging tweaks.

But back to the problematic handles. John Pawlak of Team Okuma showed me an elegant and elementary solution. Pawlak simply switches out most of the cord for a brass snap.

“I always used to catch my hooks on the handles. Now changing them out is the first thing I do with a new kayak,” Pawlak said. Problem solved.

Many of the newest kayak models such as the Perception Search come with handy storage pouches in the cockpit. They are great for tucking away frequently used tools, scent products, lures, or anything else you want to keep close at hand. If your boat doesn’t have them, they are an easy do it yourself project.

Mark Pierpont of Confluence Watersports has been making his own tool pouches for years. Pierpont explained: “I take piece of webbing and rivet it on. It’s essentially zero cost. You can store a knife, pliers, or whatever you need.” It doesn’t come simpler. Look for nylon webbing online or at select fabric stores.

Ready for a rigging tip that leads directly to more fish? Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing has one that allows him to effectively troll two live baits from the back of his boat.

“One of the best and simplest rigs is adding an AFTCO flat line clip for dual line trolling. It’s a great way to stagger your lines. It’s so simple; the easiest way to eliminate tangles,” Sammons said.

Aside from allowing Sammons to keep two baits in the water, there is another advantage. The line coming off the clip hits the water right behind the kayak. When Sammons is in tight quarters right up against the kelp he can fish with only 10 or 15 ft of line out. The close-in presentation doesn’t spook the fish.

“I’ve had threshers come up and slash a bait 10 ft behind the boat,” Sammons added. Talk about your adrenaline rushes!

Here’s another oh so easy tip that measures up – literally. It can save you cash too, because you’ll never have to wonder if that fish you just caught is legal size. Yes, it’s the simple addition of a measuring device to your ‘yak.

EASY DOES IT – Even simple, inexpensive rigging change can have a big payoff. Example: swapping out a hook-catching carrying handle cord for a brass snap. PHOTO COURTESY JOHN PAWLAK

HATCH PLUS – Hatch improvements are often overlooked. There’s a lot that can be done, including reconfiguring the tie-down straps for better performance and using a hatch as a mounting point. PHOTO COURTESY ANGLER’S YAK SHACK

ALWAYS MEASURES UP – An aluminum yard stick makes a great fish ruler. PHOTO COURTESY JASON MORTON

FLAT SIMPLE – An AFTCO flat line clip makes for easy dual line trolling.

Some anglers buy stick-on products or collect one free from the DFG at a fishing show. They work for a time, particularly if dusted with a clear coat. Jason Morton of Kayak Sportfishing has a more permanent solution. 

Morton buys an aluminum yard stick, grinds down the corners until smooth, and then rivets it inside the cockpit rail. Depending on the kayak model, he sometimes has to mount it in sections. It works fine.

My gaff is marked with the key measurements (12, 22, 24, and 28 in) but I’ve been known to leave it at home. Morton’s measuring device always comes along.

Now let’s talk hatches. There are a host of good modifications here. For one, hatches can make effective mounting points. In fact, on a ‘yak such as the Hobie Revolution the bow hatch is the only centerline real estate available for a fishfinder. Here’s another plus. Guys who shudder at the thought of drilling into the hull have no such compunction with a hatch, happily sinking rod holders and tackle boxes right into them.

Let’s use the centerpiece Rod Pod hatch on the Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident as an example of the huge gains a minor tweak can deliver. CJ Siebler of Angler’s Yak Shack does a number on these beauties. He replaces the standard spaghetti-thin hatch retainer line with an additional webbing strap up front. Not only does it improve the water resistance of the hatch seal, it converts the hatch to one that flips up rather than over to the side, vastly improving its usability.