D.I.Y. float for accessories

Here it is folks!  The day you've been waiting for!

... no, Justin Bieber's concert series isn't out on DVD...

... no, the American Idol season finale isn't until spring...

This is even better!!

Today is the day you'll never have to say this again: "Aww beans! I lost my ________ (piece of kayak fishing gear) in the _______ (body of water) because I didn't have a float attached to it!"

I'm sure everyone has some kind of plastic jar they have thrown out or recycled in the last few months.  Well, the next time you think of tossing one, clean it out, put your kayak fishing rigging hat on and get to work! 

Everything else you need to make a float is stuff you probably already have lying around: zip-ties, marine goop, and a scrap piece of line. 



Make sure you float test whatever it is you are going to attach the float to first to make sure it works.  Rubber bands work great for this.  This little plastic jar can float most accessory items you take out on you kayak with you.

Video camera


Do you remember when you were knee high to a grasshopper and you got to throw all your toys in the bathtub?  Guess what! You get to do that again!!

Hawg trough


Once you're ready to attach the jar to whatever it is you do not want to donate to Davey Jones' Locker, squirt some marine goop in the lid and close it up tight.  You could even put a piece of paper with your contact info inside of the jar so if someone finds it and, if they're a decent person, you will get it back!





Yes, I finally broke down and bought a net.    After catching a few big bass, I realized it'd be nice to have one.  Easier on the fish, easier on me not losing the fish next to the boat.  I really like this one since if folds up really small and it can be opened with one hand.  Picked it up at Fisherman's.



Done! No more excuses!

That's a great idea and a good way to recycle (especially in SE WA where they don't accept plastic jars and tubs for recycling).

How do you have the line attached to the float in your net pic?

Thanks for the innovation.

Allan

How do you have the line attached to the float in your net pic?

I made an overhand loop on each end of the line and used zip ties to attach each loop of the line to the float and the net.

That may be the cheapest and simplest float idea I have seen. 

I really like the idea of recycling, but are you hip to the duck tape of kayak fishing: the amazing pool noodle?

Cut it into varying lengths to make great floats for the phone, rods, cameras, nets, crab pots, anchors, dogs, small children,... you get the idea. Its brightly colored so its easier to find when it does go overboard (Although it has lead to some strange looks from folk who see a pink floaty hanging out of my pocket attached to my phone.)

but wait, there's more!
slice off a ring and it makes a great  leader holder.

but wait, there's more!
 you can slice off a wedge and stuff it into your scuppers or the drain plug you lost to save the day.

but wait, there's more!
stuff your transducer into the end of a 5" length, jam the other end onto the nub below the seat inside your Hobie, trapping the 'ducer against the hull and it makes a great dry, mobile mount for that end of your fishfinder.

but the best use of all is......
you can stuff a bunch on them inside your hull and your boat is practically unsinkable!

And!
 they are currently on closeout at the mart or dollar stores with the end of the summer.

the amazing Pool Noodle!
Don't leave home without some!

Good tips guys, been saving a few floaty jars with that in mind, and wondering about noodles for rod floats.

I really like the idea of recycling, but are you hip to the duck tape of kayak fishing: the amazing pool noodle?

Oh yes sir!!
You know you're a kayak fisherman when you pass by a trash can with a couple of random pool noodles laying next to it and you think, "Hang on, I could really use those!"
Yeah, that was me the other day.  I also have had a couple of full sized noodles stuffed in my kayak for quite some time now.  It's crazy how many different purposes those can be used for.