What would you consider the "must have" mods?

Been reading forums, watching videos, and talking to friends.  The list of mods seems endless to a new yak owner.

Where should a guy start?  Anchor trolley?  Wheels?  More rod holders?

I plan to fish primarily in ponds and rivers with occasional trips in the salt when the weather is kind enough for a 10 foot kayak.

What would you consider to be the must have mods?    I am leaning toward an anchor trolley (river has tide swings) and a milk crate for the back for starters.  Maybe some pool noodle love somewhere?

Here is an image so you know what I am working with.  Any suggestions for the new kid are appreciated.

Fish finder & battery, flag pole, rod holders can go on a milk crate, big game clip & lip grippers " available at ACK" , small dry boxes as tackle organizers

the tackle trays should be the ones with the water proof seal so if you roll over or drop one it will float

Been reading forums, watching videos, and talking to friends.  The list of mods seems endless to a new yak owner.

Where should a guy start?  Anchor trolley?  Wheels?  More rod holders?

I plan to fish primarily in ponds and rivers with occasional trips in the salt when the weather is kind enough for a 10 foot kayak.

What would you consider to be the must have mods?    I am leaning toward an anchor trolley (river has tide swings) and a milk crate for the back for starters.  Maybe some pool noodle love somewhere?

You don't really need to go hog wild on accessories right off the bat.  Give it time to soak in.

However, a flag is a necessity in waters where you will encounter PWC's and power boats.
Compass if you will be in a foggy, or visually challenging environments.
A hand bilge pump, sponge, whistle, and of course PFD. 

Use your kayak for a while and obvious things will become apparent as to what YOU need, what YOU want, and what YOU don't need/what. 
Everyone here has their own personal preference on what to install, based on THEIR needs and requirements. 
If you were to take everyone's input as to what you need to install, you could sink your kayak as there really is that much "stuff" available to install.  90% of which you, me and everyone else could kayak fish without. 

Once you have an idea of something specific you want to install that would suit your needs, it makes sense then to ask for input from others for their personal experience when comparing products of similar use. 

Also, you will inevitably meet other kayakers while you are out fishing, and this gives you an opportunity to see what they have installed. 
Be sure to ask them what they think of their installs, and if they would have done it differently or not.

Go have some fun with your kayak, you still have some summer left to get some great fishing in.

In that boat a seat with a cushion, that rigid plastic will make your butt sore. The backrest only designs are OK for playing but not so much for extended fishing time. I would put in a couple of rod holders for not in use rods.  Tackle storage is a must an orange waterproof box fits the small sized flat boxes so everything stays dry.  If money allows a FF etc but in general give it a little time. One of the great parts of yak fishing is setting up YOUR boat the way YOU want.

the tackle trays should be the ones with the water proof seal so if you roll over or drop one it will float

Pelican boxes are awesome

I've had my first Tupperware boat for 4 months, and I haven't done any permanent mods yet. I've used the provided screw holes to find lots of ways I don't like things mounted. As said above, find what you need for yourself before you make a lasting decision. A few observations, in order of recollection.
* Sealing tackle box = good. Crate = OK, but not as useful as expected.
* Keep the deck clear!  Getting aboard at sea is hard - don't make it harder.
* Practice the things you need to know in an empty boat on calm water. Side-saddle, forward hatch access, boat wakes, deep water re-entries with all your stuff on.
* Leash it or lose it. Neptune charges a stiff stupid tax.  I haven't found a leash I like, but everything I haven't lost has one.
* 'Anchoring is advanced sport - save it for later. Get a hook knife!

It's all part of the fun.  Take it easy and enjoy the learning. 

The most important mod on a 10' boat if you want to go out into the ocean is to lengthen it by 2-4 feet.

I have a fish finder that hasn't seen any fish it could prove to me, but seems OK at telling me water temperature and depth. I didn't add any rod holders until I had paddled the kayak a few times and "air fished" a bit to see where the rods would go, and keep them within reach but out of the way while paddling.

Mounts for a fishing rod up front, another behind, and a safety flag/light pole.

Anchor trolley and such are useless until you know enough about the dynamics and safety process of anchoring. Better off without them until you have that expertise. In any case, I am told you will never anchor in the ocean. Well, maybe once and then... And if the river has enough current that you find the anchor truly necessary, it probably has too much current to safely anchor. Really, my (newb) perspective on anchors is to fight the wind, not current or waves or tide.

Pretty much don't do any mode for given conditions/water until you've been on that water and decided 'hey, this is what I need".

Working on a flag mount.  Probably have it as part of a milk crate in the back.  I have a surf rod I am not using and will mount it to the crate and attach a flag to it.

Have a tackle bag that came with a latching cord so that part is good.   I have some time in a borrowed yak so I have a good idea on what I like. 

Right now I am working on getting comfortable moving around and reaching things while on the water. 

I tend to be a minimalist.  The only mod I really need is my fishfinder/gps.  Everything else just makes it more comfortable to fish. 

Figuring out where to install the ff is always my first project on a new yak.

Butt cushion
Bow line
Paddle Leash

As you use it, you'll have plenty of time to contemplate things like jam cleats, an articulated rod holder extender, safety flag, milk crate, dry bags, catch cooler, bluetooth speakers, fishfinder, battery cable passthru, gopro mount, extra rod holders, gear tracks, tackle bag/box, pump, drift anchor arm etc.

-Mark-

game clip

You have to have a PFD, and you should always wear it.  Other than that, don't be in a huge hurry to add all kinds of stuff to your kayak.  Get out, paddle around, go fishing, and look at how other kayakers have outfitted their kayaks.  Don't add anything until it's obvious to you that it's necessary, or would be convenient to have.  If you add a bunch of stuff to your kayak right after you buy it, you may find that you never use it, or that there are way better ways to mount the stuff than the way you did it in the days after you bought your kayak. 

For fishing, it depends on the kind of fishing you want to do.  If you want to fly fish or spincast around the edges of lakes, you won't need to add things to your kayak like a fishfinder, trolling rod holders, etc.  All you need is to figure out how to carry your fishing gear on your kayak, and how to either leash it to your kayak or add flotation so you won't lose it.  The smallest size of retractable dog leash is a great way to leash rods and nets.  For small items like pliers, lip grippers, fish bonker, or a folding knife, fishing retractors work well.  Clip your water bottle to something on your kayak, or keep it inside a hatch.  Try to avoid turning your kayak into a snarl of long cord retractors.  I carry a cooler on my kayak so I can put fish on ice as soon as I catch them.  How big a cooler you need depends on the kind of fish you expect to be fishing for. An anchor trolley is a good example of a piece of gear which is completely unnecessary for many kinds of fishing.  But if you want to anchor and fish for sturgeon, or you want to anchor and spearfish, you'll need an anchor trolley.

If you want to fish deep water out away from shore, a fish finder with GPS will be very useful.  If you want to troll, you'll need a rod holder.  If you want to troll deep, at some point you should consider getting a downrigger.  But don't be in a big hurry to add those kinds of things.

A pole holder is in my mind the best mod to make. It allows you a place to put your rod while you paddle, tie on a new rig, unhook fish.

Got most of my safety gear put together.  Still need a wetsuit before I will venture into the bay, but the local river and lakes are all fair game.

Working on leashing things to the yak.  Right now I am using a simple paracord and carabiner setup.  Not fancy, but it works and is cheap.  First aid kit, whistle, radio, mirror, flag, lighter, cigars, knife, PFD.  Did some practice sitting side saddle the other day with no problems.   In all the boat handles well and should serve me well for some time.

Biggest thing I am having a hard time with is reaching stuff behind me.  I am a short and round fellow and I tend to throw my center of balance off when trying to reach behind.  That is where the side saddle sitting will come in handy.   

Fish finder and a better storage system for behind the seat are looking to be my first projects along with a set of wheels.