Equipment profiles?

Me too Spot..

Here I go again putting the Pelagic Paddler jerk hat on..

Lets not take the shine and dare I say romance of Kayak fishing away by reducing it to a list of necessary gear and a link to google maps.  The last thing I would want to see is this sport/lifestyle be condensed into a "packaged kit concept"  or a "pick one from each category" list where all a person would need is a credit card, internet connection and a pulse.  

 Part of earning your "salt" is putting your time in experimenting, researching, trial and error, successes and failures as you grow and refine your personal "game" as a kayak angler. Earning that thing called "Experience" should be a long road not a jump to the front of the line.



 

Me too Spot..

 The last thing I would want to see is this sport/lifestyle be condensed into a "packaged kit concept"  or a "pick one from each category" list where all a person would need is a credit card, internet connection and a pulse.  

I agree with you guys, but at the same time, some list would help to keep folk who see the fun we are having  from making some dumb and possibly deadly decisions.

"You mean you can't lean over the side with the net like in my sled and flannel makes lousy swimwear?"

At the same time, I'd hate to start hearing the "right tool for the job" argument that would happen as soon as you define a "standard" package.

I think the original post is a pretty good idea as we have some diverse fishing packages out there and might give a noob a clue. Then again, the "Search" function is your friend (and the advanced search function is even better!)

I seemed to have ruffled the old guard with my post.  My point was that beyond having a general list, going out and buying this stuff, experimenting, etc.. is half the fun of kayak fishing.  It's so much fun that I was joking by suggesting that I wish it was my job.

Brian

A list only tells people what I currently use and what works for me.  It doesn't tell them why it works for me.  For that, they will still have to ask.  If anything, it will cause more conversation.

-Allen

I didn't mean to come off harsh..

I think questions and sharing of info is great, even necessary to help others along and keep everyone safe.  I just don't like the idea of the one "right way" to do something, and if you don't use X or Y you are doing it wrong or not being safe etc.   
 
A 10 buck garage sale life jacket (in good shape) will float you just as well as a high dollar kayak specific jacket.  I don't want folks to have the idea that to be able to participate you have to have all the "perfect" stuff, and then sit on the bench because they can't afford it.  For years I fished in a $80 bodyglove suit from joes sidewalk sale and a waterski life jacket that blew out of some ones ski boat on I5, worked fine and kept me safe, although the lack of relief zip sucked.  I now use a dry suit and kayak specific vest for about five times the money of my old gear, and to date the new kit has not improved my catch rate one bit.

I seemed to have ruffled the old guard with my post.  My point was that beyond having a general list, going out and buying this stuff, experimenting, etc.. is half the fun of kayak fishing.  It's so much fun that I was joking suggesting that I wish it was my job.

Brian

Ruffle away, Coach!  

I can hear the cash register ringing, too.....

 The last thing I would want to see is this sport/lifestyle be condensed into a "packaged kit concept"  or a "pick one from each category" list where all a person would need is a credit card, internet connection and a pulse.  
 

Regrettably, Brian's " Visa" setup is coming whether we like it or not. This sport is too hot for it not to. Heck look at the number of "fishing" packages that kayak manufactures have come out with in the last couple of years. Problem with many of those is that they were designed by the marketing and legal departments who don't actually fish (or even worst traditional kayak designers!) (why in the hell do they still put flush mount rod holders behind the seat!?!?!).

At least Brian's package actually makes some sense as he is a kayak fisherman first and more specifically a Northwest kayak fisherman (and a fish nerd 2nd because he's gotta eat )
Somebody's gonna do it and who better than a fisherperson.

 But (one more time) there is no one way to getterdun. I think it'll be up to the individual to figure out whats fluff and what's meat. That's where forums and such come in. Heck, pretty much all the development of kayak fishing over the last 10 years or so has been over the internet. Dennis Spike's kayakfishing.com was one of the first sites I stumbled into back in '97 and you can watch the development of the gear (and websites) overtime. But even then, there were those naysayers who told you what you could not do. "you can't put a fishfinder in a kayak" "you can only anchor from the bow" "you can't use goop on a transducer" "you most certainly can't anchor in deep moving water!!!!"
 Lest y'all forgot, we are all paddling boats designed for Caribbean hotel tourist lagoons.

I guess I see both sides of this thing.  Listing people's equipment can provide a bit of inspiration and direction for the newer folks, and can stimulate discussion between existing schools of thought.  But it is important to maintain a collective ideal that there is no standard way of kayak fishing.  I think that these freethinking ways are what separated this divergent population from their power boating brethren.  Supporting these independent urges should be of utmost importance.....

But it is important to maintain a collective ideal that there is no standard way of kayak fishing.  I think that these freethinking ways are what separated this divergent population from their power boating brethren.  Supporting these independent urges should be of utmost importance.....

I think you'll see the independent urges come out in "the list".  It is going to be so varied and different ... guaranteed.

-Allen

I hope so, Allen.  I definitely enjoy seeing someone approach the sport - any sport, really - from a new direction......

Oh the plight of a newB. I being one can give you first hand information. One would think that the best place to get good information is from someone who does it for a living. Like a kayak store. Armed with nothing but desire and a recent article from a classic outdoor magazine, try getting outfitted at a cabela's or bass pro. Seems if they have a clue that your a newB they all of the sudden become experts and put you into the kayak de jour. Along with all the "necessary" equipment. This usually turns out to be the stuff they have on hand. The reason I love these internet sites is the wealth of information I can get from reading posts by old salts to modern day yuppie techno geeks. I learn from all. The old salts have a wealth of knowledge based on experience, the yuppie usually has the latest greatest. Reading these forums is almost as much fun as buying?, fishing? paddling? As for the list, I'm not looking for an individuals inventory, just the outfit he uses the most. There is a reason he uses one setup over the others. I think he has accumulated gear over the years and swaps stuff around until he gets a rig that suits him. The stuff that works. And for the yuppie, he's always has the latest greatest gizmo out there and most are willing to give an honest opinion. 
I just love this stuff and you guys are a kick.

I guess I see both sides of this thing.  Listing people's equipment can provide a bit of inspiration and direction for the newer folks, and can stimulate discussion between existing schools of thought.  But it is important to maintain a collective ideal that there is no standard way of kayak fishing.  I think that these freethinking ways are what separated this divergent population from their power boating brethren.  Supporting these independent urges should be of utmost importance.....

Very well said!  So where do I post my equipment list?

One would think that the best place to get good information is from someone who does it for a living. Like a kayak store.

Again, regrettably, that's probably one of the worst places to get started.
I have yet to walk into a sporting goods store, kayak shop, or specialty store and found anybody who had a clue about kayak fishing. Even the few kayak fishing stores I've been to in FL (there are about 3) are staffed by folk who seemed kinda lost. I'm sure somebody in there knows something, but I did not see 'em.

Maybe that'll change in the next few years, but until then, the best source of information is flying electrons.

Well, isn't this kind of an interesting thread now?  There are definately multiple schools of thought about gear and what works for me might not work for others.  I don't think Fishboy was looking for "the" list when he asked this question. I think he was just kinda curious what people were using.  Me too, for that matter.  Being another newby in the kayak fishing arena, I've enjoyed learning from you all through reading posts here.  Am I shortcutting a bit...maybe.  But isn't the reason people post here in the different forums? Isn't to share knowledge and experience?     

But do understand, just because I am a newby like the originator of this thread, doesn't mean either of us doesn't have years of prior experiences in other genres of the same sport...fishing.  It doesn't necessarily mean we haven't got years of experience fishing on the salt, or years of experience in water safety.  I can probably say with confidence that newbies like us are here because we want to learn from veterans like you.  It doesn't mean we're trying to force our way to the front of the line.

I don't read posts here and think to myself "self, Polepole paddles an OK Trident 13 (just taking a stab at it Polepole), I best go buy one because that is what works for him!"  ....(please don't ban me from the website Polepole....it's just for education/making my point purposes and not a true portrayl of my thought process  ) \

Continuing.....Ah, no! I like to read about what boats people paddle and why. Then I take that info, force feed it into the internal roll-a-dex and let it all swim around for a bit.  I haven't jumped to buy my first boat ust because 80% of the folks here paddle OK's.   I haven't because I still have a lot to learn about what might work for me. I need to paddle some different models. I need to read some reviews on not only kayak fishing websites but on paddling websites, too.  When the time is right, I'll take "my" list of gear I've compiled and start buying gear.  I really can think for myself...I think I can, I think I can......  

It is amazing what you can garner with this thing called the internet.  It's amazing what I've learned about kayak fishing by just lurking around here for a while.  Do I have some strong opinions about safety gear and pfd's?  Yep! And if or when I am asked for my opinion, I'll contribute here like so many others and gladly give it.  I don't expect to everyone to think "geez, SR wears that kind of PFD, I must too!" Not at all! All I would hope, though, is that I could give someone in a similar circumstance, or of a similar body type, something else to think about when purchasing safety gear.  Buying gear is like buying a car...what I drive ain't necessarily what you drive and vice a versa. 

Sorry about the threadjack Fishboy, but I think it's a great idea.  My list right now includes a boat, paddle, vhf radio, PFD, Farmer John, paddle Jacket, rod/reel, misc terminal gear, flare gun, tow rope, knife.  The brands and models are yet to be determined but I can guarantee it'll be because I've taken that information swimming around the internal roll-a-dex (some of which I've gathered here) and used it to buy what I think will work for me....my own Orvis catalog of gear choices, so to speak....

-SR

     

Wow. Sorry to get so many people worked up.
Guess I need to get my stuff, learn my lessons my own self.