The Best Fishing Kayak Accessories & Upgrades
Fishing kayaks are purpose-made to stay stable when you fight fish, and so they can carry everything you need for a good fishing trip. To get the most out of them, you should equip them well.
To get the most out of your kayak, you will likely want to customize it more to suit your needs for enjoyable and productive days on the water.
What to Consider When Choosing Kayak Fishing Accessories and Upgrades
Knowing what to look for can make all the difference between buyer’s remorse and a piece of gear that you cherish for years. Knowing what your boat can handle is important, and so is making sure that your gear is durable, water-resistant, and suited to your style of fishing.
- Type of Fishing: The type of fishing you plan to do can influence the accessories you need. Ocean fishing may require different gear than freshwater fishing.
- Kayak Size: The size and design of your kayak can limit the amount and type of accessories you can, or want, to add. Make sure any accessory you choose works with your kayak's dimensions and layout.
- Storage: Consider how much storage space you currently have on and in your kayak. Some accessories might take up more space, leaving less room for other items.
- Weather Conditions: If you often fish in harsh weather conditions, consider the necessary accessories that can protect both you and your gear.
- Comfort: Accessories like seat cushions, backrests, or adjustable footrests can make long fishing trips more comfortable.
- Safety: Safety should always be a priority when kayak fishing. Make sure you prioritize safety gear and accessories over fishing.
- Budget: Your budget will likely play a role in which accessories you choose. While some accessories are relatively inexpensive, others can be more costly.
- Installation: Some accessories may require more complex installation or specific modifications. Know what installation features, like rails, currently exist on your kayak to determine accessory compatibility.
- Durability: Choose accessories that are reliable and durable and can withstand the wear and tear of regular use.
- Portability: If you travel frequently with your kayak, consider how easy it is to transport your accessories. Some may be bulky or heavy, making them less ideal for travel in a car or truck.
- Functionality: Make sure the accessories you choose serve a purpose and enhance your fishing experience. Avoid unnecessary items that only add weight and take up space.
Kayak Fishing Accessory Must Haves
Now that you have an idea of what to consider when buying accessories for your fishing kayak, let’s talk more specifically about the gear you’ll want.
While there are plenty of accessories out there to help you with the actual activity of fishing, that’s not the whole story. There are also tools to help you move your kayak to and from the water, and accessories that help you organize, protect, and secure your gear. Below are some of the most helpful accessories that we recommend.
Fishing Life Jacket (PFD)
A life jacket (PFD) should always be worn when kayaking. A fishing life jacket is designed specifically for anglers and provides functionality beyond standard safety and floatation.
Kayak fishing life jackets have pockets, storage, and connections for tools. This allows you to have what you need readily available and directly on your person. They are also designed to allow free movement to paddle or cast.
Both the Lure Angler II and the Treble Angler Sportsman are excellent PFDs used by avid kayak anglers across the world.
Kayak Fishing Paddle
Regardless of the main type of propulsion your kayak has, you will always need a durable and reliable kayak paddle.
The Magic Angler is designed specifically for kayak anglers. It has an asymmetrical, slightly curved blade shape, combined with a lightweight, flexible fiberglass shaft. It produces smooth, yet powerful strokes. As a bonus it has a cutout in the blade which can be used to free snagged hooks and a ruler on the shaft to measure your catch.
Tackle and Gear Storage
There are a lot of excellent kayak rigging accessories readily available. Let's start with storing and organizing your tackle.
The fishing tackle you bring will generally depend on what type of fishing you do. But getting your fishing gear into a kayak means giving a little thought to what you take on each trip and how you store it.
Organizing tackle and lures in tackle boxes is a tried and true practice. Then you need to figure out how to store your tackle boxes and other fishing gear on your kayak in a way that is organized and accessible.
We like the YakAttack BlackPak Pro Kayak Fishing Crate as it meets most of our wants and needs for tackle and gear storage. It also has 4 TetherTube rod holders with integrated hook and tether systems to keep your rods in place.
Many kayaks, including Old Town Sportsman Fishing Kayaks, have watertight hatches to store clothing, snacks, electronics, and other additional items.
It's also a good idea to always have a dry bag or dry pack to keep items dry even if your kayak has water tight internal storage or you're moving from water to shore and back frequently
Dedicated Rod Holders
Rod holders are a must-have accessory for a fishing kayak setup. They keep your rods secure while you are paddling or moving on the water, as well as ensuring your rods are accessible when you're ready to cast and fish.
Most good fishing kayaks come with dedicated rod holders. If your kayak doesn't have a rod holder there are kits available like the YakAttack Omega Rod Holder Pro if you have existing or modified track mounting rails.
Kayak Anchor
You don’t want to find the perfect fishing spot, just to realize you’ve drifted away. A compact, lightweight kayak anchor kit can do wonders for keeping your kayak steady and in the same spot. Whether you’re paddling or pedaling, you don’t want to stop what you’re doing to adjust. A small anchor can help keep you where you want to be and hopefully in the fish.
Kayak Scupper Plugs and Valves
The scupper holes in your kayak help water drain out. They’re an important part of kayak safety, but sometimes the water conditions mean that they’re harming instead of helping.
Choppy water can slosh up through the scupper holes, and a kayak with fishing gear can often sit low enough in the water that water may enter through the scupper holes instead of leaving through them.
Scupper stoppers help you plug your scupper holes in those cases. Meanwhile, scupper valves will allow water to flow out of your kayak, but not into it.
Kayak Fish Finder
Sometimes you want a lazy day on the water, taking in nature’s beauty, and seeing where the water takes you. And some days, you want to go right to the fish.
Fish Finders help you see what's below and around you, including fish and underwater structure.
There are many fish finder options available. To help you along, we recommend reading How to Choose the Best Fish Finder for Kayak Fishing and watching the companion video.
Vehicle Kayak Transportation
Getting your kayak from A to B, and back safely, can be a challenge for some. Luckily there are numerous kayak transportation accessories and options available for whatever type of vehicle you have.
If you have a car or SUV then a roof-mounted J-Style Kayak Carrier is an excellent option for smaller fishing kayaks like the Loon 106 Angler.
If you have a pickup truck you may think you are in the clear. However, truck beds are often not long enough for a fishing kayak. A truck bed extender package handily solves that issue.
And if you don't want to deal with roof mounts or bed extenders, then a kayak trailer package is a simple and easy solution, regardless of your vehicle type as long as your vehicle has towing capability.
Kayak Cart
A kayak cart can help you get your kayak from your vehicle to the water with less physical effort while protecting the hull of your kayak from scuffs, scrapes, and damage.
Treat your body and your kayak right. Use a kayak cart to get your kayak from storage to your vehicle and from your vehicle to the water and back.
For you fishing kayaks, we recommend the YakAttack TowNStow Bunkster, with adjustable bunks and multiple tie-down points. If you have fishing kayaks and canoes, we recommend the YakAttack TowNStow BarCart, which allows you to switch between inline “bunk” style supports and a crossbar “roof rack” transport style.
Upgrade Your Kayak and Get Out There!
Hopefully this article gave you some ideas on how to improve your fishing kayak and overall kayak fishing experience. You don't have to tackle everything at once, especially if you have a limited budget. The most important thing is getting out on the water, having a great day, and catching some fish.