Kayak Fishing Round-Up: Our Best Gear Content
11-minute read
Kayak fishing gear: What do you need? What cool gadgets are out there that you never knew you needed? We gathered 22 of our best blogs in one place that are all about gear. You’re welcome!
(Photo courtesy of Rob Wright)
There are a few gear items everyone must have when kayak fishing—a kayak, a paddle, a PFD and your fishing gear.
But which kayak? Which paddle? What kind of PFD?
And then there are seemingly limitless gadgets available to make your fishing easier, more efficient and more enjoyable.
Bookmark this page and then make your way through these twenty-two blog posts for a thorough education about kayak fishing:
How to Get Started Kayak Fishing
What You Need to Get Started Kayak Fishing
Bending Branches Pro Staffer Gene Jensen (aka The Flukemaster) created this video featuring the essentials you won’t want to get on the water without, as well as his top picks for nice-to-have gear items.
Watch the video or simply read through our content summary of the video for quick ideas and plenty of links.
Watch & Read: What You Need to Get Started Kayak Fishing
[NOTE: If you’re new to the kayak fishing world, you’ll find that other anglers are very generous with their knowledge and experience. Veterans like Gene and others on our National Prostaff and Regional Ambassador teams are great resources.]
Easy Kayak Fishing Tournament Set-Up
Another member of our Pro team, Drew Gregory, offers his take for a low-key but effective gear set-up. His ideas are ideal for beginning tournament enthusiasts, even though he uses this set-up as a veteran on occasion.
If you know you’d eventually enjoy entering local kayak fishing tourneys, be sure to watch Drew’s video and/or read through this blog for his suggestions. It’s an easy rig to load, unload and move, and a great way to get started.
Watch & Read: Easy Kayak Fishing Tournament Set-Up
(Photo courtesy of Juan Gomez)
Gear Content about Fishing Kayaks
Our Favorite Fishing Kayak Makers
“Which fishing kayak should I buy?” is one of the top questions new kayak anglers ask. We have this blog to help answer that important question.
First, we cover what you’ll want to look for in a fishing kayak. What details to think about that will make your time on the water enjoyable and productive. Then we include a long list of fishing kayak manufacturers we recommend in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Be sure to read this before you lay out your cash!
Read: Our Favorite Fishing Kayak Makers
Pedal Fishing Kayak: To Buy or Not to Buy?
Another question that’s increasingly more common is about pedal kayaks. Is the extra money worth it?
In this blog, we posed this question to several of our Pro team members who have experience with pedal kayaks. They offered wonderful advice and insight that will help you make your own buying decision.
Read: Pedal Fishing Kayak: To Buy or Not to Buy?
Content about Kayak Fishing Paddles
Being a paddle company, we have plenty of content about kayak fishing paddles, of course. Once you’ve gone through these, you’ll also find blog content that highlights some of our specific kayak paddle models:
Kayak Fishing Paddles 101
Begin here to educate yourself about why your paddle matters and how to be sure you invest in the one that’s right for you. While so many think “a paddle is a paddle,” you’ll discover why it’s important to choose the right size, the right materials and the right price point.
Instead of being an afterthought, your choice of kayak fishing paddle directly affects your experience on the water—even if you have a pedal kayak.
Read: Kayak Fishing Paddles 101
6 Mistakes Anglers Make When Choosing a Kayak Fishing Paddle
Once you have the basics down from the previous blog, hone in on the six biggest mistakes anglers make when they choose a paddle in this one.
The first mistake is: You assume one size fits all. Nope. The second mistake: You settle for a heavy, clunky paddle. We can tell you, you’ll regret it. You’ll love learning what not to buy before you go out and spend money on a paddle.
Read: 6 Mistakes Anglers Make When Choosing a Kayak Fishing Paddle
(Photo courtesy of Drew Gregory)
Bending Branches’ Lineup of Kayak Fishing Paddles
Now you understand why your paddle shouldn’t be an afterthought, how to choose one that’s the right size, which are designed for kayak fishing and more.
We were the first company to design and manufacture high-quality paddles specifically made for kayak fishing. We continually gather feedback from our pro teams and keep improving them so we can offer the very best products for the angling community all over the world.
Read: Bending Branches’ Lineup of Kayak Fishing Paddles
Kayak Paddle Ferrule System: Snap-Button vs. Versa-Lok™
In this blog, we get into the nitty-gritty of the ferrule systems we offer. (The ferrule is the joint between the two halves of the paddle.)
Our snap-button ferrule—also used by most kayak paddles on the market—is robust and simple to use. Our Versa-Lok™ ferrule (introduced in 2023) is a major step up that offers 15 cm of length adjustability with rock-solid, corrosion-resistant components.
Read: Kayak Paddle Ferrule System: Snap-Button vs. Versa-Lok™
Proper Kayak Fishing Paddle Care & Storage
Once you’ve made the investment in your kayak fishing paddle, you want to take care of it so it lasts for years. These practical and easy-to-follow tips will ensure many seasons of enjoyment with your favorite paddle.
We cover how to protect it from getting scratched up, how to keep it from getting broken, the best ways to store it off-season and even how to care for it when fishing. Ambassador Dean Bowling offers some advice as well.
Read: Proper Kayak Fishing Paddle Care & Storage
Protect Your Kayak Fishing Paddles with a Paddle Bag
If you’re like many kayak anglers, you’ll start a collection of paddles over the years for different fishing environments or to share with friends. In this blog, we dig deeper into why using a paddle bag is the best way to protect and transport your investment.
Dean Bowling offers his recommendations again, including the types of bags available and what to look for when choosing yours.
Read: Protect Your Kayak Fishing Paddles with a Paddle Bag
(Photo courtesy of Courtney Bennett)
Content about Paddling Safety Gear
Kayak fishing is one of the safest ways to fish. But anytime you’re on the water, you want to keep safety top-of-mind. The unexpected can always happen, so you want to be prepared.
PFDs for Kayak Fishing: What Do You Need?
First, a PFD (Personal Flotation Device, or life jacket) is a non-negotiable item anytime you’re on the water. There are government regulations where you live, so be sure you know them. But we recommend you not just have your PFD in the boat (which is what most regulations specify) but that you wear it.
If and when the unexpected happens, you won’t want to have to scramble for your PFD while your paddle is floating away and your gear is sinking. Your life is worth it!
This blog covers all the reasons why, plus the different types of PFDs available and where to buy them.
Read: PFDs for Kayak Fishing: What Do You Need?
Safety First: Dress for Immersion When Paddling
This is a safety concern that few anglers think about when cold water or cold weather kayak fishing: It’s important you dress for immersion in case of a capsize in dangerously cold water.
We cover the types of clothing to wear and not to wear. When a wetsuit or dry suit is appropriate and the dangers of hypothermia.
Read: Safety First: Dress for Immersion When Paddling
A Kayak Angler’s First Aid Kit
Another Branches’ Proteam member, Chris Funk (aka The Feral One), helps us out on how to put together a First Aid kit for kayak fishing. You can watch his video, then read more for a list of suggestions and what types of ready-made kits are available.
It’s another safety gear item you hopefully won’t have to use. But if you need it, you’ll want one that’s complete and stays dry on your boat.
Read: A Kayak Angler’s First Aid Kit
Bending Branches’ High-Visibility Kayak Paddles
Finally, to wrap up the safety section, let’s talk high-visibility. Fishing kayaks sit very low on the water. You’re hard to see by boaters in larger, faster boats if you blend in with the water and shoreline.
So having high-viz gear is an essential part of being easily seen by others. This could mean your kayak, your PFD, your apparel or your paddle. In this blog, we talk about our kayak paddles with high-viz blades.
Read: Bending Branches’ High-Visibility Kayak Paddles
(Photo courtesy of Bill Sikora)
Blog Content about Gear Add-Ons
Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals, here are several blog posts that highlight add-ons that can make your kayak fishing easier and more effective. Once you have the basics, these are items you can buy over time if you choose to.
Some of them are big-budget items, others are free or very inexpensive.
20 Apps for Canoeists, Kayakers & Kayak Anglers
Keep technology at your fingertips on all your kayak fishing excursions with apps for your iPhone or Android smartphone.
This blog features a list of apps for all paddlers, including a section that’s kayak fishing-specific. These include apps for fishing regulations, contour maps and launch sites, identifying and tracking what you catch, the weather forecast, tides and currents and more.
Read: 20 Apps for Canoeists, Kayakers & Kayak Anglers
Which Fish Finder to Use Kayak Fishing?
We again asked members of our Pro and Ambassador teams to offer their advice on choosing a fish finder to install on your kayak. You’ll find some great tips on these devices as well as the option of a phone app or castable.
If you’d like to know more about the structure of the water body you fish and like to see what’s swimming around down there, be sure to check it out.
Read: Which Fish Finder to Use Kayak Fishing?
Should You Use a Motor on Your Fishing Kayak?
Three of our Ambassadors joined the conversation about using an electric motor on fishing kayaks. They offer sound advice that includes why you may want a motor and also why you may not want one.
We touch on a few motor recommendations as well as why you still need a dependable paddle, even with a motor.
Read: Should You Use a Motor on Your Fishing Kayak?
Gear Review: YakAttack’s VISICarbon Pro Lighted Flag
We could’ve listed this blog under the Safety category, but since it’s an optional add-on, we’ve put it here. YakAttack’s VISICarbon Pro makes you and your fishing kayak more visible to other boaters day or night.
Pro angler Chad Hoover created a couple of videos about this lighted flag, which we include, along with a written description of why you might want one, too.
Read: Gear Review: YakAttack’s VISICarbon Pro Lighted Flag
Small Modifications Can Improve Your Kayak Fishing
Pro team member Gene Jenson is back with ideas for inexpensive gadgets and how he’s using them to make his kayak fishing easier. Again, we love how generous these anglers are with their audiences and kayak anglers everywhere.
Magnets and VELCRO, modifications for catch board storage and your BlackPak, holders for hooks and wire—it’s all here, along with a video.
Read: Small Modifications Can Improve Your Kayak Fishing
Gear List for Kayak Camping
Are you ready to make your kayak fishing an overnight camping venture? Team member Moo Lee takes us along in this video on one of his kayak camping trips.
His video and this blog cover his camp kitchen, sleep system and tent, personal gear and ditty bag. This particular trip was dispersed camping, but much of his advice carries over to camping in designated sites as well.
(He doesn’t cover his fishing gear, as he assumes you know what to bring!)
Read: Gear List for Kayak Camping
(Photo courtesy of Anna Taylor)
Power-Pole System for Your Fishing Kayak
Pro team member Drew Gregory is the first to admit he can invest in one of these Power-Pole systems because he kayak fishes professionally. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether your dedication to it includes an expensive add-on like this…but we sure want you to know it’s out there.
Power-Poles is a robust hydraulic anchoring system for shallow water fishing. Drew covers the advantages and disadvantages, and why he chose to install this system on one of his kayaks.
Read: Power-Pole System for Your Fishing Kayak
Content about Adaptive Kayak Fishing
Adaptive paddling gear gives many people the option of getting on the water who otherwise wouldn’t be able to. We love that!
Adaptive Kayaking and Canoeing Get More People on the Water
Mike Schmitz, one of our Regional Ambassadors, has been a wheelchair user since a car crash left him partially paralyzed at 18 years old. Adaptive kayaking gear makes it possible for him to enjoy the freedom of kayak fishing despite his challenges.
In this blog, Mike tells some of his story and why it’s so important for him to be able to get on the water. We introduce you to several companies that specialize in making adaptive gear, and a few organizations devoted to getting as many people on the water as they can.
Read: Adaptive Kayaking and Canoeing Get More People on the Water
(Photo courtesy of Chris Arnold)
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or [email protected]
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