GEARBuyer’s 2008 Guide
How do you review the ultimate kayak fishing gear? Take the mixture of borrowed items from kayaking or fishing—or entirely different sports—that have crossover appeal to our particular piscatological pursuit. Throw all of those things together with the happily multiplying offerings expressly for fish hunting from a ‘yak, round up the results of field tests and the discerning opinions of expert anglers to select only the best from the pile and deliver the indisputable truth. That’s what we’re striving for here in Kayak Angler’s second-ever gear guide. But then—who are we kidding?—some of this stuff is just here because we thought it looked cool. we think you’ll agree.
Kayak rods ................................ p. 36 Tackle and tools .................... p. 36 Fly gear .......................................p. 37 Clothing .....................................p. 38
PFds .............................................p. 38 Paddles and poles ................ p. 39 Sunglasses ............................... p. 39 electronics ...............................p. 40
road and rack ..........................p. 41 Stabilizers .................................p. 41 rigging .......................................p. 42
P R O P I C K
AN ARTIFICIAL ROD and REEL SETUP FOR KAYAK FISHING
while practically any fishing tackle can work in the kayak, there are certain qualities that make up that ideal kayak fishing rod and reel combo. one of the first things to consider when purchasing either a spinning or casting rod is the length of the handle between angler and reel seat. on a kayak, space is at a premium. when fishing artificials, rods with long handles tend to snag on clothing and PFds and limit the angler’s ability to manipulate the lure or soft plastic. weight is another important factor in both rod and reel. while seated in the kayak, we tend to hold a fishing rod higher up on our body than if we were standing on a boat. Lighter weight means less fatigue and more fish caught. Lastly, it is important to choose a reel than can hold up to the wet environment of the kayak—this is especially true in the salt.
SHIMANO STRADIC MGFB 2500 REEL and TERAMAR SE TMS70M ROD
Stradic MgFB 2500 $229 / Teramar TMS70M $99
www.fish.shimano.com when it comes to meeting the above criteria for the perfect artificial spin set up, it is hard to beat Shimano’s Stradic MgFB reel coupled with a Teramar rod. The Stradic spinning reels have always been known as workhorse reels for saltwater kayak fishing, but this magnesium-bodied version boasts ultra light weight, which is perfect for any kayak angler who spends the day twitching jerk baits or working topwater lures. The Teramar spinning rods are also very lightweight, yet have a strong butt section and that short handle that is so important in the kayak. Match the 2500 Stradic MgFB with a 7’, 8–17 lb Teramar rod and you have the perfect setup for freshwater and light-duty salt.—Greg Bowdish
Pro: Lightweight, versatile and durable. Con: Expensive, but worth every penny.
www.kayakanglermag.com… 35
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