Trick Out Your Ride for $1000

 

Over the past decade or more kayak fishing has become extremely popular. B.A.S.S., Bassmaster and other traditionally power boat tournaments have whole divisions just for kayak anglers now. The competitors boats are decked out to the nth degree and that is what makes us most excited about kayak fishing! The degree to which you trick out your ride is dependent on your imagination. Anglers have DIY outfits that are specific to how they like to fish and fishing companies have seen that and added their own innovations to the market. The possibilities are endless and that in and of itself can be overwhelming when you get your first kayak. So we thought about how we would rig out a kayak fresh off the floor with just a $1000. Here is what we would get to start out.

Gear Organization

You are working with a smaller platform than the boating world and this is why the first things we got for rigging out our Hoodoo Impulse 120 were YakAttak crates and track mounted accessories. You can of course DIY and customize a milk crate or cooler. We just like the convince of an already designed system. 

YakAttack BlackPak PRO  $125

 

You can get a milk crate attach some rod holders and get on the water. There is nothing wrong with that. We like the Black Pack pro because of its versatility. YakAttacks gridlock design allows you to mount even more accessories easily. It is optimized for 3600 sized tackle boxes it can hold up to 8. The hinged lid with latches means your gear stays secured when in transit. The rod tubes included come with a hook and tether system to secure the rod in place. They can be mounted in several different positions based on where you fish to protect your rods from low hanging branches and the like. We think that these features plus other mean that the YakAttack BlackPak Pro is a huge upgrade from the standard milk crate. 

YakAttack Short Stack Solo $67 

The YakAttack Short Stack Solo canoe a stand alone storage box that slides underneath your seat for quick access while on the water. It can also be stacked on top of the BlackPak Pro giving you even more space to store gear like your soft plastic collection. It also has the same gridlock design as the BlackPack both inside and out. 

YakAttack Track Pack $35 single stack

Four quick access to our favorites baits, first aid kits and dehookers we decided to include the YakAttack Track Pack with the drop in tray. You can get Track Pack as single or double stack. The two boxes lock securely together while still allowing you access to both at the same time. And as the name implies it mounts to tracks on your kayak meaning it can sit anywhere on your kayak for your convenience. 

Protect Your Investment

The next thing we considered was how to protect our investment. I mean we are spending some serious money to rig out our Kayak. While our kayaks are built tough and can handle most anything you throw at them. We do recommend getting gear to protect and help transport your Kayak. 

Tow n Stow Bunkster Kayak Cart $180

While we know our kayaks can take a beating we do not recommend you drag them from your truck bed to the ramp without a kayak cart. The Tow n Stow Bunkster Kayak Cart is rated for up to 450 pounds of weight, is quickly adjusted by hand and can fold away for quick storage when not in use. The base model comes with rubberized plastic tires but you can upgrade to sand tires from YakAttack if you launch at the beach most often. 

 

Malone Auto Track Truck Bed Extender $180

With our shorter models you can throw your kayak in the bed of your truck tie it down and scoot on about your way with no issues. On our longer models we recommend some form of bed extender to keep from putting undue stress on the kayak haul during transport. The Malone Auto Track Bed extender fit in a 2 inch receiver and can be configured to bed level or a vertical mode if you have roof tracks and want to keep your truck bed free. We also carry Malone Trailers if you transport multiple kayaks for those family trips.

303 Aerospace Protectant $15

303 Aerospace protectant spray can be found in hardware, automotive, boating and sporting stores. The spray is used to clean and protect plastic and vinyl from UV light. UV light overtime can make plastics and vinyl fade and become brittle. For $15 and 15 minutes you can make sure your kayak will continue to look sharp for years to come. We recommend doing this 3-4 times a year depending on how you store your kayak.

Finding Fish 

Do you need a fish finder with side scanning capabilities to find fish and be successful…not exactly but it sure does make it easier and Hoodoo Kayaks come with molded in transducer mount to that will accommodate almost any model you could choose. Here are a couple of our favorites to use. Sometimes you can find older models on Facebook marketplace or eBay. Just be sure to to check that they work and the transducer has the functions you like side scanning if that’s what your looking for. 

Hummingbird Helix 5 Chirp $350

The Helix 5 comes preinstalled with Hummingbirds base maps which includes 10,000 plus lakes and water ways. We particularly like this since the other models don’t come with maps per say and in the Texas marshes this is extremely helpful when trying to get to the next spot. The 5” screen is high quality and usable even on a extremely bright day where screens will typically get washed out. If you are looking to get in to tournaments this might not have all the features you are looking for but it is a great affordable starter unit. There are models that have more function than this model if your looking for side scanning.

Garmin Striker $420

The Garmin Striker is another popular choice for fish finders. The Garmin ClearVu provides you incredible detail of what is on the bottom. It also comes with a quick draw function that allows you to paddle around and create your own charts for your favorite lakes, rivers, and bays with 1” contours. While the unit itself does not come with preloaded maps it has wi-fi connectivity allows you to connect to your phone and use gamins ActiveCaptain app to transfer waypoints and get access to Garmin’s Quickdraw Community. 

 

Lowrance Eagle  $400

Lowrance Eagle comes with detailed C-Map Charts. You have to select coastal or American lakes when purchasing the unit. Which does mean you need to know where you fish most often unless you want to spend a little more to add more maps. Lowrance is know for a clear sharp picture and is a strong brand in the fishing community. 

The fish finder you select will be up to you. Each of the big three Hummingbird, Lowrance, and Garmin have multiple model numbers for the same units. The model number lets you know what the transducer can and cannot do and what the unit will show you. Keep this in mind when you are looking to get one. If you are unsure we recommend you talk to your local dealer to make sure you are picking the right one. 

Like a Slick New Hot Rod 

Just like the those who buy the hot red sports car we want to be seen! Not just because our Kayak is looking pretty slick at this point but for safety. With more and more kayakers on the water the incidents of boating and kayaking accidents has risen significantly. This part of our rig out is to keep us safe on the water.

Lights

Essential for night fishing and just making your kayak look good. There isn’t a rig out that is complete without lights. There are a couple of considerations if you plan on installing lights yourself. Check out our Essential Gear For Safe Kayaking post where we discuss some of the Coast Guard requirements are for lights on a kayak. 

If you want to save some time and get on the water faster and speak to an expert. We can install the lights or a complete power kit for you prior to shipping your kayak. And we won’t tell if you don’t count it to the $1000 rigging budget for your kayak. 

YakAttack Visi II Pole and Light $80

Standing tall on the stern with a hives flag and light this helps you stand out to boaters from a distance. It is a must have. The YakAttack Visi II pole and light comes with mounting hardware so you can place it anywhere or you can track mount the flag pole before getting on the water. 

Not Necessities but Niceties 

Finally, we come to the end of our rig out and we had a few dollars left to spend we chose a few different pieces of gear to enhance our fishing experience. 

Anchor Trolley $37

Easy to install the anchor trolly is a rope and pulley system that runs the length of the kayak. The Anchor Trolley allows you to set your anchor or stakeout pole and position your bow or stern into the current. What makes this especially convenient is that you do not have to stretch out to the bow or over your seat to make sure you are set. A quick clove hitch on the loop holds the anchor line in place securely. 

YakStick Mud Anchor 6.5’ $74

For shallow water anglers the YakStick Mud Anchor is the quickest most efficient way to hold your position. They are silent, they float, and the YakAttack Rotogrip can hold it securely on the side track out of the way while you pedal yourself to the next spot. 

Conclusion

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are endless DIY projects and other already engineered attachments and gadgets you can get to rig out your kayak. The possibilities are endless. Our total ended up being $1,146 without adding in lights (since we can install those for you). To those who say “if you are going to spend that much on a kayak why not just get a boat,” we say nay. A kayak rigged like this is still 10s of thousands of dollars cheaper than a boat! So don’t let them get you down and continue to explore beyond boundaries!