You bought the kayak, paddle, PFD and safety equipment. You already have fishing rods, tackle boxes, lures and rigs. What’s next? In addition to the basics, a new angler needs a few tools and accessories to make fishing safer and more fun. Kayak Angler editors went through our gear bags and identified the seven accessories we can’t live without. Here are our picks for new gear a new angler needs before he hits the water.
Essential Gear for Beginner Anglers
BioLite Dash 450
$69.95 | bioliteenergy.com
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BIOLITE AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY REI
Launching the kayak in the predawn dark and recovering long after sunset are part of a fishing day. BioLite’s Dash 450 is designed to provide versatile illumination and keep me safe. The front light has several modes, including red light and dimmable floodlight and spotlight. In the back, the Dash 450 has a red light I can toggle between flood or strobe. When I’m fishing, I use the flood light or red light to light up my kayak. When I hear a boat motoring towards me, I switch to spotlight and point the Dash 450 at the boater. After years of throwing away AAA batteries, I switched to the rechargeable Dash 450 and made plugging in the lamp part of my after-fishing routine.
Dhukr Fishhook Removal Solution
$59.99 | dhukrtool.com
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The Dhukr tool keeps an unintentional piercing from ending the fishing trip. Invented by an emergency room doctor, the compact ergonomic tool is designed to push the hook eye down and lift the point up to quickly snatch the hook out of the skin. The tool works with J-hooks and treble hooks so it should be in every angler’s gear bag.
DJI Osmo Action 4
$299 | dji.com
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Fishermen are famous for their fish-stretching stories and the DJI Osmo Action 4 camera keeps me honest. Not only do I get high resolution, color correct images of my fish, but I can capture 4K video of the action. The Osmo 4 has all the high-level features expected of an action camera, including voice commands and easy-to-use touch screen control. I like the additional touch screen on the front of the camera for framing selfies.
Sea to Summit Big River Dry Bag
$39.95 | seatosummit.com
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SEA TO SUMMIT AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY REI
Dry space is premium, so a dry bag is the best way to protect sensitive gear. I carry Sea to Summit’s Big River Dry Bag stuffed with first aid kit, personal locator beacon, headlamp, phone charger, extra sunglasses, repair tape and other essentials. The Big River Dry Bag is built for professional expeditions with heavy nylon, coated with water repellent and triple layered on the bottom for abrasion resistance. I secure the bag to my kayak with the D-rings and Molle straps and carry the bag with the optional shoulder strap ($9.95).
Toadfish Braid Scissors
$20 | toadfish.com
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Watching a new angler cut a fishing line with a knife gives me the heebie jeebies. Scissors are more accurate and safer than an open blade. Toadfish’s Braid Scissors’ micro-serrated blades slice through monofilament and fluorocarbon and cut braid without fraying the line. The small finger holes and short blade improve accuracy when I’m cutting the tag end of a knot. The stainless steel blades resist corrosion and retain their edge in saltwater. I like the carabiner integrated into the finger hole so I can hang the scissors on my life vest or tackle crate.
Gerber Magniplier – Salt
$100 | gerbergear.com
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Needle nose pliers have 100 uses on a fishing kayak, but the most important job is removing the hook from a fish. Gerber’s Magniplier works to free a deep hook like a dentist removing an incisor. The jaws are offset from the handle so I can see deep in the fish’s mouth. A finger trigger on the lower arm provides control and power to pull the hook free. The side-cutters have reversible and replaceable carbide blades to cut light wire. To keep the pliers closing tightly, I replace the carbide jaws as they wear out. The plier body is treated with corrosion-resistant coating for years of saltwater fishing.
Yeti 26 oz Rambler
$40 | yeti.com
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YETI AMAZON BASS PRO SHOPS REI
Doctors recommend adults drink almost a gallon of water per day. Yeti’s Rambler series water bottles keep drinks clean and cold. The double-wall vacuum seal locks in hot or cold and the food-grade stainless steel bottle is easy to clean and prevents rust or puncture. The screw-on lid is 100-percent leakproof with a drinking spout that prevents spills. For faster drinks, replace the screw-on cap with a straw cap.
Add essential gadgets to the shopping cart. | Feature photo: Gabes Photos/Pexels
