This holiday season, if you’ve been real nice, Santa will bring you one of Kayak Angler’s best holiday gifts for kayak anglers under $200. Better yet, be real nice to yourself with a present from our list of gear and clothing that make kayak fishing safer and more fun.
Garmin
Striker Vivid 4cv
$179.99 | garmin.com
Garmin is now offering one of its most powerful features on a four-inch fish finder. The Vivid 4cv includes Garmin’s Vivid color palette, allowing anglers to choose the best color combination for any fishing conditions. Now you can adjust the screen for seven different color combinations from bright sun, overcast skies and night fishing. Or choose the color combination that matches your preferences and fishing. The Vivid 4cv offers two sonar modes: traditional CHIRP and Clear View. Traditional Chirp sonar is best for picking up fish and bait marks while Clear View sonar presents the most accurate image of structure below the boat. Use the high-sensitivity GPS in conjunction with the sonar to create custom maps of depth contours and mark waypoints for important landmarks and fishing locations.
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AMAZON BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S CANADIAN TIRE SCHEELS WALMART
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Bending Branches
Angler Classic Versa-Lok
$194.95 | bendingbranches.com
The easiest way to get more performance out of your fishing kayak is with a great paddle. For 2023, Bending Branches updated the Angler Classic to squeeze every ounce of speed and maneuverability out of a full-size fishing kayak. Available in shaft lengths up to 275 cm and a larger, smoother and more powerful blade are designed to push a heavy kayak efficiently and effectively. Quality touches like the comfortable ovalized shaft and lightweight and strong carbon ferrule insert are bonuses in a paddle under $200. The cherry on top is the Versa-Lok ferrule that offers smooth length and feather adjustment and locks into position.
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AMAZON AQ OUTDOORS
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YakAttack
BlackPak Pro
$150 | yakattack.us
In the early years of modern kayak fishing, to increase gear and tackle storage, anglers rigged milk crates with rod holders and strapped the contraptions to their kayaks. Then YakAttack released the first BlackPak kayak fishing crate, a storage solution that doesn’t require sneaking behind a convenience store in the middle of the night. Now, YakAttack has updated the BlackPak Pro with state-of-the-art features. Starting with the hinged lid and latches that are easy to open with one hand. YakAttack cut the weight and increased strength by using ribbed panels that fit together with tongue and groove joints and stainless bolts. Four TetherTube rod holders with rod leases are included in the package and you can add up to eight more rod holders. For a lifetime of abuse in the back of a kayak, YakAttack uses the best-quality UV-resistant injection molded plastic. From the features to the construction, YakAttack’s BlackPak Pro is the kayak storage solution for the future.
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AMAZON AQ OUTDOORS SCHEELS WALMART
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Deeper
Smart Sonar Pro+
$199.99 | deepersonar.com
Rigging a kayak with a fish finder can be complicated, but Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+ makes it easy. The unique fish finder uses a tennis-ball-sized transducer to wirelessly transmit the sonar signal to a smartphone application. Just because Deeper doesn’t have wires doesn’t mean the fish finder sacrifices features. The Deeper Smart Sonar Pro+ includes GPS mapping, adjustable color fish finder, and temperature. Attach the Sonar to your kayak with an adjustable arm or tie the Deeper Sonar Pro+ to your fishing line and cast it out and record the bottom contours and mark fish as you reel the transducer back to the kayak. Deeper Sonar Pro+ fishing log allows you to record trip data and photos for future reference.
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AMAZON WALMART
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Shimano
Miravel Spinning Reel
$129 | fish.shimano.com
With the popularity of finesse fishing, spinning reels are back in vogue. For the folks at Shimano, the spinning reels never went out of style. Famous for the best spinning reels on the water, Shimano’s top-of-the-line technology trickles down to the Miravel Spinning Reel. Features such as a carbon-infused body cuts weight for fishing all day. Shimano’s best carbon-fiber drag keeps the power consistent during the fish fight. And high-tech corrosion resistance and water proofing keep the reel running in saltwater or fresh. For finesse fishing, smooth and silent gears ensure the only bump you feel is the bite of a fish.
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AMAZON BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S SCHEELS WALMART
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Basin Boat Lighting
paddleBird earlyBird NAV with Bird-in-Hand
$208 | basinboatlighting.com
If you fish an area with heavy boat traffic, a horn is the best way to get boater’s attention. Anglers fishing after dark need a white light and motor-kayakers are required to display green and red navigation lights. From Basin Boat Lighting, paddleBird offers the whole package in its fully loaded earlyBird NAV with Bird in Hand. The package combines a 6000 lumens spotlight with a two-nautical-mile red and green nav light and the 105-decible loudBird horn. Control the earlyBird with a key fob or the paddleBird app. Mount the device to any ball mount base or use a seven or 13-inch pole mount. The earlyBird comes in four colors to match the kayak. You can even use the earlyBird to charge your phone. And, the Bird-in-Hand system allows you to use any lithium ion power-tool battery to run the earlyBird.
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AMAZON
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Kokatat
Leviathan
$179 | kokatat.com
The Kokatat Leviathan is a classic for two reasons: storage space and comfort. With 14 pockets, there is always a perfect place to stash a smartphone, dive knife, personal locator beacon, whistle and other small gear. The outside of the life vest is durable rip-stop material and the inside is covered in soft fabric that is as comfortable as a T-shirt. In between the shell and the lining is environmentally friendly PVC and CFC-free, recyclable GAIA foam. Our editor’s favorite feature is the fleece-lined handwarmer pockets that make Kokatat’s Leviathan a go-to winter life vest.
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AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY REI
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NRS
Chinook
$159.95 | nrs.com
For a lighter and more low-profile option, the NRS Chinook has two large pockets, two small pockets and a tool pocket offer just enough storage for essential items. Soft and malleable foam along with six adjustment points allows the vest to fit snugly without being tight. This simple vest with high-quality construction and components has become the best-selling kayak fishing lifejacket.
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AMAZON AQ OUTDOORS BACKCOUNTRY BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S MEC REI SCHEELS WALMART
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Costa Del Mar
Cat Cay
$171 | costadelmar.com
Costa del Mar makes the most technically advanced sunglasses on the water, and several of their best models are available for less than $200. The Cat Cay frames with 580 polycarbonate lenses are a perfect choice for anglers searching for fish in strong sun. Costa’s 580 lenses are famous for blocking out harsh yellow light and enhancing colors in low light. The polycarbonate lenses are light and scratch resistant for years of all-day use. Large, vented frames block the sun while letting out moisture and heat escape. With the best fishing sunglasses your eyes stay safe and you’ll catch more fish.
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AMAZON BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S SCHEELS WALMART
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Dryrobe
Advanced Long Sleeve
$195 | us.dryrobe.com
When you return to the launch and need to change into dry clothes before the drive home, you’ll be happy to see the Dryrobe Advanced in your gear bag. Simply throw on the oversized poncho and strip off your wet clothes and pull on dry pants. If it’s raining at the take-out, the Advanced has a waterproof and windproof outer shell to keep dry clothes dry. Inside the Advanced, a recycled polyester faux lamb wool liner keeps you a cozy kind of warm, and sometimes you’ll decide to drive home in nothing but the Dryrobe.
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Free Fly
Gridback Fleece
$165 | freeflyapparel.com
At home on the water and on the street. Free Fly’s Gridback Fleece is a technical jacket that looks good in the office or in the kayak. The bonded and stretchweave shell doesn’t have the fuzzy pilled look of a classic fleece. Inside the jacket, shaggy, high-pile fleece traps heat to make the lightweight Gridback surprisingly warm. The wind and water-resistant shell allows you to wear the Gridback in any weather and the fleece is thin and light enough to layer under heavy raingear.
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Simms
Flyweight Plier
$179 | simmsfishing.com
A pair of high-quality pliers is the most important tool on your kayak. After running through several sets of cheap tools, you’ll understand the need to invest in a pair of premium pliers. Simms Flyweight Plier will be the last set of pliers you will ever buy. The anodized aluminum body and replaceable stainless steel jaws are corrosion-resistant and super light. To accommodate a variety of hand sizes and positions, the pliers have unique offset jaws and asymmetrical handles. The donut hole in the pivot point increases clamping power and provides a place to put your pointer finger to get an extra strong grip on the pliers. To complement the Flyweight plier, Simms designed a clip-on holster and tether you can attach to your lifevest.
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BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S SCHEELS
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Astral
Brewer 2.0
$125 | astraldesigns.com
When you absolutely, positively, need grip you can trust, accept no substitute. Astral’s G Rubber is some of the stickiest you’ll find on the sole of a watershoe. Combined with sipping and their diamond tread pattern to further enhance grip on wet surfaces along the banks and under the water. The Astral Brewers provide an unrivaled confidence in foot work. For us fishing bums, the sneaker style made of hydrophobic canvas is quick drying, comfortable, and also looks as good off the water as it performs on the water. So you won’t have to change out of them after you get off the flats. A roomy fit also means the cold water crowd has space to wear over drysuit or neoprene socks.
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AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY BASS PRO SHOP CABELA’S REI
Mustang Survival
Ventus Hooded Windshell
$179 | mustangsurvival.com
Even in the warmest months, getting an early start means toughing out the bite of the morning chill. And in the shoulder season, when the water and sun are still pleasant, a breeze kicking up brings a different tune. In these trying times, elaborate technical wear is overkill, which is why the Ventus shell from Mustang Survival is perfect. The nine ounce jacket is lightweight but cuts the wind. The ripstop nylon is also coated with a PFC-free DWR should you need to repel an unexpected shower. The Ventus also has two pockets at chest level, thoughtfully placed for accessibility when you’re wearing a PFD. The Ventus also packs away, so when the sun finally breaks on your before work dawn patrol you can go ahead and shed a layer.
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Toadfish
Stowaway Travel Rod
$198 | toadfish.com
The Stowaway Rod from Toadfish is a unique take on a three piece. Enclosed in its aluminum tube, the Stowaway includes two mid-sections and two tips of various action. Mix and matching allows you to have four different rod configurations from one. The makes the Stowaway perfect for tucking behind the driver’s seat for an unexpected fishing break, or packing for a roadtrip when arsenal size is limited. The versatile packaway setup also combines great for modular anglers who do their fishing from an inflatable paddleboard. Plus, when you buy a rod from Toadfish a portion of the sales go directly to rebuilding oyster beds to improve our coastal fishery.
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Feature photo: Midjourney
