Rain is a bummer for some, but it can also be a great time to go fishing—as long as you come prepared. The fish may be biting while the raindrops fall, but you’re likely to end up cold and damp without the proper protection. From wet weather fishing apparel to waterproof storage, we have all the essential rain gear to make those wet days among your best in a kayak.

VIEW ALL KAYAK FISHING APPAREL

RAIN GEAR ON AMAZON

Essential Rain Gear for Kayak Fishing

Kokatat Jetty JacketKokatat

Jetty Jacket

$170 | kokatat.com

This rain jacket from Kokatat is light and packable, so it goes with me everywhere. The Hydrus 2.5 fabric is certified waterproof and breathable—perfect for hot summer afternoons when thunderstorms are in the forecast. The Jetty jacket has a removable hood, so it works as a splash top, too.

View all Kokatat apparel.

BUY ON AMAZON

Kokatat Stance Hydrus 2.5 waterproof pantKokatat

Stance Hydrus 2.5 Pants

$140 | kokatat.com

Slipping into the Kokatat Stance pant is like wearing your favorite chinos. Convenient pockets on the right thigh and left arm are sized to hold a smartphone in a dry case. Neoprene at the cuffs keeps out water without cutting off circulation.

BUY ON AMAZON

[ See also: 6 Pros On What To Wear During Shoulder Season Fishing ]

Yeti Panga 28 waterproof backpackYeti

Panga Backpack 28

$299 | yeti.com

Who needs a waterproof, rip-proof backpack that floats? Kayak anglers, of course. Yeti’s Panga 28 Backpack goes from the truck to the kayak, cutting time off my launch and keeping my gear safe and dry. The Panga 28 is built with Thickskin Shell, a rubberized, rip-proof, waterproof material. The Hydrolock zipper with ULock is guaranteed dry and airtight. Molded, ergonomic shoulder straps and a removable chest and waist strap are worthy of serious day-tripping. We loaded the Panga 28 with a day’s worth of water, snacks and gear then threw it in the ocean. It floats, too.

BUY ON AMAZON

Costa del Mar Sunrise Silver Mirror 580G sunglassesCosta del Mar

Sunrise Silver Mirror 580G Sunglasses

$259 | costadelmar.com

Sunglasses in the rain? Costa del Mar’s Sunrise Silver Mirror lens is specially designed for low-light conditions and improved contrast by allowing 30 percent light transmission. The lenses still cut 100 percent of damaging UV and HEV light to protect your eyes. Now available in top-of-the-line 580G, Costa’s glass lenses are crystal clear and scratch-resistant while being lighter and thinner than the competition. To further improve wet performance, water beads and rolls off the hydrophobic lenses. Perfect for sunshine or rain.

BUY ON AMAZON

[ Read more: Best Costa Sunglasses And Lenses For Kayak Fishing ]

Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Storm HatSunday Afternoons

Ultra Adventure Storm Hat

$54 | sundayafternoons.com

Sunday Afternoons calls their award-winning Ultra Adventure Storm hat, “the best rain hat in the world.” Fully seam-sealed and waterproof, the hat’s wide brim and long neck cape act like a wearable umbrella. The cap fabric is super light and lined with breathable mesh material to stay cool and dry underneath. A cinch strap in the back keeps the hat secure and a UPF 50 rating protects when the sun comes out.

BUY ON AMAZON

Mustang Survival Traction Open Finger GloveMustang Survival

Traction UV Glove

$34 | mustangsurvival.com

Wet and wild is fine for fun and games, but fishing and paddling require solid grip in any conditions. Mustang Survival poured their experience in tactical gloves into a light, UPF 50 fingerless mitt. The cuff and thumb are extended for protection against abrasion. AX Suede patches on the fingers and palm improve wet grip without adding weight or bulk.

Watch Kayak Angler Magazine’s video review of Mustang Survival Traction UV Glove specs and features. View all Mustang Survival apparel.

LEARN MORE BUY ON AMAZON

Columbia Terminal Deflector Long Sleeve topColumbia

Terminal Deflector Long Sleeve

$50 | columbia.com

Staying dry on the inside requires a layer system to keep rain off and move body heat out. Columbia’s Omni Wick technology transfers body moisture to the outer layer of the fabric where it can evaporate through a breathable rain jacket. When the sun comes out, Omni-Shade Sun Deflector uses tiny titanium dots on the outside of the shirt to reflect light and heat. Why bother keeping precipitation out if it’s raining on the inside?

BUY ON AMAZON

Soft Science Fin H2O water shoesSoft Science

Fin H2O

$89 | softscience.com

Ten minutes after Soft Science Fin H2O shoes arrived at the Kayak Angler office, the rain started. Soft Science took water shoes to the next level with their proprietary Trileon closed-cell copolymer that is lighter and more impact resistant than traditional foam shoes. The Fin H2O adds a stain-resistant microfiber upper to shed mud. Drain holes in the soles channel the water out of the foot bed for a dry ride.

BUY ON AMAZON

NRS Chinook fishing PFDNRS

Chinook Fishing PFD

$139 | nrs.com

One of the most popular fishing PFDs, the Chinook from NRS earned its stripes in all weather. The low-profile vest is packed with five pockets, knife, strobe, rod holder and tool attachments. Beauty is more than skin deep. The Chinook is covered with 400 denier ripstop nylon, the toughest, lightest and most stain-resistant fabric. Inside, PlusFit foam weighs less than two pounds and forms to fit the wearer. Cinch it down with six adjustment points, the shoulder straps tuck into holders to stay out of the way. When the forecast calls for rain, I grab the Chinook.

Watch Kayak Angler Magazine’s video review of NRS Chinook specs and features. View all NRS fishing PFDs.

LEARN MORE BUY ON AMAZON

[ See also: Best Life Jackets For Kayak Fishing In 2022 ]

angler preparing his fishing kayak with rain proof gear
When it rains, this kayak fishing gear shines. | Feature photo: Natasha Burnley

This article was first published in the Spring 2019 issue of Kayak Angler Magazine. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.

When it rains, this kayak fishing gear shines. | Feature photo: Natasha Burnley

 

Previous articleFlorida’s Wacissa River Offers Epic Kayak Bass Fishing
Next articleTips And Tactics Fly Fishing For Muskie
Ric Burnley
Kayak Angler editor Ric Burnley has been kayak fishing since the dawn of the sport. In 2007, Burnley wrote The Complete Kayak Fisherman, with chapters on how-to make a PVC rod holder and glue a fish finder transducer to the hull. In 2013, he landed his dream job as editor of Kayak Angler magazine. Burnley is a regular contributor to Salt Water Sportsman, Sport Fishing, Outdoor Life, In the Bite and other print and online publications. Burnley lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, adult daughter, daughter’s boyfriend and daughter’s two cats. Experience In 2004, Ric Burnley stole his first milk crate from behind a 7-Eleven and fashioned it into a gear crate for his Ocean Kayak Prowler 15. Many years and many milk crates later, Burnley has witnessed the rise of kayak fishing from a bastardized fringe element to a legitimate industry with millions of devotees. The journey to becoming an angler started early in Burnley’s life. His father, Eric Burnley, is a renowned outdoor writer and former fishing guide, so the boy grew up in the cockpit of a charter boat and in the pages of national magazines. After college, Burnley lost easy access to his father’s boat, but not his passion for fishing. Once he had exhausted the limits of land-based angling, Burnley decided to try out a new thing called kayak fishing. About the same time, Burnley was looking for extra work to pay for his expensive addiction. His father, editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman Magazine, offered him freelance assignments for the weekly publication. That led to a position as regional editor at Salt Water Sportsman, publication of The Complete Kayak Fisherman and editorship of Kayak Angler. Meanwhile, Burnley and his partner-in-crime, “Kayak Kevin” Whitley were exploring the boundaries of kayak fishing. With the bountiful Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean as their playground, the two anglers were the first to target big red drum, cobia, trophy striped bass, monster black drum, sheepshead and many other species. Once inshore species were exhausted, Burnley loaded his kayak onto motorboats and fished for bluefin tuna, blackfin tuna, king mackerel and amberjack. All the while, Burnley shared his experiences and knowledge with anglers through print, photos, video, radio, seminars and online. Almost 20 years later, Burnley continues to fish obsessively and share the stories. His recent projects for Kayak Angler cover the latest trends in forward-facing sonar and remote-controlled electric motors. Over the past two decades, kayak fishing and Ric Burnley have come a long way from PVC rod holders and stolen milkcrates. Education ● Radford University: BA English; Virginia Teacher’s License. Highlights ● Other Interests: Mountain biking, traveling, hiking, surfing and skateboarding ● Day Job: High School English teacher at an alternative school for at-risk students Fun Fact Ric’s name is a contraction of Eric. Ric is named after his father, Eric Sr. To differentiate between the two Erics, Mrs. Burnley removed her son’s E. To this day, she writes the boy’s name ‘Ric, with an apostrophe replacing the E.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

1 COMMENT

  1. I`m all about keeping comfy while riding the storm out, but $1,100 worth? I can think of alot of ways to stay dry and warm for alot less than $1,100.

Leave a Reply