After kicking the tires on new kayaks and kayak motors, the Kayak Angler crew set out on the ICAST show floor to find the newest tackle, gear and accessories to rig the latest generation of fishing kayaks.
Simms Drifter and Drifter AT shoes
EVA foam shoes built for the most demanding conditions
Injection-molded EVA foam shoes (think Crocs) are light, simple and shock-absorbing, but they don’t have great traction or security. Building off the idea, Simms Drifter and Drifter AT take EVA shoes to the beach, river and launch ramp. To secure the Drifter, a wrap-around web strap cinches the shoe to my foot. For on-the-deck traction, the Drifter has a gum rubber outsole with sticky tread. The Drifter AT adds a lugged rubber sole for wading traction and a removable neoprene sock to improve comfort and protect my feet from abrasive sand and gravel. In cold water, I remove the neoprene bootie and wear the Drifter AT with waders or a dry suit.
Columbia PFG Snug Corner 35L backpack
Transport and store gear in a waterproof and breathable roll-top backpack
I use my fishing backpack for carry-on luggage and weekend trips, and I also grab the backpack for hike-in, kayak and boat fishing. The Columbia’s PFG Snug Corner 35L Backpack has all the appointments I look for in a great fishing backpack including tool pockets and straps for a rod case. The roll-top closure keeps out water better than zippers or magnetic closures. The coolest thing about the Snug Corner is Columbia’s OutDry fabric shared with their high-end raingear. The company’s premium breathable, waterproof material with taped seams is completely waterproof and still breathable to release heat and moisture. Best of all, OutDry is inherently waterproof, so I don’t have to wash or treat the fabric to maintain waterproof performance. The breathable fabric keeps the backpack’s contents from getting funky and stale, and it looks great matching with OutDry raingear.
Yeti LoadOut Go Box gear case
More sizes and shapes for our favorite gear cases and a unique insert to protect fragile gear
One of my favorite products from Yeti isn’t a cooler. The LoadOut GoBox is a gear case built with the same durability, innovation and versatility as Yeti’s famous coolers. The LoadOut is so popular, Yeti is adding more sizes from 5 liters to over 70 liters. In addition to being virtually indestructible and dirt and water resistant, the boxes have easy-to-use handles and unique latches that open and close with almost no effort. To customize the boxes, Yeti offers a variety of dividers and inserts to organize gear. To secure expensive electronics and reels, Yeti developed a customizable padding called Kore Protective Inserts. Picture a bean bag with an air valve. Place gear in the box with a Kore insert below and on top. Then, use the provided pump to suck out air and turn the malleable bag into rigid padding. To reshape the Kore insert, turn the valve and air reenters the bag. I use the LoadOut GoBox to organize and protect my gear at home, in my truck and on the kayak. With the Kore Protective Inserts, I use my LoadOut for cameras, electronics and other expensive gear.
Smith Riptide XL
Popular performance sunglass frame now available in a larger size
One of Smith’s most popular frames is bigger and better. The popular Riptide frame is now available in a larger XL size for big faces. The Riptide features large lenses and narrow arms for full coverage without the wrap-around frame’s bulk and weight. To further increase comfort and security, the Riptide XL has self-adjusting spring hinges and rubber padding at the nose and temples. The star of the show is Smith’s ChromaPop Polarized Glass lenses offering clarity, glare reduction and tinting preferred by professional anglers.
Okuma Helios XT
High-performance baitcasting reel at a great price
There’s a new premium baitcasting reel without the premium price tag. Okuma’s new Helios XT baitcasting reel is built on a lightweight and stiff aluminum frame for maximum hook-setting and fish-fighting power. To turn up the power, the Helios XT uses a stainless steel and carbonite drag system that reduces heat and friction for smooth spool control. My favorite feature is the audible drag clicker that helps monitor when and how hard a fish takes line. The drag clicker is especially useful when fishing small lures and light line, allowing me to monitor the drag so I can apply more pressure when the fish hesitates.
Yak Power ARGB
LED light system and customizable smartphone app
Yak Power continues to stay ahead of the competition with innovative lighting and control systems to tie electronics, lights and accessories together. The big news this year is the ARGB light system. The A stands for addressable, which means I can customize the color, power and pattern of my strip lights and button lights. The system starts with an eight-channel controller to run navigation, anchor and deck lights along with other electrical accessories. Using the YakPower mobile application, I program the colors, pattern and lighting power of the red, white, blue and green LED lights. The SOS program flashes the white light and the Navigation program turns the lights red and green. Most importantly, I dim the lights to match the lighting conditions so they affect my night vision. One of my favorite features is the app allows me to name my switches so I quickly control my lights without fumbling with the buttons until hitting the right one. By using the pre-programmed “Scenes” I hit one button on the app to turn on lights for night fishing, running, daytime visibility and other combinations.
YakAttack TracVault gear storage
Secure and protect gear in the worst conditions
One of YakAttack’s most popular kayak accessories has been their TracPak Stackable Storage Cases for adding more storage space to gear tracks and BlackPak gear crates. For next year, YakAttack is adding the TracVault storage cases. Similar to the TracPak, the TracVault adds a cam latch and silicone gasket to secure and seal the box. To attach the box to a gear track or crate, I simply twist the box on the mounting base. The new gear case is sturdier and more protective, so gear stays safe and dry if I get caught in a rainstorm or flip my kayak, but the contents remain easy to access.
Feature photo: Kayak Angler Staff
