As the YakOffs II competition reaches its final round, we’re catching up with final round competitors Justin Floyd and Paul Glass to learn in their expert opinions which modifications have been some of the best of the YakOffs.
Q: What is your favorite thing about your competitor’s rig?
Floyd: I think it’s really cool that he’s running a Garmin Force Current on a kayak like the Smallie. That boat is designed for rivers, so seeing that level of maneuverability in current is impressive. I’ve actually taken my XTR130 with a Garmin Force Current on rivers before, and it performs really well. Having that much control and precision in moving water is a game changer.
Glass: I like how clean Justin’s build is. It’s simple and open which is how I like my kayaks.
Q: If there was one modification idea you’d like to steal from any other competitor, which would it be and why?
Floyd: If I had to steal one mod, it would be Romel’s WizardWerx Siri-activated “Air Brake System.” I don’t know that it’s something I’d necessarily need, but it’s the kind of innovation that keeps pushing kayak fishing forward. Romel is always looking for the next best thing, and he continues to amaze me with the ideas and builds he comes up with.
Glass: I loved Romel’s dampeners that help have pinpoint control at lower speeds. That’s always been something I’ve wanted when I have a powerful motor on the back, the ability to get down to like 1-3% power output.
Q: What’s a kayak modification, from this competition or otherwise, that you think is too much for your purposes?
Floyd: Honestly, I don’t really think there’s anything in this competition that’s too much or over the top. On a certain level, that’s the whole point of my kayak…to showcase what these boats are capable of nowadays. I’ve had my fair share of Academy Sports specials over the years, doing whatever I could just to get on the water. So it’s really cool to see how much this little niche community has grown and evolved into what it is today.
Glass: Anything over 1 graph. I like FFS and I like standing on the front deck but I find that more stuff in the boat is just more distracting. Give me a simple rig that gets me to my spot and I’m good to go.
Q: If you could only fish one species the rest of your life, which would it be and why?
Floyd: As weird as this might sound, I’d probably just fish for bass. I’ve kayak fished all over the U.S. and even internationally, catching all kinds of fish…which, don’t get me wrong, is an absolute blast. But what’s really cool about bass fishing is the lure, the challenge, and the drive to keep catching bigger and bigger fish. I currently don’t have a bass over 10 pounds, and in my eyes, that’s a milestone I’d love to keep chasing. And even after crossing that, there’s the endless pursuit of breaking your personal best, which is what keeps it exciting.
Glass: Smallmouth. Pound for pound one of the hardest fighters. I love where they live and the rush of seeing one with more shoulders than any fish should have a right to.
One is a kayak, the other isn’t. Kayak’s are not entitled and at some point we have to stop being all inclusive and just say enough already!