Chad Gierlich from Hookup Baits knows a thing or two about kayak fishing gear. He knows what baits make a fish tick and has his optimal kayak fishing rig entered in the YakOff competition. Gierlich also knows when it comes to your kayak fishing rig, sometimes less is more.
Read on for Gierlich’s unpopular fishing opinions and overrated gear picks:
Q: Where do you call your home waters and what do you find special about them?
Gierlich: My home waters are San Diego, California, and I feel incredibly lucky to fish here. We’ve got it all — coastal saltwater bays, the open ocean, and freshwater lakes. I tournament fish professionally for saltwater bass on the coast, targeting sandbass and calico, and in the bays for spotted bay bass. I also compete in freshwater bass tournaments on the local lakes.
What makes San Diego special is the sheer variety. It’s a paradise for saltwater bass, but the fishery here ranges from big-game ocean fish to crappie, bluegill, and everything in between. The weather is nearly perfect year-round, so you can fish virtually anytime — ocean or freshwater.
I love that variety — one weekend I might catch yellowtail on Friday, bay bass on Saturday, and largemouth bass on Sunday. Having that much diversity right in my backyard is hard to beat. San Diego waters truly are something special.
Q: Do you have a most memorable catch?
Gierlich: I’ve had so many memorable catches over the years, but one that really stands out is a 20 lb bull trout I caught recently on the Columbia River. I was using light trout gear — just eight lb line — and the fish nearly spooled me. In the middle of the battle, I made a quick decision that turned things around, and somehow, I managed to land it. It was an incredible fight and a huge reward, all on a 1/4 oz Ice Hookup Bait.
Q: Is there one piece of gear you think is make or break?
Gierlich: Without a doubt — the Hookup Baits jig. That’s the one piece of gear I never leave home without. For the last ten years, it’s been the only thing I’ve had tied on, no matter where I’m fishing or what I’m targeting. It’s incredibly versatile — works just as well in freshwater as it does in saltwater — and it’s proven itself time and time again.
I designed this bait myself, so I know exactly what it can do. I have complete confidence in it because it’s caught fish in every condition and on every trip. When you trust your gear that much, it changes the way you fish.
Q: What piece of gear do you think is overrated?
Gierlich: Honestly, taking a ton of gear on your kayak — piles of rods and boxes full of baits — is way overrated. Most of the time, you end up using only a couple of things anyway, and all that extra gear just gets in the way, especially when you’re trying to land that personal best fish in a tight space.
I’ve learned that confidence in your setup beats quantity every time. Know your rods, trust your bait, and focus on what you’re good with. For me, that is simple, a dialed-in approach has always been the winning combination.
Q: What is your unpopular kayak fishing opinion?
Gierlich: My unpopular opinion? Kayak fishing doesn’t have to be complicated. A lot of anglers think you need a ton of gear, dozens of rods, or every bait imaginable. In my experience, that just slows you down.
I’ve found that keeping it simple — trusting your favorite rod, your go-to bait, and your own skills — is far more effective. Focus on fishing, not managing gear, and the results speak for themselves.
