If you’re a kayak angler, chances are you’ve made the mistake of overloading your boat with tackle. Huge storage bags and piles of plastic cases—I’ve done it, too. The desire to have everything at your fingertips makes perfect sense, but when you’re fishing on a kayak that can cause confusion and impact your angling success. Instead, try these tips to organize your tackle boxes and avoid on-the-water confusion.
The Perils of Disorganized Fishing
We’ve all been there—out of the corner of your eye you notice a disturbance on top of the water. Your pulse begins to race at the thought of explosive kayak bassin’, but you can’t seem to find the topwater baits.
It may only take a few moments, but after digging through your floating tackle shop the commotion on the water’s surface is gone. As the topwater bait makes its way back to your kayak without any strikes you can’t help but wonder what you might have landed with a quicker reaction.
This scenario plays out over and over again, from avid anglers with fancy bass boats to hobbyists casting from shore. Bringing too much gear ends up affecting our readiness to deal with situations as they arise.
3 Tips to Organize Your Tackle Boxes
On the other hand, being organized on the water can help to eliminate tackle that’s just taking up space. Simplifying your tackle and breaking down the water column can help you find the right lures faster and get hooked up more often.
1 Divide Your Tackle by Type
Keep separate, labeled tackle boxes for topwater, middle and bottom parts of the water column. Grouping together lures that have the same function and purpose will make them easier to select in a hurry.
2 Pack a Panic Box
Many B.A.S.S touring pros have simplified tackle boxes—called “panic boxes”—with a few key lures to help eliminate water and break down the water column.
3 Store Hooks and Soft Plastics Separately
Use another tackle box just for hooks and weights, and keep a plastic binder to hold your worms and other soft plastics. With this setup, you’ll be on your way to more organized angling.
Whether you fish kayak tournaments or just recreationally, being organized is a key for success. Anglers must be ready to adapt to ever-changing conditions, so it’s important to limit as many human factors as possible. You will be a more productive angler if you simplify your kayak angling setup.
