That special combo

[taggermike]

I have found the rods/reels for most of our local salt water fishing work well enough on a kayak. You need a rod long enough to go around the bow of your yak, but most 61/2 footers will do that. I wish I could afford some new, more modern gear but my old stuff just keeps killing fish and I can't rationalize replacing it. One thing I have noticed is that I used to prefer stiffer rods like the Cal Star graphiters, I still like mine, but last year I started using a more flexible rod and I actually like it more. The softer rod brough the bend and center of gravity closer to me and the kayak. It just felt more forgiving and still put plenty of preasure on the fish.

Yo-yo just needs a stout 7' rode that can handle 40lb line. I like fiberglass rods for all my jig sticks. I use an old school Penn YT special with accurate frame and handle. It's a tank. My other yo-yo reel is a Newell 533. If I went for some thing new I'd check out the Shimano Trini's or toriums. More bargain would be Daiwa Sealine 40. 4:1 gears and up are usually preferred.

Trolling is pretty simple on the yak in the summer. 6-7 foot rods for 20-40 lb line. I go with all graphite on bait sticks. Lots of guys have gone to spectra and short fluoro leaders so smaller reels work fine. The new small avet lever drags are nice but an old Penn 500 works fine at a fraction of the cost. I have 3 main outfits for summer slow trolling; 20, 25, and 30 lb. I usualy leave the 20 at home though. My go-to's are a ancient blue and black Daiwa SL30 on a home wrapped Calstar GF 700L for 25lb and a ProGear Pacifica 3000 on a Pacifica grafite rod for 30lb. One thing I have noticed is since we usually slow troll mackeral a stiffer, or adustable, clicker is handy to keep the greenies from buzzing and chirping your clicker all day. I love my GP but the clicker is pretty soft.

Surface iron is a wide open ball game. Some guys like 7 footers for the yak but i go old school, shocking i know. I have a Calstar 90J and a way old Newell 338. It's a bit unweildly in the yak but I make it work. If I started for scratch I might have gotten an 8 footer just to make getting it in the hatch for a rough beach launch practicle. I also have a Seeker Ulua 93H that I love but none of the rod holders on my yak will fit it.

OK I rambled. 2 things I have noticed about yak fishing gear is, the stuff is going to get wet and often thrashed. Unless you can easily aford the best just get a bit over good enough. Then you won't be heart broken, and broke, if some thing falls to the bottom. Take care of your stuff as best you can when you get home because even proven veterans like Newells and Daiwa sealines like a rinsing. Mike