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Rigging Kayaks for Crappie Fishing by Brad Wiegmann
Everyone knows you can rig a boat, but how about a kayak? Not having a platform in the back deck or front deck seems like it would limit rigging configurations. Nevertheless, transforming your kayak for crappie fishing isn’t as hard as you think.
Typically, a crappie angler fishing from a kayak is not one poling using live imaging sonar aka LiveScope. They are using multiple poles and may or may not have marine electronics in their kayak. A kayak can be rigged up to spider troll, long line trolling or anchored.
The style of kayak will also dictate how a kayak is rigged up. Kayaks are moved by being paddled, pedaled or with use of an electric trolling motor. A kayak that is being paddled requires space for the paddler and paddle to move the kayak physically by stroking it forward; unlike the pedal kayak that uses a internal drive under the hull of the kayak to move forward allowing for rod holders to be located almost anywhere. Of course a kayak using an electric trolling motor just requires enough space to raise and lower the trolling motor without having rod holders in the way.
Rod holders are designed to secure your rods where you need them and within easy reach. The less you have to reach and stretch; the less fatigued you will be at the end of the day. Plus a rod holder should hold your fishing rod in the upright position making it easy to remove and set the hook or reel in a fish.
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“There’s not a whole lot of room when rigging a kayak. You can rig single or tandem kayaks for crappie fishing,” David Baynard from White River Tools/ Driftmaster continued, “What you want to do is get your fishing equipment in front of you in a kayak and still leave room to paddle. So, we make a bar that stretches across the cockpit and mounts to a base. This base has a v-shape and will mount to a curve or a flat surface than screws down with two screws and in the middle is a threaded hole where the stem of the trolling rack is attached. The stem on a kayak rack doesn’t need to be very tall; I’m using a 4-inch stem. From there I mount an offset plate to the trolling bar.”
Baynard likes using an offset plate to attach to the trolling bar since it can be moved forward or back to allow the angler to have more room. A trolling bar is strong enough to hold an angler up when getting in or out of the kayak and will hold rod holders in place. The trolling bar also allows for the rod holders to be adjusted up or down or to the left or right side for more room to paddle if necessary.
In addition to rod holders being attached to a trolling bar an angler can also mount a sonar unit to it. Baynard has his transducer for is sonar unit attached to the trolling bar with another bar that is rigged up to swing down when fishing or up when paddling or going through shallow water. He also added a support to hold the bar and transducer in place so it wouldn’t fall down as the kayak moves; in addition to holding it out of the water when beaching the kayak.
One of the biggest issues even in a full size boat is where to store multiple and often long crappie rods when not fishing or moving from one fishing location to another in a kayak. “The best option is to install a Driftmaster Tip Saver on the kayak,” Baynard continued, “You install the Rod Butt section where you can reach it easily with a short stem and a Driftmaster Rod Tip section with a longer stem near the back stern of the kayak. By having the rods butts tilted downward it will keep them out of the way while paddling or fishing and still easy to reach. Having our rod rack will keep them from getting tangled and from breaking rod tips.”
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“The number one lure for catching crappie during the summer months out a kayak would be a PICO Lures INT Deep Diving crankbait or a shallow diving crankbait if you are on a shallow reservoir,” Mitch Glenn the owner of PICO Lures continued, “As for what color pattern to fish depends on the time of day, water clarity and forage, however, shad patterns are always good.” As for what speed Glenn recommends somewhere in the 1.6mph range which is a comfortable pace.
Rigging a kayak for crappie fishing with rod holders, sonar unit and rod racks is not as expensive as you think. Since a kayak has limited storage an angler will need fewer rods and lures. It allows anglers to get in an area where boats with engines can’t reach.
