A request for Ditch Basser

Hi Ditch. Can you show us some pictures of your kayak set up ? Would love to see how you set up the rod holders and the rest of your equipment. Thanks for sharing all the info of your trips.

I'll take some photo's later this week (if it ever stops raining).

Here's my kayak when I'm working single pole or casting. 12 foot Old Town Dirigo sit inside that I bought cheap, used.

Attachment 200229

I added the fish finder, Humminbird Piranhamax 143 attached to a Humminbird Portable Case Conversion Kit. I drilled holes and permanently attached it to my kayak with heavy duty plastic wire ties. This allows me to power my fish finder for about 48 hours of use with 8 AA batteries.

Attachment 200230

I have 6 flush mount Scotty rod holders. Basically I can remove them to have nothing in the way when paddling, single pole work on laydowns and casting. When I'm spider rigging I remove them from my storage hatch and can run 6 poles in rod holders.

Attachment 200231

If a had it all to do over, I'd work with callshy to create a custom set up Home

I almost forgot, I have a handheld GPS. I mark stumps, brush, etc that I find, especially during winter draw down. It's also handy then you stumble onto someone's stakebed or bamboo so you can find it again.

Attachment 200232

You have proven that yak to be a fish catching machine. Looks good Ditch.

Fish Finder, GPS, rod holders and a comfortable seat. It's basically a little back water bass boat.

The best thing is you can put it in the water anywhere, paddle across three inches water to get to the deep hole on the other size, spider rigging in 12 inches of water without spooking the fish.

No maintenance, registration, insurance, operators license, fuel cost, battery to charge, storage cost or garage space used.

I fish out of a 116 pelican at times. It tends to be a little cramped. I am thinking very hard about one of the bigger sit on top fishing kayaks. I have caught allot of fish out of the old Pelican, ran limb lines, been out 7 miles in the Gulf. Kayaks are very versitle

Thanks for the pics Ditch. I would still love to bring my kayak up sometime this summer and get some tips from you on spider rigging skinny water.

I usually push an invite several times during the summer for Lilly Pond. Lots of shallow water for people to work and do worries about the big boats showing up.

Thanks Ditch for the pictures and the info. It makes it a lot easier to see the actual set up. Look forward to your reports and pics.

How much trouble /or not, is it to deploy the complete rig and how do you store your rods if your single poling?

riverboss,

If you ask the guys that fish with me, couple minutes the rod holders are in place and I'm fishing. I simple stack the rods with the butts in my lap when paddling to my location or if I start single pole work. A typical day I start with 6 poles at daylight, then transition to single pole once the wind gets up.

Attachment 200420

Nice info..... Wish my big A!! Could get in one

BAMA S, My other kayak is a Native Ultimate 12. It weights 49lbs, has a 350lbs capacity, roomy seat and stable enough to stand in. The 14.5 is 59lbs, but has a 450lbs capacity.

Application


I talked Z-man into buying one. He's in his mid 60's and comfortably fishes from it for half a day or more.

I too had a used (cheap) sit in, and would fish with Ditch several time....and after 4 hours max my back was killing me. Ditch had told me about the Native Ultimate and I kind of thought to myself - "yeah, yeah, sure it is" When I retired I thought I'd use my big boat (16 ft aluminum w/ 75 Merc.) a lot more - but it was just too much of a hassle to hook it up, tow it, launch it etc....so I sold it and pocketed around $5K. Then Ditch bought a used Native Ultimate and let me fish out of it twice, no rigging or fish finder but MAN is it comfortable. I found out that Native had upgraded the Ultimate with a few new features and bought one mail order out of Houston, TX for around $1200 - ..I LOVE IT. It IS heavy and I'm still tinkering with my cart - but I can fish for 6 hours straight and NO issues with my back etc. Native claims you can stand up in it and you'll see a lot of videos showing that ...I've done it but it's a bit wobbly for me. The seat is very much like a lawn chair - up and above the bottom of the yak and very comfortable. LOTS of room- paddles easily and now that mine is fitted out with a depth finder and 4 rod holders (no way I could keep up with 6 like Ditch does.....) I'm happy as can be with it. I built a rack for it in a shed behind my house that is the same level as the bed of my pick-up - slides right in and out like a breeze. Last point. Yes, Ditch can launch his yak and have all 6 lines in the water before I can get half of mine ready to fish. He's had a LOT of practice!

DANG it - the price has gone up!

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/...-12-Kayak.html