It probably comes as no surprise to hear that the best kayak anglers in the world like to use the best equipment for the job. Not only does it make their time spent on the water more enjoyable and comfortable, but it gives them the best opportunity to successfully catch and release the fish of their dreams. Here is a list of the gear that our pros choose to use. |
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| CLOTHING When it came time to decide what to wear on our various fishing adventures, ExOfficio was the first company that came to mind. Pretty much everyone in our group already used their high performance clothing, and with innovations like built-in UV protection and bug repellent, it was an obvious choice. We couldn’t have been more excited by the fact that ExOfficio was as equally enthusiastic about our project and took on the title sponsor position. www.exofficio.com CLICK HERE for a quick list of some of the clothing we couldn’t have lived without at each location. |
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KAYAKS Choosing kayaks for GAME ON was a no-brainer. Not only has Ocean Kayak played the leading role in the evolution of fishing kayaks, but Jim Sammons has been using Ocean Kayak boats since he started kayak fishing years ago. On top of that, Jim has played an integral role in their design over the past few years and is responsible for many of the features on the new Ocean Kayak Trident series of boats. www.oceankayak.com CLICK HERE for a quick list of the actual boats that were used in each location. |
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PADDLING ACCESSORIES Paddles – As any good paddler will tell you, the paddle becomes an extension of the body, and so kayak fishing with a cheap paddle is like hiking with a badly fitted pair of boots. Sure, you can get away with it for very short trips, but you’ll really appreciate a good quality paddle. We used carbon Carlisle and Lendal paddles (230cm and 240cm in length) in all locations to ensure that we could cover the most ground, as comfortably and as quietly as possible. www.carlislepaddles.com, www.lendal.com. |
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| PFD – We used Extrasport’s kayak fishing specific life jackets which provide a great combination of comfort, mobility, practicality and style. As with any good paddling or fishing PFD, the flotation is kept low and away from the shoulders to maximize mobility. The angling PFDs also have a great strap system to accommodate any body type, and lots of roomy pockets to hold supplies. For more information, visit www.extrasport.com. |  |
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Sunglasses - We all used Maui Jim Sunglasses on this adventure, and let me tell you—a good pair of sunglasses is worth its weight in gold when you’re spending the full day on the water. Not only does it save your eyes, but the polarized lenses give you a glimpse into the underworld. Check out Maui Jim’s full line of sunglasses at www.mauijim.com. BTW: All Maui Jim shades come with hard case and cleaning cloth…nice addition! |
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VHF Radios - Anyone who has spent time on open water knows the convenience and safety value of a VHF radio. You simply can’t rely on cell phones. The ultimate VHF radios for any type of fishing are made by Standard Horizon. In particular, they have floating, handheld VHF radios, which are small enough to fit into the pockets on our Extrasport PFDs. www.standardhorizon.com |
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KAYAK ACCESSORIES Rod Mounts – Scotty is the leader in kayak fishing rod holders and mounts, and on our trips we used everything from flush mount Scotty rod holders (which are standard on Ocean Kayak’s fishing kayaks) to various other styles of rod holders. Rod holders and mounts are easily added to fishing kayaks, although it’s a bit unnerving at first to drill holes into your kayak. For a look at all the options, check out www.scotty.com. |
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Fish Finder – One of the few weaknesses of kayak fishing is the fact that your low vantage point makes it very difficult to see very far underwater—even with a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Standing in a boat lets you more easily identify fish and changes in bottom structure in shallower areas. For that reason, fish finders played a big role on all our trips. Fortunately for us, Humminbird fish finders are standard on the ‘angler’ version of Ocean Kayak’s Trident. We couldn’t have been happier having them on our boat. More info is available at www.humminbird.com.
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FISHING ACCESSORIES Rods and Reels – It’s no surprise that the best kayak anglers like to use the best rods and reels. It’s probably not a big surprise to hear that this is where Shimano rods and reels came into play. On all the trips, Jim Sammons used a variety of low profile baitcasting reels, such as the Calais. For the full line of Shimano fishing rods and reels, visit www.shimano.com. |
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Fish Handling Tool – If you’re going to be dealing with toothy fish (whether planned or not), the Boga Grip Fish Handling Tool will be your best friend. They come in sizes for fish up to 15, 30 and 60 pounds. www.eastabogatackle.com |
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Owner Hooks – High performance fish hooks for high performance anglers www.ownerhooks.com. |
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Plano – The ultimate tackle boxes. www.planomolding.com |
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Promar – Hook resistant landing nets. www.americanmaple.com/relaunchpromar/ |
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Ahi – Sabiki bait catching rods. www.americanmaple.com/relaunchahi |
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THE HELICONIA PRESS phone 888.582.2001 | international 613.582.7154 | fax 613.582.7184 info@helipress.com |