Kayak Fishing: What Rods and Reels to Use
Gage Gordon
Our rod and reel setups are the most important item for fishing because well, they catch the fish. No matter your fishing platform your rod setup will lead to your success, or failure.
Everyone has their own preferences, and I am not here to sway you away from those, but I wanted to take a few minutes to showcase the equipment that works for me and why.
Overview
I fish around the state of Texas for both freshwater and saltwater species, primarily using artificial lures. I like my gear to be as multipurpose as possible to cover a wide range of techniques and the conditions I see.
The gear listed is what I use consistently and have acquired over several years. By no means are these all my setups, but they are the ones that I will choose without question.
I’m not sponsored by any of these manufacturers which is why there is such an array. I also pieced most of this equipment together a little at a time. Winning some in tournaments and researching and buying others. I believe that whatever gets you on the water and feels good to you is the most important.
Setup 1
Rod: FishStix “The Kitchen Sink”
o Length: 7’
o Power: Medium
o Action: Fast
Reel: Shimano Citica 200 IHG (discontinued)
o Gear Ratio: 7.2:1
Line: 20-pound Power Pro braid
This is my most versatile setup. This rod is everything that I want and need for any situation. Highly sensitive blank and at 7’ can launch even the lightest of lures with ease. The Shimano reel is large enough to use for all my heavier applications like chatterbaits, jigs, frogs, and popping corks.
Setup 2
Rod: FishStix “The Middle Man” – (updated)
o Length: 6’9”
o Power: Medium Light
o Action: Fast
Reel: Lew’s Inshore Speed Spool Gen 1 (updated)
o Gear Ratio: 7.5:1
Line: 20-pound Power Pro braid
This setup is a mean green machine and quickly found itself as my favorite. Don’t let the medium light power fool you, this thing has backbone. It was designed with wade fishing the Texas flats in mind and can throw soft plastics, topwaters, and spoons easily. The Lew’s is also my favorite out of all my reels. It casts supremely well into the wind and has enough drag to get any bass, redfish, or trout into the net.
Setup 3
Rod: Lew’s Mach II
o Length: 6’9”
o Power: Medium Light
o Action: Fast
Reel: Penn Battle II 2500 (updated)
o Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Line: 10-pound Power Pro braid
This is my most budget friendly rod and one that performs well outside of its weight range. I originally purchased the rod to throw finesse applications like shakey heads and drop shots. It has excelled in those areas and more with its superb sensitivity and power. The Penn reel is a beast helping put pressure on fish from 30 feet down to the back creek laydowns.
Setup 4
o Length: 6’7”
o Power: Medium Light
o Action: Fast
Reel: 13 Fishing Concept A (updated)
o Gear Ratio: 7.3:1
Line: 10-pound Power Pro braid
You’ve heard of the new “Bait Finesse System” craze, right? Well, this is my finesse system before it all started. While the rod is on the shorter side, it is perfect to skip finesse baits into tight places from the kayak. The Concept A is smooth and has an internal brake system that allows it to sit comfortably in my hand. This is my go-to rod when throwing ned rigs, wacky worms, and Buggs lures.
Why I Love These Setups
Fishing from a kayak or SUP presents unique challenges than fishing from shore or a boat. These rods address things that I have had issues with previously.
First, fishing from a seated position. All these rods are designed with a shorter butt section that keeps from tangling with myself and my life vest.
Second, these rods are all light and have backbone that lets me use them for multiple techniques. This ensures that I can cut down on the number of rods in the kayak but allowing me to switch based on the conditions.
Third, these setups are suited for the saltwater environment. This means that the longevity of the equipment is excellent and gives me more life out of each piece.
Lastly, each of these setups is downsized on the line weight, but still handles large fish with ease. I started keeping this in mind a few years ago and believe that it makes a huge difference. I use monofilament and fluorocarbon leaders of various sizes depending on the technique to help the abrasion resistance and visibility to the fish.
Final Thoughts
I hope this quick review of my rod and reel setups can help you find something that works for you. There isn’t a one size fits all for each of us, but these are my confidence setups when kayak fishing anywhere.
If you have any questions regarding my specific equipment or selecting equipment in general, leave a comment below.