Kayak Fishing: How To Get Started

Kayak fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in America—and for good reason. It is an affordable, adaptable, and at times a straight-up sublime way to spend time on the water. The best part: getting started is easy! For your first kayak, you don’t need anything fancy

For rods and reels, use what you have: there’s generally nothing special about kayak combos!

Purchasing a new rod? Freshwater anglers should consider a smaller spinning reel with 8-10lb test line (consider Berkley brand), while saltwater anglers should look more at a 3000-4000 size reel (Daiwa and Shimano make good products) and line in the 15-20lb test range.

I prefer Daiwa line and leader for all of my saltwater fishing. Fishing flea markets, often advertised at local tackle shops and in online fishing groups, are excellent places to purchase used gear, and as a bonus you can hold and inspect the gear prior to purchase, unlike an online marketplace.

Lures

When shopping for lures, start simple. For freshwater, soft plastic worms, a couple spinnerbaits or crankbaits, and a topwater popper will get you catching! For saltwater, consider a simple cast-and-retrieve plug, a topwater popper, and some pre-rigged soft plastic paddle tails. And don’t forget: your local tackle shop is an invaluable source of information, so use their knowledge too!