One of the biggest challenges for beginners setting up their first fishing kayak is getting your head around the limited storage space available. There are numerous truisms that can be made about fishing kayaks but among them all storage capacity tops the list. While some models offer considerable storage capacity many of them are lacking and some of them are brutally bare, especially the models that weren't designed primarily for fishing.
Fortunately there are more than one way to skin a cat and there are numerous options for adding convenient storage to your kayak. However there are no single silver-bullet solutions because every kayak is different and every kayaker is different as well. We're not all fishing the same waters and we're not all using the same gear. Kayak fishing is an incredibly individual sport, so figuring out what will work for you requires a little bit of forethought in order to minimize trial and error.
The key things you should do when planning the storage layout of your kayak is to consider:
- What you need in a hurry
- What you don’t mind reaching for
- Things you don’t need to access when you’re in the seat
What you need in a hurry
Your immediate cockpit area is the most valuable area you have available to you. We recommend only keeping things in this area that you use regularly and that would otherwise be a hassle to reach for and grab every time you needed them. Common examples include pliers, knives, scissors, scents and your water bottle. If you’re offshore you may even include safety equipment like your radio or location signal device into this category.
A lot of kayak companies recognise this and have produced kayaks with built-in side pockets, whilst they are often positioned well, they are often designed generically and are not designed to store specific items. They are also often made from soft cheap material and constantly catch and attract hooks, trebbles and jigheads.
When we designed the new Side Bro we put a lot of thought into where it would be most effective and how we could make use of valuable real estate that is otherwise under utilized. The Side Bro can be attached onto various surfaces in various ways, but we were determined to make adapters that would allow users to attach them to the side of their kayak seat. The beauty in this arrangement is that it is adding storage capacity instead of just replacing one storage option with another, and we couldn't think of a more convenient position.
Unfortunately not all kayak seats lend themselves to having a Side Bro adapter but two popular models came to mind immediately; the Hobie Lynx and Pro Angler model kayaks. We targetted these models for a few reasons, the most obvious of which is that we could see a way to get the job done. Adding a Side Bro seat adapter to the Hobie Lynx was an absolute no-brainer, because of all the models that are short on storage capacity, the Lynx is #1. The Pro Angler models also made sense for us to look at because kayak fishos that gravitate towards this model are usually pretty keen on carrying as much gear as they can get away with (which is one of the reasons they bought such a big kayak in the first place).
Not only do seat-mounted Side Bros add extra storage utility, they are providing that in the most convenient position possible, which is right at your side, well within arms reach. If you own a Hobie Lynx or Pro Angler fishing kayak and this all sounds great to you then you should have a closer look at our Side Bro adapters. Lynx owners will want to check out the Lynx Bro and Pro Angler owners should take a look at the Van Bro.
What side to mount it on?
Before installing any storage device it pays to put a bit of thought into which side you want it on. Think about how you go about fishing - do you favor handling the rod and bringing up fish on a specific side of the yak? If so it can pay to consider this when installing. You should consider your movement and which hands you use for the rod, net, steering handle and where you have your sounder located. That way you are being as efficient as possible and don’t get cross armed trying to reach for something when you’re fighting a fish.
And before you ask, yes you can add a Side Bro to either side of your Lynx or Pro Angler seat if you think the extra storage on both sides would be useful.
Under Seat Storage
Another popular means of adding storage utility in otherwise wasted space is underneath the seat. This simply isn't an option on many kayaks due to the seat design, but on some models it is an option and a very convenient one at that. Some kayaks come supplied with this feature right out of the packet and others are compatible with under-seat storage add-ons. The advantages of storage utility underneath the seat are obvious, including the proximity to the user as well making great use of space that is otherwise under utilized. The best options feature a tray that slides in and out effortlessly, as seen on the Vibe Summit Seat.
Although Hobie didn't add such a feature to the new Outback, we did. We call it the Outback Bottom Drawer and we're pretty proud of it. If you own one of the newer Outbacks and like the idea of adding tackle and tool storage under the seat we suggest taking a close look.
Gear you don't mind reaching for
There will be some equipment that you're not having to access frequently and this is the stuff you should be storing in areas that are out of the way of the deck space immediatetly around you. Some examples would be line, leader, baits, lures, scales, brag mats and rulers; things that you will use during your fishing session but you can afford to place them in a crate or backpack.
Fishing Crates
There are numerous good storage crate options that are popular for fishing kayaks and these are almost always stowed in the rear well. Back when kayak fishing was a new and emerging sport many users would make use a simple milk crate. These can be customized in a myriad of ways and they get the job done, but these days they are considered to be the "white belt" of storage crate options. There are better options out there these days and while they are obviously more expensive than a simple milk crate, they are better in several ways. The least expensive option that has become popular recently is the Railblaza Gear Hub.
Before they came almost impossible to buy, Hobie's own H-Crate was also a popular option, especially for users who liked the idea of adding H-Rail accessories to the top of it.
Currently the most popular fishing crate for kayaks - and for good reason - is the YakAttack BlackPacks. These are good quality, very well designed and offers loads of customization options. It would be pretty hard to go wrong with one of these.
Seat Storage Bags
It can also be rather handy to add a storage bag to the rear of your kayak seat. There are a few options that will work for most fishing kayak seat systems. One of them is the seat bags available from Hobie. Their latest version (the Vantage Seat Accessory Bag) is rather well made and although designed specifically for a Pro Angler kayak, they will fit many kayak seats. A lot of anglers use these for storing extra line or leader, and this is also a great place to store snacks, sun cream, or waterproof shell jackets.
Dry Bags for items you don’t usually need to access out on the water
There are some items you're probably going to need to store on the kayak that you might not need to access out on the water, such as valuables like keys, wallets, phones, etc. Typically these sorts of things are stored into Dry Bags.
All kayakers are familiar with the obligatory Dry Bag and there are many of them on the market and most of them get the job done. PVC variants are generally considered to be the most reliably waterproof, whereas nylon or polyester variants are generally lighter and easier to squeeze into tighter spaces. Where to store the dry bag will come down to options available on your kayak and how often you think you'll need to access it. If your kayak has a front hatch this would be a good place for it, providing you're quite sure you won't need to access it much (or at all). If you can fit it into a central hatch this would work just as well, and might be a better option if you think you may need to get to it every now and then.
Finally there is always the rear storage well that most kayaks have, although if you've already got a crate or cooler box or bag stored here you may be running light on room for a dry bag as well. If you decide to keep your dry bag in the rear, make sure it is secured so you don't accidently lose it over the side.
We hope these tips have helped to get you off to a good start in setting up your fishing kayak. As long as you consider the equipment you're using, how often you're using it and how important it is for it to be immediately accessible you'll be able to make wiser choices on setting it all up
.