A kayak fishing tournament scale bag is a leak-proof, collapsible weigh-in bag built to move a five-bass limit from a kayak tankwell or crate to the scales without spilling water or stressing the catch. Our team spent six weeks testing eight of the most popular models from a sit-on-top kayak, hauling each through a full […]

I spent the last two seasons fishing out of a sit-on-top kayak on Lake Michigan, and one cold April morning a wave broke over my bow and dumped straight into my lap. That single capsize is why I started testing the best kayak fishing dry top jackets the way I do now: in real spray, […]

Choosing the best kayak fishing fleece layers changed how our team fishes from October through April. We spent 90 days on the water in everything from 38°F winter striper trips on the Chesapeake to cool mornings chasing smallmouth on inland lakes. A dedicated mid-layer makes the difference between cutting the day short and staying out […]

I have spent more weekends than I care to admit sitting in a sit-on-top kayak with my knees shoved up toward my chest and zero leverage on the paddle. After about 30 minutes of fighting a stiff headwind with cramped legs, I realized the problem was not my kayak — it was the stock footrests. […]

I have spent the last three summers dialing in electronics on everything from a 10-foot sit-on-top to a fully rigged Hobie Pro Angler, and the truth is this: the best kayak fishing GPS units are not the same thing as the best bass-boat units. A kayak forces compromises on weight, battery draw, screen readability, and […]

Kayak fishing gaiters are waterproof or water-resistant leg coverings that seal out splash, spray, rain, sand, and grit between your boots and your pants or waders. After three months of testing 10 pairs on sit-on-top, pedal-drive, and surf-launch trips in both salt and freshwater, we ranked the best kayak fishing gaiters on the water, not […]

I lost feeling in my right hand halfway through a January redfish tournament last year. The water was 49 degrees, the air was 38, and my fingers had gone from clumsy to useless just as I needed to retie a jig. A fellow angler tossed me a fleece hand muff from his PFD pocket and […]

If you have ever been four hours into a July kayak session with no shade, your back already sunburned, and a stringer of fish warming up faster than your patience, you already know why finding the best kayak fishing ice towels matters. I tested ten microfiber and PVA cooling towels on flat-water paddle trips and […]

Kayak fishing punishes you for bringing the wrong tool. Drop a pair of household scissors in a wave and you are done for the day. Try to snip 30-pound braided line with a folding knife and you will end up with frayed tag ends that slip every knot you tie. After three seasons of testing […]

I spent the last three summers logging roughly 240 hours on the water from a Jackson Cuda 14 and an Old Town Sportsman PDL 120, and I can tell you exactly when the lumbar region starts screaming: around hour three of an eight-hour pedal session. The best kayak fishing lumbar support cushions are not a […]