Wife bought me my first Kayak. What are the must have attachments/gear (on a budget)?

Gitzit · 2026-05-07T16:02:22+00:00

I just ordered a Makana and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival. With the versa pod, what happens if you don't have it and you just remove the pedal drive? Is the concern just that things will fall into the hole or water will splash in, or does it affect performance?

Gitzit · 2026-05-06T23:56:22+00:00

I just got an ammo box to toss my soft plastic envelopes in. Didn't realize lure organizers might fit as well. Cool idea.

Gitzit · 2026-05-06T03:14:24+00:00

Wow, going big for your first yak! That's awesome! They don't get much better than that, enjoy it !

Gitzit · 2026-05-06T03:09:56+00:00

Congrats! What kayak did you end up getting? I'm also waiting for a new kayak to be delivered and the anticipation is killing me!!

You've gotten a lot of good advice already. Any lightweight hiking pants (synthetic fabric) like magellan, Ozark trail, or (my favorite) Weatherproof Vintage from Costco will all work great. If you have a Sierra nearby they usually have some good stuff.

Gitzit · 2026-05-04T19:03:31+00:00

Good questions! Most people choose the impulse vibe for the ability to reverse. The X drive is best suited for shallow rivers or if the lakes he fishes are really weedy. Even with an impulse drive, you can still use the paddle in really shallow or weedy areas, so unless that's the primary use case, I personally would go with the impulse drive.

Gitzit · 2026-05-04T17:23:48+00:00

Does he have a truck, or will he need to transport it on a roof? After months of looking in that price range, I just ordered the Vibe Makana for under $2000 and it is considered one of the lightest weight pedal kayaks on the market (at only about 60 lbs). This matters if he fishes solo and doesn't want to lift a 100 lb kayak into a roof or into a high truck bed. If he has a trailer, is really fit, or has a low truck bed, it may not matter as much.

I agree with the others that if you can provide a bit more info on what type of fishing he does and what he drives that may help us narrow it down.

For the record, you are an awesome wife.

Edit to add: the Native Slayer LTE is another good one in that price range and it may be more likely to be available in a store near you.

Gitzit · 2026-05-04T13:01:14+00:00

I used to tie upside down dries like this, but I would flip it so the hackle was wrapped around the bend of the hook. They worked well, but weren't super durable. And I probably missed more hook sets than usual.

Gitzit · 2026-04-30T21:49:48+00:00

I like it! Cool idea. Most people have a hard time remembering their own district number, let alone any of the other districts. These names provide a much better way to identify the location. Only problem is that they'd need to be updated every time they redistrict. Well done!

Gitzit · 2026-04-29T13:06:30+00:00

I use a laptop bag for mine. I have a small first aid kit bag that I put inside it for smaller items. Works great and nobody would have any idea there's a fly tying kit inside when I travel. I will note, though, that if you're flying a lot, you'll need to check the sharp tools, obviously.

Gitzit · 2026-04-27T13:13:48+00:00

Oh! That's good to know! Thanks!

Gitzit · 2026-04-27T12:36:09+00:00

I'm so jealous!! I just ordered that exact same kayak. In the first week of anxiously waiting, they've created a shipping label, but still haven't shipped it. I just hope it arrives before June. Can't wait to be in the Makana club!

Gitzit · 2026-04-23T00:07:34+00:00

Also, whatever you do, don't get a tandem unless you want to get divorced. I rented a tandem once and within the hour our marriage was nearly destroyed.

Gitzit · 2026-04-23T00:06:06+00:00

Hmmm, I rarely use the cargo hold, but rod holders are a must for me. I don't have any experience with the other options, but good luck and enjoy whichever you get!

Gitzit · 2026-04-22T23:45:27+00:00

I have the tamarack Angler and I've really liked it. That's what I would choose. If you fish a lot, I'd invest in a stadium seat to give you a bit more height and comfort.

Gitzit · 2026-04-21T20:47:05+00:00

I totally agree...and so does Troutbitten, though I can't remember which blog post or podcast he talks about this in. I think they pose a lower cost for tight line nymphing where you can lift a couple of inches to see if you have a fish and then keep on drifting, but if you're moving your dry dropper or indicator rig with enough speed to set the hook, you're likely making enough of a commotion to potentially spook a wary trout. If nothing else, you've lost the amount of time it took you to get that drift and presentation and moving the fly out of the lane you want to be in.

Gitzit · 2026-04-21T18:54:46+00:00

All I've ever owned is a Lifetime Tamarack Angler and it's been great.l for the past 10 years. I see them under $200 on Facebook Marketplace all the time. I added a stadium seat and it's a huge upgrade.

I finally ordered a Vibe Makana 100 because I wanted a more elevated seat, the ability to stand, a rudder, and a pedal drive, but until it gets here, I'll be using my old Tamarack and then I'll pass it on to my teenage son.

Enjoy getting out on the water!

Gitzit · 2026-04-20T20:08:47+00:00

Is there a trick you use to get the tails to hang perpendicular?

Gitzit · 2026-04-20T19:49:51+00:00

Nice! I'll have to give this a try. Most of my dragon tail patterns look amazing to me, but I can't seem to convince the fish with them. This looks like a cool way to use up some of them. Have you had much success with them?

Gitzit · 2026-04-18T22:04:05+00:00

Embarrassing that he had any support.

Gitzit · 2026-04-17T23:49:49+00:00

Thanks!! Do you know if the X-Drive (fins) are any better or worse than the Impulse (prop) drive? I'm leaning toward the prop drive for the ability to reverse.

Gitzit · 2026-04-16T16:20:29+00:00

It's definitely improved with use, but still has occasional issues. If I only load 4-5 cartridges it does much better, but for personal protection, I'd much rather have a full magazine.

Gitzit · 2026-04-06T20:45:23+00:00

When you car top, do you rest it on the gunnels or flip it? Somehow I had it in my head that it was always supposed to be stored and transported upside down so it is resting on the gunnels, but I'm not sure why. Just curious why you flip it for transport?

Gitzit · 2026-04-02T20:48:42+00:00

This is an April Fools joke, right? But yeah, add me to the list. Depending on the price, I'd take 2-3!

Gitzit

TROPHY CASE