I have several fishing kayaks and for my fishing I’ve kept the add-on accessories to a minimum. For me, it’s RAM Mount external rod holders behind the seat along with a small camera mount for pictures of bigger smallmouth bass I catch and release. On some of my outings I will also have a storage crate with rod holders behind the seat. 

However, rigging your fishing kayak can be just as elaborate as those bass boats you see running fast out on Green Bay. A very common add- on is a fish finder with a smaller 12-volt battery.  Many kayak anglers will also add an anchor trolley. With the popularity of videos taken with GoPro type cameras, attachments for one or more cameras will let you enjoy and share the excitement of catching those fish. I don’t use live bait, but some do and have mini aerated livewells that run off a battery.

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a kayak is defined as a light narrow boat that has both ends tapered to a point, propelled by a double-bladed paddle. We’ve already seen the explosion in popularity of self-propelled kayaks, but some kayak anglers now add trolling motors. On the bass boats you see long electronically deployed polls to hold the boat in place in shallower water. These are also starting to show up on kayaks of anlgers. After getting that fishing kayak, accessorizing is fun and personal to the type of fishing you enjoy. My suggestion is to add items as you need them, so you aren’t wasting time and money on something you won’t use or need.

Here in Door County we are blessed with an outstanding fishery and unmatched beauty, so grab some gear and hit the water for some fun.  Even if the fish aren’t biting, you’ll have a great time. If you have any kayak fishing or kayak questions, please email me at
kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com.