Hacking Fly

34 Hacks for Kayak

34 Easy Kayak Modifications for Fishing

Check out these 34 fishing kayak setup ideas that show many fishing kayak accessories as well as the fishing kayak modifications I made to optimize my Jackson Coosa FD setup and you can apply these to your fishing kayak as well; proving fishing kayak mods do not have to be complicated or costly. https://youtu.be/wdGJ2TQr50s

Kayak Rack Support

IMPROVED! Kayak Outdoor Storage Rack

I show my improved kayak storage rack DIY solution. If you have a heavy kayak you need to add this improvement to your DIY kayak storage rack – especially if you do kayak storage outside with little room to maneuver.  Affiliate link to kayak cover: https://amzn.to/3w3KAkl https://youtu.be/kB7Lf9JB7Gg

Kayak repair

Fishing Kayak Setup – Step 7c – Kayak Repair Plastic

Whoops… you need to do some kayak hole repair after installing kayak accessories in the wrong place while doing your fishing kayak setup. Kayak repair plastic is very easy and DIY kayak repair is possible for a kayak hole patch. I show how to do plastic kayak welding without the proper tools – good in a pinch – but you really should get the proper kayak welding tools.

Kayak seat solution

Fishing Kayak Setup – Step 3 – Fishing Kayak Seat Upgrade

Basic kayak fishing setup needs to consider comfort! If your fishing kayak does not have a raised kayak seat, then this fishing kayak seat upgrade DIY is a no-brainer. The great thing about this kayak seat DIY is it is CHEAP. No complex kayak seat modifications are required! And cheap is an important part of any budget fishing kayak setup!

Cheap kayak cart

Fishing Kayak Setup – Step 2 – Cheap DIY Kayak Cart

The second step in fishing kayak setup is being able to transport the kayak and for that you need a great kayak cart build. But, your DIY kayak cart does not have to cost a fortune! I show how to build your own kayak cart out of scraps! I believe this is the cheapest kayak cart you can make. Bottom line is you cannot do fishing kayak mods unless you can get your fishing kayak to the water!

Inspecting a used kayak

Kayak Setup From Scratch!

Winter is a great time to buy a used kayak. Here is my step by step recommended process to buy a good used kayak and set it up for fishing! Link to Complete Playlist https://youtu.be/iZ4BhPvagX4 Want to jump ahead? Here are a few links: Kayak Scupper Plugs – Make or Buy? Fishing Kayak Setup – …

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Picture of Generic Riffles

Reading Trout Water (Part 1)

Recall the old saying, “10% of the water holds 90% of the fish.” Finding the magic 10% is made easier through understanding the basic structure of a stream.

Kreh Loop Step 3

Forceps Knots – The Kreh Loop

Using forceps to quickly tie a Kreh Loop Knot Since the clinch knot is a direct line-to-fly connection, the line may impart some unnatural motion to the fly. If you prefer having the fly swing independently of the line, use a loop knot. The most natural loop knot to learn and fastest to tie using …

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Filling Fly Box

Matching the Hatch Basics

It probably happened right after you picked out your first fly rod. The fly shop owner or your buddy immediately ushered you to a huge display case of flies; hundreds of them captured and prisoners in tiny compartments with confusing names like Royal Wulff, Chernobyl Ant, Mister Rapidan or Adams. “Don’t worry,” he said as …

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Fly Boxes

Packing Heat! Hot Flies!

Not concealed weapons, but something infinitely more important and precious – hot flies! Just as a pistol requires a unique size holster, different flies require storage containers with specific characteristics as well as an overall organization strategy.

Fly Type Basics (Part 1)

Before I took up fly fishing, I knew about black flies, horse flies, tsetse flies and vaguely remembered nymphs from Greek mythology. Fly fishing flies? Well, here is part 1 of the basics.

Fishing bike build

Fishing Bike Build – For Beach or Trail

With hard packed sand at low tide making it easy for a beach bike ride, I did a beach bike build to move quickly with my bike fishing rod carrier and accessories. I use a milk crate on a bike fishing rack with saddlebags for my bike fishing bag.

Frogs Fanny Floatant

All about Floatants for Fly Fishing

Floatant? Trout feed below the surface 80% of the time and that statistic should push the rational trout angler to fish exclusively with nymphs to catch more fish. However, the excitement of a trout slurping a dry fly on the surface is compelling and is the visual pot of gold at a rainbow ending in a sparkling pool high in the mountains.

Split shot on tippet

Solving Slipping Shot on Tippet (Part 2)

As hard it is for a new fly angler to achieve the perfect cast to the right position and manage the movement of the fly through the sweet spot with a drag free drift, nothing will make you want to scream at the sky more than seeing that all the shot slipped down the tippet to nestle up against your fly and ruined the entire presentation.

Stack of tippet spools

Tips on Tippet

As a fly angler, you’ve already learned what tippet is. You know, it’s the stuff that breaks when you have a beautiful fish on. Thankfully, once you learn the ins and outs of matching the right type and size to your conditions, you will lose fewer fish.

South Fork Holston

South Fork Holston River Trout Fishing – Virginia!

Check out my recent trip to the South Fork Holston River trout fishing in the Virginia Special Regulation Trout Area above the Buller Dam. Fishing the South Holston River up here is an isolated experience that requires a bit of effort to reach. If you enjoy fly fishing Virginia trout, you should take the time to fish here.

Fly lines in pile

Fly Line Basics

Been using the fly line that came with the packaged starter kit you either purchased or were given? Thinking about upgrading? While everyone has an opinion on whether the fly line or the fly rod is the most critical piece of gear to improve on-stream performance, I agree with the fly liners. I believe a …

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Kayak trolling motor setup

Kayak Trolling Motor – PWM Fail!

Using a Pulse Width Modulator (PWM) is an excellent part of a kayak trolling motor setup. I installed one and it failed after a few months – check out what I found.

Picture of display case of indicators

All About “Bobbers” (Indicators)

Bobbers? Yes, that’s what a normal person would call an “indicator.” Indicator is the fancy term fly anglers use to discuss the appliance that floats on top of the water… yeah… bobber. Unlike for bait fishing, fly angling has many different types. Here’s the rundown.

Tenkara Tips

A cane pole? Hardly! If you fish small mountain streams, stuffing a Tenkara rod into your backpack instantly levels the playing field and puts the new fly guy on equal footing with the most experienced fly angler.

Cheap Tenkara Fly Fishing

I discover a cheap Tenkara rod that performs just as well as the expensive versions. In this cheap Tenkara rod review,

Pick the Right Fly Fishing Reel

Considering the rod, line, and reel, the reel is the least important part of your fly-fishing outfit. Right? A good rod provides power to punch out a well-executed cast facilitated by a smooth, supple matched line. All the reel does is hold the line. Not so fast! While you may not need some elements of …

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Quick Clinch Knot with Forceps

At the business end, it’s time to tie on a fly; forcing a choice from an almost infinite number of line to hook knot options. Want to start an argument? Ask experienced anglers which knot they prefer! In the end, as Phil Monahan wrote on Orvis.com, correctly tying the knot you learn is more important …

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Spring Fishing Tips

By Loyal Brezny of The Hunting Mark Nine Things an Angler Needs To Know. When the fishing season starts in the spring (and I say this because opening dates can vary quite a bit from state to state), there are some things you need to know that are unique to this time of year. During …

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Casting on a Tight Stream

Why do fish always shelter in the most challenging spot to cast to? Apparently, they do it to make our life as anglers miserable as opposed to their need to stay alive! The first problem is trying to cast with tight, overhanging cover preventing the normal casting motion. The second is when your casting arm …

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Fishing Reel Review – Cadence vs Kastking

Fishing reel review! After 3 seasons, I compare the Cadence CS10 reel vs the KastKing Sharky III. I put both reels through demanding use over the last 3 seasons. There were issues with both reels. Check the short video for details. https://youtu.be/TKbRZ4ZELtQ

Easy Way to Thread Tippet on Small Flies

Most anglers tie flies onto tippet by repeatedly stabbing the tippet directly at the tiny opening in the eye of the hook. There is a more natural way that eliminates frustration, is faster and does not require magnification.

Hatch Chart 101

Typically, experts develop hatch charts through years of observation, and different people may see different things based on when they are on the stream; resulting in small differences.

The Fantastic Forceps

For the new fly angler, the forceps (aka hemostat) is an easily overlooked, critical tool. Do not make a quick purchase of the cheapest thing you can find! Examples of the wrong choices include medical hemostats or a set of needle-nose pliers masquerading in the role.

3 Quick Fly Fishing Tips

Here’s a collection of tips that don’t fit into any category and will make your journey into the sport of fly fishing more straightforward – a few lessons from my personal school of hard knocks.

The Fish Camp

As we roll up on steelhead season, many will head to “fish camps” as a part of that annual ritual. Living out of a true fish camp makes the expedition authentic – here’s the skinny. More filet knives than butter knives You can make anything as long as you can do it in an electric …

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What’s in Your Fly Vest?

With almost three million websites selling hundreds of different brands of fly fishing accessories, it’s not surprising new fly fishers may be a bit confused; as if buying the rod, reel and fly line weren’t bad enough! Let’s cut to the chase – here’s what you really need… and what you don’t.

Fly Fishing Vest Selection

Fly anglers are easy marks for every widget and gadget any expert claims will be the difference between catching enough fish to make their arms sore or being skunked. It’s easy to see who has fallen victim to the siren song – their fly fishing vests are so overloaded they look like a Sherpa hauling gear for an expedition. As always in these articles, let’s get back to basics.

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