FldTrlr

My dream kayak rod: 7 1/2 foot (spin or conventional), two piece, fast tip, stout mid section, short handle (8-9") with gimbal grooves and a rubber cap for when they are not needed, course threads on the reel seat (it <U>will</U> get full of sand), built-in ring for a safety snap, quality rust-resistant components (it <U>will</U> get soaked with salt water), price range of $70 to $90.Composite is fine for offshore or live-bait, but I really prefer graphite for inshore using artificials.

FLSalomon

As Pam mentioned, being able to attach to a leash easily is a nice feature - saw a Baidarka (?) rod today with a ring incorporated into the lower end of the butt - easy to attach the leash to itand it was out of the way of the reel. Very nice feature. In a yak, everything of value must float or be attached to something that floats. Mostly I use 6' to 7' rods - any shorter and you can't reach around the front of the boat, longer rods are kind of awkward to deal with... Shorter butts are great. Gimbals not required. Hookkeepers are nice, keeps things orderly. Durability is big for me - they get rough treatment in the close quarters of a kayak - i just can't see spending $150+ on a kayak rod. I use a lot of Ugly Stiks - work great and if it gets damaged, buy another. Something in between would be attractive.

Medium / fast action is good - you will not be horsing up a fish from down deep in a yak - you don't have the leverage. If you hook something big, just keep the rod pointed off the bow and let the yak act as a big drag. (think large barrel from Jaws...)

Would love to see what you come up with...

__________________
GCKFA #1
www.gulfcoastkayakfishing.com

captken

VELCRO straps will save rods. Ball Bungees are great too. I've been yaking for several years and haven't lost anything except pliers. I haven't been dumped other than when I practiced re-entry and I don't expect to be but "things" happen.

The rod holders and tackle box holderson the back of my chair hold rods and boxes securely. I regularly keep mytackle thereI the back of my truck.

__________________
Captken
http://www.panhandlefishingbooks.com/

Brad King

Thanks a million for all the good input. Seems like pricing is going to be the biggest issue. I have some great ideas for design but it's really hard to keep the final product under $140.

I could cut a few corners on components, but that's reall not how I like to do things. I will still be building one and donating it to a Kayak event just for feedback if nothing else. Thanks again for all the great information.

__________________
Capt. Brad King
South Again Charters LLC
www.southagain.com
captbrad@southagain.com
Inshore/Nearshore Charters

northpaw

Brad, you might want to consider a new market that is growing fast here in my neck of the woods... offshore kayak rods. There is a growing group of anglers targeting sharks and bull reds on the upper coast from kayaks. Rods of choice run from 15-30 to 30-50 class, usually 6'6 to 7' length. What works is a more moderate action rather than a tip flex due to breakoffs at boatside when leadering fish for CPR (don't ask how I know this, or how many times I have known it:sick). A buddy of mine has been working with Okuma in developing a rod for this purpose that floats as well. Its a sweet stick with extended EVA foregrip, and shorter rear grip, its very light in hand but still has plenty of backbone. I would think you might find a solid market to sell these rods to. I know I'd be interested in trying one, but I also think the right stick would cross over to some of the tarpon folks as well.

Just a thought...

Brad King

Alright, thanks a million. I will start working on one. I am currently working on a similar rod, with a few changes to drop some weight I think might work

__________________
Capt. Brad King
South Again Charters LLC
www.southagain.com
captbrad@southagain.com
Inshore/Nearshore Charters

Team Hobie

Brad: Ditto what everyone has told you but most is applicable for inshore. There is of course a big difference between inshore needs and offshore. Offshore we are not casting so much so butt length can be longer for leverage and horsing in a bigger fish. A longer butt will get in the way moreso when casting and wear you down quicker. Offshore we tend to troll or work the bottom for bigger fish. Also length of the rod (7-7.5) can help with a trolling spread width.

Even though dipping the rod to work a fish does work it can be tricky when a big fish is pulling from the side. I have used, and given up on, sort rods. I like to have the reach to get the line around the front of the yak and stay in control. I repeat though, length for getting around the kayak is secondary to length for trolling spread.

Braid is commonly used but I have not had problems with guides.

If you do attach a clip for leash, it needs to be high enough up so as to not get in the way of the rod holder (ram tubes, scotty and molded in types) and low enough to be out of the way of the reel handle swing. This is not an easy thing to solve but yu can do it.

The GCKFA would love to have a rod to give as an award for our tournament next spring. I won the King Mack division this pastspring and absolutely cherish my Cavitt custom rod. Rick asks me when I am actually going to fish with it and Itell him it is a show piece. Not really, but I do show it off a lot.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Ted Gorder, GCKFA Vice President.

Brad King

Thanks again for the input. I am currently trying to work on a clip system for tethering the rods to the Yaks. I hope to have something final really soon. Once I do I will try and display it on here.

thanks again for all the input!!

__________________
Capt. Brad King
South Again Charters LLC
www.southagain.com
captbrad@southagain.com
Inshore/Nearshore Charters