06/15/2026
Good read ‼️
Beginners Guide To Kayak Fishing: Boats & Gear | Ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi says the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. For beginner kayak anglers, the journey begins with the right gear and a few basic skills.
Kayak Angler’s Beginner’s Guide to Kayak Fishing is full of expert advice from experienced anglers who started their journey from scratch. Believe it or not, our pros admit they began kayak fishing with the wrong boat and too much gear. Through years of trial and error, the best guides, outfitters, tournament competitors and instructors learned hard lessons the hard way.
Start slow and build skills. Buy quality gear. Keep tackle to a minimum. Tie down everything. Safety first. And enjoy the process. With our guide to getting into kayak fishing, new anglers start their journey a few steps ahead.
The biggest decision and the biggest investment is purchasing a fishing kayak. Choosing the best fishing kayak is critical to comfort, safety and success. Many anglers are tempted to buy a cheap kayak to get started. “When you are ready to step up, come and see me,” Dean Lokey, owner of OC KAYAK in Ocean City, Maryland, says. Many of Lokey’s customers bought a “starter” kayak only to step up to a better boat.
Chase Christianson, manager of Great Outdoor Provision Company in Virginia Beach, puts it this way, “Buy once, cry once.” He explains an angler is better off spending more money upfront for a quality kayak than buying a bargain boat and later upgrading. “The biggest problem is a new angler who has a bad initial experience and quits kayak fishing to take up golf.”
Continue reading: https://bit.ly/4oQ7uEn
✍️: Ric Burnley
📷: AJ Ramirez
📖: This article was first published in Issue 55 of Kayak Angler Magazine.