The Brocraft Universal Trolling Motor Mount is the best trolling motor mount for most canoes. It is a marine-grade aluminum track bar that hand-tightens onto gunwale lips without drilling, adjusts to different hull widths, and carries a two year warranty. For lighter rigs, the HKTE aluminum mount cuts weight in half, and for a dedicated … Read more
If you want the short version, the Reel Yaks Raptor is our best pedal drive fishing kayak overall for lakes, the BKC Brooklyn 12.5 Pro takes large open water, and the Albott Modular is the one to buy if you want standing-cast stability without the premium price. All three are sit-on-top pedal kayaks, and all … Read more
Most people who want a fishing kayak are not afraid of fishing. They are afraid of two specific things: tipping over, and falling out of the boat in deep water. A sit-on-top kayak removes both fears structurally, which is why owner after owner on r/kayakfishing and ncangler.com threads tells the same story about their first … Read more
Are inflatable kayaks good for rivers? Short answer: yes, as long as you pick a boat with a rigid floor, a self-bailing deck, and removable fins, and you stay on calm water and Class I to Class II rapids. Below Class III you need a hull with a stated whitewater rating and real drainage valves. … Read more
Every kayak angler starts the same way: a plain plastic milk crate zip-tied to the back deck, three lengths of PVC zip-tied to the rear wall as rod holders, and a few Plano boxes dropped inside. It costs almost nothing and it works, which is exactly why that setup is the first thing mentioned in … Read more
The right paddle changes how a whole day of fishing feels. Sit in a 34-inch-wide fishing kayak with an elevated seat and a paddle that is too short, and every stroke ends with your knuckles near the gunwale. Add a heavy shaft on top and you have shoulder ache by the second hour. That is … Read more
Most kayak anchors are built for water you cannot see the bottom of. That is exactly the wrong tool for a flat, a marsh edge, or a river bend where you are anchoring in three feet of water and want the fish to never know you arrived. The best kayak anchors for shallow water do … Read more
Two feet of ice will shut down every hand auger on the market and turn most cordless drills into expensive hockey sticks. That is the whole problem behind the search for the best ice augers for thick ice: once you are past 18 inches of late-season ice, the tool is no longer a convenience, it … Read more
The St. Croix Mojo Ice in 28 inches with medium power and a fast action is the best ice fishing rod for walleye for most anglers. It is the only rod here that St. Croix itself lists for walleye, and its 4.6 rating across 44 reviews is the strongest owner feedback of any medium-power rod … Read more
The best ice fishing tip ups for pike are the Frabill Pro Thermal 1660 for hard cold, the Beaver Dam The Original for a heavy wooden build, and the I Fish PRO 2.0 when wind is driving false flags. A tip up is a spring-loaded device that hangs over a drilled ice hole and holds … Read more