2013 Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Advance Angler Rigging

After using my kayak for a float down the Bow River I was finally ready to start rigging it up for the upcoming fishing season. I wanted to make sure this bad boy would handle a day of trout fishing and also a day of hard core pike fishing. I wanted to make sure that I addressed the need for silence while out fishing so I added some Silent Traction to the front of my kayak next to the front paddle keeper.

I also added it to the standing platform and to the gunwales to help keep the noise down.

Since I usually have a crate, cooler or tub of some sort in the rear tankwell, I strategically placed more Silent Traction in there to keep the noise down and to stop unnecessary rubbing.

I mounted a few small sections of the new Scotty Track onto the center console in order to be able to mount cameras, rod holders etc. within reach. With the Gear Head Track Adapters I am now able to quickly move gear from the side Slide Trax to the center console with a simple turn of the head and sliding it into the new track.

I mounted my Lowrance Elite 5 DSI onto a Scotty post with a 1/4″ piece of HDPE for a base. I used the Lowrance Scupper transducer mount for my transducer and still needed a good system for my power. I settled on the Scotty Downrigger plug and receptacle. This would allow me to easily unplug the fishfinder and remove my transducer if needed and still have a water tight hull. I coiled up all the loose cables and tied them off to a small piece of HDPE I attached to the Scotty rod holder that came with the boat. Using this system I am able to take this unit off my kayak and use it on any other boat. I purchased an extra receptacle and mounted it on a water tight box with a Scotty deck mount on the lid to make this unit portable.

I added some foam to the sides of my new Phase 3 AirPro elevated seat. This will allow me to place lures and flies to dry or for quick access for those locations where I am finding the need to change lures often.

I purchased 2 sheets of 1/4″ HDPE to use to make some custom crates and other additions to my kayak. I took measurements of the tankwell on my Ride and got to work making a custom crate. I mounted 2 pieces of PVC in the crate angled slightly back to keep rods or nets in. I mounted a tool rack to the front of it to hold pliers, scissors and hook remover. On either side of the rack I mounted more of the foam for lures and flies. I mounted eyelets on the sides towards the back with short bungees to hold the back down. On the front I mounted J-clips to the sides to allow me to use the existing bungees on the tankwell to hold the front down.

My kayak is now ready to get out and enjoy the warm weather that is here and hopefully a lot of great memories will be made in this new toy with my friends and family on the water.