The first rule for rigging my Hobie® Mirage® Pro Angler 14 for Lake Michigan king salmon is to keep it simple. I bring only what I need, cutting the weight of my rigged boat a good deal and making the trip more enjoyable. It’s also safer if adverse weather happens upon me while I’m on the water.
I bring only the basics when it comes to fishing rods, lures and equipment. Over the years getting my gear ready and my rods rigged has become second nature and takes little time. The weather and the fishing conditions can change day-to-day and hour-to-hour. I now spend just as much time, if not more, planning my trips around the forecasts and making sure that all my safety equipment is in good working order and stowed in its correct place on my kayak. Organization is the key to a successful and safe trip.
Safety first. Most important is my PFD; I wear an NRS Chinook life jacket that has a high back allowing me to wear it comfortably in hot weather. It is bright orange for increased visibility. The four chest pockets allow me to stow my compass/signal mirror, my fishing license, safety whistle, small dive knife, and my floating marine VHF radio. I also have a small waterproof blinking light beacon on the rear of my PFD for emergency use. My PFD keeps my equipment organized and at hand even if I’m separated from my kayak. I also carry a 12-gauge marine signal flare attached to the side of my Pro Angler 14 seat.
Newly added to my Hobie PA 14 this season are SuperNova LED Fishing Lights. They have proven extremely useful on foggy mornings with visibility one-quarter of a mile. Friends say my LED lights are visible for nearly one-half a mile. Large charter boats pulling planer boards are common in the waters I fish. I often hit the water two hours before first light. I’m more visible now.
I have also installed four red LED strips in the cockpit to aid me in knot tying and other tasks. They provide just enough light without disrupting my night vision. I always have my Hobie Visicarbon flag and light combo on my kayak and in use when it is dark. Generally I use my LED lights when I am leaving or entering a harbor and it’s dark out, when I am hooked into a fish, or if I think a powerboat is heading in my direction and it seems like the crew doesn’t see me.
A decent sonar/GPS combo is a must. You don’t need to drop a ton of money but I recommend spending a bit more for a unit with down-scan imaging or the newer chirp technologies. GPS capabilities are a must. They allow me to mark bait and track areas that produce well throughout the season or even from year to year. Vast commercial fishing nets span miles in some parts of Lake Michigan. Marking the leading edges as well as paths through the nets is very beneficial. These nets act as structure and also hold scattered schools of baitfish. More than a few times I have caught salmon on the edges of commercial fishing nets.
Once I start marking fish at a certain depth I like to present my baits three to five feet above them in the water column. King salmon generally strike baits above them more readily than when they are below.
A big net is a very important piece of equipment when kayak fishing for king salmon. I use a Frabill Power Stow Net. It folds in half and has a telescoping handle that makes storing such a large item a breeze on almost any kayak.
In my region of Lake Michigan we are allowed to troll up to three rods per person on a vessel. If you are just starting out and still not very comfortable fishing on a large body of water such as Lake Michigan I recommend starting off with only two rods, or even one. Once I set my lines on the sides I then run a third down the middle. This is very easy to do if you have sturdy rod holders and planer boards.
Planer boards clip onto your fishing line anywhere from a few feet to 100 feet from your fishing lure. They allow your lure to dive to the depth you want and then they pull your line out away and to the side of your kayak allowing you to cover more water and to easily run a third line down the middle. I prefer to use Offshore Tackle mini planer boards, they are easy to see and work the best for me. As for rod holders I use Scotty Powerlocks with the 8.5-inch extension arms that connect firmly into the Scotty flush mount base adapter. This setup allows for many different angles and adjustments while remaining super strong.
Remember to keep things simple by bringing only what you know you will need. Spend a lot of your time on planning your trip and making sure your safety equipment is working. Always tell someone where you’re going and when you should be back. By packing light and keeping your boat streamlined you will have more successful trips by allowing you stay on the water for longer periods of time.
