Paddlin’ with Madalyn: Artificial vs. Live Bait & Storage Options on a Kayak
Story and photos by Madalyn Roberts
When fishing out of a kayak, space is always at premium. So, it’s important to know what method of fishing you will be using to target crappie and what bait goes along with it. I’ve always been a big fan of artificial baits, mostly because I like the challenge of figuring out what it is the fish are biting on any given day. To make that work, I have to make sure I have the right baits packed somewhere in my kayak within arms’ reach of my seat.
Accessories I cannot live without include my YakAttack TracPak Stackable Storage Boxes, which are track mounted in front of my seat. In my mission to be organized, I discovered that one of the TracPaks will hold two medium and three small terminal tackle boxes from FishUSA, which are perfect to hold all types of small terminal tackle in an organized and compact fashion.
The other organizational accessory I couldn’t live without is the YakAttack BlackPak Pro. It holds all my larger bait boxes and larger items like my first aid kit and rain gear. I’ve also recently added the ShortStak on top of the BlackPak Pro. I can certainly see why people refer to it as their junk drawer. Once assembled, I found my ShortStak was swiftly at capacity. It provides quick and easy access directly behind my seat.
Although I prefer the challenge of fishing with artificial baits, in 2025, I invested in a 7.5-quart Engel’s Live Bait Drybox/ Cooler because, at the end of the day, my goal is to catch fish, and I recognize that sometimes fish just want to eat live bait. The 7.5-quart size tucks perfectly between my kayak seat and the BlackPak Pro. Engels does have an option to upgrade to a rechargeable live bait aerator pump; however, Bubs Daddy Bait Aerator is arguably the quietest aerator pump on the market. While it may be a harder sell at double the price tag, the noise volume (or lack thereof) makes all the difference.
The other accessories I truly could not fish without are my rod holders. I utilize four Tethertube Rod Holders on either side of my BlackPak. Additionally, I have a set of YakGadget Flexrod Stager System Series Rod Holders track mounted to the side of my kayak, which store three rods horizontally—adjustable inward or outward depending on preference.
Some people think kayak fishing means the setup should be simple—one rod, maybe two max. Not me. I like to be prepared to fish any way that I need to at a moment’s notice depending on the water clarity, weather conditions and season. Whether I want to pull jigs, cast to brushpiles or fish a jig under a float, I’ll have a rod rigged and ready for action.
(Madalyn Roberts is from Kansas City, Missouri although she considers herself a southern transplant, having lived in Kentucky for 16 years. She serves her Louisville community by working for a non-profit organization facilitating free home repairs for elderly and disabled homeowners. In her spare time, she enjoys being in the outdoors in all capacities, especially fishing, hiking and camping.)
