Kayak Setup 2014

New setup video here:
• My Tarpon 120 Fishing ...
A look at how I've rigged my Tarpon 120 kayak.

[@xrtgameryt8008]

In general, the TI units are faster in response to inputs. This is seen when quickly switching between sonar, downscan, chart, and split screens kzbin.infoUgkxeAxH15LxhjGlg5-CRYqjTGTEH0tbY4vk recommend The Hook units will show some lag on button pushes and screen switching. The big ticket item though is maps. If you install a mapping card such as Navionics or the free C-Map Genesis which has a lot of map detail, then moving around the map with the cursor or when running down the lake can lag significantly on the Hook units, but is seamless with the TI units.

[@ndyakangler]

They're great kayaks! The only thing I'm not wild about with the newer ones is that they got rid of the center hatch. I like to stash a bunch of stuff in there where it's easy to access on the water.

[@99tdtdtd]

Probably one of the cleanest, well edited videos I've seen on KZbin. Nice work and thank you! I just bought a Feel Free 11.5 Lure Kayak and I need to start dressing it up.

[@AllynHane]

You know, I have to just add one criticism here - I think you forgot "the kitchen sink" here! ha! Man, that was the most complete and thorough setup video I've ever seen. And your camera and audio rigs would rival anything the Discovery Channel uses. Nice job dude.

[@BaJampants]

gluing Legos as a method of removable attachment is some next level genius DIY

[@seanserafini3011]

That is quite the setup. Very impressive fabrication on the go pro mounts. Videos like this inspired me to get a fishing kayak last week and so far I have caught more bass out of it than all of last year. I got 5 big boys in 15 minutes this morning, that yak was well worth the money.

[@emtp1013]

Pure genius buddy. Love the way you power the gopro.

[@armandorjusino]

He sure love those Tarpon kayaks, has another one now with a very similar high tech setup, great instructional video.

[@papagrouch8416]

Just saw your video for the first time. I'm brand new to kayak fishing, so these ideas mean a lot. Have to tell you, really appreciate your innovations and the way you make so much from such a small craft. Big cudos to you, VERY nicely done! Thanks for taking the time and effort to put this video together for all of us. Any more ideas will be welcome with open arms.

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! There is a more recent setup video of my camo green Tarpon 120 too. That video is a few years old now but other than adding a power pole mount on the back it’s still set up the same.

[@Tankaray22]

That was one of the most unique and genius video setups I've ever seen on a kayak!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! These camera rigs worked great and even my new kayak has a rebuilt version of them using carbon fiber tubes and all black plastic and hardware. They look awesome on my camo Tarpon!

[@robertdotfox]

Your camera mounts are so well done! Inspiring. I've enjoyed watching everyone's kayak videos so much that I'm going to start making my own.

[@backlashfishing1013]

A lot of time and thought went into your setup. Great work!

[@adamsational]

sweet setup! great to see such a detailed setup. love watching the vids too... Cheers!

[@nathanwooler8047]

awesome setup! particularly love the LEGO piece connectors for the flashlight and gopro. GENIUS!!

[@davidhumphreys2377]

Awesome setup man! Loved my Tarpon. I actually traded my Tarpon 120 for a Jackson Cuda 12 this year.

[@BrightTribe]

Now I know what MacGyver's kayak looks like.

[@cavazosa4]

Dude, you're rigging is great!. I especially like the way you powered both of your GoPro's feeding power to them. Nice work, well thought out and quality construction. Thanks for sharing.

[@chede5985]

Wow, this is a cool set up. I'm so impressed. My kids and I are just beginning to canoe/kayak this year.

[@chede5985]

***** Thanks for posting your cool videos. Take care.

[@allenculbreath7179]

Would love a detailed tutorials on how to build that go pro mount and battery system.

[@johnkraemer5505]

Wow! I enjoyed your video very much! Very nice job on wiring up the kayak to support the flashlight and GoPros!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! It's no fun having to stop fishing to change batteries!

[@pedrogregorio]

You have the best setup for the money. Amazing work! I cant wait to get a kayak because now I feel inspired to outfit to my liking!

[@pedrogregorio]

Great advice! I look forward to your future videos! Subscribed :D

[@ADAMcoolwaterfish]

Nice setup! I love the use of the Legos! :)

[@josueponce2896]

Dude your inventions are amazing

[@Morphen188]

Really Nice set up, very creative with the mounts.

[@vw4fun]

ND, you have got the best yak videos EVER!!! I'm rigging my T160 and I'm always coming back to see how you rigged your Tarpon. Way cool. And Topwater Strikes! I've watched about 6 times.

[@ryanpollock4808]

Brilliant, and great engineering! Thanks for posting.

[@jakobmosbrucker692]

Holy shit guy you don't fuck around do you!!! What an awesome rig

[@Steeleprophet]

by far one of the coolest kayak fishing setups on youtube! mainly because of how extravagant the gopro mounts are too. hopefully you never tip this kayak

[@AaronBarthol]

Awesome kayak! You wouldn't happen to be an engineer by trade would you? Your ingenuity and ability to fabricate these modifications is awesome. Can't wait to see more videos from this fishing season!

[@yakanglernj8798]

Nice update ND! When I was debating between a OK Trident 13 and a WS Tarpon 120 I came across your first review and it sold me on the Tarpon. Been extremely happy with my choice ever since. You've made a few changes since then and it looks good. But you must be an electrical engineer or something. lol The way you rigged your camera and stuff is genius!! I'm still working on my camera rigging. Great stuff man!

[@g12track]

Man awesome setup it was great engineering on your part. Keep up the great content

[@23v0lv32]

wow. what an amazing rig! thanks for the cool video!

[@JerryLester]

Really excellent the way you've powered your cameras. I use remotes to turn my two cameras on when I get a strike...and lose fish when I take my hand off the reel. I have to do that because I don't run them full time as you do.

[@HanksOutdoors]

very impressive! nice work with the electronics it doesn't get much cleaner than that.

[@Bullwolf1965]

Great Job! love the GoPro set up.

[@ericarvid1]

So cool. Thank you for sharing and teaching us newbies. :)

[@joedonuts13]

I enjoy your videos ND. I live in the midwest as well so I have a love for the same species you do. Your Yak is set up top notch and you've thought out every addition on it. I just got into Yak fishing and and I picked up a used SOT Bass Pro FS128T. I haven't set it up yet but I will take some of your ideas and implement them to my situation. My Yak is a bit of a tank but I will use it for a year and see how i like it. Keep the videos coming and good luck in 2015!

[@benarnold7770]

Really sweet setup. I really like your camera set up.

[@benarnold7770]

*****You've really put in a massive amount of effort with those cameras. You could almost do a video just on those. I'd actually be really interested. What kind of cost was involved in that camera set up?

[@jameswozniak8324]

That's a heck of a rig!

[@WI_angler]

Awesome! You sure do have plenty of options. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going to add a LTB rod now. I don't have a kayak personally, but I do have an excellent old town osprey canoe that lets me get away with a longer rod. I've also been looking at the 6' 8" mxf, seems like a good choice. It's either that one or the 6' 10" MF. Lately I've been thinking about going for a ML option for light grubs and weightless plastics. So many option! Can't decide!

[@Zanmiester]

Awesome setup, I love how you did the audio/video on board, looks great!

[@Zanmiester]

***** Nice, I can imagine the carbon fiber and black looks great.

[@Th3Prosp3ct]

Very nice setup, thanks for sharing.

[@dtrn750]

Perfect set up. Thanks for sharing

[@markwelch7125]

Amazing video exactly what i need for my Garmin virb, when doing a night fishing expedition

[@ndyakangler]

The light is great for shooting video at night! The S10-L2 is the new version of this flashlight, 500 lumens vs the 320 I had here. They're awesome flashlights, I have another one as my EDC light.

[@markwelch7125]

well worth it especially from form and functional in a compact design

[@telemarkmann6870]

I watched the 2011 Kayak set up last night and the 2014 this morning. The 2011 version is more to my liking (needs) clean and simple. I don’t intend to film or use a fish finder. I will be sight fishing in skinny water. The thought of using a fish finder still lingers in my mind so time will tell. Some of the 2014 and your current set up video is so over my head yet still fascinating. If you opened a kayak outfitting service you would be booked solid for years to come. The 2014 front camera mount is a thing of beauty. I want one just because it is so beautiful. The 2011 rear light is so clever yet simple, something I can use. I checked the weather in Fargo last night. Daytime highs ranging from 50 to 70 degrees, can we expect a new video soon?

[@ndyakangler]

I’ll have to do a new setup video this year. I’m planning on building a new crate with more room for rods and minus the camera mount since I use the hat cam most of the time. Plus I added the power pole after my other two setup videos. The warm temps should be melting the ice off the lakes. I’m hoping to find some open water later this week.

[@robertpapps3618]

Nice job and well thought out!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! This setup has worked great for me the last few years, even my new kayak is set up almost identical to this one.

[@jeffhorton258]

I loved the way you did all that. You must have a machine shop. The only thing that would not work for me is the electrical connections. Because we fish a lot of saltwater. And that corrodes everything.

[@scuba6797]

Great clean set up. I'm working on doing something like this for my Predator MX fishing kayak. I really want to figure out exactly how you set up the external battery for the cameras. I can't believe I thought Id be stuck changing those small batteries every 30 minutes or so. Glad to see there is a much more efficient way. I'm in the middle of binge watching all your videos from the start. Amazing adventures!

[@ndyakangler]

Lithium power banks weren't available, or at least affordable back when I first put these camera rigs together. That's the way I'd go if I was to rebuild something like them. I think most if not all of the lithium power banks have a 5v usb output so there's no need for any voltage converter, just a usb to mini usb cord for the older GoPro's or a usb to I belive it's a type-c connector cord on the newer GoPro's, then you just run the cord from the power bank to the input on the GoPro and it will charge as you film. These days I do most of my filming with the hat cam for a better point of view when I stand up or hop out of the kayak. The Hero 5 I use has pretty decent battery life, at least in warm weather. It will usually run about 90 minutes on 1080/30 before I have to swap batteries and I have about a dozen of the generic 3/$20 type you can find on Amazon. I also chopped up the frame case the Hero 5 comes with so I could epoxy a small part of it with the mounting tabs to the top of the GoPro. This allows me to swap batteries without even taking the hat off, rather than removing the whole thing from the hat, then removing the GoPro from the case to access the battery door. Less time messing with the camera and more time fishing!

[@scuba6797]

@@ndyakangler Thank you for the detailed info.

[@nyinfamous2k2]

very cool setup. i enjoyed the video. relaxing but informative

[@TopWaterAssassin78]

I have never kayaked before and I have been thinking about trying kayak fishing. You have a nice setup. I like how you have the go pros mounted.

[@TopWaterAssassin78]

Is there a type of kayak you recommend for beginners? I dont care about speed. I care more for stability.

[@TopWaterAssassin78]

Thank you for the help. There is a local lake in my area and I think they rent kayaks. I will have to look into it. I appreciate the advice.

[@JAllredFishing]

Nice setup, I got some very good ideas. Thanks

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! I have a more recent video showing my new camo Tarpon too although it's set up almost identical to this one. A few minor changes and some better building materials but as far as function its pretty much the same.

[@Rob.Brown13]

Wow that camera setup is awesome!! You should just do a basic guide on how to make something like that would love to have one of those for when I eventually get a go pro and start recording

[@ashure36]

That thing is awesome!

[@BigBensThaBSGD]

Very impressive mate!

[@jgalvan341]

Camera mount is amazing. I am jealous

[@TexanGuy]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@maxbender8367]

That is a beautiful rig

[@JeffMalott]

Love the Tarpon, nice vid

[@ndyakangler]

Jeff Malott Thanks! I picked up a new camo Tarpon over the winter and rebuilt all the accessories so I'll be doing a new setup video soon!

[@sansan1337]

You should make a how-to on that video mount, so we can all have super battery power!

[@soonstrgzr]

great idea with the lego piece!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! I wasn't sure how well it would hold once the flashlight heats up but it hasn't fallen off yet!

[@sergiomartinez6668]

Great Kayak and Great Setup!!Thanks!

[@lxt890421]

kayak fishing engineer!

[@ilovefriedrice9891]

wow love that lego block!

[@XvXHAWK]

Really nice setup and nice video i also have a kayak the ascend fs12T

[@brandoneubank3779]

Im getting the 128t soon. How do you like yours?

[@FISH4KAYAK]

Nice setup. Congrats

[@UncleLarryOutdoors]

Such a badass kayak

[@fenrir3531]

That looks like a lot of money and it also looks like I need one

[@nicholascomi306]

That was the most insane camera work I've ever seen. You should patent that shit I'll be your first order! Haha good job buddy!!!

[@griffinharrison9861]

Love your videos so much. Im looking to get the tarpon 100

[@drewolm]

Thats an incredible set up! One of these days some kayak company is going to offer you a job as a designer.

[@drewolm]

Sweet, look forward to some vids of that setup!

[@pamela8570]

Awesome setup

[@blackhillsoutdoorsman5487]

you just earned yourself a new subscriber! I am trying to get into filming my fishing and things and this setup is wicked!!! Hopefully, I can figure something out for a similar setup!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! I've been extremely happy with how the camera rigs worked out. I actually rebuilt them a couple years ago when I got my camo kayak and used a carbon fiber pole and all black ABS and HDPE plastic to make the parts. They function exactly the same but they look a lot nicer and only weigh about half as much as the ones shown here.

[@blackhillsoutdoorsman5487]

NDYakAngler how do you machine these parts you make? are they special tools you own? I did see that video also, that setup looks even more professional!

[@ndyakangler]

I have a drill, dremel, jig saw, and a cheap drill press I use to make everything. Most of the parts with a flat edge I'll cut and dremel sand them as good as I can get, then I lay an old 9ah fish finder battery on a piece of sandpaper and hold the plastic piece against it while sanding to get a nice 90 degree edge. For all the round parts I'd cut them as close as I could get then drill a hole in the middle, screw a machine screw into it, then pop it into my drill press and use it like a lathe with a sharpened nail or a small file to remove material. I used King Starboard for a lot of the parts. It's a marine grade version of HDPE plastic although regular HDPE (cutting board plastic) also works fine. I used some pvc fittings for the project too but even those had to be modified in one way or another.

[@blackhillsoutdoorsman5487]

NDYakAngler thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to give you all the credit.... assuming I can figure it out haha

[@ndyakangler]

No problem! It took me well over a month to build both the camera rigs last time. A lot of that time was spent just brainstorming how to tackle the next step in the building process. I used lots of double sided carpet tape to temporarily hold plastic pieces together while drilling holes for screws and for making duplicate parts. HDPE is easy to work with but doesn't bond with glue well so pretty much everything has to be screwed together. One thing that would make the rig a lot easier to build would be instead of having the electrical connector pins internally like I do, keep the power supply in the milk crate but have a cord from it long enough to wrap around the pole and up to the camera once it's in place. Honestly if I ever ran mine into a tree and had to rebuild that's probably how I'd do it.

[@iMotostik]

Such a perfect setup!

[@jchae35jc]

That's cool! Thanks for the info.

[@jodynolan5569]

Wow, great set up !

[@tylerdunbar4248]

That is a GREAT setup!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks Tyler! This setup worked great! When I picked up another Tarpon last year it got rigged up almost exactly the same as this one.

[@stokley121]

Any particular reason you went from one Tarpon 120 to another Tarpon 120? I'm eyeing the Tarpon line for my first kayak and leaning towards the 100 because of space, money, and ease of transport. The 120 is probably more future proof, but I'd to spend some money rigging it up. This setup is ridiculous though - I watched your video on the newer one also. The new green color is excellent.

[@samuelhobden3405]

Nice rig, I got a seal rapid for x mas hoping to do it up over time

[@dimebonics8542]

very impressive camera setup, subbed just to see what you can do with em!

[@veronicastewart1959]

Great video ! Wish you could do a how to video on the camera hook up with the battery ! Again great video thanks !!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks Veronica! I might do a basic how to power a gopro video at some point, really all you need to make it work is a car usb charger, Gopro cord, and a 12v battery.

[@93sr20dett]

great video!! I'm super interested in learning more about your camera setups. more how to wire them and using the converters. battery's all that stuff. maybe send me in a direction to learn more about your setup and how to do it. thanks for sharing

[@collienoo]

Hey man! Top vid. I really enjoy watching your mod ideas, I use my T120 for inshore fishing on the west coast of Ireland. Hope to use some of your ideas on my yak, don't think I could manage the tech stuff tho :-( thanks again.

[@jamess6734]

Dude you seriously made all this stuff home made? holy crap, what is your career? Wicked smart.

[@HugDeeznueces]

Great setup!

[@СергейХорзеев-й5л]

Классный каяк :-) !

[@kathleenfarrell5027]

cool set up

[@nicholassmerk]

Wow, nice work!

[@kingkods91]

I like your videos. I just started getting into kayak fishing and your setup gave me some ideas. Just a note, to solve your rod issue why don't you just turn the middle holder around?

[@HugoCastroPhoto]

great setup! thanks for sharing :-)

[@TB-zh9pe]

Thanks for posting this video. I like the simplicity of your lure selection. Is there a particular reason why you don't use spinner baits for river smallmouths? They are very popular here in eastern rivers, but they are a problem to carry because they take up so much space. Thanks again.

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! Sorry for the delay, your comment ended up in the spam folder somehow so I just noticed it. That's one reason I don't use them much, they take up so much space in my tackle box. I guess I've just never had much luck with them either. I prefer a Reef Runner Cicada or a Spook for working large areas of water. Most of the time on the small rivers I fish its easy to look along the bank and see spots where smallies will likely be hiding so throwing a jig in front of their ambush spot will usually get them.

[@TheBrooksie1417]

Wow just wow. Sick setup, and awesome intro, what a gorgeous launch spot. Makes me want to go fishing now lol. Question. I've been fishing most of my life but really got into the sport in depth over the last 5 years. I have primarily fished from shore in freshwater, and have done it from the standing position. I also have went out on my friends boat a few times, where i preferred standing in the boat fishing rather than sitting in one of the seats. I am now in the market for a Kayak, and am debating spending the extra money to get a sit-on-top as opposed to a sit-in kayak. Is fishing from the sitting position putting you at a disadvantage? I really think I want to be able to stand in my kayak.

[@ndyakangler]

Chris B. Hey thanks man, I'm hoping to get out in the next week or two and do a setup video on my new camo Tarpon 120. There are plenty of options for stand up kayaks out there and even though my Tarpon isn't really designed for it I'll occasionally stand up and cruise through the shallows in calm water and see if I can spot any fish. Most of the time though standing really doesn't give me much of an advantage. I fish for smallmouth on a lot of rivers and reservoirs where the water is either too fast to stand or to murky to really see much. When I'm after largemouth I do a lot of jig fishing along deep weed lines and throwing frogs through scum or lily pads so there's not much of an advantage to stand up there either. Maybe the only time I'd really like a good stable kayak for standing on is for fishing largemouth during the spawn but that's only a couple weeks out of the season. The rest of the year I prefer speed and the ability to slice through river current easier than a wider more stable hull so I'd definitely factor in what kind of fishing you do and the type of waters you'll be fishing. I would recommend a sit on top if you'll be mostly using it for fishing.

[@chreim20]

Excellent review and awesome setup! Very innovative and fun to listen to how you set things up! Is that a salt water super spook jr. in your box? lol Enjoyed it, thanks for sharing!

[@dtzehl8618]

Nice kayak

[@darrenkozlowski3473]

Wicked setup man love the video setup just curious if those are poles from boat lights

[@tomwallis722]

This is hands down the best setup video I have seen! I love how you have creatively fabricated your equipment! Very impressive! You have inspired me to purchased the tarpon 100 which I plan to take on its maiden voyage this weekend. Currently I am working on the crate and anchor trolley system. What kind of crate did you use with your tarpon 120 and did it fit without modfiying? Do you find the dual trolley system is best or would a single trolley/full length trolley be fine? Thanks for the inspiration! Love the videos!

[@ndyakangler]

Tom Wallis Thanks Tom and congrats on picking up a kayak! I found an awesome spot today on the river to do a setup video with my new Tarpon so I'll be getting that edited and uploaded in the next week or two. Overall its set up pretty similar to this one. I use a standard size milk crate with a couple modifications. I had to grind down the two vertical edges along the front facing side so they slanted downward toward the bottom for it to fit flat against the front of the tank well. I also added a plastic piece on the bottom along the front so it would lift it up to the same height as the two ridges that run most of the length of the tank well, that way it sits nice and flat. The main problem I always saw with full length trolleys is keeping the ropes from creeping up over the side. The dual trolley on this kayak worked great, although I never really used the front portion so on my new kayak I only did from the center handle to the back.

[@JC-ns5uo]

man you obviously know what you're doing..That's an awesome setup! question: is it possible to build a live well by utilizing storage space?

[@samwallace8525]

you should do a how to on the camera pole

[@benasmus4676]

nice mount👍🏻

[@JakeJardashian]

What a fantastic setup. Are you and engineer or something? Lol.

[@jacobjohnson8794]

Great video! I have the problem with my GoPro dying on me all the time so I have to ask how exactly you have it set up and wired so you can charge it while your out on the water!?

[@davidaguiar1387]

Nice! Man, that gets the blood flowing! Btw, I find it interesting that although you seem to be on some pretty good sized rivers and lakes you (almost) never seem to have to share it with other boats/fisherman. Is the fishing really that remote or are you just leaving the competition on the cutting room floor?

[@davidaguiar1387]

David Aguiar Doh! Sorry, thought I was tying a comment to your latest topwater vid but youtube skipped me ahead to this older one.

[@ndyakangler]

David Aguiar I like to get out early. Most of the spots I fish are about an hour away so I'll hit the road around 4am to get on the water before sunrise. I hardly ever see anybody else until after noon. The rivers don't get much traffic either, the spots I generally fish are shallow and rocky so a kayak or canoe is really the only option. I am surprised I don't see more people in kayaks though, I'll run into them occasionally but only a couple had fishing gear with. I'd say bass fishermen are the minority too here in walleye country so a lot of the other boats I see on the lakes are trolling for walleye in deeper water.

[@fishingwithsonofahillbilly2317]

Nice setup. Love the way you hooked up your two cameras. I was wondering how wet the front one gets? I am sure you get some paddle splash. Any issues with rough water or bad weather? Thanks for the video!!

[@ndyakangler]

Thanks! I haven't had any problems yet and that front camera rig takes its fair share of splashes. If I have to paddle across a choppy lake or get caught in the rain I can pull both the camera rigs off and stash them inside one of the hatches. I rebuilt both camera rigs earlier this year too which I show in my more recent setup video. For the front rig I added some neodymium magnets to pull the camera rig together with the base where the power connectors meet with a rubber gasket in the middle so I doubt any water will ever get in through the bottom. There's still the hole in the Gopro case for the plug to go through but so far no water has found its way in.