New gear reviews

SeaDek foam traction pads offer stylish looks while making your kayak stealthier through noise reduction. They also reduce standing fatigue and make the deck cooler to the touch. The pads are easy to clean and resist mud and blood stains.

SeaDek Kayak Traction Pads

Made from closed cell PE/EVA foam, SeaDek pad kits for kayaks offer an exceptional traction surface, and also add to a kayak’s stealth factor by reducing noises caused by dropping or hitting gear against the plastic deck. The cushiony foam also lessens fatigue from prolonged standing, and keeps the deck much cooler to the touch on hot summer days. The kits come pre-cut for a wide variety of major kayak brands and models, but can also be easily custom designed for any kayak with an available template kit. The deck pads come in a wide variety of customizable colors, with the ability to add on graphic options, fish rulers and more to make your kayak truly one of a kind. Adding a complimentary colored border makes the pads really stand out. There are two available surface textures: brushed or embossed. The durable foam is easy to clean and resists staining from fish blood and even Louisiana swamp mud. The pads come backed with a powerful peel and stick adhesive that goes on and stays on. It’s easy to apply as a do-it-yourself modification, or it can be professionally installed by most kayak dealers. Applying SeaDek to your kayak is a great upgrade that makes fishing more comfortable, cleaning more effortless and your kayak more cool. SeaDek also will send out a free sample kit of several color, texture and thickness options. Prices vary depending on the amount of pad coverage and any chosen custom options. Expect the average standard kit to cost between $150 and $250.

More information: www.seadek.com

The Fish Grip

Although not technically a new product, the Fish Grip has gone through many changes and upgrades since it was originally introduced more than 16 years ago. This little plastic tool is great for landing and handling all types of fish in a kayak, but especially toothy ones. And it’s inexpensive, light weight and it floats. Handling fish in the close confines of a kayak can be a dicey proposition. However, the Fish Grip allows the angler to get complete control of the business end of the fish without causing any harm. Whether it is for catch-and-release or putting the fish in the cooler, this handy tool should be on every kayak. They come in a variety of colors, including glow, and have an attached wrist lanyard. The Fish Grip was developed by avid anglers with the goal of finding a safer way to land a fish — safer for the fish, and the angler. It comes in both original and a new junior size for handling smaller fish, or for those that find the original size just a bit too big. MSRP: $14.95 original and $10.99 for the junior.

More information: www.thefishgrip.net

About Chris Holmes 254 Articles
Chris Holmes has kayak fished in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and many places in between.