Depth Finder/Trandsducer Install on Ascend FS12T (Thru Hull)

Ready for another custom mod to add to your kayak? We’ve shown you how to install a transducer through a scupper hole (Jackson Cuda thru Scupper transducer install) and now we are going to show you how to add a through hull transducer and depth finder to your kayak. More specifically we will be doing the install on a 2011 Ascend FS12T.

First off lets talk about what you’ll need for the install.

We won’t go into detail about buying a depth finder on this post. If you’ve found your way to this post most likely you have already purchased one and are ready to move on to the install. Just so you know, I will be installing an Eagle Fish Finder 180.

As mentioned before, the kayak we are using for the install is an Ascend FS12T from Bass Pro. Don’t let that stop you from using these instructions as a guide for installing the thru hull transducer on another brand or model kayak. The way we are installing the transducer will work on just about any kayak.

Here’s a list of what you need for the thru hull transducer install and Depth Finder mounting:

GaKayakFishing.com featured on Kayak Angler Magazine website

Today GaKayakFishing.com's Craig Mathews and Matt Tiffany were featured on Kayak Angler Magazine's website (link below).

It all started with a request for a retweet and next thing you know Matt was contacted by Ben Duchesney of Kayak Angler Magazine. Ben was wanting to know more about the two Georgia anglers who make up GaKayakFishing.com. He was interested in knowing more about their latest video (Episode 2).

Check out the article here, and then please tweet, like, and share it along with the new Episode 2 video.

Let's continue to bring more attention to this great sport we all love! 

Follow Ben at @BDuchesney and Kayak Angler at @KayakAnglerMag

New Video - Episode 2 is out!

Hey y'all! Just thought we'd share with you all that we've posted our latest video on the front page of the blog. Stop by and check it out ASAP and let us know what you think. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it.

Tight lines!

MJ

Are you ready to GoPro on your Kayak?

In March of last year we posted a teaser blog to let you know we were working on bringing you our thoughts on the less expensive White Model GoPro cameras. Well today is that day. We've spent many hours working on various setups and certainly how to put all that raw footage together into something you want to watch over and over.

I really don't want to waste your time with a bunch talk, so I'm going jump right into the meat of what you need to know and I'm going to break protocol by starting with the closing statement. Yes, if you love kayak fishing then you need to get one of these great little cameras! Even if you can't string together clips and turn them into a great short movie, like Teg can, it's still really fun to look back across your footage and relive that catch!

Getting started

Both Teg and I ordered our GoPro cameras from Walmart.com. We both started with the GoPro White cameras, a 16 GB memory card, and a handle bar mount kit. The specs on the White version are below.

 

MJ- I began by mounting the handle bar kit to the lower half of a 10 foot beach rod. And while this did work, for me it just wasn't a final solution. I want options and ease of use which my first rig didn't provide.

 

Teg- I started with a broken beach rod handle inserted into a PVC pole to mount his handle bar kit and GoPro to.  The old rod handle slips perfectly into the PVC pipe which fits into the rod holder on the Ascend FS12T. A pool float was slipped over the rod handle to allow the camera and rod handle to float. 

Installing a Fish Finder on a Kayak

It's summer time and where have the bass gone? Well I can tell you this, without a fish finder you'll be guessing! So let's get one installed and go find them! Don't know how? Not a problem...

Mount the Transducer

There are a few places you can mount the transducer, inside the hull, over the side, or thru the scupper. Now there may be some other locations but these are the three most popular locations. Deciding where to mount your transducer depends on a few different factors. What kind of fishing do you like to do, deep lakes, shallow or small water, blue water, river, etc. Basically will your transducer be exposed to damage. Next you want to consider the type of fish finder you have. Most standard fish finders will work well in any location you choose. DSI or down scan imaging fish finders, like the one I'm installing today, may not work well when inside the hull. While some people may have luck with this type of installation, Lowrance specifically states in their mounting instructions that thru hull installations are not recommended because it significantly degrades the DSI performance.
Because my fish finder is a DSI I'm going to mount thru a scupper hole for direct access to the water and hopefully best results. One note before I continue, there are plenty of discussions about turbulent water around the scuppers causing less than desired performance out of your transducer. I made the decision to ignore these discussions after I came across a scupper transducer mount made by Lowrance.


With all the above said, here's how I did mine. I started with a threaded plastic tube from the plumbing department of Lowes. Cost about $1.50. I added a cap to help retain the pipe from falling through. I used a 1" diameter pipe but the size might be different depending on what will fit through your scupper. Measure your scupper and head to Lowes or Home Depot.

Jackson Cuda 14 Review

Before I start this review I should share with you that my Cuda is my first kayak.While it's not the first kayak I've fished from, it is the first kayak I've owned. So I would not classify myself as an expert kayak fisherman. What I am, is a guy who does hours upon hours of research on things before I purchase them...and then I analyze the heck out of them after I own them.

Let's start with the first thing we all see, one awesome looking kayak! I've owned my Cuda for over 18 months and am still impressed with how cool it looks! Hey, let's face it...looking cool is important too right?!

Vanity out of the way, the next thing that caught my eye was the seat. What looks to be a beach style seat resting in the place where some foam style kayak seat would usually be resting. My first thought was, is that thing going to be comfortable for hours of fishing? The answer to that question is yes! I've fished in that seat for up to 7 hours of continuous fishing only taking a break to eat a sandwich on a shoreline. Although the Elite Seat isn't always the first thing that catches our eye, its the multiple positions you can put it in that really draws our interest. There's a low position, high position, and an out of the way position (yeah, out of the way). The low position is just slightly higher than the normal SOT kayak. This position is a very stable seating position in the Cuda and feels very comfortable for even a first time kayak fisherman. The high position is, in my opinion, awesome! Its slightly less stable than the low position, who wouldn't expect that? But its considerably more stable than you might think. It feels very much like riding a dirt bike, it doesn't want to tip over but you can make it lean if you want to...and of course there is a tipping point but it's really difficult to reach...check out the video below.

OTW (out of the way) position

This is a name I've given it obviously, but its very accurate for what it is. Before I get into that though, I think it's necessary for me to first discuss the stability of this kayak as its directly related to OTW seating position.

This boat is made to stand in, period. If you turn this boat upside down you'll see a flat bottom with what almost looks like pontoons. Whatever you call it, it does a great job of making you feel secure while standing or sitting. This is coming from a guy who's a little top heavy. While I'm not Chad Hoover, I am 6' 3” 215 lbs. While learning to stand and fish, I've leaned so hard I've actually felt what feels like secondary flotation kick it and the boat become even harder to tip over. While getting to that point is a bit scary, it was very reassuring when I didn't tip over!

So what's all that have to do with the OTW seat position? Well if you want a little more foot room you're able to securely put the seat into the cargo area. Now I know it sounds like I'm saying just tossing it back there is a position. But it's not really that. The feet of the seat actually fit into indentations in the boat which help keep it in place so you can use the large flat area where the seat normally is to stand and fish from. Then sit in the seat and paddle to the next location without needing to place the seat back in a forward position. Pretty cool huh?

Ribz Front Pack Review

I recently had a chance to take the Ribz front pack out kayak fishing. What the heck is a Ribz front pack? Well, according to the manufacturer's website, the front pack was designed by backpacking experts for packing equipment in a way that redistributes weight for comfort. The front pack sits up near your rib cage, thus aptly named Ribz, and has straps that go around your back and over your shoulders. The front pack looks nice and seems to be made of a durable (nylon) material that is water resistant. The regular size pack design has around 700 cubic inches of storage area. The small size has around 500 cubic inches. When putting it on it reminded me of a fly fishing vest, which is better than my first thought....a fanny pack (C’mon,I know you were thinking the same thing!).

 

360 degree view of the Ribz front pack

Of course, backpacking was not why the Ribz front pack interested me. My mind was filled with ways to use it while kayak fishing. As we kayak fishermen know, it’s important to have everything organized, within reach and quickly accessible. With that being said, just by putting on the front pack, you gain storage areas right at your fingertips. The front pack is divided into two matching sections (Left & Right side) connected by a zipper. You unzip the middle to put on and take off the front pack. Each of the two sections has two zippered pockets. One large pocket and one small pocket. Inside the two large pockets, attached to the back, are two small mesh pockets. Needless to say, there are lots of options when packing. Here are a few pics showing the design of the front pack.