Before we go any further – please wear your lifejacket when out on the water even if it’s summer, don’t just put it in the boat. I recommend the Astral Designs Sturgeon.

I’ve tried multiple types of rod holders for flyfishing out of a kayak and have enough experience with three brands – Scotty, YakAttack, and RAILBLAZA – that I feel informed enough to let you know what to expect when purchasing. My top choices would be Scotty if you have a sit in kayak with cockpit coaming and YakAttack if you have a kayak with gear tracks. Finally, I will also say pick up some rod leashes if you’re paranoid about dropping your gear into the drink. I’ve done it before and now use leashes.

I purchased my first kayak in 2010 and have been flyfishing out of kayaks and canoes since 2016. My first blog post on this website was about trolling flies for striped bass out of a kayak. I am an avid paddler and am most comfortable in small non motorized watercraft.

If you have a sit in kayak with a cockpit and coaming for gunnels that looks like this…

…then you should get yourself a Scotty 433 Coaming Gunnel Clamp Mount and a Scotty 260 Fly Rod Holder. Depending on how large your cockpit is, you can clamp the mount at the front of the cockpit, the side towards the bow, or the side towards the stern. Recreational and touring boats have differently sized cockpits, and paddlers have different strokes, so you’ll have to see what works for you.

Here’s a photo of me in a 17 foot sea kayak trolling for stripers with the Scotty mount and holder on my right side positioned slightly behind me so that it doesn’t interfere with my paddling stroke.

I would suggest removing the post from the 260 and the post mount from the 433. I’ve struggled with separating the pieces once inserted into each other, especially after use in saltwater, but the dials that twist the screws are easy to use. I’ve found the cockpit coaming clamp to be durable and secure, and while the strap on the rod holder might make you nervous, this is a quality product made in Canada and I’ve never needed to replace the strap.

If you have gear tracks on your kayak or have installed them i.e. things that look like this…

…then you have some options. Two of the larger brands besides Scotty in the world of kayak fishing are YakAttack and RAILBLAZA. My recommendation for a track mounted fly rod holder would be the YakAttack Omega Rod Holder.

You’re also welcome to try RAILBLAZA, either the Rod Holder II with MiniPort TracMount or the Rod Holder R with MiniPort TracMount. The R is similar to the Scotty with the strap, and the II is similar to the YakAttack with the collar. While I do like RAILBLAZA products and appreciate their customer service, I give the edge to YakAttack when it comes to ease of use for track mounted accessories.

If you’d like to talk to a professional in person or are interested in getting tracks or other types of mounts installed in your boat, I would recommend three New England locations – Mountain Road Trading Post in Raymond NH, The Kayak Centre in Wickford RI, or Black Hall Outfitters in Connecticut.