Know where you are going - NOAA Charts and pond maps help you plan!

Kayaks are fun, but they aren't the biggest of boats. The pros of using a small boat, including stealth and the ability to navigate around in skinny waters, are balanced by a few cons. Practical limitations like trip range, how much gear you can take, and safety are probably top things to have in mind when you are rigging up for the day.

When you are ready to start planning your trip, Google Maps can be a great place to start. Using Google Maps can give you a good idea what a particular body of water looks like, help identify launch points, and give you a general idea of where big picture depth changes happen. For even more details, use maps from the NOAA costal charts, like this one of the mouth of the Merrimack:

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife also provides accurate depth charts for bodies of fresh water. Click here to view maps.

As well as the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game. Click here to view maps.

Take a look at Winnipesaukee:

Now there is a water body with serious structure changes. It has everything from coves averaging 20 ft in depth to trenches that reach 120 ft! Even at that depth there’s not much sense in lugging around huge reels with 500 yard line capacity made for canyon fishing.

These maps shouldn’t be considered a substitute for the detail provided by a good GPS / fish finder unit, but they do give you enough information to pick your gear for the day. I find that I am frequently guilty of taking more gear than I need, and sometimes leaving home the gear that I shouldn't pass over.

Kayaks and canoes aren't bass boats, and they certainly aren't deep offshore boats. Make sure you do a little research up front, know what kind of water and structure you will see for the day, and just take what gear you need. You'll be prepared, and save yourself the headache of lugging around extra gear that won't be used. The same holds true if you're buying gear. A little research up front and you can make sure you get the right gear, for the places you will actually be exploring.

Have fun, get some fresh air. Sincerely,

The Metal Fish