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Pro kayak setups can cost $25K, but a national champion says beginners don’t need to spend big
Professional kayak fishing rigs can cost up to $25,000, but champion angler Wyatt Hammond says newcomers do not need expensive equipment to take up the sport. His experience highlights how kayak fishing can offer a lower-cost alternative to bass boat competition, while still allowing anglers to compete at national level.
Hammond won the 2025 Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship and KBF national titles in 2024 and 2025. He recommends starting with a pedal-drive kayak for greater mobility and hands-free fishing, and says a mid-range or even paddled kayak can be enough to compete. He moved away from bass boats partly because of fuel and maintenance costs, including around $150 to fill a 36-gallon tank.
In short
- Pro kayak setups can reach $25,000.
- Wyatt Hammond says beginners can start for far less.
- He recommends a pedal-drive kayak for mobility.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Kayak fishing can make competitive angling more accessible because a newcomer can start with a modest kayak and build up equipment over time. Hammond’s experience suggests that expensive rigs are optional, while a pedal drive can offer useful mobility without the fuel and upkeep costs of a bass boat.
The case against
Even if beginners can start cheaply, the costs of competitive kayak fishing can rise substantially as anglers seek better mobility, electronics and other equipment. A basic setup may be enough to enter, but those with more expensive rigs could gain practical advantages, so the sport may be less affordable to compete in at the highest level than the low-cost entry point suggests.