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Reviews

Kayak Fishing Measuring Board Showdown – Hawg Trough vs Ketch Board vs Fish Stik

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When I started kayak fishing a few years ago, there was only one standard in measurement for kayak anglers – the classic Hawg Trough. Today kayak anglers have more options than ever for kayak fishing measuring boards, including two new players being accepted on tournament trails including NSKA and KBF, among others. What are the differences in each option and which one is the best? Keep reading as we review each of the three main competition measurement board options.

The Hawg Trough, Fish Stik and Ketch board are all solid kayak fishing measuring board options. photo: kayakfishingfocus.com
The Hawg Trough, Fish Stik and Ketch board are all solid kayak fishing measuring board options. photo: kayakfishingfocus.com

Hawg Trough Review – Jason Kincy

The most widely used and accepted kayak fishing measuring board around is the Hawg Trough. Widely available through local and national retailers, you can find the Hawg Trough for anywhere between $16 to $21 and often will come with a logo of a club or retailer already in place. I’ve been using a Hawg Trough since I began kayak fishing and have had good experiences overall. The Hawg Trough generally comes in white or hi-visibility yellow, with white being my preferred version. (I’m in the minority on that)

The Hawg Trough kayak fishing measuring board is the old-school method for kayak anglers to measure fish. Low cost and light weight are the best attributes of this board. - photo: kayakfishingfocus.com
The Hawg Trough kayak fishing measuring board is the old-school method for kayak anglers to measure fish. Low cost and light weight are the best attributes of this board. – photo: kayakfishingfocus.com

Hawg Troughs generally do not come with lines nor any flotation support, although new models area available pre-lined or with modifications to help it float. I’ve gotten pretty good at adding the lines, and if you mess up the permanent marker is easy to get off with some nail polish remover. As far as big fish go and breaking boards, I’ve measured some very large bass on it and have had no problems, it’s just a matter of making sure there’s some support. The light weight is a plus on my boat which is already weighted down with too much tackle and the lower price point allows me to have a backup board around just in case something happens.

For someone just starting out, it’s hard to beat the price and flexibility of the Hawg Trough.

= = = VIDEO from Tournament win, see Ketch Pics = = =

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Ketch Board Review – Dwain Batey

The next kayak fishing measuring board on our list is the heavy duty option from Ketch. When I first acquired one last year I wrote up this Ketch Board review. In this showdown of the kayak fishing measuring boards, Dwain Batey, avid Ketch Board user and kayak angler provides his breakdown.

The Ketch kayak fishing measuring board is the heavy duty option for kayak anglers, made of aluminum it is virtually indestructible.
The Ketch kayak fishing measuring board is the heavy duty option for kayak anglers, made of aluminum it is virtually indestructible.

“I bought my first Ketch Board on the last day of the 2018 KBF National Championship, and I’ve been nothing but impressed with the quality, durability and appearance of the board. After using it for almost a year now it looks just as good as it did when I first got the board.

The Ketch Board is not as price friendly as the other two boards in this review at $59.99 (with free shipping), but for an almost indestructible American made board with unmatched accuracy it’s well worth it, and with the 1/4” thick aluminum construction you’re never going to tear this thing up under normal conditions. Short of a car wreck or something crazy I can’t imagine how you’d ever hurt this thing.

As I mentioned Ketch Boards are 1/4” thick aluminum and engraved to within +/- .005” throughout the length of the board. The construction has many features to prevent board tampering, and they come in a wide range of colors. You can now even get your club’s logo or other custom laser engraved script on your board for an additional charge.

My one suggestion is that you put a light colored sticker on the fence where they fish’s nose touches especially on the darker colored boards so that it’s easier to tell if the nose is against the board for the Tournament Directors judging your fish.

The Ketch Board is heavy, and if I was worried about weight I would absolutely cut some somewhere else to make room for this board. It’s worth the weight to not have to worry about a breaking board If I catch a fish of a lifetime, or just happen to move wrong and put weight on the board. The black cradle that helps keep the fish centered on the board is also almost indestructible, I’ve yet to see anyone damage their cradle.

The Ketch Board absolutely doesn’t float, but has two holes for tethering it to your kayak. And they also sell a great color matched tethers from Never Lost Gear for just $12.00 that are coiled to stay out of your way.

If you want a top of the line board that you never have to worry about drawing the lines on, never have to worry about breaking, and is uncompromisingly American Made, Ketch Board is for you.”

Yak Gear Fish Stik Review – Tim Hotchkin

The final kayak fishing measuring board on the list is the Yak Gear Fish Stik, the only collapsible option approved by many tournament circuits. Tim Hotchkin, Natural State Kayak Anglers veteran and Fish Stik users provides his thoughts on this compact option.

The Yak Gear Fish Stik provides a big-time kayak fishing measuring board space which folds down for easy storage. - photo: kayakfishingfocus.com
The Yak Gear Fish Stik provides a big-time kayak fishing measuring board space which folds down for easy storage. – photo: kayakfishingfocus.com

“I have been using the Fish Stik since it was released and I like it a lot.  Some of the main benefits are:

  • Folds for storage and space.  I can often leave it under my seat so it’s not in the way while fishing.
  • Wider than other measuring boards I’ve used so I have less issues of fish coming off.
  • Floats which is nice as I have lost a few boards over the years due to knocking it off or dropping it when I dip it in the water before measuring.
  • It comes in 3 color options: Sunset (orange), white, and yellow.
The board does not come marked but a marker is included when you order one and the lines are raised pretty well so it’s easier to mark than others I’ve used before.  I know people get worried about durability due to hinges but I have measured several 20+ inch fish including my personal best that was around 24 inches and have never had an issue. “
Kayak Fishing Measuring Board Overview
 As you can see, all three kayak fishing measuring boards are excellent and quality options for anglers. I own a Ketch Board and a Hawg Trough and plan to use both this season. I’d love to try out a Fish Stik more extensively and do a more in-depth review sometime down the road.
Depending on what you are looking for, any of the three could work for you and do the job. Be sure to check the rules of your club or tournament trail to ensure which boards are accepted options.
As a final wrap-up, here are the overall strengths, weaknesses and specifications for each option:
Hawg Trough Kayak Fishing Measuring Board

Specs – 30″ long, 10-11 oz. weight, retail price $16-$22 depending on options and retailer.

Strengths – The Hawg Trough is lightweight, easy to use and inexpensive. Tried and true through thousands of kayak fishing tournaments.

Weaknesses – Weakness is literally the biggest problem for the Hawg Trough and could break if not careful. Most models don’t come pre-lined.

Ketch Kayak Fishing Measuring Board

Specs – 26″ long, 3 lb. weight, retail price $59.99 (engraving extra)

Strengths – Extreme durability, more manageable size, anti-tampering technology.

Weaknesses – Triple the weight of other options, more expensive and mixed reviews from TDs on ease of judging.

Yak Gear Fish Stik Measuring Board

Specs – 36″ long, 22 oz. weight, retail price $27.99-$33.99.

Strengths – Compact, floats, comes with lines and has some really good color options.

Weakness – Perception of accuracy due to hinges, length when unfolded can be a little unwieldy.
For another view on these kayak fishing measuring board options, read Chris Payne’s review from 2018.
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Reviews

Ketch Board & Kradle Combo – Review

In the world of kayak bass fishing, catch-photo-release (CPR) tournaments are the standard practice in evaluating results, with anglers using a measuring boards to determine fish length. The Hawg Trough had been the standard go-to measuring board for CPR tournaments, but is being challenged by a couple of new contenders, the YakGear Fish Stik and the Ketch Board & Kradle combo. 

The Ketch Board & Kradle combo is made in the U.S.A. - Kayakfishingfocus.com
The Ketch Board & Kradle combo is made in the U.S.A. – Kayakfishingfocus.com

The new Ketch Board & Kradle combo is the most high-end CPR board option on the market, priced at $49.99 from the KBF website for the KBF specialty green version or from the Ketch Products website for other color options such as red, blue and black.

Ketch Board & Kradle Impressions

When the new Ketch Board & Kradle combo was featured at the The Ten KBF event in early 2018 I was very skeptical and saw it as a more expensive Hawg Trough.  The versions used in The Ten tournament were really cool looking, but the black color did not appear to work well for judging and seeing the fish. Since then, they have listened to the anglers and tournament directors and have some new options available.

Specifications of the Ketch Board & Kradle Combo:

  • Board and Kradle measures 4.5″ wide x 26″ long with a 4.5″ x 3.75″ bump wall
  • Milled aluminum construction
  • Weight is approximately 3 lbs (48 ounces)
  • QR code identifier to prevent cheating
  • Tether holes on each end

At this point, the Ketch Board & Kradle combo has been approved for use in KBF events and is still being evaluated by many other tournament circuits for use.

One thing that will be interesting to see is if the use of this board is eventually required by a tournament circuit because of the unique QR code which can tie a board to a particular angler. Not really sure how that would work, but appears to be a future requirement possibly.

I was able to get my hands on one of these boards at the KBF National Championship and have a few initial thoughts.

Negatives of the Ketch Board & Kradle Combo

First of all, it is much heavier than I expected after reading that it was made of aluminum.  It weighs approximately 3 lbs compared to a Hawg Trough weight of 10 ounces.  To me, this is by far the largest drawback to this board. My kayak and gear is heavy enough without adding this to the mix. It’s also going to sink like a stone if dropped in the water, requiring you to tether the board, which creates one  more thing in the yak to get tangled or twisted up in.

The price is also much higher than a standard Hawg Trough, more than double in most instances. This will keep a lot of anglers away, unless they are forced to adopt this board by their trail. Finally, although the KBF version in green looks great, I still wish the red and blue options were not so dark and had better contrast to clearly show the fish tail, although the white lines help a lot.

The Ketch Board & Cradle combo in red. - Kayakfishingfocus.com
The Ketch Board & Cradle combo in red. – Kayakfishingfocus.com
Positives of the Ketch Board & Kradle Combo

There are a lot of positives that come with this new board that are improvements over the Hawg Trough. First of all is the fact that it appears to be nearly indestructible.  That 23″ monster you put on the board isn’t going to crack it and you won’t accidentally snap off the bump wall when putting it in your truck. This is the trade-off for the weight, it’s very well constructed.

Secondly, the lines are nicely done in white which is extremely visible. In the current version they have done a really smart thing as result of feedback from The Ten event. The lines go all the way to the edges, with the measurement number in the middle. This allows the fish tail to hit lines on the ends instead of numbers.

The Hawg Trough is 31″ long, whereas the Ketch Board is only 26″ long which will be easier to maneuver and will fit into the hull of many fishing kayak models. It’s to early to tell how the QR code feature will come into play down the road, but this is definitely a board that cannot be tampered with. Anything that discourages cheating is a good thing in my book.

Finally, it just feels good and has real quality feel to it. For the angler who isn’t as cost-conscious, the experience of using this board definitely feels higher end than a traditional Hawg Trough.

The Bottom Line

There are a couple of things I really don’t prefer, such as the overall weight and the color schemes. (I’d honestly just prefer a white one or a yellow) Outside of those two, there are a lot of positives for the Ketch Board & Kradle combo. The quality of construction, shorter length and the ability to hold up against a big fish are all positive factors that make the board a good product.

Although I am perfectly fine using a Hawg Trough, these positive characteristics will likely make this board the main one for my boat in tournaments which allow it. I’m not advocating for trails to adopt the board for use, each tournament series needs to make their own determination. I would fully expect at some point that certain events will require a board like this with anti-cheating measures such as the QR code. My expectation (speculation) is that KBF will require its use at some point in the future for certain events.

If you have some extra cash and want the high end board, I think it’s worth the purchase. If you have a Hawg Trough and are happy with it, stick with that for now. It’s always a positive for anglers to have choices.

 

kayak fishing

Five Catch Photo Release (CPR) Tournament Protips

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Almost any kayak fishing tournament involves the use of Catch, Photo, and Release (CPR) to record your fish for the event. Successfully executing this part of the tournament is almost as important as actually hooking the fish. For each kayak fishing tournament, read the rules prior to the event – there are differences which can be important. Here are five tips to help you get your fish properly photographed and counted:

  1. Using Proper Tools – Most tournaments require a hawg trough measuring device which has a concave design to hold your fish in place and a flat “bump board” on the left end. Be sure to use a Sharpie to draw a line along the area where the bump board joins the trough and to darken all of the measurement lines so they can be easily seen by the tournament director when reviewing the photos. Also, many will add a flotation device or some sort of leash to their hawg trough to avoid losing it on the water. As for taking the photo, you can usually use a digital camera with removable SD card or a mobile phone for the photos. If you use a mobile phone, you will have to hand over your phone password for judges to review the photos at turn in.  Note – Some tournaments now use apps such as iAngler Tournament or TourneyX which upload photos directly to the tournament director.  If this is the case, make sure your app is downloaded and tested before the tournament begins.
  2. Photo Basics – Although the rules can vary slightly, make sure you get down the basics. Almost all tournaments require the fish
    3.4 lb large mouth bass caught on a crankbait.
    Largemouth bass caught on a Bandit crankbait.

    to photographed on the hawg trough facing left with the nose all the way to the bump board, entire fish in the picture, eye uncovered and with the tournament identifier visible in the photo. The tournament identifier is something unique provided on tournament day to prove the picture was taken during the tournament period. This is often written on a hand or on some sort of card to be included in the photo.

  3. Rule Variations – After getting down the basics, know the specific rules of your event. Some allow the mouth to be open with the lip touching the board, while some require a closed mouth. Some events allow stringers, clips or other methods of securing a fish and others do not. In some cases you may pinch the fish tail while measuring and in some you cannot. Know the specifics of your event to avoid any deductions or disqualifications during turn-in.
  4. Avoid Deductions – As mentioned above, not producing a quality photo at turn-in can lead to a deduction. Deductions most often occur in some form related to the Rule Variations discussed above. Mouth is open when it should be closed.  Fish clip is used when it shouldn’t be. Can’t read the identifier or the measurement lines on the hawg trough.  Fish’s eye is covered or entire fish not in photo. You get the idea! My advice for avoiding deductions is to take more than one photo and then prior to turn-in go through and cull out the bad photos, leaving one of each fish that has all the right attributes.
  5. Practice – I cannot emphasize this enough! If you are new to kayak fishing tournaments or CPR events you will need to practice this before your first tournament. It sounds simple enough, but during the tournament your blood is pumping, the fish is fighting and bad things can happen. Every event has fish lost off the board that were never successfully photographed. Don’t let that be you!

I hope these tips help you successfully capture the fish you catch and will ensure they count toward your limit total. One of the great things about kayak bass fishing is how much focus there is in the health of the fish. With a CPR style event the fish are only out of the water for a short time and then are returned to the area where they are caught. Good luck!