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Gear checklist · 11 items

What to Bring on a Tennessee Kayak and Float Trip

What to carry on a Tennessee river float or a kayak fishing day, from the Buffalo and Harpeth to the tailwaters.

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The checklist

Kayak and Float Trip gear checklist

What to carry on a Tennessee river float or a kayak fishing day, from the Buffalo and Harpeth to the tailwaters. Tennessee requires a wearable life jacket for everyone aboard, and anyone under 13 has to wear it.

Life jacketNRS Chinook fishing PFDPockets for a box and pliers, and you will actually wear it.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Dry bagEarth Pak waterproof dry bag, 20 LKeys, phone, a dry shirt and the sandwiches.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Phone caseWaterproof phone pouch with lanyardThe gauge reading on this site is on your phone.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Rod holderYakAttack Omega rod holderHands free while you paddle to the next eddy.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
AnchorKayak anchor kit with trolleyHold in current below a shoal instead of drifting through the hole.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
LeashPaddle leash and rod leashesRivers take paddles. Tie everything to the boat.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ShoesAstral or Keen water shoesPortages, gravel bars and the Caney Fork’s slick rock.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
SunLong-sleeve UPF fishing shirt and a buffThere is no shade on a river in July.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
SafetyWhistle and a small first aid kitA whistle carries farther than your voice on a river.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
CoolerSoft cooler, 20 canFits behind the seat and keeps lunch cold on a 5-hour float.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
CartKayak cartThe walk from the lot to the water at most TWRA ramps.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

Where to use it

Tennessee rivers to float

Mileage, class, put-ins and a live check of each gauge against its runnable range, for 19 rivers.

Float trips and paddling levelsRiver levels today

Bigger purchases

Gear compared for kayak and float trip trips

The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.

Fishing Kayaks
BudgetPelican Catch 110 HDII$700MiddleVibe Yellowfin 120$1,200TopOld Town Sportsman PDL 120$2,500
Compare all 6 →
Hard Coolers
BudgetColeman 316 Series 52 Quart$70MiddleYETI Tundra 45$325TopYETI Roadie 48 Wheeled$450
Compare all 6 →
Lithium Marine Batteries
BudgetLiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4$250MiddleBattle Born 12V 100Ah$850TopDakota Lithium 36V 63Ah$1,700
Compare all 6 →
All gear compared

Other checklists

Gear for other Tennessee fishing

Largemouth BassSmallmouth BassCrappieBluegill and PanfishCatfishStriper and HybridWalleye and SaugerTroutMuskyBank and Pier Fishing

Common questions

Kayak and Float Trip gear questions

What do I need for a Tennessee kayak and float trip?

The 11 items on this page: NRS Chinook fishing PFD, Earth Pak waterproof dry bag, 20 L, Waterproof phone pouch with lanyard, YakAttack Omega rod holder, Kayak anchor kit with trolley, Paddle leash and rod leashes and the rest of the list above. A wearable life jacket for everyone aboard.

Do I need to register a kayak in Tennessee?

No. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards without a motor are not registered. You do need a wearable life jacket for each person on board.

How do I know if a river is safe to float?

Check the gauge on this site’s river pages. Each float section lists a runnable range from American Whitewater or the park service, and the badge shows where the river is right now.

How much does a kayak and float trip setup cost?

A rod, reel, line and the first three or four baits on this list is a modest start; the rest can be added a trip at a time. Prices are on Amazon, and bait shops in the county you fish carry most of it too.

Are these affiliate links?

Yes. Each link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag. It costs you nothing extra and pays for the site. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission; it is what works on Tennessee water.

Can I buy this gear locally instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits