The southeast Texas fishing season is not entirely about metal-flaked bass rockets and deep-V center consoles. More anglers now also accepting the kayak as a legitimate fishing tool, and with their collective interest has come a variety of rigging strategies.

Kayaks and a host of variations on the theme are nothing new. The boats originated thousands of years ago among the Inuits from the northern-most extremes of North America, who used the low-profile craft primarily as transportation during hunting and fishing trips.

Ironically, ancestors of the Inuits have all but abandoned kayaks in favor of motorboats, while the rest of us take the opposite tack. Especially since the introduction of molded plastic kayaks - which are easily modified to change their performance characteristics - the stiletto-shaped boats have gained favor with fishermen.

Bruce Gillan, proprietor of Canoesport in Houston, says he pioneered kayak fishing in this part of the country.

Back in the '70s, while his father was busy running Bridge Harbor Marina in Freeport, Gillan was looking for ways to access redfish and speckled trout in nearby flats and backwaters.

Throughout that decade and well into the next, Gillan experimented with a variety of boats but found none that quite met his needs. It was in the mid-'80s that he first came across the plastic boats and recognized their nearly unlimited possibilities. Soon thereafter, he was helping to design kayaks specifically for fishing.

During the '90s, the kayak industry exploded - well, its growth spurt might not rank as an outright explosion on par with the e-whatevers and dot-coms - but there was a loud pop.

All things being equal, kayaks still are rare sights on the water. Once a serious fisherman paddles one of the boats , however, the mind races and purchase is imminent.

That's what happened to me last year on a trip to Port O'Connor with fishing guide Alan Cartmill and friend Ron Nixon. We spent an afternoon and the following morning paddling around back lakes and plucking redfish from mere inches of water in Cartmill's fleet of kayaks.

I was instantly hooked.

Not long after that trip, two boats were ordered. And way too long after that, they arrived in Houston.

And so it is that I find myself fine-tuning these kayaks now to suit specific wants and needs. The sooner the better, too, in light of warming weather and water.

Conversations with Gillan and REI's Kitty Cruser earlier in the week turned up a list of accessories as long as a double-bladed paddle that can improve a kayak's fishing qualities. Some are absolutely necessary. Others are more for show than for go. All sounded cool over the phone.

Like any two experts, Gillan and Cruser agreed on some items and disagreed on a few others. Here's some of what they shared:

You'll need rod holders. Two. One for your favorite setup, and another for a backup. Or maybe one for a casting rod and one for a fly rod. Whatever your pleasures, doubling up on rod holders replaces a long paddle back to the supply wagon should your primary rig fail.

The model I chose starts with a deck-mounted block that accepts not only rod holders but also a host of other accessories from the same company.

The space is seldom used for the purpose, but most sit-on-top kayaks, being hollow end to end, also will accept rods for inside storage. I'm thinking along those lines, as well, perhaps with a length of hook-and-loop fastener glued inside the hull to secure the rods.

Whatever exterior holders you choose, place them within easy reach behind you. Mounting rods ahead of the cockpit can interfere with paddling and visibility.

Gillan was big on keeping deck clutter to a minimum. Like every fly fisherman, he knows that anything on top of a boat eventually will grab your line or otherwise get in the way during battle with a big fish.

"You want to keep the boat shipshape," he said. "I design my boats to stow as much as possible below decks."

He is particularly disheartened by the number of plastic milk crates he sees lashed to kayak decks. In addition to being a safety hazard, a crate filled with gear and clutter also creates wind resistance, which reduces the efficiency of an otherwise highly efficient boat.

Cruser, perhaps a little more into the touring and cruising aspects of kayaking than the fishing, suggested a host of deck accessories.

The industry offers a variety of bags now, for instance, that are watertight and designed to hold everything you'll need to enjoy a day, or two or three, on the water. For the more adventurous paddler, there are special map cases that clip right onto the deck.

Even if it's in your pocket, keep a decent compass on the boat. Chase a school of redfish deep into the marsh one afternoon, and you may need a little magnetic help getting out. GPS is many times more sophisticated.

I've got a waterproof, pocket-sized E-Trex GPS unit to keep from getting lost. I'll keep it right next to a pack of spare batteries. A compass is always on and never needs batteries. Something to consider.

You'll need an anchor. I figured on a 10-pound mushroom but was pleasantly surprised to find a compact, 1-pound folding anchor designed specifically for kayaks. Thirty feet of line ought to be plenty unless you're fishing the surf. The more scope there, the less risk of being dumped by a rogue wave.

If you're into keeping things where you can see them, Cruser suggested adding eyelets to the deck and using elastic cords to secure whatever gear you like in plain sight.

A quick footnote: Be sure to add a generous layer of silicone sealant to the backs of through-hull fittings. The object is to keep the water outside the boat.

Both kayakers were fans of water-tight gear bags, but Gillan prefers stuffing his into the hull over stacking them on it. Above decks or below, every kayaker should carry foul-weather gear, whistle, first-aid kit. Cruser added an emergency throw line to the list. One of those high-tech space blankets and a change of clothes makes sense and would occupy barely more space than a loaf of bread.

Fishing tackle can be stored in bags, but clear plastic boxes provide better access and organization. The better fisherman you are, the fewer lures you carry. Pore over a more generous stash on dry ground, then cherry-pick a few "best bets" based on conditions.

The more tackle you've got in the boat, the more time you'll waste tying knots and second-guessing yourself.

Within reach, there should be some sort of line clipper and a hook-removal device, either pliers or a hemostat. Make room for a camera, too%3B you see some pretty awesome sights when you make silent turns around blind corners in the wild.

Gillan said he never carries a stringer or floating fish bag, because he doesn't intend ever to keep more than a couple of fish for the table. When he catches a fish that might look good coming out of the oven, it goes into a dry bag filled with ice.

The kayak accessory list is much longer than is mentioned here. Anything you might imagine needing on a kayak, somebody makes. And if they make the accessory, they also make a holder or bag for it.

Understand, however, that the more you add, the more there is to maintain and inventory. There is something to be said also for going the other way, for reducing the stick-ons and stow-unders to bare minimum.

The object of kayak fishing, in my mind, is to decrease the hassles of serious fishing. In this arena, less really is more.

Cruser and Gillan both advised carrying ample drinking water and high-energy snacks. Tuck food and drink into soft coolers, which can be stuffed below decks or lashed snug topside.

When you're down to the last few inches of usable space, another box of lures might seem like a good idea at first light. By the time summer sun gets straight overhead, though, a few extra sips of drinking water will make a lot more sense.