What are must haves for my kayak to be lake legal? Whistle, life jacket, and what else??

Those are the only 2 I know of unless you are fishing at night.

Cup holder for the Modelos

Got one already

PFD and a whistle are required at all times on all bodies of water. While you don't have to wear your PFD, you have to have it accessible. If you're on the water 30 minutes after sunrise or 30 minutes before sunset you need a 360 degree white light. Doesn't have to be a certain height or anything, just visible from all directions.

Cool. Thanks guys. Rhino if you ever wanna fish Granbury let me know

Oh I WILL be fishing Grandbury soon! We'll go after some ditch pickles together.

I'll be out there Saturday if you wana join me

Might take you up on that. I might be hitting the Trinity here in FW but if that falls through I will let you know.

so do you really have to carry a whistle?

Yes sir. I haven't had a GW ask me to see mine however it is stated in the regulations. I am sure you can find those somewhere on here as they've been talked about numerous times.

You don't have to carry the whistle. You just need one in your boat accessible. It's up to you if you want it handy if you go overboard and the boat sinks along with your whistle...
I would also carry a small beacon light if you are going out at night. If you go in you will be SEEN and not run over by another boat.
The white light all around light is needed at night. If you don't have an all around light a flashlight is OK on a kayak just so you can be seen. If you put a trolling motor on you will need to register and have red and green nav lights on the bow as well as am all around white light.

Welcome to kayak fishing, junbengreat.

I have been checked by the warden and he did want to see my whistle. I attach mine to my life vest so it's handy and visible.

bring a whistle and a PFD, as well as whatever makes you feel better about getting on the water. I fished from a kayak for years, and will say this...MAKE YOURSELF AS VISIBLE AS POSSIBLE, my kayak was yellow and I made it a point to wear bright colors and still came close to getting whacked by boats more times than I ever told my wife about. i always heard the same thing "man I didn't see you, sorry" I stopped going if if it was foggy, I was a nervous wreck paddling across any type of channel going from flat to flat (saltwater)