Bought My First Kayak Yesterday!

[gotmuddy]

The only place I will have an issue with shuttling is on the southfork river but since it is so close to town I am not too concerned about it. I have someone who shuttles on the eleven point for cheap. Jimmy walker charges $15 on crooked creek so thats not bad at all. I am hoping this yak will allow me to explore places I might not be able to go with the canoe. I intend to wear some waders when the water gets cold. I have a solo canoe at a neighbors house(as long as his dope-head son hasn't sold it) that I want to try too this winter.

The store hasn't been open for just a couple months. Turn south off 63 at Casey's, then take the first left(right after pizza inn), and it is about 1/4 mile down the road on the left(right next to dollar general).

[Smalliebigs]

Congrats,

Now let the choices begin. I have Yaks and Canoes and even a yak that thinks its a canoe (Native Watercraft 14.5)

Each have good points and each have bad points.

When the water is UP,COLD and Fast I love me Canoe. It is a high, dry ride. I can stand in it and site fish. Carry camping gear for 12.

My Native 14.5 is the best all around boat I have ever had. It holds enough gear for camping, I can stand in it super stable. However it is not a good boat for ledges or spring/fall hay stacks without skirts.

My SOT perception caster 12 is and awesome summer boat but it is a very wet ride. I would recommend a good pair of breathable waders in the spring and fall.

My newest boat is a Native Watercraft Versa Board. Have not had a chance to use it yet and it will be a summer boat. Super stable to stand on and fish. Not sure how it will do on the rivers but the youtube vids of guys standing doing class 3 rapids gives me hope.

Do you have a Versa board??? I was considering one, I saw a guy fishing on the Meremac with one and was doing quite well on it.I could hit some spots low key like.

[id10t]

Do you have a Versa board??? I was considering one, I saw a guy fishing on the Meremac with one and was doing quite well on it.I could hit some spots low key like.

Yes but I have yet to take it out yet. Going to try Sat. I think it is gonna be great. I can stand in my Canoe & Ultimate but when water is low they can be a pain in the {well you know}. The Versa displaces more water so it should be great during the dry shallow season. I am looking forward to it.

[id10t]

Do you have a Versa board??? I was considering one, I saw a guy fishing on the Meremac with one and was doing quite well on it.I could hit some spots low key like.

Check these out

[Smalliebigs]

Check these out

Holy crap!!! I am getting one...I'm looking right now @ Austinkayak.com, they have the Versa Board angler for $989.00. If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for yours??? Do you have the angler??? Do you think I could attach a small anchor up front to hold in my honey holes?? I tried a board in Florida about two months ago, it was more of a board buit for speed but it was a fun experience, I saw all kinds of fish down below from up there. What kind of paddle did you get ?? and how long???

[id10t]

Holy crap!!! I am getting one...I'm looking right now @ Austinkayak.com, they have the Versa Board angler for $989.00. If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for yours??? Do you have the angler??? Do you think I could attach a small anchor up front to hold in my honey holes?? I tried a board in Florida about two months ago, it was more of a board buit for speed but it was a fun experience, I saw all kinds of fish down below from up there. What kind of paddle did you get ?? and how long???

No I did not get the angler. I tend to try my own rigging. (Notice I said try) I can't tell you how many times I have said "I must have been drunk to think that was a good idea" Austin Kayak is a good group I have bought a lot of stuff from them. I think the thing you are gonna find with Native/Liquid Logic is they protect there dealers. Pricing is pretty set unless you can find or have a long time outfitter to deal with. Our local canoe club had a raffle for the versa board and paddle. I did not win but the fella who did had no use for the board so I bought it from him. He auctioned it on the canoe club site and gave the proceeds to the clubs conservation fund. I got it and a Werner paddle for 650.00. SWEET DEAL. Still need to go get measured for the paddle. The guys who are using them to fish are mostly on the coast and using them for the flats. They have built folding belly bars to lean against when fly fishing. The seat is the same as my Native Ultimate so I can sit in a comfy chair and use a double blade paddle or std single blade. One fell mounted a seat to the lid of a cooler and then strapped the cooler to the board. It is probably 16 inches odd the deck. Not a bad idea.

Swivel Seat

Cooler Seat

[id10t]

Standing post/rail

[tjulianc]

I've been thinking about getting a one man pontoon boat, for those hot summer days when the rivers are too low to float in a canoe. I think they would be great to sneak up on fish with, and I could get down some really low water. But maybe I should look more into those boards. They seem even better for what I want to do. And there is no assembly time or pump to worry about. The big advantage the pontoon boats have is they are a lot cheaper.

[gotmuddy]

Pontoons take more water than a canoe IMO. I am intrigued in those boards as well.

[bobber]

we have seen some pretty bad injuries from the versa boards ...people falling into shallow water and hitting rocks or the bottom real hard.