Kayak Fishing

[tjulianc]

The Tarpon tracks very well and still has enough maneuverability for our rivers. Ham and I got ours from Appomattox river and they were the cheapest at the time even with shipping.

Tarpon 120

I don't know that they still are, but it might be worth checking into.

I got my canoe from Appomattox and they did an excellent job communicating and with shipping. Another place to consider is Austin Canoe and Kayak. When you are ready to buy, I'd give both of them a call and see which one will cut you the best deal.

[Danoinark]

Buffalo Canoes in Jasper Ar make some nice boats designed for the Ozarks Rivers. I think the also make a solo.

http://www.buffalocanoes.com/

[drew03cmc]

get a jackson kayak Coosa. the first and only purpose built river fishing kayak. i have an ocean kayak trident 13 (open water boat) and a Native ultimate 9.5 for rivers, neither are ideal for rivers, but both work. the more purpose built your boat, the easier you will find it to fish from. you definately want a SOT as opposed to a Sit in. a sit on top virtually eliminates the chances of your kayak getting submerged and pinned, it's also infinately easier to board, the Coosa hs extremely stable and has tons of features perfect for river/stream fishing. if I could do it over again i'd save my $ for a Coosa as my river yak.

Wrong. In no way in the Coosa the ONLY purpose built river fishing yak. Every kayak manufacturer makes Angler models, which are specifically built for fishing. If you are dead set on a popular, name brand, mainstream fishing kayak check into a Native Ultimate Angler 12. If it is for solo fishing endeavors, I would grab an Old Town 119 canoe rather than a kayak, but that is just me. You can carry more with you if you so choose in a canoe. You can also

[Al Agnew]

What it all boils down to is how much fishing tackle, especially fishing rods, you want to take on these short upstream paddling trips. I'm not convinced that kayaks are inherently easier to paddle upstream compared to solo canoes...it depends upon the kayak and the canoe, especially if you use a double bladed paddle with the canoe. And in a canoe you can carry up to five rods all rigged and ready to hand. And as far as I can see, the only advantage to the Natives and Coosas and other hybrid craft is if you really can stand up in them to fish. It strikes me, however, that assuming it's easy to stand up in those craft, they might be excellent boats for poling. Poling takes some learning and practice, but it is the most efficient way of moving a paddle-craft upstream. I've done just enough of it to know that it can get tiring in a canoe due to the effort expended keeping your balance while standing and poling.

[Guest]

I have an old town disco 119 and it is a great introductory solo canoe, but it does have drawbacks. It is just short enough that carrying more than 2-3 rods is somewhat of a problem if you are loaded down with gear. It sits really high on the water, which is good for floating over skinny riffles(I can float it in about 3-4 inches of water when not loaded down) but as Al said, that is very bad when the wind is blowing. It has very poor tracking abilities when using a standard paddle. I don't really care all that much because I am able to make due with what I have, but I would upgrade to a better tracking canoe if I had the choice. The one reason that I wouldn't choose a kayak is that they sit lower in the water than solo canoes. I float a lot of very shallow creeks and rivers and I would have to do a lot of dragging with a kayak. I also do a lot of gravel bar camping out of my canoe, and spending three straight days on a river would be extremely difficult in a kayak because I wouldn't be able to carry enough beer for a three day trip. I would suggest renting a kayak or solo canoe to get a better idea for what suits you. Personally, I would be looking for a vagabond or mohawk odyssey 15t. If I spent a lot of time on open water I would be looking for a kayak, because they tend to get blown around by wind less than solo canoes.

[gotmuddy]

I carry 3 rods rigged and a large falcon fto bag that weighs about 40lb on my yak no problem.

[flytyer57]

The one reason that I wouldn't choose a kayak is that they sit lower in the water than solo canoes. I float a lot of very shallow creeks and rivers and I would have to do a lot of dragging with a kayak.

A kayak will draw less water than a canoe. In plain english, a kayak can go through shallower water than a canoe.

My yak is set up to hold two rods ready for fishing. I could add a few more rod mounts and have more rods at the ready, but I find two rods is efficient for most of my fishing. I can carry more rods in the hull if I want to, but that would mean getting out to get them from the forward access hatch. Fising streams where I can just beach the yak is no problem, but out on the open water of a lake, it's kinda hard. I do have an access hatch just forward of the seat, but getting a rod in and out through it, may prove challenging.

As for what I can carry as far as gear is concerned, I can carry a lot more than you canoe guys think I can. The space inside the hull goes from the front of the yak to the back of the yak. That's 14' of space. Plus there is the large tankwell area behind the seat, and an area up front to lash gear to the top of the yak. See Tarpon 140 here.

[gotmuddy]

a solo canoe will float in less water than a yak because it is lighter. I would like to try out a solo canoe one day, but I like my yak alot.

[rps]

I always love the solo/fishing/canoe/yak threads. Lots of valid opinions and a wealth of information. They also spur me to get out and use mine more often.

[tjulianc]

A kayak will draw less water than a canoe. In plain english, a kayak can go through shallower water than a canoe.

My yak is set up to hold two rods ready for fishing. I could add a few more rod mounts and have more rods at the ready, but I find two rods is efficient for most of my fishing. I can carry more rods in the hull if I want to, but that would mean getting out to get them from the forward access hatch. Fising streams where I can just beach the yak is no problem, but out on the open water of a lake, it's kinda hard. I do have an access hatch just forward of the seat, but getting a rod in and out through it, may prove challenging.

As for what I can carry as far as gear is concerned, I can carry a lot more than you canoe guys think I can. The space inside the hull goes from the front of the yak to the back of the yak. That's 14' of space. Plus there is the large tankwell area behind the seat, and an area up front to lash gear to the top of the yak. See Tarpon 140 here.

Lets compare a tarpon 14 to a vagabond. The Tarpon is 14' long, 28" wide and weighs 68 lbs, the Vagabond is 14'6" long, 29.75" wide and weighs 45 lbs. So the Vagabond is longer, wider and 23 lbs lighter. Physics dictate that the Vagabond will displace less water, and will float in shallower water. Your Tarpon weighs one pound less than my 17 foot long, 36" wide Spirit II. I bet it is a bear to car top by yourself.

Also doesn't loading up a SOT with a lot of gear on the deck make it top heavy and therefore tippy? When I load up my canoe with ice chests, dry bags, camping gear, and my chair, it actually gets more stable because I can load everything down on the hull and give it a lower center of gravity.