Kayak fishing

[damselfly]

Wayne~ I think you make some valid points in that, yes, it's a pain to reel up when you come to a bend or limbs that overhang the stream. ~~~ and reaching everything is certainly a limitation. What I do to compensate is --- carry a fishpond waist pak that has my fly boxes, tippet and leaders and store it where the 'drink holder' indentation is. Everything else I need is on my lanyard. To deal with the limbs etc, I lay the rod down and hold it with my knees above the reel with the tip forward & down & I've missed all but one. (which thankfully did not pop my rod!! thank you TFO!!) I also found the sit on top more comfortable because the bottom was not flat like the sit insides. That little bit of molding made the comfort difference for me (along with a padded seat).

Everyone has brought up good points to consider really. I think that for me, as much as I enjoy catching fish, rolling with the flow of the river and enjoying the surroundings is just as relaxing and all part of it, and something I look forward to as I love being on the water. So the reeling up, holding the paddle across my lap while casting and paddling to position the yak with the flow of the river are all just part of it.

For anyone considering a purchase I would recommend that they rent different styled yaks from different outfitters and try them that way. Fish the way they would normally fish and then decide. Another thing to consider is --- will you be fishing in colder weather???? If you are I would not recommend a sit on top - unless you like being wet AND cold

[Wayne SW/MO]

If you are I would not recommend a sit on top - unless you like being wet AND cold

This a common point brought up often, but one I find doesn't hold up in practice. I have both, and except for a little protection from the wind, I get wet from paddle drip in both. You can put a skirt on the sit in, but that won't protect you from hypothermia if you get dunked, so a dry suit or waders and a dry top are pretty much mandatory when the water turns cold.

The sit ins are cheaper, lighter, and in some circumstances easier to get out of, plus most are a little more maneuverable.

The sit on tops are virtually unsinkable, have more room to carry stuff and it can be reached, something not possible in a SIT. They are however heavier and more expensive in comparison.

Anything worth fishing out of should have a lot of secondary stability.

[Fish Bork]

I just had my first experience with a kayak and loved it. Rented one from Current River Outfitters and went on a small 6 mile float last week. Took awhile to get used to but after the first 15-20min I was in heaven fishing on that kayak.

[MTM]

I fished a lot down in Texas along the coast in a Yak. They use the set on top kind down there. I think they are great. You can jump off or on real quick. I think the set on top one's are more comfortable to. We do a lot of wadding down there on the flats for Red's and Trout. The one's we use also have a rudder and that helps real well in the tide and wind. My son set them up and they have rod racks, depth finders, Ice chest (Small One) seat with a back, The paddle is attached and an anchor. You can also get outriggers for them so you can stand up and fish from them. Heck there is even a webe site down there for people using them. Great fun and I was amazed at how far and fast you can travel in them. A good thing is you can dump them in just about anyplace. And they are not hard to haul around. I just wish I could do it more often. Ron

[RSBreth]

I think a kayak is fine for light travel w/one rod and a small amount of gear.

A fair comparison is Kayak vs. Solo canoe, not tandem canoe.

Kayaks are cheaper,at least entry level playboat kayaks, but that's about it. I had a Swifty for one summer, and though I liked the ease of portaging, it sucked for anything but exploring with one rod and a limited amount of gear. I couldn't carry the stuff I like to and still portage around when I carry upstream, which I do often.

A kayak is a good start, but it's amazing how much more you can carry easily in a good solo canoe, like the Old Town Pack I bought a couple of years ago.

This is a 12' foot canoe that only weighs 33 lbs.

[KRflyfisher]

Sounds to me like I just need to try it out for myself and see. I don't really have much kayak experience, and the only sit on top was really not made for a man my size, so it wasn't a great experience. I never thought about a solo canoe, and it seems they might be the best option. I cast well out of a conoe and they offer better visibility in my opinion.

Thanks for the discussion!

[Paddlefish]

Since all of my fishing right now is on the East coast, my fishing experience has been limited to very small flows to large rivers, i.e. Potomac & Susquehanna. But, I own a 17' Jet, two canoes and two Yaks and 90% of my fishing is out of the Kayaks. I've got a Wilderness Tarpon 120 and a Loon 111. I can fit 3 fully rigged rods, plus tackle, lunch, dry bag, Etc.. in either one. In fact, I've done 3 day camp trips using the Loon.

IMO, Pros of using kayaks is access to small shallow flows where jet's can't get to, It's a one man craft, your not dependent on the skill level of a partner in a canoe.

I can also carry everything in my Yak that I carry in a canoe.

It's much easier to launch a kayak than a 14-17' canoe and it's a heck of a lot easier to handle a kayak with a double paddle in a yak as opposed to one person in a canoe with one paddle.

You can paddle up stream much easier than in a canoe and wind is seldom a factor.

Some of the negative points are that you are closer to the water and that makes it harder to see underwater structure or bedding fish if your into that.

Your butt will get much flatter, since your basically limited to one sitting position and a lot of weight is on your tail bone.

Also, much to the dismay of new Yak users, recreational Kayaks will not handle white water any better than a canoe. In fact, you are more likley to take on water in a class II/III rapid than you will in a canoe. I would not recommend using a rec kayak on anything more than a class III rapid.

Now, there are also pros & cons to using a Sit-on-Top as opposed to a Sit-in Kayak. I prefer a SOT because it's so much easier to exit/enter the boat than a Sit-in.

You have better access to gear, since everything is on top of the yak.

You actually draw less water than you would in a sit-in kayak.

If you take a roller over the bow, the water will exit the boat through scupper holes, negative side to this is your butt will stay wet.

In the winter time, I'm wearing waders and it's a lot easier getting in the SOT with those massive wader boots.

One last commet on yaks, if your looking for a boat that will negotiate tight corners and respond quickly to paddle strokes, go with a 8-10' boat. If your looking for speed and better tracking, go with at least a 11ft. yak or better.

[Gavin]

KR I'd recommend paddling a few kayaks and a couple solo canoe before you buy something. If you want a sit in yak the Wilderness Systems Pungo and some of the Old Town yaks are nice, for a sit on top...the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 would be hard to beat, and in solo canoes I like my Wenonah Vagabond. Whatever you get, make sure you have a good anchor system. Cheers.

[ollie]

How could I have missed this topic! You mean some guys fish out of those little boats! I think Retro man and me need to hook-up nest time the Mulberry is around 2.5! I've had my Pam 100 for about 3-4 years now, had to patch a hole already, and have taken more productive fishing trips than I ever could have wade fishing. For day trips they are the bomb!

[retroaction man]

How could I have missed this topic! You mean some guys fish out of those little boats! I think Retro man and me need to hook-up nest time the Mulberry is around 2.5! I've had my Pam 100 for about 3-4 years now, had to patch a hole already, and have taken more productive fishing trips than I ever could have wade fishing. For day trips they are the bomb!

I would love to. although im not sure if it will be at that point untill next fall. I also hang around beaver lake and tailwaters if anyone wants to do some fishing :ph34r: ninja with a kayak