Need A Kayak Reccommendation

[Wayne SW/MO]

you guys that are saying a SOT is not dry, need some paddling lessons. Sure you will get the occassional drip on you and if you are paddling in the wind you might get extra drips blown onto you, but it's not a 'wet' ride as some are claiming. If you are getting anymore than a few drops on you here and there, you are doing something wrong, really wrong.

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I suspect that they are refering to the water in the seat. There are brands that don't have a drain hole in the seat and and I'm sure wet. Most good brands have drainage There is some paddle drip, even with stops, but most pepole are wading anyway, at least I do. In cold weather I use neoprenes, they're warmer and offer a measure of safety, especially when used with a dry top.

If you really want to stay dry however, a bass boat would be the best choice, just don't go too fast. :lol:

[Stoneroller]

yeah no scupper holes in the seat area is a complete fatal flaw for any SOT kayak design. One of many reasons i'm not a fan of that ascend kayak that bps sells. pelican makes one without seat scupper holes too. great way have a wet, chaffed butt the entire day. Fish in that two days in a row and your skin is going to start breaking down, that's not a good thing.

and yes, drip rings are a must! Most people put them way close to their hands though, the drip rings should be right up against the paddle blade, and in the very least, far enough out that they are outboard of your gunwale. Which brings up paddle length. Make sure you get a paddle wide enough for whatever kayak you are looking at. 230cm would be the minimum I would even consider for the fishing yaks i've been in. 240-260cm would be the best options for most boats. 10cm ~ 4 inches

You will sill get drips though, so cotton clothing is a big no-no as it absorbs any moisture, wicks it around and doesn't dry, also loses all thermal properties when wet.

[Ham]

Tarpon 120. but that's no shocking coming from me. I have heard some compliants about the latest Tarpons. Mine in a 2003 model.

[Plastic_worm]

I have no interest in white water but I was looking at fishing kayak's about a year ago and decided to get a native ultimate 14.5. I only fish from mine and wouldn't recommend it for anything above class II but I live in SeArk and only paddle the buffalo, crooked creek, and the kings a few times a year...so most of my fishing is on lakes or other flat water in LA or AR. But it seems that you have some of the same needs that I had....stability, paddeling, and storage. In my opinion you can't go wrong w/ some type of hybrid. The stability is amazing...I stand about 50% of the time...but more importantly being able to stand and set the hook/fight a fish or MISS/BREAK OFF and not go for a swim...that's the kind of stability you get w/ hybrids. However...when in open water you become a sail when you stand and in even mild wind standing becomes a pain. So I have found that if I'm fishing docks or some visible cover I'll stand but if I'm covering water I sit. I have taken mine to large lakes (conway, monticello, cane creek, ouachita, felsenthal) where I paddle 10-12 miles over the day in wind or choppy conditions and cover water quickly, w/ ease, and w/o getting wet. I got the 14.5 b/c I can pack it w/ camping/fishing gear for several nights stay (450lbs) and pick it up or carry/lift w/o help (~55lbs w/o seat)...I'm almost always solo fishing/camping and being able to move it or put it on my truck rack w/o help was important (hobie's are massive and $$). SO if you're going to fish from a yak I would look into a hybrid...however they have no business in whitewater. But I honestly love mine so much I leave my 17' alum bass boat at home...I've only taken it out 2 times since I got my native.

[Plastic_worm]

BTW there is a 12' ultimate for sale $950 in Rogers...found on craigslist. I don't know this person just looking for my brother. For the right $$ maybe you could get a fishing and ww yak, lol. You can never have too many boats!

http://fayar.craigsl...2958171143.html

[hoglaw]

Worm, you're talking exactly what I do. I'm from central AR originally and still make it down quite a bit. My favorite place to fish in the world is the White River Refuge, particularly the oxbows around Maddox Bay. I don't think I'll be lugging this thing down there, over land, and back into the bows much, but what I really want is a lake boat that is servicable on the lower buffalow, crooked, etc. I figure I paddle real deal white water maybe once or twice a year. I think two boats is the right diagnosis. I shouldn't sacrifice my fishing kayak for something I do once or twice a year. Just like the rods I build, I want the very best tool for the job. I can always figure out a way to get it down faster water. The guy at Lewis and Clark said to err more on the river side than the lake side, but I don't think he fishes like I do!

So that brings me back to the lake boat realm. I looked at a Jackson Cuda today, which seems to be the big brother of the Coosa. Very stable, very ergonomic, and it has a much more pronounced keel (I think...if I have terminology correct). I will paddle whatever I get before I buy it, no doubt. I like the looks and the setup of that boat, but if I"m going to drop $1200 on a kayak, I want the very best boat for the money. If there's another brand/boat that's a better setup for lakes and (lord willing) salt water some day, then that's the one I want. But dadgum...they had some boats up there by Hobbie that were $1500 plus!!!

[hoglaw]

The long and short of this whole deal is I want to fish the NEOKA and NWA Bass Paddlers tournaments. I have wanted to do those mini-boat tournaments for a while, but to really be on par with the rest of the folks I need a de-commissioned ranger and about four trolling motors. Not something I'm willing to do at the moment, but they're fun to look at. I want to do some tournament fishing, but don't have the time or money to jump in with the guys who have ample amounts of both - whether in the real boats or the elctric ones. So, being the model athlete that I am, I really need a boat that will track and move efficiently through the water for longer paddles. I assume Kayaks catch less wind then my canoes or even my john boat or river john. Just seems like such an efficient vehicle if one is truely dedicated to the idea of doing it without a power supply.

[Plastic_worm]

I've been on the NWA site...cool page for kayak fishing. The cuda seems like a good boat, may be heavy at 74lbs w/o seat. I like the sit in feel of a hybrid but that is also b/c I paddle in LA and like to feel some seperation from the wildlife, lol...not that it would really matter. As long as you try it out you'll be happy w/ whatever you buy, good luck!

[Nolan_Whaley]

Holy crap a hobie! you must think everyone is a 1%er. Instead of a hobie, I suggest buying 2 kayaks of any other brand (for the same cost of the 1 hobie at that!) AND you won't need 3 friends to help you lift your boat. They make great products if you like paying $2600 for a 125lb kayak... I like to spend my money wisely, but that's me.

you guys that are saying a SOT is not dry, need some paddling lessons. Sure you will get the occassional drip on you and if you are paddling in the wind you might get extra drips blown onto you, but it's not a 'wet' ride as some are claiming. If you are getting anymore than a few drops on you here and there, you are doing something wrong, really wrong.

Paddling technique aside, a pair of paddling pants will go along way in cooler weather towards keeping you bone dry. If you wear the proper attire, you won't be bothered by the occassional drip or splash. Proper technique, proper gear, goes a long way to making your trip more enjoyable.

Hey, i can dream right? lol.. I have an ascend that doesn't have the scupper hole in the seat... It's cheap, and it does what i want. I agree on the dry thing.. i can paddle flat and stay pretty dry.. even in it. It's harder to do on the lake, than on a river where you have some current to help. Those $1k kayaks are out of my price range... so.. as nice as a coosa looks, i won't have one of those either.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Hoglaw I wouldn't rule out a longer boat. What you give up on a flow you will gain back and then some on flatwater. If 16' canoes can negotiate a flow so can a longer kayak, especially if the extra length is needed elsewhere.

Don't get to worried about weight either because unless it's a requirement much of it can be easily mitigated. There are options for loading on cartops, etc and carts to move them over land. I have a cart for my Tarpon that breaks down quickly and will store inside.

If you aren't lurking on sites that feature flatwater you should because most of us here only do flows as a rule and equip accordingly..