Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

hey guys I've pondered getting a decent sit on top kayak to do some fishing. I'm coming from strictly wading the local rivers and streams so this is something new to me. I'm planing on kayaking and fishing jack fork this spring(around June) and I'm thinking a 12 footer would do. I've got two in mind the wilderness systems ride 115 and the Jackson coosa but I'm open to all suggestions/advice.

Posted

You'll probably get a few suggestions, but my recommendation would be to not rule out a canoe. I use a 15' Mad River Legend and it suits me perfectly and fits all my needs.

Not saying a kayak won't work, I started with a SOT and it was alright but not exactly what I was looking for.

I went to a kayak and once again, it was a great boat but didn't fit the bill.

I settled with a canoe only after my previous 2 boats made me realize exactly what I wanted. More space, storage, flexibility and versatile enough for the narrow ozark streams. I only take overnight trips so those factors were critical.

With that being said, from what I hear on here the two boats you have listed should be just fine.

Follow me on Twitter @DazeGlory

Posted

Both of those are great kayaks. The Coosa is heavy but definitely made for river fishing.

-- Jim

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. -- Doug Larson

Posted

Although as a dedicated canoe guy I agree with GloryDaze, it's become more difficult for me to push people toward canoes instead of kayaks. One of the advantages to a good Royalex solo canoe compared to a kayak is the weight...40-45 pounds at most for the canoe, or down in the 30s for a couple of them, compared to 55-70 pounds for a fishing type kayak. But I don't know how many Royalex solos are still on the market, or how easy it would be to find a used one. There are still other advantages to the canoe, however. If you're interested at all I can list them and give you some idea of what to look for, otherwise I'll keep quiet from now on.

Posted

thanks guys! i should have stated that i'm not against canoes i just seem to know less about them. How's the learning curve compared to a SOT? are they fairly similar stability wise?

Posted

SOT kayak guy. Kayaks are very intuitive. After a few minutes you will naturally being doing what is required to get up and down the creek. Your skills will improve the more you use it, but I don't think it is nearly as difficult to pick up as a canoe.

My next boat will be a Coosa, but the best deal is a Perception Pescador. This is the same hull as my beloved Tarpon 120 that I got in 2003, but with better seating. You can get in a Pescador for < $600.

Every Saint has a past, every Sinner has a future. On Instagram @hamneedstofish

Posted

You'll probably get a few suggestions, but my recommendation would be to not rule out a canoe. I use a 15' Mad River Legend and it suits me perfectly and fits all my needs.

Not saying a kayak won't work, I started with a SOT and it was alright but not exactly what I was looking for.

I went to a kayak and once again, it was a great boat but didn't fit the bill.

I settled with a canoe only after my previous 2 boats made me realize exactly what I wanted. More space, storage, flexibility and versatile enough for the narrow ozark streams. I only take overnight trips so those factors were critical.

With that being said, from what I hear on here the two boats you have listed should be just fine.

I've got that exact same boat and really like it. One sometimes missed advantage canoe has over a lot of SOT kayaks is dry butt. Early and late season that's a pretty significant advantage if you ask me. Though I think the way a Coosa is set up you do stay pretty well dry.

I've convinced myself that the Legend actually drafts less water than my Pescador too. Which makes sense, it's a bigger and lighter hull.

SOT kayak guy. Kayaks are very intuitive. After a few minutes you will naturally being doing what is required to get up and down the creek. Your skills will improve the more you use it, but I don't think it is nearly as difficult to pick up as a canoe.

My next boat will be a Coosa, but the best deal is a Perception Pescador. This is the same hull as my beloved Tarpon 120 that I got in 2003, but with better seating. You can get in a Pescador for < $600.

I've got a Pescador and like it too - for day trips in warm weather. In that boat the instant I sit down my butt is wet and stays wet all day. You are 100% correct on the pricing, Academy still has them for that kind of money. You can of course get around being one of the soggy bottom boys by wearing a set of waders. I've just never gotten around to actually doing that, just wear hippers and use the canoe early and late in the year.

Posted

The intuitiveness that Ham talked about is more a function of using a double bladed paddle as opposed to a single blade, than any advantage inherent in a kayak. If so inclined you can use a double blade in a canoe as well. However, most "fishing" kayaks are a little more stable than most solo canoes, and if you're wanting a craft you can stand and fish in, you probably won't want a canoe, unless it's one of the wide tandem sportsmen's canoes, which have other disadvantages.

Comparing canoes to kayaks, you have to differentiate between solo and tandem boats. I will note that the Mad River Legend recommended above is discontinued due to Royalex no longer being manufactured. It's a good small tandem that works well solo, but no tandem canoe will be as responsive and easy to handle with a paddle as a good dedicated solo canoe. Having paddled a lot of different canoes, I find solo canoes to be much easier and more fun to paddle. However, a smaller tandem canoe has the kind of versatility that no solo canoe or kayak can match.

Everything is a trade-off, there is no "perfect" river craft.

Note also that apparently some canoe companies still have an inventory of Royalex models. Wenonah is still offering Royalex canoes, for instance. (They raised the price, though.)

Posted

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Al I will be checking out Wenonah tonight. I don't think I'll be doing much standing on the kayak for awhile should that be what I get. Is there a reason why most manufacturers stopped making royalex Al?

Posted

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Al I will be checking out Wenonah tonight. I don't think I'll be doing much standing on the kayak for awhile should that be what I get. Is there a reason why most manufacturers stopped making royalex Al?

Polyone bought Spartech who manufacturered Royalex and shut down production due to low volume.

-- Jim

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. -- Doug Larson

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.