Help finding a fishing kayak

[nymphermaniac]

I have never owned a kayak, but I want to purchase one. My canoe is getting too heavy for me too mount on my vehicle and I am tired of trying to control it on the water. I will mostly use the kayak on ponds and small lakes, maybe to get around on relatively tame rivers as well. I would greatly appreciate some advice on reasonably priced, light weight fishing kayaks. There are so many options and features I am overwhelmed! I am in my mid 50s but still in good shape and I weigh about 150. Please offer me some helpful guidance. Thank you in advance.

[Gavin]

If you have trouble loading a tandem canoe you won't be happy with any of the popular fishing kayaks. They are pigs to load on a racks. but easy to load  in a pickup bed.

 

[Flysmallie]

I don't totally disagree with Gavin but a 12 foot 70 lb kayak is much, much easier to load than a 17 foot 70 lb canoe. I mean much easier. Sometimes it isn't all about the weight. 

[jtram]

P.m . sent 

[yaknar]

70 lb kayak, wow, my 11 ft  fishing kayak only weighs 47 lb. I can drag it over the riffles and and it tracks pretty straight down the river.

[Flysmallie]

Yep 70 lbs. and I drag it up and down riffles and it tracks straight and I hoist it over my head all the time to load it on my car and carry it to and from the water. Sorry I don't have anyone available to take a picture right now.

 

[Dman]

I love my Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 sit on top. The boat is bomb proof and the seating is extremely comfortable!

Don't go cheap, a cheap boat might float but if the seating system is bad you'll end up uncomfortable on the water which kind of defeats the purpose.

Plenty of room for an overnight trip too!

 

[jackdizo]

I myself own a jackson cuda and a jackson coosa. Both kayaks are great. There a little on the pricey side, but totally worth the investment, and depending on what kind of vehicle you have, you can get racks that make load / unloading very easy... My two cents is the same as Dman said above, get a sit on top that has comfortable seating and spend the extra money. Most of the newer name brand sit on top kayaks are extremely durable, very very stable, unsinkable, and have ample room for dry storage so your overnight river floats are done with ease...

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

[grizwilson]

On 9/5/2016 at 1:54 PM, Flysmallie said:

I don't totally disagree with Gavin but a 12 foot 70 lb kayak is much, much easier to load than a 17 foot 70 lb canoe. I mean much easier. Sometimes it isn't all about the weight. 

I must be doing something wrong. Harder for me to put a 62# tarpon on car top than 17'4" tripper on top 2500.  Could you post a video or give some technique tips.  Thanks

g

[grizwilson]

Here is a recent thread that beat it to death: