Fishing Kayak

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

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Dec 30, 2008
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I would like to keep it as cheap as possible, but I'm looking to buy a fishing kayak. Sit in kayak. 10' probably. I don't know much about them so ask away!
 
Saltwater or fresh?

I'm up by Hartford and last year saw some of the rental places along the shore were selling their summer rentals at good discounts.
 
Fresh. I used to work at action sports in old saybrook as a bike tech but we never sold fishing specific kayaks. Where up by Hartford if you don't mind me asking? I grew up in newington
 
Keep an eye on Craigslist. I buy and sell them on there pretty regularly. More so as the weather warms up.--KV
 
Anything in particular I should look for? Brands to stay away from? I really only need one rod holder, just for lure changes. I don't use live bait. Is like a spot for my box/tray as well.
 
I use an Old Town Otter, very simple and basic...no frills. My gear consists of a spinning rod and reel, pocket knife, Altoids tin tackle box, leatherman tool, stringer,life jacket, bottle of water, and paddle. I catch a lot of fish with this rig on small rivers and flood control dams.

22 Hornet
 
I'll probably have with me my 1 piece bait casting rod, a paddle obviously lol, a bottle of water, a tray of fishing lures (the clear plastic ones, 12" x 6"?) and that's probably it. It will be my first kayak, both owning and being in. So I don't want to break the bank, but I want something usable that I'll be happy with for a while.
 
Your weight makes a lot of difference if you are north of 200 lbs . I had both sit ins and sit on tops For fishing I much prefer S.O.T. yaks I fish out of an Ocean kayaks drifter . But I am large and need a bigger boat. Any of the main stream manufactures make good fishing boats .
Roy
 
With everything in the boat including me id imagine it would be around 240lbs. Sit on top of kayaks to me sound like they would make me nervous. Are they more prone to tipping or slipping of the side of? I'd imagine casting to be easier, but I'd rather have to accommodate a different cast and feel safe than worry about tipping the boat lol
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
With everything in the boat including me id imagine it would be around 240lbs. Sit on top of kayaks to me sound like they would make me nervous. Are they more prone to tipping or slipping of the side of? I'd imagine casting to be easier, but I'd rather have to accommodate a different cast and feel safe than worry about tipping the boat lol
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I find kayaks in general to be a bit sketchy. I had a sit in one that I quickly sold on Craigslist. I bought a flat bottom jon boat with trolling motor. Not as easy to transport but much better to fish in

Seeing that you are on the east coast, I have seen 9 foot sit in kayaks at Marshalls recently for $119 on clearance. Can't beat that.
 
I have an ocean kayak drifter 12' 7" long and 33 " wide S.O.T. but I weigh 300 lbs so I need a big boat only time I have flipped it I was trying to so I knew what it would take before it rolled . I have flipped small john boats easier . I have landed blue cats up to #30 on my boat . I had a 11'1" perception America sit in. Since I rarely used it and my son in law had it most of the time I let him have it
I like a yak better than a john boat because I can paddle circles around a john boat using half the effort
Roy
P.S . this will be my tenth year of fishing out of a yak
 
I fish out of an Ascend FS10 sit-in angler kayak. It's made specifically for BassPro shops. It runs around $500, atleast that is what I paid for it a year ago. I believe they have a new model out for 2015 which has some minor aesthetic changes. It's 10'2" and will support 325#ish. It's designed to be wider than a recreational kayak and has a flatter bottom, so it is very stable and tracks pretty well for the length. Not the fastest boat, but will get you in some tight spaces. It is specifically designed for the angler with built in molds for crate/bucket and rod holders, but isn't over the top. I've modded mine a little to fit my fishing needs. I fish freshwater lakes for largemouth, smallmouth, & spotted bass with mostly spinning gear, but have a baitcaster as well.

I prefer a sit in model because I fish all four seasons of the year and I like the added protection against wind and cold. I also like to stay dry while paddling. I suppose if you only fish the warmer months of the year, a sit on top would do fine as well. My advice would be to rent both models and see which one suits your fishing needs.

I love my yak. I've caught 90% my bass out of it. The last hawg I caught two weeks ago was out of it and a blast to catch!



 
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Unless you are somewhere cold I would recommend a sit on top. I kayak fish a lot in Texas and any of my friends who have started with sit inside yaks have all switched quickly. Perception peacador is really nice for the money. Also, look for one piece kayaks that don't have a seam near the water level. That is nothing but trouble with cheap kayaks.
 
I fish a sit on top year round and in the ocean. Sit on tops are generally much more stable for a beginning paddler. Temperature and wetness with a sit on top can be easily remedied with a cheap wetsuit or a drysuit.
 
Definitely agree with Alan. Sit insides aren't much fun, especially fishing
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
Ok you convinced me to get a sit in kayak. Now what's an affordable model under 400? Preferable closer to 300
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Check out the ones bass pro makes I fish a local lake and the store manager and a couple or the department managers from the local store are out there fairly often . Their store brand boats seem to handle nice
Roy
 
i found this one as well. It's the same as their fishing one, just without rod holders. Which i don't need anyways. so the simpler the better. And they're about 100$ cheaper without the holders.

http://www.sundolphin.com/bali-10-ss/

Now i'm wondering what paddles to get. And also, has anybody heard of this brand?
 
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