Kayak help

[sasha]

From some of the posts on here i know that a few of you are using Kayaks. I been looking at to maybe buy one still on the fence about it. Been thinking about using it for fishing in the ocean and maybe just go the distance for a good work out when my knee hurt and i cant hike. I understand that if i get one that is fast it wont be very stable for fishing and if i get one that is stable it wont be fast. So here is my Q what are you guys using your kayaks for?? what models so you use and what do you like or dislike about them.. I got a customer who has a second kayak and she said she would take me out on the ocean for a few hours just to padel around. So i hope to see how much i do like it. But it sure looks like fun and when i did rent one a while ago i had a blast.

Sasha

 

[LG&M]

Sorry i can;t help much. All I can say is you will have a lot of fun in a good yak. I use my Oldtown Otter XT to fish in lakes and just explore. The kids love it also.

 

[BIGSHOVEL]

I use the Wilderness Systems Commander 120. I love it. You can stand in it.
It's more of a canoe/kayak hybrid. I have no complaints about speed either. It paddles and tracks very well.

It is however a very ugly vessel.

 

[sasha]

BigShovel is that a double wall kayak?? As it wont sink if it got full of water... I just knwo im would fall out of it and roll it till its full.

 

[LMT66]

I'd be interested in any information also as I have been thinking about getting one.
Have had my eye on this Vapor but know nothng about kayaks.

 

[Guyon]

For ocean fishing and paddling, I would get something like the Ocean Kayak Trident 15. Here's why with a list of desired features (for kayaks in general) for that application.

It's long. The longer boats are faster and track better. I have short kayaks used mainly for rivers and creeks, and they'll turn with a single paddle stroke. However, on flatwater or on the ocean, you want something that will track. I have a 13.5 foot Ocean Kayak Prowler that's pretty good in this regard, but if I were near the ocean, I'd go even longer.

It's a sit-on-top. Sit-on-tops have several advantages as fishing platforms on the ocean. They're more stable than similarly long sit-inside kayaks. I believe that you can stand in the OK Trident 15 if you have any balance whatsoever. Many fly fishermen use sit-on-tops as casting platforms. In addition, they're much easier to re-enter should you somehow get out of the boat and into the water.

It's made for fishermen. The boat has all sorts of features designed with fishermen in mind, including lots of surface area for installing rod holders and such. It has a dedicated fishfinder well. And probably most importantly, it has a rod well. This means that you can easily store your rods/reels below deck before you launch or beach in the surf. Such launches take practice, and many a deck rod has succumbed to the novice's efforts to launch in the surf. Storing rods down below is huge.

There are many, many more sit-on-top models directed at fishermen these days. The sport is growing at a rapid rate with all sorts of regional organizations as well as tournament trails. Kayak companies are taking notice.

Two places you might want to ask your question are:

http://www.atlantakayakfishing.com/forum/
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/community/

Many more online forums for kayak fishing exist these days, but I know those two personally because I post there.

[youtube]2HNnL7IIZZw[/youtube]

 

[Guyon]

They mention something in that video about reflective lines. That brings to mind an issue that does matter when it comes to ocean goers. You'd be advised to choose a bright, visible color. I've seen long distance pictures where many neutral colors simply disappear to the visible eye. With a power boat bearing down on you, it's a good idea to be visible. Yellow and orange are very popular colors in the ocean.

If you *just* want to paddle though, I'd recommend getting and learning to use a sea kayak. These are sit-insides that are designed to go. I have a 16.5 foot Perception Essence that hauls ass compared to my other boats. I just had it out yesterday for a nine-mile paddle. Saw a duck that looked like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Turns out it was a crested duck. Who knew ducks could wear wigs?

 

[Guyon]

I'd be interested in any information also as I have been thinking about getting one.
Have had my eye on this Vapor but know nothng about kayaks.

For rivers and creeks and ponds, that looks like a great boat. For short jaunts on lakes, that looks like a great boat. However, a lot of the striper fishermen on lakes may spend considerable time covering water and looking for fish on their sonars. They want longer boats that track and put out some speed without wearing out the paddler.

However, just to show that you can catch lake fish with a shorter boat, here's my Wilderness Pamlico 100 that I rigged out for fishing.

And here are the fish...

 

[Codger_64]

As for sinking, almost all modern kayaks and canoes have some built-in floatation. But either of these boats can be fitted with air bag floatation for extra bouyancy.

Also, if I were to go into open water like an ocean or even large lake, I would definately install a stern light or strobe. Being mowed down by speed boats or barges is not fun.

It is, in my opinion, always a good idea to try a kayak or canoe before you buy. Many retailers have demo-days sponsored by their manufacturers where you can test paddle a pretty wide variety of designs. Not doing this is how I wound up with a Dagger Tupelo thinking it would be a good solo fishing boat, like an Old Town Pack. It turned out to be a mistake for a full sized adult, though the grand kids love it.

 

[JGON]

Ever since I began kayaking a couple of years ago, I can't get enough of it. I also enjoy hiking and backpacking, and you can combine these activities with kayaking. I do a lot of kayak/camping, and I recently begun experimenting with kayak/camping with a hammock.

As far as what I use, I use a Wilderness Systems Tempest 170. This is a large boat at 17'6" long. I don't really fish out of my kayak, although I'm sure I could, but you are right that a shorter, fatter boat would definitely be more ideal for this.

You are going to be mostly kayaking on the ocean you said, correct? Oceans are not as "beginner" friendly since the waves and chop can often cause an inexperienced kayaker to flip or roll. Maybe with this taken into consideration, a more stable boat might be what you need.

It's hard to say though, I just know that if I were to do it again, I would either get my same boat or something very similar. Something in the sea kayak or touring kayak category. I think you get the absolute best combination of speed, stability, and maneuverability.

That being said, you and I will be kayaking in very different bodies of water. Myself in the lakes and rivers of SE WI, and you in the ocean.

You might want to go rent a few and see how they feel.

 

[Guyon]

sasha, keep in mind that to the cost of the kayak, you'll need to budget for (at a minimum) a paddle, a PFD, some accessories like rod holders, and a rack for your vehicle. For a long while, I carried my Prowler 13 with just a truck bed extender. Here's the boat loaded up for transport.

And here it is rigged out for rockfishing.

When I got the sea kayak, however, I invested in a Thule rack system.

One other thing to consider is storage. Sun is your enemy as it will damage the polymer of a plastic yak. I keep mine outside on a rack to which I cable lock all the yaks, but I cover them with a big UV resistant tarp. I also wipe the boats down with 303 Protectant, which helps protect from the sun. It's not an ideal setup, but it does keep the yaks from succumbing to sun damage.

 

[Guyon]

It's hard to say though, I just know that if I were to do it again, I would either get my same boat or something very similar. Something in the sea kayak or touring kayak category. I think you get the absolute best combination of speed, stability, and maneuverability.

For pure paddling and travel, yes. Absolutely. A sea kayak is the way to go, and the Wilderness boats are good yaks.

For fishing the ocean? Absolutely not. Sea kayaks do not have the stability of sit-on-tops, and ocean fish pull hard. You get a big fish running sideways to your vessel, and you're going to have a hard time keeping it upright. There's a reason ocean fishermen go with sit-on-tops.

Also, if I were to go into open water like an ocean or even large lake, I would definately install a stern light or strobe. Being mowed down by speed boats or barges is not fun.

Check out the light on my green Prowler above. One point of interest is that you want it up high where it can be seen. Kayaks sit low to the water.

 

[Glock26]

kayaks are fun! However I do like the hybrids, it seems very comfortable.

 

[OwenM]

www.topkayaker.com is dedicated to SOT kayaks, and has a forum. It isn't the most active board, but there are some very experienced people there. I posted a few questions and stuff last year, but mostly enjoyed just reading through the various forums and learning about the different things I needed to know about getting started.

My SOT is a Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11. I just got it for screwing around on creeks and rivers with fairly tame whitewater. Being short as it is, it's slow, but stable and fairly maneuverable. Very nice, comfortable kayak, though mine is probably the worst of them since the rest are longer, faster, and have more features like drywells and extra hatches, and even more room in the stern well.
I don't know how it compares to any of the others mentioned, just that it's well worth a look if you're shopping. Here is the 14ft. one:
http://www.nativewatercraft.com/manta_14.cfm

 

[wintermute]

I'm currently trying to get over to a somewhat local store to buy an out of production but unused Ocean Kayak (OK) Prowler 15 that they have left over. Like others have said, longer = more efficient, which not only allows you to go faster, but also longer distances before tiring out. I owned an OK Scupper Pro in the past and loved it, I've paddled a OK Prowler Trident 15 and liked it almost as much, and I'm going to try that Prowler 15, because it's supposed to be slightly more efficient than the Trident and cheaper. You'll see lots of suggestions for longer Tarpons and Prowlers as good all around boats for paddling and fishing out on the open water.

My plans are to use it mainly for back bay and coastal kayaking. And since i love fishing, I want to try my hand at fishing off a kayak. Many people suggest going with a non-angler model of a fishing-friendly boat and modify it as you see fit. I plan to start out with a milk crate in the tankwell with a couple of rod holders attached to it. I also plan to buy a crab pot - I figure it's so easy. I decide I want to go for a paddle, I paddle to a decent crabbing location, go for my ride and grab the crabs on the way in. Lots of West Coast people go for dungeness crabs. There's lots of kayak fishing forums out there, especially for out in Cali. kayakfishingstuff.com is a good one. Good luck!

 

[fishunter219]

Go to nativewatercraft.com.

Jimbo Meador has been fishing Mobile Bay and Delta since he was a kid. He's the real deal and knows what he's talking about.

 

[Guyon]

Go to nativewatercraft.com.

Jimbo Meador has been fishing Mobile Bay and Delta since he was a kid. He's the real deal and knows what he's talking about.

I used to live down in Mobile and still visit from time to time. Has Jimbo said anything to you about how the delta has fared, fishing-wise, since the oil came in?

Many people suggest going with a non-angler model of a fishing-friendly boat and modify it as you see fit.

I agree that this is a cheaper way to go. You do want to make sure the boat has good mounting points for various add-ons.

 

[fishunter219]

Ihaven't talked to Jimbo in while but do know the fishing has been pretty good in the Bay. Some friends went down a couple of weeks ago and did pretty good on trout with berkely gulp shrimp. Some other friends live on the Bay where the IC runs in near Bon Secour. They've reported no oil and no problem fishing.

 

[sasha]

Wow guys thats alot of good info right there. Im going to hit the kayak forums as well. I do know that i would be doing atlist 50% of the time fishing. Checked out craigslist and there are alot of kayaks up for sale. how slow are the fishing kayaks compare to the regular. I sure want something that would be stable. When you do catch fish how do you carry it so it wont spoil by the end of the day??
Oh Guyon those fish tacos look goooooodddd
sasha

 

[Guyon]

how slow are the fishing kayaks compare to the regular. I sure want something that would be stable. When you do catch fish how do you carry it so it wont spoil by the end of the day??
Oh Guyon those fish tacos look goooooodddd
sasha

What do you mean by "regular"?

Fish carry? Folks either tow a stringer, or they use a bag with ice. There are insulated fish bags specifically for kayak fishermen.

http://www.seattlesportsco.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=69&idproduct=696

ETA: For saltwater, you're probably going to want an above-board system for carrying catches.