Yak fans, what, where, and how often?

B

beckerhead

Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
582
Just wonderin' how many kayakers we have here, and what they ride in, where they float, and how often you hit the water. Pics are welcome.

I slide around in a Wilderness Systems Pamlico 100, outfitted with a few minor extras: paddle holder, extra deck tie down bungees, home made deck bag, and 4 large pool noodles for extra flotation (just in case)

My home area rivers are the Cossatot, Saline above Dierks Lake, and my "go away" river is the Buffalo, near Dillard's Ferry.

I don't float as often as I'd like, but wifey is most likely about to score a little Perception yak, and then we will be out alot more.

Beckerhead
 
I've got an Old Town Paddler and also have a sit on top kayak of the same size, not sure of the brand. I've outfitted the Old Town with some bungee on top to hold everything I need it to. Storage isn't that great on the sit on top though. I've got one small section for storage behind me and nothing really in front but between the legs.

I normally only take them out in the local ponds/lakes since they are pretty small and it can be somewhat difficult to fight a current in either one. When I'm out in mine I ALWAYS have a fishing pole. That's mainly all I use them for is fishing and general paddling around.

I took the Old Town into a local river with a fairly swift current and it was everything I could do to fight the current back to the dock. I prefer ponds/lakes much more :)

Eventuall I'd like to get a fishing kayak outfitted with storage hatches, rod holders and a rudder. My brother had a sea kayak and I laughed about the rudder until the first time I used it. It's a welcome addition to a kayak IMO. I know what some say, it's just one more gadget to break, but if it does you just go back to steering with the paddle.

I'd love to be able to make daytrips in a kayak, but it's difficult with the limited storage space I have. When I'm out with two people the person in the Old Town needs to carry mostly everything for the person using the sit-on-top.

I'll try and get some pics of what I have.
 
I bought a kayak here a while back to check them out.

Picture891.jpg


Picture887.jpg


Picture870.jpg


Well I checked them out and discovered that I am not a big fan, too confining and not enough room to haul stuff. I am more the open cockpit canoe sort of guy. I can see where small boats can be handy and am currently looking at some of the packer style canoes but I sold my kayak and don't think I will get another. Chris

Picture102.jpg
 
RB - I had a canoe at one point and didn't like how big/heavy it was. I also found it much more difficult to control when by myself and wind was much more of a factor in a canoe IMO. To each their own. I've got a Jon boat also that I use when I need the space, etc. I agree a kayak can be a bit confining in certain scenarios.

You pic looks a bit familiar :)

014-2.jpg
 
myright said:
RB - I had a canoe at one point and didn't like how big/heavy it was. I also found it much more difficult to control when by myself and wind was much more of a factor in a canoe IMO. To each their own. I've got a Jon boat also that I use when I need the space, etc. I agree a kayak can be a bit confining in certain scenarios.

You pic looks a bit familiar :)

014-2.jpg
Click to expand...

Great minds think a like. :thumbup:

I Think maybe it is what your used to. A kayak that is short and light to carry is damn near impossible to paddle straight, and I don't think the kayaks are a bit better in the wind. Different strokes, if you were closer I would let you solo my WeNoNah, might make a convert of you, and it weighs less than 60 pounds, lots of poly kayaks weigh much more than that. Chris
 
runningboar said:
Great minds think a like. :thumbup:

I Think maybe it is what your used to. A kayak that is short and light to carry is damn near impossible to paddle straight, and I don't think the kayaks are a bit better in the wind. Different strokes, if you were closer I would let you solo my WeNoNah, might make a convert of you, and it weighs less than 60 pounds, lots of poly kayaks weigh much more than that. Chris
Click to expand...

I'm with ya bro - It takes some work to keep a kayak straight! I am in ponds most of the time so I let myself drift A LOT while I'm fishing.

I'm still a fan of canoes, don't get me wrong. There's no questioning their portability and utility. You can haul a lot of gear, and a dog :thumbup:

I always wondered how my dog would do on my boat or in a canoe.

As far as weight goes, I have never handled a canoe that was light, but then again I've never owned a newer canoe and haven't handled one in a while for that matter.

Thanks for pics - Cool dog!
 
I have been using the same Whites Kayak for over 20 years. 13 footer. weighs 40 lbs.

It has been on the Lehigh, made the overnighter on the Batsto and the Delaware and seen every duck hunt for the last 10 years. I made a skeg out of a panel of delrin that I can put on when duck hunting or a lake to keep it tracking a bit straighter. It isn't the newest or the fanciest, but it has served me well. I do believe I will have to replace it soon because the bottom is getting worn from dragging over the marsh for years.
 
I love my yaks. I did a bunch of kayaking in and around the fla keys and cape canaveral. Almost got flipped when I bumped a manatee, crused with a pod of dolphins. One of the best times of my life.

I like a yak, but frankly prefer a canoe. I'm a weighty one, about 260, and when I'm in a yak, it's kinda like a cinderblock in a styrofoam cup, but you can't beat the light weight and manuverability they offer. I'll always have both around.

DSC01869.jpg
 
When I sold my lake boat I bought a Pungo 120, so that I still had some way to get out onto the water. Haven't modified much yet but probably won't do much more than add a depth finder and build a bulkhead in front for a little piece of mind. A spray skirt would be nice too, if only to keep the sun off my legs. The cockpit is large, which is great for fishing and it tracks straight. I like it a lot. The hardest part is paring down my gear into something reasonable I can tote along, it's amazing how many lures you can accumulate over the years...
 
I'm a dyed-in-the-wool canoe guy... I paddle a Mad River Eclipse, a Bell Northwind and a Bell Magic.

But I need to buy a kayak for an upcoming fishing trip. I'm a large-sized guy and I like the Wilderness Systems Pungo 140 for a budget boat. I've spent some time paddling one that belongs to a friend. I fit in it and it's fairly efficient for a cheap plastic 'yak. If I find I use it a lot, I'll sell it and buy an Impex Assateague.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
that would be me i have 4 kayaks 1 protoge 2 stream lines 1 streak i go just about every weekend during the summer 14 mile day trips about 20 mile overnighters i love to get out on the river spend most of my time on the west fork of the whiteriver.
spencermome.jpg

spencermome14.jpg

spencermome5.jpg

mastodon tooth my wife found
masstadawn1.jpg

22miles16.jpg
 
Last edited:
These boats have been very fun for our family. My son and I love to go fishing and river floating. Every now and then the wife gets out there too.

STP61452.jpg


Morning on the Etowah.

STP61375.jpg



Getting set to run the Ocmulgee.

STP61283.jpg
 
I've got a Old Town but i could barely fit in it so i gave it to my wife. I use a 14.5 Native that is a great hybrid between a kayak and a canoe. It can be changed from a one to a two seater. Its not nearly as confining a kayak and it is supposedly sturdy enough to stand in but Im not that brave. This will be my first spring with it and i look forward to kayak fishing. Taylorsville Lake state park is nearby and i was planning on using the lake to get me to remote areas of the park for deer hunting this year. However the drought dried up the back creeks and I couldnt get to where i wanted to go.

What do you guys use to secure or lock your kayaks to your trucks? I see some interesting set ups in the picture above. Ive just been usng straps which is fine if Im going straight to the lake. I'd like to have something where I could leave my truck and kayak in a hotel parking lot and not worry about it getting stolen. Anybody know of anything?
 
There is no "No worries" lock out there. If you Google kayak fishing gear or "stuff" you'll find a lot of websites that offer a cable lock system the can be run through the scupper holes. Obviously, you might have to find another way with a canoe.
 
Yeah I thought about getting a kryptonite lock at a hardware store. What about that device that sticks out of the hitch? How expensive are those?

Any one try to hunt out of their kayaks? Its illegal to shoot a big game species out of any boat in my state but my plan is to use it to get close.
 
Cool feedback thus far guys. I spent several floats in several different canoes, and while the room for mondo gear (and napping) is nice, they just don't suit me as well as my yak. I fit in it nicely, with plenty of room (5'9", 185) for me and light overnighter gear. And the maneuverability and speed are nice as well.

Just last year my youngest got pinned, and subsequently flipped in a small strainer in 60 deg. water, and although I was about 25-30 yds. past him, I just swapped ends, and paddled straight upstream with NO problem, beached, bailed out and had him on dry land in no time. That same routine in a 16'-17' open boat with a stack of gear would have been much slower, (at least for me).

The entry and exit are more involved, but stability once in, is IMHO much better with your butt being below the water line.

And yes, Chris, stubby little steep creek/whitewater yaks track about as well as a washtub. A couple zig zagged past us in a matched set of Dagger WW yaks last year and each paddle stroke practically spun those tiny sway backed critters around. Sure for jammin' through class IV water they rock, but slow water fishing, camping, etc. just sad, sad, sad. At the end of that 10 mile float I bet that poor couples paddle stroke count was triple ours.

And hey, if anyone ever gets up around the Buffalo, or any other good fishing/floating water in Arkansas, holler at me, and I might tag along, and yank a few smallmouth out with you.

And all you open boater guys post pics of your rigs as well. I am not some anti-canoe yak snob. Go with what you know.

Beckerhead
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top