To all the kayak fishermen!

[jmatheny9]

During the summer we always go to camp on the south branch Potomac a bunch and we will load up the rafts and do a three or four hour float trip. The guys usually fish while the girls relax but it is a real hassle to fish from an inflatable pool raft... Soooo I've been looking in to kayaks (specifically the heritage angler 10) that are under $450. Are there any you guys would recommend? Keep in mind I'm still in high school and don't have a job! I'm just looking for one that I can have a few rods in, place to put some small gear an tackle, and is fairly stable because I haven't kayaked much. 

Thanks ahead of time!
             -Jeremiah


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[hawgthumper]

Jeremiah,  it's not one I'd recommend but the I'm not still in high school.  Try looking into BassPros' Ascend models. They are what I would consider a better starter kayak. Whatever you get make sure it's a sit on top model. Personally I wouldn't consider anything under 11.5 or 12 feet. The ascend models you can stand up in I'm sure and not that much more expensive. I have heard of some structural problems with them at times but Bass Pro stands behind them.

Now with all that said,  I think you should try checking Craigslist in your area. I found a 13 foot Ocean Kayak prowler for 700.00 and have been very happy with it. You can find some great deals there. Just remember, once you go yak, you'll never go back! I think you're making a great decision.  Yak fishing is awesome! Contact me if you need any help.  BTW, I'm from the other end of WV. The end where the real hillbillies live lol.   Hope this helps. Good luck.

[ipt]

i have a wilderness systems tarpon 120 angler... love it, its a little heavy but its super stable.

havent really used anything else, so i dont have much to compare it to.

[hawgthumper]

i have a wilderness systems tarpon 120 angler... love it, its a little heavy but its super stable.

havent really used anything else, so i dont have much to compare it to.

The Tarpon is one of the yaks I checked out when I first started looking at yaks.  It's a great boat and I almost bought one.

[Botanophilia]

Whatever you get make sure it's a sit on top model.

Unless you consider an open cockpit type to be sit on top, I disagree with that statement 100%.  I didn't like SOTs and the ones I've handled were heavy.  Open cockpits are lighter and very stable.  If you've dealt with a canoe, think of these as a 1 man canoe.  I have a native watercraft Ultimate 12.  Wilderness Systems Commander is slightly cheaper, my bro-in-law has one and it's very similar to the native I have. 

Best advice I can give: As already stated by the Hawg, check craigslist.  Look it over very well, but if they won't let you try it out, think twice. 

Shop around and shop local - I found local dealers have better prices than online.  Be patient - said local dealers often have deals or even better, events. 

Try EVERYTHING out - you might be fine in a 10' kayak or you might hate it (I personally didn't like anything under 12').  The paddle size that is suggested for you may actually not be comfortable.  Find a dealer that has the ability to let you try out kayaks.

 This is your first yak, don't be afraid to go bare-bones to save cash instead of getting an angler.  You can save a few hundred $.  It's not hard to install a couple of rod holders.  On many kayaks, the different angler options can also always be installed later.

  Yak fishing is awesome.  I don't get to do it much tho, as I rarely have time or ambition to go out myself and if I have a partner we use the canoe or we go out in a boat. 

[hawgthumper]

I stand by my statement. SOT'S are far more stable for fishing than anything out there.  I tried The same two hybrids you mentioned and they're nice boats but not stable Enough to suit me.  SOTS are a little heavier but that's part of why they're so stable. They're also a little wider on average than other types of yaks. Most of them only come in around 60 or 70 pounds (minus seat and gear of course) so is weight really an issue.
  I do agree that he should try everything out to see what suits him best. Most importantly is to just have fun.

[ctom]

I haven't done a yak so I can't say one way or the other. I do canoe and will tell you that if you are NOT comfortable in whatever you fish from or if you do not feel entirely safe, you will not have near as much fun. Try whatever you are looking to use before hand. Personally I think canoes are the ticket and you can haul a ton of equipment in one...as in a sleepeing bag and tent along with a cooler of food in the off chance you want to do some over-night stuff away from a vehicle. I think you have a lot of things to consider but think too that you need to look way past just fishing.

[Botanophilia]

I stand by my statement. SOT'S are far more stable for fishing than anything out there.  I tried The same two hybrids you mentioned and they're nice boats but not stable Enough to suit me.  SOTS are a little heavier but that's part of why they're so stable. They're also a little wider on average than other types of yaks. Most of them only come in around 60 or 70 pounds (minus seat and gear of course) so is weight really an issue.
  I do agree that he should try everything out to see what suits him best. Most importantly is to just have fun.

Without seat and gear, my native comes in under 50 lbs.  Yes, weight is an issue.  All of the SOTs we looked at were over 70 lbs.  I CAN load 70-80 lbs onto my car by myself, but that doesn't mean I want to.  If I'm going to do that I'd just take my canoe, which is 74 lbs.  For me the point was light and portable if I NEED to go fishing and don't have a partner.    Also keep in mind, I can load 80 lbs alone on the way out, but after paddling all day on a river?  Not always.  I can stand in my Native if I need to (and I have), it's stable enough due to the low center of gravity.  You sit on the water instead of above it so it doesn't need to be as wide.  This makes it more maneuverable than the wider SOTs.  All things to consider.  It's very subjective, neither Hawg nor I is right or wrong.  You need to buy what works for you.  And what you prefer might be totally opposite of someone else, which is why I disagree with Hawg's original statement.  I've seen people fishing from a standard closed cockpit yak.  Not sure I could manage such a thing, but it can be done. And no matter how stable your yak is, first time out you will feel uncomfortable.  Take it out a few times without your gear.  Get used to how it handles.

Tom is spot on about how much crap you can haul in a canoe.  We fit most of our gear and food for 4 days in ours.  I'll get pics of it when we go next year.  Much more and we'd have sunk!   Open cockpit yak could probably fit enough gear for a night or 2 if you pack light.

[jmatheny9]

Well I've got a canoe already but it just too big for me only when I'm floating down the river haha. I like the ideas of the sit on ones because I could easily get in and out ( we make several swim stops) and I'm not too worried about the weight. But I do have one question, what is the difference in lengths do to the kayak? Say 10ft vs 12ft?


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[hawgthumper]

Well I've got a canoe already but it just too big for me only when I'm floating down the river haha. I like the ideas of the sit on ones because I could easily get in and out ( we make several swim stops) and I'm not too worried about the weight. But I do have one question, what is the difference in lengths do to the kayak? Say 10ft vs 12ft?


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The 12 footer will be much more stable. And will track much straighter.

[Lamar]

Well I've got a canoe already but it just too big for me only when I'm floating down the river haha. I like the ideas of the sit on ones because I could easily get in and out ( we make several swim stops) and I'm not too worried about the weight. But I do have one question, what is the difference in lengths do to the kayak? Say 10ft vs 12ft?


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   Two Foot.    No seriously the difference is the way it handles. I grew up in a canoe. I don't know much about kayaks but they do handle the same. A short 10 foot kayak is always going to need correcting were a longer one will be easier to steer. My advice would be if you have a canoe and your on a limited budget then keep it. It's not the boat that catches the fish or makes the fun. When I was young I fished out of a 14 foot 1958 starcraft with a 6 hp piece of crap outboard. After about six years I bought a used electric motor and we thought we hit gold. I welded the fenders four times, yes I said four times on this boat trailer because they kept falling off. One time I drove 40 miles back to find it. Yet I raised two kids with it, caught more fish with it and had more fun in it then any other boat I'll ever own. Those days made me a better fisherman. Don't be in a hurry to get out of them. Just my two cents.