Does any one fish out of a kayak?

[1morecast]

I am looking at buying a kayak to fish the shoreline in and around port angeles. I was wondering if any one out there has some words of wisdom they would like to share about their favorite boat. I am currently looking at a boat in the 12 ft. range, most likely a sit on top model.

Thx.
Frank

[Canoe Rider]

I fish out of a canoe but a kayak would be better on the salt. I may soon purchase a Sea Eagle inflatable kayak but the main reason is it will be easy to pack for our drive up to Alaska this summer.

They make kayaks specifically for fishing. You may want to look into that...

[hikepat]

Both my fishing partner and I use the sit in model to fish both lakes and the salt. Love the sit in kayak and they do not spook fish at all. We often can be found fishing South Sound from ours. Since we do not have to get in and out of it to fish and the sit in kayaks keep you drier in the cold Puget Sound water, we prefer the sink style of Kayak so I can not advise you on sit kayaks.
If you do a search on kayaks in the salt section this issue has come up a little in the past.

[BlueTruck]

I have a 10 or 11ft Old Town kayak that I bought from Joes last year that works well for me. It is a sit-in type that I rigged up with a pole holder and anchor. It works really well for cruising the beach or even moderate rivers. I haven't tried the SOT models but the sit-in works just fine for me. Good luck!

[Wayne Jordan]

I have a Wilderness System Tarpon 120 and absolutely love it for fishing large lakes and the salt. I installed all of my hardware myself rather than buying the "fishing model" which saved me a couple hundred dollars. Feel free to PM with any questions you may have about kayaks.

[martyg]

See if you can pick-up Canoe & Kayak from last July. It is their fishing issue and I did all of the reviews and wrote much of the editorial.

Stay away from 12' boats - short boats are generally pigs.

My favorite from the review was the Liquid Logic and Hobie's. Hobie's drive system is really, really interesting. Being a former competative paddlers I had my reservations. As a fishing tool it is hard to beat.

[Tim Garton]

we prefer the sink style of Kayak so I can not advise you on sit kayaks. .

Having sea kayaked for many years I would advise getting the the "float" kind rather than the "sink" kind.:ray1: Or, invest in a good PFD. :thumb:

Seriously, a broad beam will be preferable (28" give or take) in calm waters as it has more initial stability and thus instills some confidence. I'd go sit-in rather than sit-on too. You can lock yourself in by bracing your knees in the cockpit to take advantage of the boat stability.

[Jon Borcherding]

I've been thinking about building one of these for years:
http://www.pygmyboats.com/PRICELIS.HTM
I do NOT need another boat.
I do NOT need another boat.
I do NOT need another boat.
Gawd, they're beautiful, aren't they? :hmmm:

JonB

[polepole]

I fish regularly out of an Ocean Kayak Prowler 15 SOT kayak. I'd recommend test paddling as many as you can before buying. I'd recommend something a bit longer than a 12' model as they'll track better.

Wayne, when are we going to hit the water? Some time soon I hope.

-Allen

[hikepat]

I fish out of a 9.5 foot kayak. I love the ease of launching it and the fact that it can turn quickly with just a stroke of two to cast in another direction. I also like the fact that when large salmon starts to circle to boat as they often do, that my rod can reach either end helping to keep the line from catching on one end or another. I also like the fact that I can use it in the salt, lakes and even some rivers. As for speed that never been an issue since I have never had to paddle more then a few miles from a launch point to get to my fishing holes.
As you can see there are many differences of opinion and you should try out as many kayaks as you can before buying.

[Canoe Rider]

I just purchased a Sea Eagle 330 (http://www.seaeagle.com/SeaEagle330.aspx) for Alaska trip. Will use in lakes and maybe rivers on the drive up, in the salt off of Juneau, and then in BC again on the way back. I'll post the beta here in August.

[Tom Bowden]

I bought a used Ocean Kayak Scrambler XL last fall. I've had it out on the local lake a few times - it handles well, is fast, easy to get in & out of, and it's fun.

There are lots of interesting looking beaches that aren't accessible by foot - marine parks, shellfish areas maintained by the DNR, high bluffs, etc... Some of these places appear accessible if you could get around only a few houses. So, my plan is to use the kayak to get to these beaches, and then get out & fish.

Now that the weather is getting better, I hope to see if my plan works....


Tom

[Tim Garton]

I've been thinking about building one of these for years:
http://www.pygmyboats.com/PRICELIS.HTM
I do NOT need another boat.
I do NOT need another boat.
I do NOT need another boat.
Gawd, they're beautiful, aren't they? :hmmm:

JonB

I built and paddled the Osprey Standard. Pygmy makes an excellent kit. Somewhat time consuming but the result is very good if you take your time. I'd go a broader beam if you plan it as a fishing platform. As a paddling piece, well, I paddling a circ of Vashion with some guys and many other reaches. It will go some miles. For a strictly fishing boat I look for a broader beam.

[Jon Borcherding]

Tim,
I was thinking of the Queen Charlotte Std. It's hard to tell from the pics but it looks like it has very flat midships sections. I wonder if that would make up for the 24" beam and provide some more initial stability? The single chine shape should also improve reserve stability over a multi chine of the same basic dimensions. I've built a few boats so I think const. would be a cake walk.
I don't really need another boat....maybe:hmmm:
JonB

[billkendrick831@msn.com]

Hey Frank,
I have fished out of kayaks for about ten years.Started out with inflateables,ok for rivers ,sucky for any wind or open space.Sit-ons are great if you only plan on short warm weather trips,bulky and heavy though.Sit-in [i.e.recreational or sea kayaks]are more useful overall for WA conditons.I use a necky zoar,but had 5 or 6 boats over the years.I'd start out with a recreational bout with a large cockpit of 11-13 feet depending on how big you are.Wilderness systems backwater 11.5,necky manitou,prowlers and tarpons for sit-ons are fishing specific.I seakayak,fish,etc,etc out of mine.Only drawbacks are what to do with yuor paddle when you hookup,I slide mine in to my back deck straps.If I was only fishing small lakes I'd get a pontoon boat for freedom of movement,but for stealth and covering water kayaks are hard to beat.
Good Luck,Bill

[polepole]

Lot's of good opinions here that I'm not meaning to debate. Just adding perspective ...

I bought a used Ocean Kayak Scrambler XL last fall. I've had it out on the local lake a few times - it handles well, is fast, easy to get in & out of, and it's fun.

"Fast" is a relative terms. The Scrambler is actually known as a slower boat. If you think it is fast, you should try a Prowler or a Tarpon 160. Those are known as fast SOTs. Although they are probably average speed when compared to most SIK.

Sit-ons are great if you only plan on short warm weather trips

Not sure why this would be. In both SOT and SIK you need to dress appropriately for the conditions. On the salt water this means you need to be prepared to enter the water. I gear up pretty much the same whether I'm in a SIK or SOT.

-Allen

[martyg]

I'd just like to establish that none of these boats are fast. They simply are not made for that use. One hull design may be more effecient that another, but within hull lengths you are splitting hairs that don't deserve to be split. Once you settle in on a length then start to look at features that will make your fishing day more enjoyable.

What a longer and more efficient boat will buy you is more comfort. A longer boat is more stable, it handles waves better, and it will allow you to cover more ground more effeciently, and if you ever want to do an overnighter iy will carry gear.

SOTs and boats with cockpits both have advantages / disadvantages. With a SOT you will be exposed to the elements, but you have a higher relative degree of safety over a rec sit-in boat. It you should capsize in a rec sit in boat you are pretty much screwed unless you can get to shore. There is simply no elegent way to right that boat. With a SOT you simply climb back in. I also find that if I take a SOT out I am constantly jumping in and out to wade and fish, so I am aready dressed for slop & cold.

Note that I have not talked about rolling. It is simply out of the realm of this discussion. You simply are not ready for combat rolls in a big salt environment until you properly execute a roll several hundred times - to both sides - in a benign environment. Having a hand roll to both sides is even better in case your paddle is tucked away while fighting a fish.

Lastly, there has been a lot of focus on equipment. I would encourage anyone getting involved to take a day long clinic from an ACA or BCU certified instructor. The forward stroke is going to be the hardest thing that you will ever learn to execute efficiently. Might as well learn it correctly so your days are more enjoyable.

[Gary Thompson]

The wife and I have a 18' canoe but we are going to get a 12 or 14' boat so we can stand up to cast and sight fish.
We saw a two person kayak on the Dry Falls opener it looked cool, sit in, looked to be about 20' long

[Tom Arroll]

Hi Frank,

I have fished from a variety of kayaks and have found that there are pros and cons to the different models, styles ect. I started out fishing from traditional Sit In Kayaks (SIK) which are usualy sea worthy and keep you dry. The down sides of SIKs is that your mobility in the boat is limited which is a pain when landing fish and trying to access gear. One other issue is that if you dump out of your boat it takes more skill and experience to bet back into the now water filled kayak. This is specialy dangerous of you are kayaking/fishing solo. Sit on top kayaks (SOT's) on the other hand don't fill up with water unless you forget to close a hatch or something and they are typicaly pretty easy to flop back into without assistance. Many of the contemporary plastic SOTs are very stable and are well set up for fishing. Some are so stable that you can sit side saddle and even stand on them. The big complaint about most of the plastic SOTs is that they are on the heavy side and slow. I have a light weight fiberglass and epoxy SOT called a Kazkasi Dorado which is designed for fishing. This boat is 16' and is a comprimize between stabilty and paddling speed. You should check out the Kayakfishingstuff website which has an active kayak fishing discussion board. There are many threads covering fishing kayak preferences. The Tarpon and Hobie boats seem to be quite popular.

Thomas

[polepole]

Speeds ... from personal experience I can paddle a "slow" SOT in the low 3 mph's for extended paddles. And I can paddle a "fast" SOT in the high 3 mph's for extended paddles. Just to give you an idea what speeds we're talking about.

Tom, how are you liking that Dorado? I test paddled one last fall. Nice quick boat and I really like the "stiffness" of a non-plastic boat. The fit was a little tight on me though. Another more available (at least here in the USA) fiberglass/kevlar boat is the Current Designs Kestral 140. I've not tried one yet, but a guy I know is paddling one and he likes it well enough. I think you'll see more glass SOT yaks being introduced in the near future.

-Allen

[billkendrick831@msn.com]

I have to chime in one more time.I used to have a Dagger Caymen,compared to my necky sit-in it was a joy to fish out of.The increased mobility is alot better as long as your properly prepared as PolePole pointed out.Check out the kayak classifieds,I've seen more than a couple prowlers for sale in recent memory,scramblers are a dime a dozen too when it comes to sit-ons.

[House]

My wife and I just got a pair of 2007 Hobie Outbacks, and took them fishing this weekend for the first time. They're great fishing platforms--we were fishing down on the South Sound. I found them to be super stable (I fished side saddle for a while too, and it was no problem), and the hands free locomotion meant I could cast while moving, or troll a fly behind me. Casting a fly rod from the kayak is going to take some getting used too, especially since I'm not an exceptionally skilled caster anyway. :D
The hobies are sit on tops, but we stayed very dry. I took one out through the squall that came through late Sunday afternoon--winds above 20kts and chop of 3 feet or so. The Outback performed great, it rode over the steep stuff with no problem. I got some spray in the face of course, but I was dressed for cold water and actually had a lot of fun.

The boats catch fish, too. We caught several hatchery coho in the 12" - 16" range. I also caught my first searun cutthroat of the year, a pretty 14" fish.

[1morecast]

Thx to all for their input!! In the past I have fished out of my 10' Outcast pontoon boat which wasn't too bad, as long as the wind stayed down. After watching a guy fishing out of a kayak he called the "big game model" { can't remember the mfgr.} His boat was loaded with a fish finder, rod holders, and plenty of storage for a day trip. I was amazed at how stabel this boat seemed to be in the water! And it looked fast to me, he was moving a lot faster, with less effort than I was. I am going to try and demo a couple of boats before i buy,and I am defintely going to take a kayak course.

[polepole]

FYI. The Big Game is an Ocean Kayak model. In terms of speed, it is a slower boat. In terms of stability, it is one of the most stable boats.

-Allen

[Tom Bowden]

The Hobie Outbacks look like great boats, but It seem to me that the pedal mechanism would rust out quickly without a lot of cleaning and maintenance. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Tom

[polepole]

I have not heard of the peddle mechanism having problems with rusting out. I have heard of some weakness issues in the hull where the drive mechanism sits, so if you're looking at a used boat (05 or earlier), make sure you check out that area for weakness and/or cracks. I've not heard about any issues with the 06 models, but they may be too new to exhibit the issues. Supposedly Hobie has fixed this in more recent models. For older models they'll also send you a fix kit free of charge. To their credit, Hobie supposedly takes these issue seriously and has great customer service when it comes to addressing them.

-Allen

[House]

In the documentation that came with our Hobies, they reccommended hosing the mirage drives down and then spraying the metal bits with WD40 if you have them in the salt. In the research we did prior to purchasing the boats I didn't come across any complaints of rusty drives.

[Tim Garton]

Polepole... great to have you on the board. Thanks for all the input. I've always been a sit-in kayaker but after reading your posts and visiting your web link a SOT is a definite consideration. I especially like the stability of the SOT's you've mentioned since I like to take pics as well as fish. And, I can't afford a motor boat bawling:

[Hairwing]

I use the Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler :thumb: - super stable - stand up and fish - lots of room and storage.

[Rich Schager]

Hairwing,

I'm also looking at buying a Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler. My only concern at this point is speed / ease of paddling some longer distances. Any wisdom to share?

[polepole]

I also own a Big Game Prowler in addition to a Prowler 15 (my primary boat).

Rich, what do you consider a longer distance for paddling? One thing I notice on a "slower" boat, is that a good paddle makes a big difference. Don't go with a cheapo model that flexes a lot as you'll lose a lot of your efficiency in the paddle. But don't go overboard and go with the biggest paddle blade right out of the chute unless you know already that you are a strong paddler. Bigger is not necessarily better, especially when it comes to paddling heavier boats over longer distances.

Another boat in the Ocean Kayak lineup worth considering is that Prowler 13. It is sort of in between the Big Game and the Prowler 15, faster than the Big Game but not nearly as stable, more stable than the Prowler 15 but not as fast.

If anyone is down south next weekend, I'll be working the Alder Creek Spring Paddle Festival (http://www.aldercreek.com/Festivals_&_Demo_Days/Spring_Paddle_Festival_Portland-e17-m4-y2007.html) at Vancouver lake, with kayak fishing talks at 11 and 3. Come check it out, stop by and say hi, and test drive different boats while you're at it.

-Allen

[Rich Schager]

"Rich, what do you consider a longer distance for paddling?"

I'm going to moving a place that has an island (Squaxin) nearby that appears to be about a 10-11 mile journey to circumvent. So besides fishing, I'd also like to take occasional day trips, both alone and with others. And if that goes well, then I'd also like to take some longer trips.

[FLYRODR]

Here's my two-bits worth... just purchased a Hobie Fisherman with the pedal-drive system. You want to cover alot of water / distance in a short time with little effort? This is your craft. Check out the Hobie website on these. They're great!!!!!

[Tim Garton]

If anyone is down south next weekend, I'll be working the Alder Creek Spring Paddle Festival at Vancouver lake, with kayak fishing talks at 11 and 3. Come check it out, stop by and say hi, and test drive different boats while you're at it.

-Allen I'm going to be out of town. I love to meet you and talk about those yaks. Any others coming up?

[obiwankanobi]

I personally enjoy fishing from the Bainbridge ferry. It has the power to get me around during the more turbid times on the water and I enjoy listening to Cisco on the loud speaker....Ha! Ha! Sorry for the bogus post!!!!!!

[DeanHosh]

Interestingly check out www.OceanKayak.co.nz They seems to be a bit ahead of us with things like a built in port for a transducer.

[polepole]

The Big Game has that built-in transducer port. Although I wouldn't want to give up the use of a scupper hole for it. You can just use marine goop to secure a transducer to the inside of any "plastic" boat. The transducer will happily shoot through the goop and the hull. Be careful not to have any bubbles in the goop as they will interfere with the signal.

Tim, I may be working the REI Paddle Demo Day in Seattle on June 9th ... http://www.rei.com/paddle#wa. I'm not 100% sure of my schedule yet.

-Allen

[alaskaflyfisher]

Frank,

I have been a guide fresh, and salt water Colorado, and Alaska. I am involved with a lodge and Pacific Mountain Guides in Valdez, and Pybus Lodge on Admiralty Island. I researched the Kayak thing for 2 years before making a move on the right boat. I had all different manufactures wanting to send me boats to try and use. I will speak of only one boat designer for stability, handling, and amount of gear that it will hold. SOT by wilderness systems you cannot go wrong in my opinion, and i have used these with clients in Alaska, BIG WATER, and I only had one turn over and that was on the GUlkana river through a class 3 rapid.... the guy did not listen, but he was able to right the boat immediatley and get right back on go to shore change clothes and keep fishing! We nailed 8 30 ++ lb Kings from these boats. Used them all over Prince william sound, which is very similiar to the Puget Sound. The Tarpon 160i is my choice for speed and they can accomadate 345 lbs of dude and equip. Very stable, and everything is very accesible. I have fished Halibut Alaska style and it is a blast from these Kayaks....... Ck em out...

Capt. Christian Ray

[polepole]

Christian, nice to see you here. Are you all set up to run kayak fishing trips out of Pybus this year? The T160 is a fast boat indeed, no doubt about it.

Evey kayak design has its pros and cons. Try as many as you can before making the plunge. With all the choices available, there is always one that fits "just right".

-Allen

[alaskaflyfisher]

Allen, thanks and I should of mentioned the Prowler as well, I did finally use one last week. It did not have the leg room for a guy my size 6'3"...... and I love the adjustable foot pegs in the Tarpon.Otherwise it was a tossup! the Prowler is lighter by 8 lbs or so, which is a downfall of the tarpon, but it is a fast boat! Are you in town?? and yes I am set up with my initial baot order of 6 Tarpon anglers. my first Steelhead trip is the 10th of May, cant wait to get out of here!! Otto is looking forward to fishing with you this year, and I am going to try to be there as well!! Lets get together for lunch in the next or so if you can.....

Capt. Christian