Kayak Fishing

[backcast]

I used to use my 8'pontoon boat for fly fishing and it worked great until I had to paddle up stream to get back to a pod, hole, snag, tree, dislodge my anchor or reposition the boat... if not possible at times it wore me out... Now I use a "sit on top" 12' fishing kayak..wow what a difference. I now can go up stream into the current, anchor using a trolley system, sit sideways & fly down a stream when needed when I am running late to the pull out. You can rig these things to carry five or six rods. Now I don't change flies I change rods, when in Outer Banks NC you go right in the sound or surf... Great fishing Tool.. Now there is a yak on the market that you can separate the stern to form split pontoons and you stand up against a brace that foldsup.. very stable... My pontoon now sits in storage

[Chad Lewis]

I hear you. I'm kinda tired of my pontoon too, although it's gotten me on a lot of water. I'll soon own a Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 and will probably sell the pontoon.

[backcast]

I have the "Manta Ray" by Liquid Logic..but I think Native has pick that up.. Great yak as they have thought of everything,, if you would like some videos on this yak let me know..Mike

[Jim Grant]

Not sure about yaks for rivers, but for saltwater I have nothing but good things to say about wilderness systems kayaks. I had a tarpon 160 and a Ride when I lived in TX....the tarpon was great for a bit more speed for long hauls and handled a slight chop well. My ride was the go-to flats yak...shallow draft and so stable that I could actually stand in it and pole it...not a good casting platform but great for scoping and spotting schools of redfish..... Do people do much yak fishing in the PNW? I never had until I moved to TX (lived in Idaho before that...hence why I even know about this board). Anyway glad to hear more people seem to be using yaks for fishing.
Cheers,
Jim

[backcast]

Jim, We use our yaks up on the Muskegon River in Michigan, which has a pretty good flow rate... actually we use them everywhere ...the beauty of a fishing yak is that they are very stable and as I'm drifting down if pass over fish I can spin around and paddle up against the current, get out and fish to them.... there is a yak on the market that the stern splits and a support bar to lean against... ck it out.... also if you are running behind getting to the pullout you can really book to get there... Mike

[fishfinder]

Tried a Kayak on the Manistee (MI) a couple years ago and only way I could get out of darn thing was role it over fall out. Got pretty wet. :beathead: Haven't used one since. Of course I am an old gezzer so that may have had something to do with it.

Mike

[Jim Grant]

Backcast/Mike,

So you guys are targeting steelies on the Muskegon? Need to get up there sometime...have always wanted to...now that I am living in Jakarta it makes it a bit hard but my father-in-law works up in Iron Mountain on the UP and I hope a Michigan fishing trip is in my future.

Who makes the split stern kayak you are talking about? I did a google and came up empty.

I did use my yak on the limestone rivers in Texas when I was there...but mainly for transport, and did fish from it in deeper holes, nice b/c you can haul a good bit of gear for camping too etc. Need to find a yak for over here but no local sources, have been looking into inflatables you can check in luggage for trips around Indonesia...some good ones just a bit pricey.

Cheers,
Jim

[backcast]

Jim, go to... www.freedomhawkkayaks.com slickest kayak yet.. Mike

[polepole]

Or you can just add these to your kayak ... stabilizers made by Scotty.

-Allen

http://www.scottypaddlesports.com/pages/stabilizers/stabilizer_01.gif

[Jim Grant]

That yak looks pretty sweet....almost 2X the price of a normal siton-top (last time I priced them) but likely worth it for the extra functionality. Wonder how it paddles. The casting brace is a good idea...if the draft is right it would be perfect for gulf coast flats fishing.... Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

The scotty or other outriggers are a good option, but significantly slow you down if you are paddling a long distance to a fishing location.... Still a good option. Most places (in the flats) it is still nice to get out and wade, much better stalking...can get closer to fish usually. But in TX many of the flats have very muddy bottoms that are difficult to wade, any way to stand up give you a better vantage point (fish can see you easier as well).

Man I miss my yaks...

Cheers,
Jim

[doublespey]

Or you can just add these to your kayak ... stabilizers made by Scotty.

-Allen

http://www.scottypaddlesports.com/pages/stabilizers/stabilizer_01.gif

Stability is key. There are times you wouldn't want to fall in. ;)

12530

[polepole]

That yak looks pretty sweet....almost 2X the
The scotty or other outriggers are a good option, but significantly slow you down if you are paddling a long distance to a fishing location....


Ummm ... you can raise them out of the water when under travel.

-Allen

[polepole]

Here's another kayak from the same genre of extendable outriggers.

http://www.sit-on-topkayaking.com/KayakData/Reviews/TriFly.htm

-Allen