Thread: Best Kayak opinions

fishin from one is addictive easy fast . its alot easier for me to toss the boat in the back of the truck and go no hooking up a boat washing it when you return just all around much easier

I love being right down on the water. Nice.

Cheaper too. If I pull my buddies glass boat it is a min. of $50 or so in gas, if I take the jon boat with only a trolling motor it is $35 driving the tocoma. If I throw the kayak on top of the Rav-4 it is $15 in gas.

Boats need ramps or graded access. Kayaks need nothing more than a place to drag/carry the yak to the water.

totally agree with you i load my yak with the gear and slide it to where i am going after 5yrs of dragging i spent $100 to have the back end built up where it started to leak from being drug 5 years $100 maintance show me a boat that is that cheap .. now there is a place for boats i own a few of those but my choice 5/6 times will be the yak

There are 2 things to think about. 1. how much money you can afford to spend. 2. what style/type of fishing you like. I own and a Hobie Outback, the pedal type, and it is my go to kayak for 95% of the fishing I do. I'll explain why. I crappie fish mostly and can fish in high wind, low wind and no wind without a problem. I don't even carry an anchor any more. I can stay over the top of a sunken tree or troll at 2 mph all day long. I also own a sit on top Ride 135. It is a great kayak but can't compete with the Outback in the small and large lakes I fish. That being said I would not take my Outback on one of the fast rivers we have up here in Arkansas, it would be a disaster. I would rather have something like a Cusa or maybe a sit in Ultra 12. I am very hooked on kayak fishing. It is fun challanging and great exercise. I'm 52 and fish 2 or 3 days a week about 48 weeks a year 5 to 10 hrs a day.

I'm a big Coosa fan, but to lazy to paddle that much

Coosa Jackson Kayak – Whitewater, Recreational, Touring and Fishing kayaks

A few years ago a friend and his family invited my wife and I to go float the White River. I had many years experience fishing out of a canoe but was hooked on kayaks after this trip. We also fished on the Buffalo National River from a rental. The ones we rented were a Malibu sit on top that cost about $500 new. They were short (less than 10') but very stable. I spent about a year trying out different models and finally bought a Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 for about $950. I ordered it from Austin Kayak in Texas and it was delivered from a freight truck very inexpensively. Later my wife and I went to Lake Belton in Texas for her to participate in an annual kayak days. She was able to try out several models and picked out a Wilderness System 10' SOT that ran about $600. I have fished extensively out of both and they work just great. I primarily use them on streams in SE Oklahoma or in Arkansas or on small lakes. They are a great way to fish. They do not replace my Lund Explorer for large lakes. Two totally different ways of fishing! I car top ours on top of a pickup cover and have a small cart I made up out of PVC pipe for when I need to tote mine very far. They are both as light or lighter than the canoes I used to use. The kayaks are much more stable but don't have the carrying capacity of a canoe. Before I bought mine I tried my brother in laws Hobie several times but just didn't like the pedaling bit. I like paddling. If you have the opportunity you should try out as many as possible even if you have to travel to do so. Generally the shorter they are the easier it is to turn one and the longer they are the easier it is to go straight. A 12' is a good compromise for a fishing kayak. I'm 6'3, 235 pounds and can fish out of one as easy as my 5'4 better half. I especially like to fly fish from one. Enjoy!

I have a Ocean Kayak Big Game. bought it about 5 years ago and have gotten a ton of use out of it. Very stable but not really fast compared to paddling kayaks. I tried a Trident 13 from Ocean Kayaks also and they are a little faster but you loose just a little width. still plenty stable. I can sit sideways in the big game and even stand up and fish in calm water. Although I dont suggest standing unless you have good balance. They also have a scupper hole that will fit a special through Hull transducer from Humminbird to make installing your locator easy.
I would suggest a sit on top style that has a comfortable seat. Heard good things about Hobie. the pedal drive thing would be nice, but I dont know if I would want to spend that kind of money.
I have caught a ton of fish from my kayak. works really good to get right in the brush without spooking the fish and pull slab crappies out. I've even fishd Lake Michigan and nearshore in Florida with mine. It takes a little getting used to but it can be a great way to catch fish.

My wife and I have four. All are Wilderness Systems. Two are Tarpon 100s and two are Ride 135s. We purchased all from Austin Kayak. We didn't buy the factory angler models; but we got the Austin kayak angling package with all of them. We mainly use in ponds / lakes ranging from 6 to 400 acres. Purchased the two Rides so some of our friends could go with us. We like them. Am a fan of the Sit On Top models as slight fear of being trapped inside a sit inside when it is upside down. Would recommend trying several different ones. I like the idea of the Hobie pedal system. Cost and maintenance fears prevented us from going that route. Would recommend watching weight and length. Longer and wider equal more stability; but at cost of hauling / lifting pains. You truly can get closer to fish and wildlife without disturbing them. Fishing from them is fun and relaxing. Not quite as convenient for hauling bunch of stuff or fish; but... We got bright yellow ones and had sign shop place reflective tape made into designs on all sides. I used to ride motorcycles and had enough close calls with other vehicles apparently not seeing me that I want to ensure any speed boats do see me on the kayak.