Thread: First ever kayak need advice.

Solid advice given so far. I started with SIT’s, the last being a Pungo 12, which ended up being a very practical kayak for most of my freshwater needs. It’s fairly easy to get in and out of, stable, relatively comfortable, and not too hard to load after a days fishing. I moved on to a SOT (Jackson Cuda) which was much faster, more comfortable, easier to outfit, allowed standing up, and very enjoyable to paddle. The downside was it’s weight, especially after a days paddle. This year I purchased a Hobie, mainly for inshore fishing. Many, many attributes, but it’s heavy and that makes getting on and off the water a challenge. The pedal drive is convenient, especially for dealing with wind and current. Not so great for paddling in shallow water.
That being said, I find myself using an Old Town Pack canoe more and more. It’s light, stable, and I have about a 4 hour comfort window before my butt gives out. It forces me to think about what tackle to bring and I limit myself to 2 rods. I have just finished rigging a depth finder and hope to test it out this week.
My recommendation is to think about the type of fishing you want to do, available launch points, the amount of weight you can manage (carts will help) but loading up after a days paddle will be a major factor. The more difficult it is, the less enjoyment, and your “investment” may end up sitting in the backyard if the pleasure to work ratio is out of wack. Lots of deals on used boats on Craigslist at the moment. Get your feet wet and move forward from there.