Kayak for fishing?

[msfcarp]

Can anyone tell me how handy this would be to fish from a kayak? I was thinking of going from a canoe to kayak, for ease of one person handling and car topping, etc. I have noticed there are many styles of kayak, short, long,wide, any tips or opinions would be appreciated. It would be mainly used for fishing slow rivers or small lakes.

[Swamp Monster]

Kayaking fishing is extremely popular and there are a whole boat load (pardon the pun!) of fishing specific kayaks now available just because of this popularity. Do some web searches on Kayak fishing....lots of info out there. These guys are serious about it as well....high dollar electronics, rod holders, navigation, storage....the works. Some cool rigs out there. I want one myself, hopefully by next spring. I've also spent a lot of time fishing from canoes. I like canoes, but most kayaks seem more stable for a true fishing platform, and are less affected by wind. Plus, they handle big water much better. They are really popular on the coasts fishing for big saltwater fish, something you wouldn't attempt in a canoe.

[RichP]

I've been debating for some time myself about getting one for fishing but my friends that have them (just for regular use) all have stories that end with "and the long walk back to the car was cold and wet" so I've been hesitant. :lol:

[4 Car Garage]

http://www.riversidekayak.com/

[thatjohnkid]

I've been debating for some time myself about getting one for fishing but my friends that have them (just for regular use) all have stories that end with "and the long walk back to the car was cold and wet" so I've been hesitant. :lol:

Same here, when I lived in FL, I'd see the crazy guys out there catching large fish, including sharks and pulling them upside their kayak, even seen videos of guys pulling in sharks the length of their kayak, I'm like you guys are nuts.

Now in a lake here in MI, maybe I'd do it. But I'm a more "on" the water not "in" the water kinda guy. I swim in pools that's it. I think it would ruin my day flipping it and getting drenched.

[Swamp Monster]

Good info here;
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/

Check out the pics on this site...click on the pics to enlarge. Plus they have a forum and lots of good info. Some of these guys are pretty extreme.
http://www.kayakfishing.com/

And another;
http://www.kayaksportfishing.com/

And one more;
http://www.canoekayak.com/kayak-fishing/


Most of the fishing kayaks are sit on tops and they are super stable....far more stable than most canoes. You have to work pretty hard to flip them....this is coming from a fat guy so if it can be flipped easily on the water, I've probably flipped it!

[Swamp Monster]

Another good site....even video of standing up and fishing etc.
http://www.oeexpress.com/kayak-fishing.html

[Swamp Monster]

Now thats an adrenalin rush!!
http://www.oeexpress.com/images/bradshark2.jpg

I wouldn't know how to land this.......:tdo12:
http://www.oeexpress.com/images/coreysquid_filtered.jpg

[RichP]

http://www.oeexpress.com/images/bradshark2.jpg

uh, no thanks, not in this life. :SHOCKED::SHOCKED:

[wally-eye]

You should PM westlakedrive from this site as he has/had one and he fished from his a lot...........I know more than one time he has surprised me on Fremont lake by sliding up to the boat without me hearing him.......

You can also check out the NO MOTOR ZONE section on the forum at www.floridasportsman.com. Lots and lots of info about all kinds of yak fishing.

[fishonbb]

I fish from mine alot and its great to be able to get anywhere even the hard to get to places;). I've landed large pike from mine and its not too bad at all.

[Westlakedrive]

You should PM westlakedrive from this site as he has/had one and he fished from his a lot...........I know more than one time he has surprised me on Fremont lake by sliding up to the boat without me hearing him.......

You can also check out the NO MOTOR ZONE section on the forum at www.floridasportsman.com (http://www.floridasportsman.com). Lots and lots of info about all kinds of yak fishing.

You must have been sleeping from all the Fremont Lake Walleye action.:lol:

For a kayak get a ten footer for ease of use and transport. Personally I think the sit on tops have less storage. If you have the money get the hobie fishing kayak.

[msfcarp]

Thank you all for your input, here I was thinking a kayak would be less stable than a canoe, that is good to here that most feel it is more stable!

[Flash]

I used a set of Nielsen Outriggers on my 17' Kevlar Canoe when fishing. http://www.nielsensoutriggercompany.com/index.html
Incredibly stable. Stand and fish with ease. Sold the canoe but still have the outriggers - if you're interested.

What I liked about the canoe over the kayak was:
1. canoe paddles keep your hands dry vs the kayak where water is running down your arms all day.
2. Much more storage and easier to access in the canoe - even the dog can go.
3. The canoe can mount a small trolling motor, place the battery up front and fish/troll to your hearts delight.
4. With the outriggers, there was no sacrifice in efficiency and the stability was incredible. The Nielsen's are 4' long fiberglass nitrogen filled pontoons with shock absorbing pistons. Really well built.
5. In my opinion, the canoe is simply more versatile - camping, touring, fishing, family recreation etc.
6. With a "T" hitch, solo loading your canoe is a breeze. (I still have that as well).

send me a pm if interested.

http://www.nielsensoutriggercompany.com/index.html

[Deez Nutz]

I've fished out of kayaks quite extensively in fresh and saltwater. I did a kayak fishing trip with my brother down in baja. We caught a ton of pacific yellowtail to forty pounds. What a blast, they call it going for a sleigh ride. It sounds scary but it really isn't. Large fish are not scared by the kayak at all. The kayak really excels when fishing boat shy fish. I've caught a lot of really nice walleye and smallmouth in really shallow,clear water underneath the yak. Once you fish out of yak, you'd never go back to canoeing.

[ted stehney]

My cousin fishes the White River for steelhead from his kayak and has a ball. I prefer a little more beam under my bottom. LOL

[SomeYahoo]

I just got a Tarpon 120 (Sit on top) kayak this year and Love It!!! I've fished the rough stuff in lake St. Clair and some smaller lakes. It really feels like a portable fishing chair.

Mine is about 12', but if you're just going to do smaller lakes and rivers, a 10 footer would be good for you (and lighter to carry). Just make sure it has enough weight capacity for you and your gear.

The Sit On Top (SOT) versus Sit In Kayak (SIK) battle will rage on, but most fishermen lean towards SOTs (though ih772 will disagree). My gear is all where I can reach it and I can get back into it if I were to somehow fall out in the deep (I have yet to do it on accident). They really are very stable.

There are a ton of resources out there, many have been listed. Just do a Google search and I'm sure you can find a ton more.

I started a kayak fishing social group... stop on in! (see sig for link)

[susanlakeboys]

i have a 10' and a 12' and i enjoyed fishing from both. i have the really cheap ones that you can get at dunhams. the 10' was $200 and the 12' was $340. i out fitted mine with rod holders and they work great. i fish from mine about 3 days a week and never take my boat out anymore.

[JayJayMo]

My first year on the kayak and I was extremely impressed witht he ease of opperation. I have two, a Heritage featherlight 9.5 and a wilderness pamlico 1200. They both (barly) fit into the bed of my ranger with some tie downs. I use the Heritage mostly beacuse it is the smaller and lightest of the two. I really was impressed with the featherlight as well, it has a wide c. pit area and is ultra stable with lots of room to wiggle around. Heritage offers angler models with built in rodholders and an anchor systems. I mounted a garmin fishfinder 90 on mine and have caught most of the species that s.e. michigan has to offer. Learned lots this year about rigging and fishing from the yak if there is questions about those subjects I would be more than obliged to help.