I live and fish on a lake in Minnesota. Currently I do all my fishing from a motorless rowboat, traveling a couple of miles or so on an outing. Most of the time I cast the shoreline and inlets for bass. I’m reasonably handy in a canoe, but I will be a 66 year old novice in a kayak. I wouid appreciate suggestions, general or specific, on types and models of kayaks that might be suitable. Thanks, ojgump.
kayak fishing
You might want to try this sight as well lots of good info and a dedicated bunch of good people.
http://kfs.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=418607442
Kayak Fishing Stuff is a great resource
for kayak fishing, as is texaskayakfishing.com. Lots of advice and interesting forums. However, both sites are heavily oriented and prejudiced for sit on top kayaks.
The advantage of the sit on top (SOT as known by the fans) is easy entry and exit and an open top for you, your gear, and whatever. There are a lot of sit on tops out there. The disadvantage of the SOT is that most are not whats know as a dry ride. SOT’s were designed for bay fishing (actually, the first were oriented toward divers). In the bay, waves will come over the deck. SOT’s have holes in the bottom of the kayak for water to go back out, these are called supper holes. If you are wondering, they are double hulled. You actually sit on top of the second hull, thus the name. As a result, there often is water in the sitting and foot area. Not a problem if fishing and paddling warm waters like Texas and Florida. SOT’s are probably the best design for fishing, but may not meet your needs. Particularly because you fish in colder waters, you may not want water in your kayak. Some of the problem may be corrected with what are known as scupper plugs tha t fit into the holes and stop the flow of water.
There are some Sit one Tops that are drier rides. If you have the bucks, Hobie makes a series of kayaks with what’s called the Mirage drive system. Instead of paddling (still carry one, though), you peddle. Its a great system for fly fishermen and those who troll, as well as plug casting. Your hands are free and you can easily make minute changes in position. Its sorta like having a human powered trolling motor. Also, your legs are the strongest part of you, so you may not tire as easily. But, the are pricy, over $1600.
Hobie also makes the Hobie Quest, a very nice SOT that comes with seat, a cart, and paddle. Its a nice, fully equipped kayak with oodles of storage.
Scupper plugs would be useful in Minnesota and most likely, the ride would be pretty dry.
Ocean Kayak, Wilderness Systems, Heritage, Cobra, and Malibu are the biggest names in SOT’s, though there are others to consider. Liquid Logic makes one called the Manta Ray in 12 and 14 ft lengths. And there’s the Hurrican Phoenix.
Sit insides (know as SINKS to some, and usually used in a derogatory manner by SOT owners who have never owned or fished from one) are good fishing craft. In colder waters, they offer a fairly dry ride. I say fairly because its difficult to stay dry in a kayak without a spray skirt, at least for me, I’m always doing something that gets me damp wet. There are many makers and plenty good for fishing. Most are called recreational kayaks and have fairly large cocpit openings. I can’t speak to all the different models, but I have an Old Town Loon 138. Big cockpit, tracks (paddles straight) great, and is extremely stable. The Loon is almost as easy to get in and out of as a canoe. Old Town makes Loons in several lengths, the 111 is very popular for fishing. Old Town also makes the Dirigo series, some outfitted for fishing, though I don’t like rear rod holders all that much as I do a lot of catfishing and have to watch my lines, especially drift fishing like I prefer. Old Town kayaks are great fishing craft, with the main disadvantage being they are heavier than other kayaks the same size. That’s because the flotation is part of the hull layer (sorta a modern take on wood).
That’s my take on things, but others may have a different view. I’m prejudiced toward sit insides , though I live where the SOT is king.
another option
Have you looked at solo canoes such as the Wenonah Vagabond? I fish from touring SIKS, SOT’s and solo canoes. All have good and bad points as stated above. I do like the solo canoe over the sit inside and sot designs only because it is more comfortable to fish from and you do remain pretty dry and can move around. You can use a kayak paddle or canoe paddle and the speed is right up there with a similar sized rec kayak.
My touring SIK a QCC400x is my preferred fishing kayak for gulf of mexico island hopping and trolling long distances. But the solo canoe is nicer in the bays, lakes and rivers.
Actually not a bad idea. If you are
– Last Updated: Aug-16-06 9:49 PM EST –
worried about stability and weight, there are a lot of options with a canoe. Old Town makes the Osprey in 14 and 15.5 ft lengths. There's also the Pack canoe at 12 ft. Both are fairly wide and have lots of fans. Even though short, the Pack is very stable and light...33 lbs in Royalex.
Since I fish fairly large lakes, I prefer my Loon, it catches less wind. But, if you fish mainly lakes under 2 or 3 thousand acres, or ones with lots of coves where you can get out of the wind, a canoe may be a good choice. Kayaks are not the answer to every fishing problem.
One other consideration is the type of fishing you do. I used to fly fish a lot, but the lake I fish mainly is often limited in water visibility and doesnt' have many bass, so have gone to catfishing. I'm not sure how the Loon would be for fly fishing, but its great for bait chunking and, I imagine, lure fishing.
Fishing kayak
Hi,
I guess there are a number of good fishing kayaks but the Wilderness Systems Pungo has a very good reputation for fishing. It has more of an open cockpit, can be rigged for fishing, is very, very stable and tracks like a train while having enough speed to get you there. I love my Pungo and gotcha beat on the age card. I’m 72 but a pretty lean, mean 72. Good luck.
Don S. Taxiboat) Eastern Washington State
wind and canoes
The vagabond and my Bell Merlin are about 12" deep as opposed to a 14" depth for a Loon. I don’t find wind to be a big problem when fishing from a solo canoe.
The depth may be less, but the actual
freeboard from the water line to the deck may vary between the Loon and a canoe. The height of the Loon also measures to the top of the deck. With an actual deck, the Loon cuts the wind. Either may work, but most people who I know that fished from a canoe, then switched to a kayak say the wind bothers them less. Your experience may differ, but on windy Texas lakes, the kayak has been a better choice.
that’s what I thought
– Last Updated: Aug-17-06 6:43 PM EST –
when I first tried fishing from the solo canoe. My experiences before then had always been with tandem canoes in rental fleets (i.e,. poorly designed boats). I was pretty surprised fishing along my friends in their SOT's that there was not much difference in how the wind affected my canoe vs. their SOT's. However, these solo canoes are not cheap the Bell solo's are close to 1600 and up. The cheapest I think would be the sandpiper or vagabond by wenonah.
The nice thing about a rec sit in like pamlico, etc is the fact that you could install a rudder for controlling drift in currents and wind. With the canoe it is not possible to do.
I saw what appeared to be a19 foot
kevlar canoe in a Wal Mart parking lot that had a homemade rudder, so it may be possible. I think you can install a hand operated rudder similar to that of a small sailboat, but would have to figure out how to set it up so it wouldn’t go wild when you let go of it to fish. And, it would be a hassle.
I don’t have a rudder on the Loon, but, if windy, use a drift sock to control drift. Still have to do correction paddles and have thought about a bigger drift sock to slow me down more in 20 mph or higher winds/gusts.