Freshwater Kayak
I have owned 2 sot kayak in the last 3 years that I use primarily for saltwater fishing, a Malibu Pro Explorer and a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140. A friend told me about the Old Town Loon 138. I tried one out and loved it. I plan on getting one soon and doing a lot of freshwater
fishing in it. I’m 6’1" 250 lbs and felt very comfortable in the Loon 138. Easy to get in and out of and very stable. Tracks great and handles great in the wind. Comfortable seat and excellent construction.
Badbob
Sundance 12
I too have a Sundance 12 and just love it for fishing. Huge cockpit. Lots of storage room. Rods store next to the seats ( facing the stern) very nicely. Stable.
Pelican Apex II SOT
Just bought one, and took it fishing in a small cove of Galveston bay, which I figure is pretty much like freshwater fishing. It’s great - drier than my Ocean Kayak SOT, and a flatter bottom so that I can get in even shallower after flounder. Also, for a tandem it paddles great with one person, giving you the front seat for storage, landing fish, etc. It’s also cheap. I bought mine at academy, $400 including tax, and that came with a paddle and two back rests.
Go Tarpon
I have a tarpon and a Prowler. Want to Buy a Prowler???
WS
are as good as any and better than most.For a SIS I like the Pungo 140,SOT the Tarpons.At present I have a T 160 old style(2 big hatches)with a rudder.Great on big lakes or salt but the 120 or 140 would be better for smaller lakes and rivers.Good luck!
Old Town Penobscot 16
With center seat.
Cobra Tourer
for me on bigger water, Prijon Yukon for my river trips, its tough as nails and maneuverable. I have a Dagger Crossover on the way I’ll use for river camping and fishing, and I’d like to get a smaller sit on top like a Tarpon 100 or Cobra Escape for river trips as well.
Write back about the Crossover
I looked at them, but it seemed a bit narrow for the kind of fishing I do. There’s a lot of snags involved in the way I fish, and I thought I’d be flipping that Crossover with its narrow beam and rounded hull every time my jig snagged on a river ledge.
- Big D
Unless you are small, don’t think you’ll
be happy with that Tarpon 100. If its a sit-on you want, take a look at the Hurricane Phoenix in either the 120 or 140 lengths. Some people use the OK Frenzy to run baits out into the surf for shark fishing. It may be alright for small creeks and rivers, but cramped.
Crossover, Tarpon 100
I am still paying the Crossover off on layaway (the only way I can afford to buy). I am a little concerned about its stability as well, since the reviewers have said it is pretty stable but easy to roll. I’ve heard that like my Prijon Yukon, its great for getting through downriver stuff, but not good for playing at all, but that is not my purpose - I just want to get through stuff without a problem so I can fish. Fortunately my home river is the Schuylkill and its very tame in most places. So my comparison will be with my Yukon which is a very stable boat and great for rivers, but needs a rudder which I have.
My reason for buying a Crossover over a Blackwater was tougher plastic, better maneuverability and the price I got on a leftover was right in line with a new blackwater, so I think I got a little more for my money, though the Blackwater is probably more forgiving of mistakes.
I’ll be putting a review of the Crossover on sometime in the Spring when things warm up, and I’ve had a few paddles under my belt. Its interesting how different hull shapes and designs handle the same conditions.
I took my Tourer out on the river this summer and it was a real dog, not enough maneuverability to get into a good casting position in faster water. Take the same boat out on a big lake or the Chesapeake Bay though, and it excells. The Tourer is just over 15 feet, and the Yukon at just a half a foot shorter is a great river boat, highly maneuverable and easy to get into tighter spots despite the length.
As far as the Tarpon 100 goes, I’ve heard over at KFS that several guys in the mid and high 200’s and one at 300 even, find it more than accomodating at their weight range. Its one I’m seriously looking at for down the road.
Blackwater and Tarpon
Thanks for information on the Crossover. I don’t check the reviews real often, but I’d sure love to hear about the Crossover once you caught some fish from it. If you wouldn’t mind too much, please put up a post here in the fishing forum to check out the review.
As far as the Blackwater, I paddled a 10.5 for a day of river fishing that included a single Class II chute-type rapid with a smallish rooster tail and a lot of real skinny flat water. I loved the maneuverability and was able to steer with posture alone (with the skeg up) through the smaller riffles, a huge advantage for setting up to cast to push water! It handled the Class II no problem at all. Hardly even noticed it. In the skinny water, I had to get out and walk. Without me in it, the boat floated, so I rigged a quick painter to keep it from getting away from me. Others paddled through. I bet the 11.5 would have handled my bulk (~240# at the time) better and floated.
Haven’t paddled a Tarpon 100 (or any Tarpon), but it is just about the most comfortable SOT I’ve ever sat in. Folks whose opinion I regard highly recommend the boat’s performance well, so I guess it’s a matter of fitting. It’s on my list of “some day” purchases too.
- Big D
Will keep you posted …
on the Crossover. If I’m not thrilled with it I might sell it and get a Tarpon 100 or 120. There is a fabulous deal on a 100 near me but I don’t know how long it will last. Eventually I’m considering going all sit on tops with my kayaks for safety concerns and ease of jumping on and off for wading and flyfishing, etc.
CP ( aka Fishnmusicn )
You may be happier in the long run with
the tarpon 120. Versatile, can manuever in tight spots and has more speed than the 100. Also, more room for gear.
Tarpon 120
Its a real nice boat I agree. Most everyone likes 'em.
Faster turning
Some of the water I fish gets pretty narrow and requires some quick turning. Two feet less can make a difference. I agree with what you say about the Tarpon 120, but am still interested in the 100 for the slight advantage in turning. Besides, I already have a 12’ SOT.
- Big D
Kayak Fishing-Freshwater
I use a Perception Sundance airlite (12’) most of last summer and it works just great. Previously I bought a OTC 12’ Dirigo and although stable, I found it slow. The Sundance gives me the speed I wanted and has tons of room. I will be adding some rod holders and tie downs for an anchor but I am completely satisfied. One thing, it is not a good kayak to be caught out in rough weather.
Crossover
Update on the Crossover. I’ve paddled it twice now and its very nice but I wouldn’t recommend it as a fishing boat. With its flat keel, its just too maneuverable and holding a straight line drift after putting the paddle down is tough. On the other hand, its stable and comfortable, but the factory backband is junk, as has been noted in most of the reviews. Its fine and well made, but a little too maneuverable for me. I’ve got it up for sale now, so won’t be putting up an actual review in that section. If it doesn’t sell, I’ll still make it work because its got plenty of storage in the back for camping and I know it would make me a better paddler. Straight line tracking is fine while paddling, but the hull that makes it turn on a dime will spin it some when you stop.
Chuck
It depends on my mood
and whether I am solo or not. My options are:
Solo: Old Towm Loon 138, Wenonah Vagabond or Old Town Pack
Tandem: Nova Craft Bob Special or Old Town Penobscot
All will get wet throughout the year at some tome or other!
I’ve added an Old Town Loon 138 to
my fleet and love its stability, true tracking, and comfort, as well as all the room. Negatives, its a bit heavy to take down and put back up on the truck racks and it turns much more like my F150 than my wife’s Sentra. Still have my Necky Sky, a very stable small kayak, and my Mohawk 17ft canoe which I never use, but may soon as my grandson is almost three.
wilderness systems
i use a wilderness systems pamlico 14.5, its a special yak sold by bass pro shops somee years ago. has a battery box ,12 volt trolling motor and foot brace steering so you can fish while motoring back up stream to drift back through a sweet spot and when done fishing i can motor back up the river to the truck! dont try to find one as wilderness systems made as a special for bass pro, they dont even have parts available. anyway its doing the job for me. Thanks, riveredheads