Kayak recommendation
- Thread starter Bigbrute
- Start date
Most definitely not a kayak flyfishing expert by any stretch, but I've now been flyfishing exclusively from a kayak for about 15 years...and the following are just my hard--earned opinions. YMMV
First off...I'm hoping the waters you fish are lakes (or 'frog-water' smooth if moving) if you intend to use a kayak for fishing. A rigid hulled kayak is simply not suitable for fishing fast moving waters.
When I first started kayak fishing I used cheap sit-inside kayaks. While they 'work' you'll find there's a reason the vast majority of kayak fisherfolk use a sit-on--top (SOT) style kayak; there's far more easily accessible storage for gear, entry/exit are a cinch, they're basically unsinkable, cannot be 'swamped' by waves, and sufficiently stable that you can even sit with your legs over the side to get stuff out of the areas behind the cockpit. And, for the more intrepid souls...you can stand up to fish in many models.
At under a $1000 you're limited to non-pedal kayaks, but there's a vast assortment of paddle fishing kayaks in your price range to choose from...such as one of the Perception SOT models. Virtually any SOT at 12' length, with a weight capacity suitable for your body-weight plus gear, can be easily fitted out as a good fishing kayak. Note: its' widely recommended that total passenger/gear weight not exceed 80% of the kayak's rated weight capacity...and far less is much better. If you're small a 10' SOT may have sufficient weight capacity...but remember the shorter the boat the slower it paddles.
Finally, if you can find a used Hobie (in good condition) with a 180 Mirage Drive for under a $1000, snap it up. The ability to use both hands on the flyrod at all times is a true game-changer for kayak flyfishing.
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Happy to suggest a few things, but some more info would help...
What kind of water are you fishing primarily? Ponds? Lakes? BIG lakes? Rivers? How much gear do you tend to roll with? Couple fly boxes and snacks, or a whole bass tournament angler loadout? Are you a bigger or smaller guy? Any interest in standing while casting? Are you looking to put a motor/pedals on (now or in the future), or will this be a paddle boat?
What kind of water are you fishing primarily? Ponds? Lakes? BIG lakes? Rivers? How much gear do you tend to roll with? Couple fly boxes and snacks, or a whole bass tournament angler loadout? Are you a bigger or smaller guy? Any interest in standing while casting? Are you looking to put a motor/pedals on (now or in the future), or will this be a paddle boat?
Might some something useful in this 4 part article to address your question!
www.pnwflyfishing.com
Fishing The Last Mile First - Part I - An Angling Strategy
Fishing The Last Mile First Mike Cline, Bozeman, Montana This is the first installment of a four-part article I call: Fishing the Last Mile First. Although I coined that phrase about a decade ago, my angling strategy has its genesis some 25 years ago on the smallmouth rivers of the...
www.pnwflyfishing.com
I know nothing about kayaks, have never been in/on one but I have watched Krusty fish from one for years now. In the beginning I didn't think he was that great of a fly fisherman because he caught so few fish. He was fishing out of a paddle kayak and paddling a boat while setting the hook on a fish is a circus act at best. You get lots of takes with a rod in the rod holder but damned few hookups, same thing in a pram.
Then he got a Hobie pedal kayak and I watched his catch rate more than double. He can go forward, backward or just hold his position with ease and always have a fly rod in his hand. These days he is out catching me and I attribute much of that to him just having a superior tool for the job. Because of the speed and ease of use he can fish areas of the lake that are just too far for me to kick to and then hope to get back in case of wind. Were I starting over I would definitely want to start with a modern stable pedal kayak and concentrate on fishing rather than just kicking or rowing back and forth and being at the mercy of the wind.
Then he got a Hobie pedal kayak and I watched his catch rate more than double. He can go forward, backward or just hold his position with ease and always have a fly rod in his hand. These days he is out catching me and I attribute much of that to him just having a superior tool for the job. Because of the speed and ease of use he can fish areas of the lake that are just too far for me to kick to and then hope to get back in case of wind. Were I starting over I would definitely want to start with a modern stable pedal kayak and concentrate on fishing rather than just kicking or rowing back and forth and being at the mercy of the wind.
I have a Lifetime Tamarack Angler kayak. They are a couple hundred bucks, I think. You could get something like that to see if you like fishing from the kayak. It would resell easily I would guess and would be a nice little boat for a spare.
Thanks guys. Krusty pretty much covered it, though!
It's HIGHLY unlikely you'll find a Hobie with the MD180 drive for under a grand, and I honestly don't think I'd fork out that much for a pedal drive yak without reverse, as I really don't ever troll forward.
A regular SOT has all the advantages he already pointed out, but in the absence of a reverse pedal drive, I'd honestly opt for the lightest sit-inside I could find in my price range.
Why? Because the biggest PITA with a yak is transport. If it's light enough to easily throw on the roof rack or in the truck bed, you'll fish more, period.
My "other" kayak is a 20 lb, 7.5 ft fiberglass deal that I can throw inside a van or SUV. The Hobie lives on a trailer. In either case, I can be ready to run to a lake in 10 min.
If I had to cartop the Hobie...I wouldn't. Ever.
While I know I've never outfished Ive, even with a Hobie pedal kayak, my catch rate has drastically improved over my days on water dealing with the challenge of flyfishing from my paddle kayaks.
A paddle kayak requires a lot of time doing things that require attention to everything other than actively flyfishing.
If it's breezy (almost always) you can set up a drift past productive water, but even rhat means occasionally correcting kayak orientation and position with some sort of paddle...plus you can forget about hitting the nooks and crannies that often hold fish. Or you have to anchor up...which takes up time from fishing...and why you see all sorts of anchor trolley systems to control boat orientation in the wind.
With pedal drive kayak (with FORWARD & REVERSE), and the rudder, you no longer need to carry an anchor at all, even in a stiff wind...and if you want to control orientation you can do so with just the rudder. Moving into the wind is just as simple. ALL of which can be easily done without taking the flyrod out of your hand.
Finally...if you have a pickup a 12' kayak fits nicely in the bed, loads with little effort and moving it back and forth to the launch area is easy with a scupper cart.
A paddle kayak requires a lot of time doing things that require attention to everything other than actively flyfishing.
If it's breezy (almost always) you can set up a drift past productive water, but even rhat means occasionally correcting kayak orientation and position with some sort of paddle...plus you can forget about hitting the nooks and crannies that often hold fish. Or you have to anchor up...which takes up time from fishing...and why you see all sorts of anchor trolley systems to control boat orientation in the wind.
With pedal drive kayak (with FORWARD & REVERSE), and the rudder, you no longer need to carry an anchor at all, even in a stiff wind...and if you want to control orientation you can do so with just the rudder. Moving into the wind is just as simple. ALL of which can be easily done without taking the flyrod out of your hand.
Finally...if you have a pickup a 12' kayak fits nicely in the bed, loads with little effort and moving it back and forth to the launch area is easy with a scupper cart.
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I guess if your handle is @Bigbrute you can probably manhandle a kayak around!
It's important to reiterate that all of those boat-handling advantages are dependent on having instant reverse, as it lets you make little adjustments to a drift, etc. I don't carry an anchor on the Hobie at all.
Wondering what "inflatable" was bigger than a Hobie?
Trolling in reverse on a lake is so effective I feel guilty...just doesn't seem like flyfishing...but I frequently do so, especially when the fish are holding deep and I'm using a fast sinking line!
Maybe his inflatable was a big river raft?
I can attest to how fishing with a Hobie with an instant reverse has its advantages. I was fortunate enough to fish with @Northern and her lady friend. They both are great fisher persons. I was amazed on how much control they had on positioning their kayaks. It was amazing! They each had several fly rods and could switch quickly between them. Bass, then crappie, then trout. I have fished donuts, inflatables, pontoons, prams and rowboats over the years. None, I mean none, came close to the capabilities of a Hobie with pedal capability with instant reverse. I was impressed! On smaller waters, work great. On large waters, that will need to be addressed by people in the know...
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Hobie kayaks are used for offshore fishing all over the world. They're considered the 'gold standard' for stability, comfort, and speed.
They're even used in very inhospitable locations like coastal Alaska to catch large halibut, salmon, and ling cod. That environment necessitates wearing a dry suit of course!
As with any small craft in rough conditions, the experience and skill of the operator is every bit as important as the craft's capabilities.
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I'll put a plug in for Nucanoe kayaks. WA company, USA made, well designed, lots of propulsion options.
www.nucanoe.com
NuCanoe – Top Fishing Kayaks & Hunting Kayaks
CLICK MODEL FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK MODEL FOR MORE DETAILS
www.nucanoe.com
While out of your range, I did a LOT of research a few years back and landed solidly on the Old Town 120 PDL. It is simply a fishing machine. I can stand and fly cast no problem. In the shallows / weeds / lily pads for bass fishing, I can stand and just use a push pole or my paddle to scoot along with motor up or out. I can fish the puget sound, rivers (have floated the skykomish in it) and is a no brainer on small to huge lakes. Super stable, tough, and handles bad weather like a champ. I can load and unload from the back of my truck by myself - but it is heavy, so know your limits and be sure you figure out logistics. Kayak carts can help.
I also like the pedel drive. While it can't handle quite as shallow of water as the hobie, I've never felt that was an issue. You can go into reverse by just back-pedaling. It is a Minnkota drive, so parts are readily available and inexpensive. There are also tons of aftermarket parts for the drive and kayak over all that are fun to try out. Old Town has a great warranty and excellent customer service. My seat arrived with a slight bend in the frame. Almost didn't notice, but I took some pics and sent it to them. Had a brand new seat a few days later and was able to keep the original as a backup.
I've owned all sorts of boats, canoes, and other kayaks - and this is my favorite. If you fish solo a lot, it is perfect. I have a second (vibe) kayak for taking my wife or kids, but not quite as 'fancy'. I love the simplicity - no battery or wires to think about. I get a little exercise - though pretty tame. Kinda like riding a bike a very slight incline. A strong head wind or current can add to that of course. But it it generally very relaxing. And being hands free allows for easier fishing, photography, eating, drinking, etc.
Last summer we floated the Skykomish and in the calmer spots would practice flipping and then getting back in. I really had to try hard to flip it. Getting it back over and getting me back in was pretty straight forward once you learn the technique. I could probably flip back upright it and be back in in about 20 seconds.
I've been out fishing a lot more since I got this. I can come home from work, slip it off my storage cart and into the back of my truck and be fishing a local pond or lake in no time. And if i have a a full day or more, I love to head east over the mountains and explore the endless lakes with confidence.
I also like the pedel drive. While it can't handle quite as shallow of water as the hobie, I've never felt that was an issue. You can go into reverse by just back-pedaling. It is a Minnkota drive, so parts are readily available and inexpensive. There are also tons of aftermarket parts for the drive and kayak over all that are fun to try out. Old Town has a great warranty and excellent customer service. My seat arrived with a slight bend in the frame. Almost didn't notice, but I took some pics and sent it to them. Had a brand new seat a few days later and was able to keep the original as a backup.
I've owned all sorts of boats, canoes, and other kayaks - and this is my favorite. If you fish solo a lot, it is perfect. I have a second (vibe) kayak for taking my wife or kids, but not quite as 'fancy'. I love the simplicity - no battery or wires to think about. I get a little exercise - though pretty tame. Kinda like riding a bike a very slight incline. A strong head wind or current can add to that of course. But it it generally very relaxing. And being hands free allows for easier fishing, photography, eating, drinking, etc.
Last summer we floated the Skykomish and in the calmer spots would practice flipping and then getting back in. I really had to try hard to flip it. Getting it back over and getting me back in was pretty straight forward once you learn the technique. I could probably flip back upright it and be back in in about 20 seconds.
I've been out fishing a lot more since I got this. I can come home from work, slip it off my storage cart and into the back of my truck and be fishing a local pond or lake in no time. And if i have a a full day or more, I love to head east over the mountains and explore the endless lakes with confidence.
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Minn Kota makes pedal drives?
Using these;
ecofishingshop.com
www.bluezonesports.com
3 Waters Big Fish 108 Pedal Drive Fishing Kayak
Just Released- 3 Waters Big Fish 108 Fishing Kayak. High Quality and Affordable Pedal Drive System. Brand New PDL for Efficient Kayak Fishing. 11 Feet long. 90 Pounds.
ecofishingshop.com
Native Watercraft Ultimate FX 12 Hybrid Fishing Hardshell Kayak
Experience the best of both worlds with the Native Watercraft Ultimate FX 12 hybrid fishing kayak. Combining the advantages of a canoe and a kayak, this kayak offers a unique set of features that have garnered it a dedicated following among outdoor enthusiasts. One of the standout features of...
www.bluezonesports.com
Johnson Motors owns OT and Minn Kota.
And they acquired Ocean Kayak as well.