kayak fishing

[BOURBONBALES]

I have been thinking about buying a kayak in the spring to fish some smaller waters (elkhorn, licking, etc.) as well as get a little excercise and was wondering if any of you guys have any advice on what style might work the best. I would also like something that i can enjoy a litlle rough water in as well. I have talked to the folks at canoe kentucky and they said they would help match me up with one, but i was just wanting to hear any ups and downs from fisherman that have used them.

Thanks

[Bonefish]

If you do a search on "kayak", I think you will find this topic was discussed some months ago.

[know1]

I have been thinking about buying a kayak in the spring to fish some smaller waters (elkhorn, licking, etc.) as well as get a little excercise and was wondering if any of you guys have any advice on what style might work the best. I would also like something that i can enjoy a litlle rough water in as well. I have talked to the folks at canoe kentucky and they said they would help match me up with one, but i was just wanting to hear any ups and downs from fisherman that have used them.

Thanks

I fish out of an 11' Sit-in-type kayak. I have used it for a few years now. I haven't fished out of anything else, so I don't have a lot of comparative advice to give you, but I do enjoy mine.

I know others will say the Sit-On-type is better, but one thing that I do like about mine is the cockpit opening is very large so it's almost like a sit-on.

I actually have 2 of them and would be willing to meet up and let you try one when the weather gets a bit warmer.

Michael

[BOURBONBALES]

if you do a search on "kayak", i think you will find this topic was discussed some months ago.

maybe i am overlooking it, but where is the search feature here on the site?

[Wormin]

At the top of this page under search.

[Rudypoo4444]

If you type in "Kayak Fishing Forums" in google, you should find one or two kayak fishing websites that I am a part of.

Kayak fishing is so much fun, and a very "personal" fishing experience. It is you, the kayak and the water, and that's it. It is great.

I fish out of an 11ft Pelican sit-in kayak, and it does just fine for me. I have mine rigged up with rod holders, an anchor, and tackle storage. And the best part is, you can have a great boat for under $400.

Here is a picture of mine in action on KY lake:

http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t=100_2424.jpg

[kc]

I don't have direct input to your question in that I have never fished from a kayak but I have the same hankering and have been looking. All I can say is check out the kayaks at http://www.nativewatercraft.com

These native kayaks look really sweet. I am thinking about the Ultimate 12 or the Manta Ray 12. I also found on their web site that Quest Outdoors in Louisville is a dealer but I haven't made it out there yet...

kc

[AJM]

Im in the same boat about trying to figure out what the best personal watercraft for me would be. I have already been through two kayaks and decided that is not what i want to fish out of. Everyone is different but I will give you my reasoning behind that.

Pretty much the things i didn't like about either of mine ( a 10' sit in and a 11'6" SOT) was there was little to no accessable storage. I also don't like that as far as steering and moving, it is mainly paddle power. i just didn't enjoy setting my rod down and getting my boat back in place for a couple casts and and so on. I never got a chance to fish out of higher flow areas with my kayaks but saw where that could have good moments and not so good.

For example, you don't have to paddle as much because the water is flowing more steadily, but on the other hand, you have to shoot through areas that may be your best fishing spots and you may or may not be able to get back to fish them effectively.

But I haven't found my solution, im leaning in the Float tube direction right now. But just don't want to disappointed again.

[BOURBONBALES]

Im in the same boat about trying to figure out what the best personal watercraft for me would be. I have already been through two kayaks and decided that is not what i want to fish out of. Everyone is different but I will give you my reasoning behind that.

Pretty much the things i didn't like about either of mine ( a 10' sit in and a 11'6" SOT) was there was little to no accessable storage. I also don't like that as far as steering and moving, it is mainly paddle power. i just didn't enjoy setting my rod down and getting my boat back in place for a couple casts and and so on. I never got a chance to fish out of higher flow areas with my kayaks but saw where that could have good moments and not so good.

For example, you don't have to paddle as much because the water is flowing more steadily, but on the other hand, you have to shoot through areas that may be your best fishing spots and you may or may not be able to get back to fish them effectively.

But I haven't found my solution, im leaning in the Float tube direction right now. But just don't want to disappointed again.

i am kinda in the same "boat" as you as to my thoughts of getting into a kayak. i have been wading for as long as i can remember and realizing now that even though i enjoy it more than anything it is becoming more of a chore than it used to be. my thoughts on the kayak would be to use it to float through areas that didnt look as productive, then when there were areas that i was interested in fishing i would get out and wade if possible. i think i will probably go rent one and give it a day to see how it works out for me before it buy. i have thought about a tube as well but most of the water i fish is too shallow overall for tube use.

[AJM]

I guess the best solution is an ODC, and i have been told that before. But i just cant see myself spending 400- 600$ on a experiment.... again. The reason i beleive they are so effective is because you are riding in between pontoons, and they can sit in very shollow water. also your paddleS are in holders so you can grab one at a time or set them both down while fishing, without them being in your way. You are also higher out of the water which can be very beneficial while fishing. Also Storage is available on certain models.

You mentioned the Horn and one day this past summer when i was out wading, I looked up and there was a small fleet of ODC's coming my way. We were at the very beggining of a shoot and they stopped and kind of regrouped near us. When i talked to the guys they said they had waded their whole life and that this was the way to go, and they'll never look back. They went on down and had no trouble going through water just a few inches deep.

However, they said they weren't doing so well, while we were tearing them up. It makes me wonder if they were having to move too fast and were unable to adjust their fishing speed because of the flow speed... or if they were throwing down stream and retrieving against the current which was opposite of how we do when we are wading upstream.

http://www.creekcompany.com/multidisplay.php?Cat=3

I found some at this site as low as $219. They have a good reputation.

[Mattador]

Glad to hear that you're interested in kayak fishing - you won't be sorry. It's a great way to get out on the water fast and get your blood moving. You can get to some great spots out of reach to the big boats. Check out YouTube for video of guys catching big Thresher sharks out of their yaks.

I would not recommend getting a really cheap boat for your first yak. They are hard to paddle, you'll get a wet seat. Ocean Kayak makes a lot of great paddle models, including the Scramber (about $500), the Prowler Big Game (about $1100, the most stable kayak on the market, lots of room for gear), and the Trident Angler (long and fast). The Wilderness Systems brand is also popular.

Hobie sell more fishing kayaks than any other manufacturer. They have a foot driven miragedrive propulsion system that allows you to move without paddling. It looks funny, but man does it work.

Check out http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee/forums for exhaustive information on all things kayak.

[fisherman136]

kayak fishing sounds cool i might have to try it good luck