Ok, I have myself convinced that I would like to purchase a Kayak to primarily fly fish( I may also fish conventionally ). I will also use it for a small, and I mean very small amount of family recreation. I have been doing some research and the amount of style/brands are daunting. I was wondering who if anyone here has any experience in it and if they would share some first hand information. Brand/style ect Some of my requirements are: 1) I will be most using it to fish fresh water, lakes, slow moving rivers. If it was going to be used in the salt it would be in bays and back water as apposed to the ocean. 2)Comfort, both sitting and standing. 3) Ease of use and friendly to fish from. 4)Quality and value. I would rather pay more and get quality product of high value as apposed to something entry level that I will looking to upgrade in a short amount of time. 5) Possibility of use by two persons. 6) Paddle vs foot propelled system. ( I am leaning have towards a traditional paddle style) Is the foot propelled system worth having also? 7) Rigged vs unrigged models, for fishing... A couple models I been looking at are..... Ideas??? Thoughts?? http://nativewatercraft.com/boat.cfm?id=11 http://www.wildernesssystems.com/product_subcategory/index/products/recreational/ride_2012/
I tell you what, If I could afford it right now, I would have one of these... Jackson Coosa: http://jacksonkayak.com/jk-kayaks/kayak-fishing/coosa/ But for $1099... I think I'll just buy a Jon boat.
My favorite is the Jackson Cuda. It just has so many fishing specific features, and for the price, I don't think it can be beat.
As for foot propelled, while nice, I don't think the Hobies are stable enough to stand in, which IMO, is more important than the peddle drive.
Jackson kayaks are awesome, get one if you can afford it. I have the Pelican Castaway (academy special). It's light enough to load easily. I don't think you could stand for fly fishing from it. Fishing from so close to the surface is awesome, you'll love it. It's also easy to access both big and small waters.
Trial, my dad just bought the Wilderness Ride 135 in "camo" this spring. It is one sweet rig. We were out fishing last night. I was in his Oldtown loon and he was in the Wilderness. I've paddled it, both sitting and standing and it is very stable. He was trolling with a rod holder lastnight and caught 3 or 4 crappies. I had to hold my rod in my lap, but still caught a couple bass and a 22" Northern. I'm sold on kayak fishing for sure. You would be happy with the Wilderness
A couple pairs of Simms waders and you're good. LOL I'm not nearly proficient enough to fish while sitting on my butt. I can see where it would be a hoot for ponds, bays etc. You hook one of those big steelheads on the SR and he'll tow you to the lake. LOL
Seems a few are high on Jacksons thanks for the info. I will look into them for sure ...good news on that 135 it's on my list, glad to hear he likes it.. Dave, I have the Simms...they cost almost as much a kayak lol ...i have seen guys using kayaks on the SR, they mostly use them for traveling ...and then fish from shore. great way to cover some water in a day..
I just bought a future beach from ****s sporting goods for 370. Its great for where I am at but fly fishing wouldn't be best. Have you tried fly fishing while seated? Im guessing you're going with a sit on instead of sit in? Have you looked into canoes or jon boats. They cost just as much as a two seater kayak. You should just go to a couple of stores and ask them if you can sit in a couple.
Yes I plan on a sit on, or a hybrid of the two like a native..rather then sit in. If need be I cast sitting down, would take slight modification in the rods I chose but it's no big deal....alas I prefer to stand when it's feasible. A kayak just seems more versatile and portable compared to a canoe or John boat
I have the Ultimate 12 and its hard to beat...even by those "highly regarded" Coosas. I had a moment of weakness last year and went and rented a Coosa for half a day with plans to purchase. The "unsinkable" boat didn't live up to the hype that you see on their youtube videos and such. I turned that badboy over in no time by doing something as simple as turning around to get something out of my milkcrate where I keep my gear. My Native is much MORE stable and it hasn't been flipped me once in the 4-5 years I've owned it. You can stand up with ease and not worry about flipping. I even fish with both my feet hanging over the side. I'll agree that the Coosa is feature-rich (thats why I was interested) but it was not pratical if I'd be flipping it every damn time I took it out. Also, if you wife/GF or whatever won't be going with you much, I'd forget about the tandem model...get the single.
I did a 360 jump in a Cuda without flipping... But my buddy did flip in his on his first outing. He just had to get use to being higher out of the water.
It's the big water version of the Coosa. Longer and without the stubby nose. And yes, it is supposed to be just as stable as the Cuda.
Some great responses guys, thanks for the input. I am taking it all in and making plans to take a couple models out on the water. The advice about a single model is well stated...thinking along those lines more and more with a second canoe or pair of easy tracking recreational kayaks for family stuff...lol fishing is serious stuff and I can in mind justify a kayak just for it...
