Opinions on Kayaks??

[SIslandBrowns]

I'm kayak shopping folks...

Can I get some opinions/reviews from the community on what you're using and how you like them?

Not looking to spend a fortune - i.e. all-in less than $1000 is the goal, but happy to read about more expensive options, too. I'm sure others may be interested even if I'm a cheapskate...

Thanks in advance.

Dave

[Steamtrain]

SitOnTop is the way to go
check wilderness systems, ocean kayak and malibu kayaks

ocean kayak prowlers and WS tarpons are great boats

links to a couple of good kayak sites
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/articles_view.asp?Kayak_Articles=16

http://newenglandkayakfishing.com/index.php

there are 2 SOT kayaks in my family both are rigged for flyfishing and both can carry a child
ocean kayak sidekick and a malibu pro explorer

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/flomo98/libby/IMG_3917a.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/flomo98/fishing/IMG_1484.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/flomo98/fishing/IMG_4776.jpg

petegas votes for the cooler carrying capabilties of the sit on tops
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/flomo98/fishing/IMG_3934.jpg

color is very important for safety
i would stay away from the gray, greens and dull or dark colors

red, orange and yellow will help you be seen
i would go for orange if i were doing it again

black paddle blades are ideal for fishing trout
i spray painted my blades(it is the same passle in the first and second pic)

[FishCampRV]

SIslandBrowns

Take a trip over to Mountian Road Trading Post in Raymonde on the way into Pawtuckaway State Park. Speak to George who own it and he can really help you with the style that will best fit you. He also has a pond there to try it out and you can even cast you fly rod to get a good feel for the kayak. While there stop and visit Mountain Road Fly Shop which is upstairs and see Tom.

Good luck and tight lines. Both of the above mentioned men are very knowledgable about thier products.

[SIslandBrowns]

Guys,

Thanks for the input. You hit on my major questions... Sit in or sit on.

I tend to buy everything in green - including my car - so the thinking about an orange kayak is a curveball for me and a good point. Great thought/tip re: the paddle blades

Great photos. I too have young kids and seeing yours on the kayak and out fishing with you is fantastic.

Again, thanks to you both.

[lowwall]

SOT is the way to go, I had a Pungo 140 SIT. Was great and seaworthy but I did a Flip test. Did not go well, Would have been a cofin if I was in any rough seas. The Orange is great advice as well, I would also get a small running light. Cambelas has a small power supply that will run a fishfinder and light for short money.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0036388018049a&type=product&cmCat=searchFeat&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=battery&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=battery&noImage=0

[OTTER]

I think the guys have given you some excellent advice. Period.

On the other hand so much depends on your personal needs and uses. I, my two sons ( ages 40 plus or minus) and 4 youngster grandsons have 7 kayaks ( including a couple of doubles ). It depends on where we are going, etc. etc. ( Since most of these were bought used, $1000 bought us three kayaks.) If you can wait until fall, rental companies can give you great deals on old models. But then, I am a packrat as you can see from the end of this post.

For me when I am alone, I use the smallest Heritage sit in Fisherman since I am limited by age. Because 1) it only weighs 37 pounds, my limit, and 2) it fits INSIDE my van and I do not need to lift it up onto a rack. 3) I don't go far or on big water. ( Although I have floated the Andro in it accompanied by the younger folk.) That is just my present particular situation.

In your case, the guys giving good advice seem to be in your age group and have similar requirements.

It is a bit like fly rods. If you can only have one, you buy a 5 wt. If you can afford two, you get a 4 wt and a 6 wt. If you can afford 3 you get a 3 wt, a 5 wt and a 7 wt. Etc. Etc. With a dozen fly rods, I almost lose track and sometimes forget to take the optimum one - although to safeguard me from such folly, I often keep 4 in the van just in case.

[s2ary]

Kayak fishing is the ultimate in stealth fishing. Many of the cult feel that they have an unfair advantage. I’m not at that level yet, but I’m getting there. This spring Jodess and I were crossing a bay at full tilt when we ran right over a few sea run browns…and they kept feeding around us. A few weeks ago I slide into an oxbow on the Salmon Falls and after casting for about 10 minutes about a dozen wood duck peeps started popping up out of the water around me.

I’m still too green to offer you much advice other than paddle as many yaks as you can before you buy your primary yak. Anyone that fishes from a yak will let you test drive theirs, that is just how the sport is. Right now I’m fishing out of a used OK Drifter, and it is a great starter yak, but if the wind is up or you have a long trek in mind a more efficient hull would be better. After checking them all out since spring, for me the only choice is a Heritage Redfish 14. It is a better hull design than the Tarpons and more comfortable than the OK Prowler.

A lot of guys are upgrading to Hobies with peddle drives. I’m a little torn myself, but I’m a fly caster and want to fish tight to the rocks. That means I need to back up and turn quickly. Plus a new Redfish is $800 a Hobie is $1500.

Fly casting from a yak is more difficult than from a boat. I found that the trick was to use light sparsely tied flies. Prior to this I always fished bulky big fish deceivers and clousers. They are hell to cast from a yak. So I tried some of the impressionistic flies that the RI boys use, flat wings and bucktails. They were very easy to cast, but I didn’t think they moved enough water. So now I tie them on long shank hooks with a big rattle above the hook gap. Tie in the tail as usual, then the rattle with a layer of bucktail hiding it. Then move forward and tie in a sparse under wing with a throat, this flares around the rattle. Then tie in a normal wing and throat with a few peacock herl. Easy on the herl.

It takes a little getting used to fishing so low to the water. For me the trick was a good air cushion. It raised me up higher and you can’t feel the boat. It is amazing to part rising fish and they keep rising around you. I like the idea of the stealthy hunt for big fish, so much so that after dabbling in it for two years I sold my boat to give myself a full season or two to dedicate to yaking. The big thing that sold me was all the pictures of huge fish these guys get, plus looking out at the vast boulder fields on the NH coast and saying there has to be a way to fish that.

The last lesson I learned is it is a short game so get used to it. There is no need to try to make a long cast, so why struggle? The fish come to you if you let them or you can drift into them.

I’m still getting the feel for how big or heavy water I can handle with the drifter, when I get to up grade I’ll be even better off. If you ever want to take a test drive I have three set ups, although the other models are SiNKs they will get you out and in a different yak to help you decide what you feel most comfortable in. That goes for anyone who may be interested.

[twillirish]

Another good place to look is the LL Beans outlet store in Nashua. They have a wide selection of Old Town kayaks to include a model outfited for fishing, and they are at reasonable prices.
I fish out of an Old Town Loon 13' yak and love it.

[llama-dude]

My wife and I have a couple of sit in recreational kayaks. I certainly will stay cooler sitting in the kayak, but I also sit much lower in the water as well. Not such a good thing when you are fishing.

I think at the end of the summer I may go looking for a sot kayak. They certainly do look good to fish from.

[choa07]

I recently purchased a kayak to fish out of. I bought my yak from a co-worker and got a really good deal. I have an 11.5' dagger blackwater. It is a sit in set up with a rod holder, and it has a drop down skeg. I have fly fished out of it once and immediately noticed the difficulty casting and keeping my rod tip down(because my arms and elbows rest realitively high because of the sit in style).
I love the drop down skeg because it helps me to stay on course and prevents me from twisting when drift fishing.
My yak came with a fisherman's pfd which has pockets similiar to a standard fly vest, which actually forced me to wear the vest for the first time. When I spin fish or just paddle about I stuff it behind the seat(defeats the purpose of even bringing it onboard).
Another thing to consider is how are you going to transport your yak. I have a car, and started out using the foam blocks as a car rack. They work pretty well, but I noticed I spent more time watching my yak than the lines on the highway when driving. I recently bought a Thule rack to accomadate my yak and my bike. I'm much more confident in the Thule rack system and concentrate on driving and getting to my fishing hole safely. Just a thought when establishing your budget.
I enjoy my kayak and believe it was a wise investment, but my next kayak will probably be a sit on top. I believe they are more versatile and provide better options.

Chris