frizz
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Kayak
Jul 7, 2016 20:50:55 GMT -8
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Post by frizz on Jul 7, 2016 20:50:55 GMT -8
What should I look 4 in a kayak? Mostly fishing large creeks small rivers. Any tips greatly appreciated.
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Kayak
Jul 8, 2016 1:50:58 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Jul 8, 2016 1:50:58 GMT -8
What are the class ratings you plan to run? Seasons?
I had a great time running a 10' Perception (don't remember the name) down class 2-3 runs. Do you want a sit on top or a sit inside.
Fishing from a kayak requires accessories to hold your gear (paddle, rod, net, etc.)
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frizz
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Jul 8, 2016 9:05:39 GMT -8
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Post by frizz on Jul 8, 2016 9:05:39 GMT -8
I assume class ratings mean difficulty. I'll really only use it for fishing and camping. I'll need fair amount of storage.
I've seen on other posts that people here use them. So just wanted opinions from others who have used them with same intent I have.
I've been in canoes before, never in kayak. So I'm pretty clueless.
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reuben
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Jul 8, 2016 9:10:38 GMT -8
Post by reuben on Jul 8, 2016 9:10:38 GMT -8
Well, you haven't given us much to go on, but I'll say two bulkheads (flotation, storage), 14 feet or longer. Fishing from a sea kayak is difficult. Long paddles in fishing (SOT) kayaks can be frustrating. The former are designed for touring, speed, rolls, secondary stability, safety, etc. The latter are designed for maneuverability, accessories (rod holders, bait wells, maybe a fishfinder), and have great initial stability but almost non-existent secondary stability, and they have no watertight storage.
You really can't get both in one kayak, AFAIK.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 8, 2016 9:44:47 GMT -8
Buy something wide enough to make it stable as you cast and reel in the big ones. Fresh water creeks and streams? Most anything that has incorporated rod holders will do. This will make it a barge, with little or no speed / glide, but you are fishing not day touring.
Lots of decent kayaks on the market for under $700. I just bought one at West marine for under $400. 10.5 ft long, and 30 inches wide. I am not a small guy (212), so I look for a capacity close to 400#s. Not that I anticipate that kind of a load, but I want lots of margin so the kayak rides higher. Lots of shock cord to hold my gear in place. Has a nice well in the back with more shock cords that will hold a tackle box, or in my case a flat-ish cooler.
If it was me, I would also look for something that was easy for one person to lift up on top of the vehicle. Less than 50#s. If you are using a pick up, that is less of a concern.
Sit inside or sit on top? Mainly a personal choice. I think the sit inside provides me with a bit more protection from the sun, but with a larger cockpit, I still need to wear long pants. Look through the (google) images of fishing kayak set up. Decide what you want. Shorter is better if only from the ability to access smaller water.
I own 3 kayaks, all for different paddling. A sea kayak for long distance camping and smoother day trips on open water. A tandem for when the wife goes along. Now this shorter one for smaller creeks and spring fed runs where the 18 ft'er tends to bump both ends while maneuvering around oxbow turns.
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neita
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Jul 8, 2016 13:36:22 GMT -8
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Post by neita on Jul 8, 2016 13:36:22 GMT -8
I've purchased two kayaks within the past three years, for different purposes. Some suggestions / comments: In my region, mid-Atlantic, sit-on-tops (SOT) are far and away the choice for fishing. In fact, some of the newer fishing SOT kayaks can be up to $5,000, when they're all bling'd out !!! I know folks who are trading in their motorized boats for SOTs. For many years, SOTs were considered not as good as sit-ins for maneuvering and stability. That's no longer the case.The technology has improved by leaps over the past 3-5 years. (When a company learns that people are willing to fork over $5,000 for a good kayak, it's an impetus to improve. The technology then filters down to something the rest of us can afford.) If you're going out into a Bay or in the ocean, you'll need a kayak that 13" or longer, i.e. a "sea kayak". That's for stability in choppy waters. For rivers and creeks, you can get away with a shorter one. Don't judge the length of the kayak by what you like; your weight and height will determine the proper length of the boat for you. You want to make sure your kayak can keep you on / above the water! Not only has the technology improved how the kayak handles, but it's also improved the weight - with newer plastics. One of my kayaks is 12'8", yet only weighs 43#. I can easily load it onto the top of my car myself (with the proper roller/rack). I'm 60 and female. I suggest going to a marine retailer that will allow you to test several boats before making a purchase. Alternately, go to outfitters where you can rent one for an hour or so. Try out several and you'll have a better idea of the characteristics you prefer. An example: I had my heart set on a specific "women's" model. I took it out for a test run ... Well, I tried.... Apparently, my hips are a bit wider than the average they used for the kayak and I felt stuck in the cockpit, even on a SOT. Lesson learned. Good luck and have fun! I love kayaking now. In fact, I'd be hiking much more than I do, instead I'm on the water once a week.
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Kayak
Jul 8, 2016 14:39:15 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jul 8, 2016 14:39:15 GMT -8
Simply fishing I expect it's the same as a fishing canoe: stability is major.
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almostthere
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Jul 8, 2016 17:04:28 GMT -8
Post by almostthere on Jul 8, 2016 17:04:28 GMT -8
I've fished from a 12' sit in - on a lake. Fishing in anything with a current, you get to choose between steering and fishing, unless you get a tandem and have a buddy do all the paddling while you fish.
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zeke
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Jul 8, 2016 17:07:52 GMT -8
Post by zeke on Jul 8, 2016 17:07:52 GMT -8
Oh, yeah. Get an anchor you can drop to keep you in place while you fish.
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Kayak
Jul 8, 2016 18:18:40 GMT -8
Post by johntpenca on Jul 8, 2016 18:18:40 GMT -8
An anchor is not necessarily a good idea for river/creek fishing. If it it class 1, should not be to much of a problem, but in class 1 it should not really be needed. Anchoring in class 2 or greater seems like a good way to get turned over.
Also, if you are using it for camping it is important to consider volume and access. Yaks aren't like canoes.
Are you planning to go solo? A heavier yak may be unmanageable for loading/unloading if you are solo.
edit: also, the choice between a sit on top or a sit in with spay skirt is hugely dependent an the water temperature, as well as wave size. I would not consider a sit on top for anything other than lakes or class 1 in mild temperatures, although they are very popular with fisher people on the west coast in the pacific. Google "kayak fishing".
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almostthere
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Jul 17, 2016 8:57:51 GMT -8
Post by almostthere on Jul 17, 2016 8:57:51 GMT -8
My choice, if I wanted a balance between storage, maneuverability, fishing, etc. would be a sea kayak -- even though I would be using it inland on lakes. Why? I've paddled all kinds, now. I've borrowed a bunch of different boats and rented others. The best one was a Current Designs with a nice balance of features -- it was so maneuverable that I could turn simply by paddling straight and leaning (edging) and it was built to cut through waves and chop neatly (sea kayaks have been made to handle waves), and since it was also a rotomolded yak instead of fiberglass it could tolerate a little contact with rocks. I could get it in and out of shallow water by myself. It was not a barge (less than 20" wide, less than 17' long) and it had a hard chine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chine_(boating)) which was why it was so maneuverable. SOTs are barges. HUGE sit-ins with soft chines are barges -- rental places give these out to newbies who have never kayaked because they don't feel tippy at all. Once I was able to balance myself properly I found that I loved the more maneuverable kayaks -- they are so much easier to paddle, since they are designed to cut through the water with minimal effort on your part. So I recommend borrowing/renting and practice. It's fairly typical for a veteran kayaker to have five or six kayaks. All phases of their journey -- the real fanatics that I know are working on building their own now.... narrow, steeply-chined things of wood and waterproofed canvas, gorgeous looking and they would probably tip me into the water the minute I launched. But oh so light and pretty. I get to borrow their expensive rotomolded (plastic) boats.
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reuben
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Jul 17, 2016 9:16:15 GMT -8
Post by reuben on Jul 17, 2016 9:16:15 GMT -8
Yes, but they have their place. They track like an inner tube, but typically have great initial stability and are highly maneuverable in small areas. If you want to paddle 10 or 20 miles, this is not the kayak for you unless you want to spend a lot of time using corrective/sweep strokes. If you want to paddle around a calm lake with friends and family, or fish, this is quite possibly what will suit you. I get to borrow their expensive rotomolded (plastic) boats. Eh? Rotomolded are the least expensive. Fiberglass, thermoformed, and carbon are much more expensive. Kayaks are like tents/sleeping bags/backpacks/etc. - there are at least three variables. You will only be able to satisfy two. Pick your poison(s).
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almostthere
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Jul 17, 2016 9:21:20 GMT -8
Post by almostthere on Jul 17, 2016 9:21:20 GMT -8
I consider 3000-5000 expensive. AND there are plenty of rotomolded boats in that range. Some of the fiberglass base models are comparable - but you start adding features and like a car, they get expensive fast. Another option is Kevlar. It's more expensive yet than fiberglass... www.cdkayak.com/Kayaks.aspx?id=6
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almostthere
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Jul 17, 2016 9:28:50 GMT -8
Post by almostthere on Jul 17, 2016 9:28:50 GMT -8
A friend has an older model of this, before they stopped making them out of plastic. www.neckykayaks.com/kayaks/touring/Chatham_17_Composite/It's his go-to for sea kayaks - he likes to fish in the kelp beds. I've used it a few times. There are a bunch of kayaks on craigslist, which is where a lot of people get good second hand boats -- if you're willing to drive a bit to get one.
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rebeccad
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Jul 17, 2016 9:43:45 GMT -8
Post by rebeccad on Jul 17, 2016 9:43:45 GMT -8
How about a canoe? I can get you a great deal on one if you are near Seattle :D Seriously, though, a canoe can be great--lots of cargo space, etc., unless you are going to be solo (in which case I get the kayak desire).
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