I am thinking seriously about pulling the trigger on a fishing kayak. I have never even paddled one before. And I don't want to spend a bunch of money without knowing if I even like it or not. I would be mostly fishing small lakes and quieter rivers with minor rapids, maybe doing some camping with it. Is there anything out there that will work without breaking the bank? I'm about 5'-10", 200 lbs, so I'm guessing that I need something in the 12-foot range? Like I said, I know nothing at all about it, but I know that some of y'all are experienced with them. So any and all advice is appreciated.
What's breaking the bank for ya? The Perception Pescador 12' is a hell of a yak for the money. My brother and I have used those for years. Excellent boat for the cash.
The most sensible and affordable choice that best suits your needs would be a discovery 119 canoe, not a kayak. However, some people feel the 119 is too unstable to cast from standing up. That being said such issues can be overcome with practice and skill, but this will take time. If stability is a big concern, perhaps you should try the Frontier 10.
I see jackson coosa's pop up from time to time on another site for less than $1k. Might be something to look into.
Also, if anyone ever happens to come across an Old Town pack, grab it. Royalex is no longer being manufactured.
Perception Pescadors are great for scooting up and down Rivers quickly, but they are miserable to fish from with fly rods. Not enough room to manage gear, and forget about camping. No standing either, and seating is low.
BTW, most use kayak paddles to propel Disco 119s.
I dunno but this just showed up in my SierraTradingPostDealFlyer
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/evoke-conquer-100-sit-in-angler-kayak-1-person~p~238tr/?filterString=or(stand-up-paddle-boards~d~5273%2Ckayaks-and-canoes~d~122%2Cwakeboards-water-skis-and-towables~d~233)%2Fsports-and-outdoors~d~4868%2Foutdoor-gear~d~2%2Fwater-sports~d~28%2F
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/wilderness-systems-thresher-140-fishing-kayak-143~p~232ry/?filterString=or(stand-up-paddle-boards~d~5273%2Ckayaks-and-canoes~d~122%2Cwakeboards-water-skis-and-towables~d~233)%2Fsports-and-outdoors~d~4868%2Foutdoor-gear~d~2%2Fwater-sports~d~28%2F
I might have a Jackson Coosa for sale. I need to find a replacement before I decide to get rid of it.
Jackson Cuda 12' is very highly rated by a fly fishing guide on another forum I visit. It is not cheap.
http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/kayak/cuda-12/ (http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/kayak/cuda-12/)
I've been happy with my Native Slayer 12. It used to be pricey but with all the new fishing kayak introductions on the market it looks like a bargain today. It is very stable and the seat is comfortable. I am able to stand and cast my fly rod and the uncluttered deck lends itself to the fly fisherman. The one big knock against the Slayer has always been that it has no below deck storage. This hasn't been a big deal for me as I'm a minimalist on the water, however gear junkies may not be happy with the lack of storage space.
^ I'll second the Native Slayer, and what Fin said about them. Also, they are made in western NC. I'm able to strap some camping gear to the rear and fishing gear to the front fairly easily. The only problem there is that yo camping shit is exposed to the elements. Someone mentioned the Coosa, which has in-hull storage, and might be a better option if ya camp a lot.
Either way, I think you will find kayaking to be an enjoyable way to not only fish, but also relax.
Oh, and check the Craigslist boat section and the for sale feature facebook now has. Just be careful when dealing with randos from the web - some can be pretty creepy.
Oh, and one more important thing: demo a few boats before you buy. Some shops in my area have free demo days. Additionally, I believe said shops will rent certain boats by the day.
Good luck, man.
Quote from: Yallerhammer on June 07, 2017, 07:41:08 AM
I am thinking seriously about pulling the trigger on a fishing kayak. I have never even paddled one before. And I don't want to spend a bunch of money without knowing if I even like it or not. I would be mostly fishing small lakes and quieter rivers with minor rapids, maybe doing some camping with it. Is there anything out there that will work without breaking the bank? I'm about 5'-10", 200 lbs, so I'm guessing that I need something in the 12-foot range? Like I said, I know nothing at all about it, but I know that some of y'all are experienced with them. So any and all advice is appreciated.
If you're going to be on lakes often, and the only rapids you hit are minor, cross the Coosa off your list IMO.
It is a river boat meant for moving water. It's a real pain on the lake.
A Jackson Cuda or a Cruise (same basic hull with some minor differences) is a much better all around boat. I have a Coosa and a Cruise.
You can find Cruise 12's in excellent shape for $800 all the time on Craigs. This time of year they're more in demand though. Jackson boats are pretty bomber.
I had a Native Ultimate 12 before the Jacksons. It was a good boat too.
@JMiller, how stable is the J-cruise while standing? I do find the cruise appealing due to its light weight, and relatively compact size, and cost. Probably a little slight for camping though. I loathe heavy boats. Yaller, I would put the cruise at or near the top of the list.
The most important aspect of purchasing any small boat is making sure the boat is compatible for planned tasks. Things to consider:
* The Guide/Discovery 119 is very spacious with ample room to place fly rods, and camping gear. Not only is there room for rods, they can be stashed away from harm...tree limbs. Like the Coosa, it has a very shallow draft making it nice fit for rocky rivers.
* The Frontier 10 & 12 are pricey, and fairly ugly, but their washtub shape makes them super stable. This would be a bonus for fishing unruly fish such as stripers, carp, and musky. Oh, you can put a small outboard on these yaks. This would be my choice for fishing carp flats, channels & inlets on the barrier islands.
Anybody ever see one of these in person?
http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/2016/07/11/jackson-kayak-designs-mayfly-specifically-for-kayak-fly-fishing/
Pricey, nice logo though.
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I've seen it. But since they put "fly fishing" on it they can charge an extra $500. I haven't looked at it closely. But i suspect it based on the Cuda hull. But like the Coosa it weighs a ton, which I decided I'm done with heavy boats.
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Quote from: driver on June 07, 2017, 22:33:42 PM
I've seen it. But since they put "fly fishing" on it they can charge an extra $500. I haven't looked at it closely. But i suspect it based on the Cuda hull. But like the Coosa it weighs a ton, which I decided I'm done with heavy boats.
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3 inches wider than both the Coosa & Cuda. Almost a foot longer than the Coosa. Yes I bet she weighs 85 pounds.
Quote from: Onslow on June 07, 2017, 17:24:34 PM
@JMiller, how stable is the J-cruise while standing? I do find the cruise appealing due to its light weight, and relatively compact size, and cost. Probably a little slight for camping though. I loathe heavy boats. Yaller, I would put the cruise at or near the top of the list.
The Cruise is just about the same standing as the Coosa is, maybe a tad better or worse. That's the same story with the weight too though, Im pretty sure it's listed as being somewhat lighter, but I can't tell a great difference if it is. The key to that is just never having to lift them too high or carry them too far.
Simple if you have a 4x4 pickup.
My neighbor fabbed up a rack for me that attaches right to a harbor freight utility trailer frame. Has made the experience so much better all around.
(http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t521/Millerj87/IMG_4944_zpsi11ieh9f.jpg) (http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/Millerj87/media/IMG_4944_zpsi11ieh9f.jpg.html)
Getting two boats on top of the jeep before was a serious pain. Pretty sure I could carry 6 now with out much issue.
(http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t521/Millerj87/IMG_4953_zpszyldherh.jpg) (http://s1312.photobucket.com/user/Millerj87/media/IMG_4953_zpszyldherh.jpg.html)
Iv'e been fishing out of a Dagger Zydeco 11 for three years now an I really like it. Big enough to handle Lake Ontario and the Niagara River and still light enough to carry by myself. Tracks good on flat water and doesn't get pushed around in the heavy current ... Good roomy cockpit, I'm between 215 and 220 and I've got plenty of room. I put a Ram rod holder on it and it works great. There on Amazon for $599. I usually fish a 10ft rod out of it but some times on small ponds I'll go down to 7 1/2 ft and casting is still not an issue.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4182/34526299761_38aa126dd2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UAYj3n)Fishing (https://flic.kr/p/UAYj3n) by rjeeves (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60779124@N08/), on Flickr