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A couple years ago while camping at the lake a friend had two kayaks there so I gave one of a try. Loved it, very good exercise, and felt I could fish out of one of these. Thanks to the sales after Thanksgiving I bought a 9.5 foot swifty kayak for $200. at Dicks Sporting Goods and got a $20. dollar gift card. Could'nt beat that. Anybody pan fish out of kayaks? And how do you like it?
I fish from kayaks about 100 trips per year. Can't be beat for panfishing. I also catch alot of channel catfish and bass, and in the spring crappie are very easy to catch. I use sit-on top kayaks, i like them much better for fishing, than sit-ins.
I use one of these in the Fall and Winter:
http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdis...AutoID=8&Cat=3
Yaks are too unstable for me. Canoes are only a little more stable but I think I would rather have a canoe than a yak. The 816 is really stable because it is a catamaran. Only major drawback is its semi-rigid and doesn't lend itself well to longer distances rowing like a yak or canoe. I have been looking into getting a used square stern fiberglass canoe so I can mount a small (mini) outboard to cover more water than a paddle only craft.
Yes kayaks are alot of fun and great for fishing..I own a Perception sit in style...The ole arms get mighty tired and the buttocks :rolleyes: get to hurting too...I like to take mine up to New River and let the current do all the work while I fish but I have to stop once in awhile to stretch out the legs and relieve the hind-in abit.......Great views in the mountains and can't beat the peace and quiet away from all the jet skis and boats busting about on the lakes................Put a rod holder on the front and carry a small tackle box with whatever I might want to fish with........Usually plastic lizards are all you need but a variety of color from pumpkin to purple will do..Never know what color they want and have to consider water clarity too......Lots of Redeyes and Bass and most important fun with peace.........................:p
We do a lot of fishing and hunting from kayaks. They are very useful in shallow and clear water situations. It is amazing how stable they are and how big of fish you can manage to fight in such a small craft. Fish that spook easily like the crappie are often not frightened by the kayak. I believe it is because it looks more like a log than a boat.
I fish out of my yak more than my jon boat. I love it, plus I can fish areas inaccessable by motorized boats.
My yak is a sit-in designed for fishing. It's a Wilderness Systems Pamlico 120 Fisherman. It's also very stable, even more than my Old Town 158 canoe.
The canoe is way too slow for me, so I only use it when I want to bring my family along. The only weakness of my yak is in whitewater. If I go over a big drop-off or large standing wave, water washes over the deck into the large open cockpit. However, this is beyond what my yak was designed for.
My yak is rigged with two rear flush mount rod holders for trolling and a scotty-mount up front. I toss on my portable fish finder and away I go.
I second Salbsrus's comment about stealth. I've snuck up on so much wildlife and fish. I'm always bumping into large gar sunning themselves on the river. Gets my heartrate up every time with the huge splash they make when i surprise them. I think it surprises me more than them. I see lots of deer, birds, otters, and fish that I'm sure I'd miss if I was in a jon or canoe.
Another bonus is when your in a yak, it functions as sort of a drag because it's so light. When I'm reeling in a large fish, it's pulling me as much as I'm pulling on it. Even the smallish fish will have a pull to them.
I too fish out of a kayak. It's definitely unique. For me, it was partly out of neccessity as I was a poor college kid and it was all I could afford....but I enjoyed the freedom of fishing water that others couldn't because of size constraints.
I have turned a few heads in my kayak, as I've customized it with rod holders (I even troll) and a battery powered (AA's) depth finder.
I honestly feel like I can move around on a trolling-motor-only lake faster than guys in jon boats.
That being said, there are drawbacks....ie your legs and back start begging you to beach it and stretch them out every 3-4 hours....also the tight quarters sometimes are a pain in the neck.....treble hooks are a no-no as they tend to get caught in everything.
One of the biggest pickles I ever got myself into was hooking a 2lbs chain pickerel deep in it's throat with treble hooks and I had no gloves....try sitting in a kayak trying to unhook a fish with razor sharp teeth and 2 sets of treble hooks in his mouth!
If you like fishing out of a Kayak or just Kayaking check this sight out.
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/portal.php
Thanks for the replies....It going to be a interesting experience to have a fish pull me and the boat around the lake. I am also looking forward to viewing all the wildlife that my other boat scared away.
What I will need to do is to install a pair of rod holders. Anybody got a picture of theirs? What kind of paddle do you use? Also do you pull a floating fish basket with you for them keepers?
Here is a link of the kayak I have
http://www.kayaker.com/new/products/...ational&ID=104
I just took and drilled 4 holes and screwed a rod holder from walmart in.
It's definitely not something I would want to keep a rod in when a big striper hits, but for transportation purposes (ie having the rod out of the way while I'm paddling), it works fine....I have it mounted at about "7pm" directly behind my left shoulder....I don't see why you couldn't mount one in front of you either, I just put mine behind me for trolling purposes.
As for keeping fish, I haven't ever done that...I'm usually strictly catch and release...not because I'm ultra-conservationist or anything, just because I hate the mess of cleaning and cooking fish LOL...
As for the paddles, I just went to Dick's Sporting Goods and bought a decent one but nothing "expensive"....Definitely don't buy the el-cheapo with the tiny paddle blades, you'll work yourself to death.
This is my old fishing kayak I sold for a sit-in to extend my fishing season. You can see the two plastic flush mount rod holders I use for trolling and rod storage. They angle outward, so I cast a line, drop the rod butt in the holder, and paddle around structure or the river bank. i also installed a flush mount attwood rod holder bewteen my legs. YOu'll see it as a rectangular black cover in the picture. I can drop my adjustable rod holder in it for trolling or storage. From my experience, trolling was best done from the two rear flush mount rod holders, since they were secure enough to take a big hit. I knew I had a big fish when it would hit and turn my kayak as i was paddling.Quote:
Originally Posted by slab-happy
Any boat store will carry the pvc flush mount holders for $8-10. However, if you get them form a kayak store, the bottom holes will be sealed where you have to seal the ones from the boat store. These were froma boat store,s o I sealed the bottoms by gluing on a pvc cap form Home Depot.
Do these break down enough to fit in the back of an SUV like an Explorer? Also can you put a trolling motor on these?Quote:
Originally Posted by dixieangler
I fish pretty regularly out of a Pirogue (pronounced pee row) whick is very similar to a kayak - in fact i do most of my crappie fishing from it on the river and on big lakes. I even bought c-clamp style rod holders for it. I even have a 2 man Pirogue with an inboard trolling motor in the garage but she needs some more wiring work and stuff before she's ready for the water.
Hey slab happy , for my keepers i bought one of those 15 foot long wire clip style stringers with 10 clips i modified my pirogue by installing a couple seat supports for my back and just tied the stringer around one of those. It might seem a little harsh to do to a new boat , but i'd drill a small hole thru the seat back to attach your stringer or basket.Quote:
Originally Posted by slab-happy
I just bought a canoe with a square back from a buddy. I think I'm going to like it. I may even bring it to Crappie Camp. For $80 I couldn't turn it down.
Hey Bowfin - How do you troll on this??? Someone posted earlier about the small pontoons designed for trout fishing. I wouldn't mind getting one of those that has a motor mount and battery tray - would be very easy to troll with - just curious how you do it wiht the Yak - and pics you could post???
Same for you Baditude - any pics of that rig???
I thought this thread was about fishing from kayaks.
Here ya go Wannafofishin...the pics you asked for. I told you it was primitive , but it puts me on some nice slabs.
Would a yak be considerd a boat as far as regs go?
What would I be required to have or do to make one legal in Indiana?
If yaks aren't too regulated I'll get one as it will fit on my car nicely as my car cannot tow a boat, so I want to get some of your experience with regs
before contacting IDNR.
Kayaks are usually exempt from most boat regulations and for registration and such. However you will find some regs that apply or are slighty different. For example in Texas at night you must have a 360 degree white light.
I have a cheap sik kayak that I bought to "test the waters with" so to speak. Its a pursuit 100. I have mounted two rod holders up front and a Cuda 242, anchor trolley system with anchor of course and paddle holder and a couple of cleats for tie off points for stringers or what ever. My 360 degree light since I often fish at night is a cheap battery powered light from wally world and some velcro to hold it in place.
Ive really gotten use to fishing from it and handling the yak. Took quiet a good portion of my catch last year from it and suspect I will take about 90% of my catch from it this year. Its been such a hoot, Im now starting to fly fish from it as well. Im hoping to get a Hobbie Outback later in the year or just before the season starts again in 2008. The biggest fish to date I have caught was a 38 lbs Blue Catfish.
Im really enjoying the kayak aspect of fishing. It allows me to get to spots that a boat cant reach and lauch and fish waters I wouldnt otherwise be able to get to from the bank or a conventional boat. This past winter I even floated down the river through the "Green Belt" with my Ruger 10/22 and came home with a mess of squirrels from my efforts! I just paddled up the river about 6 miles and floated back down and took shots as they came. Proved to be a lot of fun when the fish werent biting...
I cast out my lure, drop the rod butt in the holder behind the seat, and paddle slowly.Quote:
Originally Posted by wannagofishin
I pirogue fish quite a bit and love it. Never tried out a kayak.
I was also just given this lil boat as a house-warming gift from my dad. It's nice. Has a live well and all wired up.
It's a pain hauling in and out the back of the truck though.
I'm hoping I can find some kind of trailer for it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...Picture003.jpg
i want to get a cheap sit on top kayak to go fishing with what do you do with the paddle when youre fishing and where do you put the rod when you paddle
Most Kayak manufactures make models that are already rigged up for fishing and this is the route I would suggest for a clean and functional Fishing Yak. About the only thing you need to do is add the rods a fisherman and your tackle. You may want to also add a FF as well. Most yaks come with a paddle holder or you can easily install one in about 5 minutes. I would definitely recommend a SOT model for sure. I chose a SIK when i got my yak and when I up grade it will be a SOT for sure.