Kayak fishing

[Fly Right]

I am thinking about purchasing a SOT fishing kayak. I will need to car top it so weight is a factor (looking at the +/- 70 lb range or lighter)
Also I am in good shape but 62 years old. Standing is an option however I will probably sit most of the time. I would be a kayak rookie and stability is a very important consideration. I would appreciate any advice from
YAK fishers, especially how fishing in the wind affects you.

Much appreciated

[Idadon]

Stability usually equates to beam width. The wider the beam the harder to maneuver. I'm 66 and just gave up my Nucanoe but sure do miss it. I have a buddy with a Hobie fisherman and I'm looking at those too. If stability is a great concern there are outrigger kits available but they get in the way of fishing. The only problems I ever had was entering/exiting my Yak. Not so agile anymore I guess. If you want to invest the money, a Hobie with the drive unit is my choice. Much faster. Back to my buddy, he goes miles offshore in his after salmon. Just watch out for the Great Whites!

[itsbenlong]

I was doing some research into SOT Kayaks a month ago and really liked the new Wilderness Systems ATAK. It has a really comfortable seat which also flips up so you can lean against it in a standing position for more comfort and stability. However, it weighs around 85lbs which is probably a bit heavier than you were wanting. I just thought I would mention it because I wanted something lighter as well, but all the pros to this Kayak made up for the weight.

I don't have any great knowledge of Kayaks by the way....Just happened to really like this one.

[Cutthroat]

I am thinking about purchasing a SOT fishing kayak. I will need to car top it so weight is a factor (looking at the +/- 70 lb range or lighter)
Also I am in good shape but 62 years old. Standing is an option however I will probably sit most of the time. I would be a kayak rookie and stability is a very important consideration. I would appreciate any advice from
YAK fishers, especially how fishing in the wind affects you.

Much appreciated

I have also been looking at fishing kayaks. I'm 68 and am in good shape. I also want light weight plus stability. I have found four that fit our criteria:
Feel Free Moken 10 Angler...61 lbs.
Native Watercraft Slayer 10 Propel...59 lbs.
Native Watercraft Ultimate 12 Angler...49 lbs.
Ocean Kayak Trident 11 Angler...56 lbs.

Good luck to you in your search.

[njbeast]

I have a 14.5 Wilderness Tsunami that I fish in lakes and use for kayak camping. Weighs 50 lbs. and I throw it up atop my Jeep Cherokee. Throwing much more than that onto the roof will be tough. This is not a fishing kayak so it is not as wide as those mentioned above which may be a little harder to balance. If you are going to sling that much weight up above your head you might look into a kayak elevator. You load it at chest height. Many kayak places have demo days where you can try out various models, although they do not normally have fishing kayaks.

[golfish]

I have had quite a few kayaks since 2006. My latest is a Eddyline Caribbean 14, I got it to drop down cliffs at Big Sur because its so light. I Fly fish the ocean and the delta or forebay for stripers when I can't fish steelhead. Love it at 50lbs. compared to my OK Trident 13 at over 65. Edddyline just came out with a 13.5' kayak you can stand in that is 13.5'x34" and weighs 68 lbs. They are more pricey than most because they are thermo-molded but they are very light and paddle great.

I recommend Headwaters Kayak out in Lodi, talk to Dan. There are more options than the ones listed. And of course check out norcal kayak anglers forum.

Here's some kayak fly fishing porn...

11202

11203

[Fly Right]

Thanks everyone for our input......much appreciated. I am looking seriously at the new Jackson Cuda LT. Still shopping and doing my homework however that boat is currently at the top of my list......stable, light, fast and responsive. I will be using it mostly in lakes, and delta sloughs for LMB, smallies and stripers. I may do some inshore salt but plan to avoid open water.
Hope to see you out there one day

[golfish]

Thanks everyone for our input......much appreciated. I am looking seriously at the new Jackson Cuda LT. Still shopping and doing my homework however that boat is currently at the top of my list......stable, light, fast and responsive. I will be using it mostly in lakes, and delta sloughs for LMB, smallies and stripers. I may do some inshore salt but plan to avoid open water.
Hope to see you out there one day


That's a great thermo molded boat too, lots of jackson team guys around here too. The center of gravity is higher with all these new lawn chair type seats but if you're only still water they are great. Good luck on your search, demo as much as possible and get the best paddle you can afford.

[Fly Right]

That's a great thermo molded boat too, lots of jackson team guys around here too. The center of gravity is higher with all these new lawn chair type seats but if you're only still water they are great. Good luck on your search, demo as much as possible and get the best paddle you can afford.

Thanks...
Per your suggestion I am checking out the Eddyline C135. It looks like a great boat that is built with a more durable thermo material. The only draw back to the Jackson Cuda LT is the thermo hull is less likely absorb impact and stay intact.

[golfish]

That boat is sweet, I'm trying to decide if I need a dedicated boat for stillwater, I may head out to Lodi to demo one. It's pricey though, could get a Hobie instead.

[tcorfey]

Curious as to what others priorities are in a Kayak for waters in N. CAL, I have been trying to decide on a model and material I would prefer and I am having a hard time deciding on whats important to me. Originally I thought that the ability to stand was high on my priorities but I am not so sure anymore.

Some of the priorities I am currently considered by order of importance are:

1. Overall weight
2. Speed through the water (I don't want a slow barge)
3. Comfortable seat
4. Stability (I do not want to reach for a snag or a fish and feel like I am going to flip).
5. Ability to fish some class 1 maybe class II water.
6. Ability to stand

Any other considerations I should think about?

Areas I intend to go are:
Sierra reservoirs
Fall river
Baum Lake
Lower Sac (below churn creek)
American (Lower)
Lewiston (Upper and lower sections)
Delta
SF Bay around Alameda Rockwall

I am 6'5" and 300lbs so I need the larger boats.

Short list is currently:
Nucanoe Pursuit
Eddyline C130
Eddyline Carribean 14
Wilderness ATAK 140
Wilderness Commander 140
Jackson Kayak Coosa HD

Any thoughts on these models? I will look in to the others mentioned here. Obviously the Eddyline is the lightest of the bunch but higher priced and I don't know if they can handle Class 1 and Class II water.

Edit: How much over your own weight is recommended when looking at capacities? For example if I weigh 300lbs is a Kayak rated for 325lbs sufficient or should I consider 400lbs a minimum capacity.

Regards,

Tim C.

[Fly Right]

I just bought the C1315
It offered the most in the way of boat features to suit my needs which are:
stability, I'm over 60
light weight, I car top
easy paddling, speed with good tracking
electric motor compatible
versatile to many fishing applications, still water, delta sloughs, class I valley rivers, inshore salt
durable, the thermo composite hull on Eddyline boats is very strong
casting space on the deck for flyline, didn't want any compartment space between my legs

I demo tested the Jackson Cuda LT and the Coosa HD. Both are good boats but the C135 rated out as the best for my needs although more $$
All of the boats you listed come with the Yak Attack option or you can customize then to your need (my choice)
Lastly if you weigh in at 300 lbs I would consider a boat rated for 400 lbs or higher. The C135 is 450. The Jackson Big Rig might be an option for you.

[tcorfey]

Fly right thanks for the input, let us know how the C135 works out for you. I am currently leaning towards the Carribean 14 due to the weight, at 50 lbs it should be easy to carry around and has a 400lb rating. I leave my canoe up at my friends place near Alpine Lake as at around 100lbs it was too much to carry around by myself. The 14 is around the same weight as my Pontoon boat and that is easy to move around. The Kayak should be a lot faster on the water though and better for saltwater fishing runs close to shore. That C135 at 65lbs may be better for me as far as weight capacity not sure about the extra 20lbs though.

[golfish]

I just bought the C1315
It offered the most in the way of boat features to suit my needs which are:
stability, I'm over 60
light weight, I car top
easy paddling, speed with good tracking
electric motor compatible
versatile to many fishing applications, still water, delta sloughs, class I valley rivers, inshore salt
durable, the thermo composite hull on Eddyline boats is very strong
casting space on the deck for flyline, didn't want any compartment space between my legs

I demo tested the Jackson Cuda LT and the Coosa HD. Both are good boats but the C135 rated out as the best for my needs although more $$
All of the boats you listed come with the Yak Attack option or you can customize then to your need (my choice)
Lastly if you weigh in at 300 lbs I would consider a boat rated for 400 lbs or higher. The C135 is 450. The Jackson Big Rig might be an option for you.


Grats! I'm jealous, that looks to be sweet yak. I need to demo one, but maybe I shouldn't and spare my wallet the pain. My C14 gets it done, it's alot to spend and for me it would be dedicated to stillwater.

[09R1707]

That boat is sweet, I'm trying to decide if I need a dedicated boat for stillwater, I may head out to Lodi to demo one. It's pricey though, could get a Hobie instead.

I have a hobie pro angler 12. I can stand up with a stripping bucket anchor in the bay in white caps and chuck flies. very stable, smooth and a great ride. I paid $1900 for mine in 2012 it was a demo.

[Fly Right]

That is a great yak! If I didn't have to car top I would probably own a pro angler as well. For my situation the Eddyline C135 was the boat of choice. With the pro angler at about 110 lbs you will probably need to invest in a trailer or one of those side rack lifts unless you are about half my age and yoked.

[steveg137]

Hey Tim , great thread. I used outlaw x5 pontoon for lakes and rivers. I like idea of kayak for sloughs and to get around having to inflate and put toon together every day.

can you anchor steadily in kayak? What about controlling a drift? How does that work on say Fall River when you want to anchor up from a pod?

Thanks for any info
Steve

[Scott V]

Hey Tim , great thread. I used outlaw x5 pontoon for lakes and rivers. I like idea of kayak for sloughs and to get around having to inflate and put toon together every day.

can you anchor steadily in kayak? What about controlling a drift? How does that work on say Fall River when you want to anchor up from a pod?

Thanks for any info
Steve

For moving water I use a 10 pound pyramid anchor. On the delta I drag 4 foot of heavy chain to slow me down.

For tons of kayak fishing info I highly recommend you sign up at "http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/". Great bunch of guys with tons of info that I fish with. We do everything from stillwater to moving water to ocean fishing and crabbing.

[steveg137]

Scott thanks for info will defo sign up!

Cheers
Steve