Fish-Hawk.Net

I am looking at buying a kayak in the near future and was wondering what type/make would be good for fishing and general touring.

Walker,

This is "Too funny"!!!!

Just read an article in a back issue of (Tiny Torpedo's) Musky Hunter magazine (Apr/May '05) on fishing for muskies from kayak. This article was written by Jim Bortz, Field Editor and was a great read.

Anyway, he strongly recommends the "Hobie Mirage Outback Fisherman" (long name!)

It's 12 feet long, wide enough for a beginner to feel comfortable & stable, and weighs only 57 pounds. It apparently has great maneuverability, with adjustable foot pedals (operate 2 flexible fins below the boat to propel it through the water) keeping hands free for fishing.

It's even good for trolling; the author cites being able to troll a deep-diving crankbait at 3 mph+ for over an hour with little fatigue.

The drive system folds flat against the boat bottom of the hull when either pedal is pushed all the way down, allow'g the kayak to skim through water as shallow a FOUR INCHES.

It's got an open design that allows the angler to sit on top of the boat, rather than threading legs through a hole on top of the hull & into the bow. Getting in and out, therefore, is much easier, and still keeps a low & stable center of gravity.

Seat is adjustable & "very comfortable"... (author is 6'3", 215 lbs!) There are built in rod holders, three hatches for storing gear, and spots where you can lash down waders, tackle boxes, etc.

It has a 350 lbs carrying capacity.

I'm sure there are those on this site who have direct experience with kayaks -- I know Slushy & Bowzog do -- but this article was interesting and informative and might give you a place to start.

GOOD LUCK. Let us know what you find out.

W.

Pretty neat find Wolfe! I'm also looking at kayak but merging fishing and kayaking was holding me back so far. This is a good compromise and I find the product very interesting... although expensive...

HI WALKER

there so mutch option for people that want to go fishing in kayak/canoe,,,

its THE trend right now,,,all over the southern U,S,

there some huge fishing tornement only for them,,,,,


here some great site for deferente models,,,,,,

www.oceanskayak.com..........chek the drifter angler edition,,,,

www.tribalance.com,,,,,,,,,,,extremely stable,,,,,,,


there is a LOT off site for the subject,,,read a lot before to make a disition,,,

just google it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,fishing+kayaks,you will see tones off nice sites,,,


S.O.T.sit on top kayaks are great for south or summer but in this time off year, ,,,the water are geting a bit cold,,,,

a lot off people in those site recomend SIT inside kayaks for up here for the weater and water temperature,,,,,,




www.wildernesssystemes.com.......tarpon angler,,,,,,,, great little outfit for you LITTLE CLEO,,,and they have them in here ottawa at trailhead,,,,to that expensive,,,,

www.hobiefishing.com

www.malibukayaks.com

www.heritagekayaks.com.,,,,,,,,,,,,the angler one,,,,,

www.pelicansport.com

www.kayaker.com,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the perception caster.....

http://kayak4fish.com

www.kayakfishing.com



REAL angler do it in kayaks,,,,,,,,,,,thats there words,,,,,,,




BUT i am looking for myself,,,,a bit more stable thing like alittlepontoon boat,,,,,

www.bucksbags.com


those little drift poonton are just great,,,,,,dont take almost no water,,,,


have a great shoping,,,,,,,,

always nice to go get new toys,,,,,,,


joco

Just did a little more digging and found this link to learn more about the Hobie Mirage Outback Fisherman model kayak..... Ya gotta love the 'net!

Anyway, it looks like fun!

http://www.hobiecat.com/fishing/models_ ... erman.html

W.

I routinely fish out of a kayak. I've caught musky on a river with a good flow and even been pulled upstream for a second or two by one. I troll lures without a rod holder, bring two rods, and a few plano boxes of tackle.

My kayak is nothing special, just 12foot model that has a large cockpit. It's simular to the one I've seen at Costco. I only paid about 750$ and that included the paddle and life jacket.

As long as the cockpit is long and wide, they are fun to fish from. I can bring my legs up and lay in it. I have enough room to move around. When I troll I put the rod between my knees and paddle. It's worked a few times.

I use my kayak on small lakes and the Saugeen River!!!! It's easy to transport and more easy than a canoe to handle! I strongly recommend buying one as they are great excersize and fun to fish from!

Slushy and I have the "Wilderness Systems Pungo" models. They work great! Large cockpit w/tons of room. The paddle breaks down so you can get it out of the way for fishing. The great thing about 'yak fishing is you can get into spots where no one else can. And its great for touring around in too!

Hey there,
For anyone looking to get into a kayak without too much dineiro, check out Trailhead in Ottawa. They sell off all of there canoes and kayak demos at the end of the season...which should be soon I'd imagine.

BA

Actually BA, thats where we got ours. And at a good price too!

bowzog wrote: The great thing about 'yak fishing is you can get into spots where no one else can.

Exactly, Bowzog! That's what the author of the (above mentioned) article was saying, too. He also will take his kayak around, beach it and wade or shorefish from remote areas. Sounds awesome!

He went on to say a muskie strike at boat (kayak) side is heart-stopping! Only 2 feet away from the fish, I'd say so!

W.

Thanks everyone for all the info. Viewed all the sites but still can't decide between cockpit or ride on top of style. I am thinking that cockpit would be warmer for early/late season.

Walker,
I have tried both the sit on top and cockpit types. I am a novice at best with these things, but found that one of the sit on tops was wider, more stable but much more sluggish on the water. The other was more of a touring type. Still very stable but not nearly so sluggish. I would recommend trying a couple or at least sitting in a couple.
BA

I've been kayak fishing for a good 10 years now, in the Ottawa, Rideau, Mississippi , Madawaska and Bonnechere systems -- lakes, rivers and streams, still water and current. If I lived in the southern states I might prefer a sit-on-top yak for easy access and exits, but they're not very comfy in cool conditions and they tend to be very sluggish to paddle. Just about any "recreational kayak" is suitable for fishing, and most cost a fraction of what that Hobie will set you back. Mine's a Perception Caspia that I bought for $450 at an end-of-season sale. It's 10 1/2 feet long, very stable. extremely manoueverable and very comfortable. There are lots of comparable boats from many manufacturers and most are quite good. I added extra bungie rigging on the front deck and a removable road holder for trolling. Otherwise, it's completely stock, and it works for me.
A really good source of kayak fishing info, geared to inland rivers and applicable to our local conditions, is here: www.riversmallies.com.

http://www.brownsmarina.com/futurebeach/kayak.htm

I have a waterskate at my cottage....it weighs almost nothing....and I've never tipped before...and I stand in it "i'm the lake idiot for it"
Funny...i've tipped my aluminum boat 3-4 times really early in the morning..but never the waterskate.
It is really fast to paddle with, and is good for trolling with the wind.
Funny thing is that it almost goes as fast as my 4 horse sea horse

It's also really inexpensive and is as tough as nails
higly reccomend it,

mike