I need help picking a Kayak - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T08:48:05Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/help-picking-a-kayak?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A329121&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIf you simply must stand up,…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-11-19:2036984:Comment:3291212012-11-19T12:06:08.798ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>If you simply must stand up, I would suggest the Jackson Coosa. This is really a river running kayak, but it is wide and stable. It's more like a barge LOL. It's not going to have long legs, though. So, if you dont intend to cover vast distances and want to stand up for fly fishing, it might do. It wont be cheap, though - they go new for $1200</p>
<p>Oh, and make sure you are limber. Getting up and down in a kayak takes a lot of flexibility.</p>
<p></p>
<p>If you simply must stand up, I would suggest the Jackson Coosa. This is really a river running kayak, but it is wide and stable. It's more like a barge LOL. It's not going to have long legs, though. So, if you dont intend to cover vast distances and want to stand up for fly fishing, it might do. It wont be cheap, though - they go new for $1200</p>
<p>Oh, and make sure you are limber. Getting up and down in a kayak takes a lot of flexibility.</p>
<p></p> I've had a 14' SOT - have two…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-11-19:2036984:Comment:3291182012-11-19T04:06:17.193ZGeorgehttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/George442
<p>I've had a 14' SOT - have two 12 footers now. 14' was a bit much for me. I like my Malibu Stealth 12 but it sounds like you won't need the livewell. I keep a 12V lawnmower battery below deck to power a depth finder/GPS and that battery adds to stability by lowering the center of gravity. Also run an aerator sometimes from the 12V. I like being able to keep a 36 qt cooler behind the seat for fish, lunch, cold water. A hatch and dry storage is nice sometimes. </p>
<p>Trolling motor on a…</p>
<p>I've had a 14' SOT - have two 12 footers now. 14' was a bit much for me. I like my Malibu Stealth 12 but it sounds like you won't need the livewell. I keep a 12V lawnmower battery below deck to power a depth finder/GPS and that battery adds to stability by lowering the center of gravity. Also run an aerator sometimes from the 12V. I like being able to keep a 36 qt cooler behind the seat for fish, lunch, cold water. A hatch and dry storage is nice sometimes. </p>
<p>Trolling motor on a kayak? No thanks. The people I know who do that are just lazy. To each his own but I like the exercise. </p>
<p>I've seen people stand up and cast from 14' yaks but I fell off when I tried it. You might want to look at the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing site - I believe there is a fly fishing section.</p>
<p>Good luck</p> Angelo, David is correct. He…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-30:2036984:Comment:3242552012-10-30T23:51:50.711ZRichie Brittinghamhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/RichieBrittingham
<p>Angelo, David is correct. He makes a lot of good points. Another definite feature of a sot is that you can easily turn in the seat and get to storage behind the seat. Very hard to do in a sit in. Trust me. I have to keep everything up front. Don't get me wrong, plenty of room, but still not the best situation for fishing. As far as price, i got my kayak about 6 years ago from a dealer that also rents. At the end of the rental season they sell off some of the rental models at a discounted…</p>
<p>Angelo, David is correct. He makes a lot of good points. Another definite feature of a sot is that you can easily turn in the seat and get to storage behind the seat. Very hard to do in a sit in. Trust me. I have to keep everything up front. Don't get me wrong, plenty of room, but still not the best situation for fishing. As far as price, i got my kayak about 6 years ago from a dealer that also rents. At the end of the rental season they sell off some of the rental models at a discounted price. My model sold for about $850 new and i got it for $500. There may be a few nicks and scratches, but these are typically good crafts and should suit your purpose just fine. Of course you would need to wait until after the rental season. Just a thought. I would hold out for a true sot designed for fishing. it would be well worth the wait.</p> Hello Angelo,
I'll start wit…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-30:2036984:Comment:3241862012-10-30T01:16:20.361Zklrbaerhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/klrbaer
<p>Hello Angelo, </p>
<p>I'll start with an apology, I'm going off the reservation with my answer. </p>
<p>I've fished from and owned canoes, kayaks, float tubes, single man pontoon boats. Then I got to fish from a WaterMaster. <a href="http://www.bigskyinflatables.com" target="_blank">http://www.bigskyinflatables.com</a> </p>
<p>This craft is made for flat and moving water both. It is featured in the Trout Bums videos that they've filmed around the world. The craft packs into a…</p>
<p>Hello Angelo, </p>
<p>I'll start with an apology, I'm going off the reservation with my answer. </p>
<p>I've fished from and owned canoes, kayaks, float tubes, single man pontoon boats. Then I got to fish from a WaterMaster. <a href="http://www.bigskyinflatables.com" target="_blank">http://www.bigskyinflatables.com</a> </p>
<p>This craft is made for flat and moving water both. It is featured in the Trout Bums videos that they've filmed around the world. The craft packs into a backpack that weighs less than 30lbs and then in less than 10 minutes turns into a very stable craft that is rated at 750 lbs and class 4 rapids. I've carried this into many small lakes, pond and creeks. The main reason that I chose the WaterMaster is that I can propel it around with the oars or my kick fins, even holding it in a stiff wind with just my feet. Leaving both hands free to fish. Most of the time I leave the oars strapped in and never undo them. I can't explain the joy in fishing from this craft. I sit down, kick to where ever and fish the whole time. I've got a few pics on my page if you want to look. </p>
<p>The only down side is the price The Grizzly Expedition pack is $ 1500.00. But Rich Studer, the owner, assures me of a few decades of fishing from the craft. I had the craft for 3 years and have fished in it about 80-100 days per year with no problems. I keep it inflated and hanging in the garage. I throw it on the top of the jeep and take off. </p>
<p>I've spent a lot of money over the years on boats and I wish I would have purchased a WaterMaster Years ago. I would have saved myself a lot of money in the long run. </p>
<p>Feel free to write with any questions.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, It's the only boat I have and will have.</p> if ya got 2 grand to spare,ba…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-29:2036984:Comment:3239022012-10-29T19:35:58.862Zjim cosgrovehttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/jimcosgrove
<p>if ya got 2 grand to spare,bass pro has an electric motor powered fishing kayak.looks pretty sweet.then there are the jet kayaks that can hover in heavy current at about 4-5 thousand.</p>
<p>if ya got 2 grand to spare,bass pro has an electric motor powered fishing kayak.looks pretty sweet.then there are the jet kayaks that can hover in heavy current at about 4-5 thousand.</p> Do what you must, Angelo. The…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-29:2036984:Comment:3238612012-10-29T17:28:37.377ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>Do what you must, Angelo. The 126 doesn't look too bad. Certainly it is a place to start. The kayak is a tool, one used to get you where you want to be.</p>
<p>As you intend to fly fish, most any kayak will present you with the same problem, anyway: Casting is always going to be difficult.</p>
<p>You may wish to consider spin/bait fishing as your main technique, setting fur and feather whipping as secondary.</p>
<p>Do what you must, Angelo. The 126 doesn't look too bad. Certainly it is a place to start. The kayak is a tool, one used to get you where you want to be.</p>
<p>As you intend to fly fish, most any kayak will present you with the same problem, anyway: Casting is always going to be difficult.</p>
<p>You may wish to consider spin/bait fishing as your main technique, setting fur and feather whipping as secondary.</p> I probaly just got to get the…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-29:2036984:Comment:3236762012-10-29T16:13:27.763ZAngelo C Mastrando Jr.http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/AngeloCMastrandoJr
<p>I probaly just got to get the Kayak that I was looking at. The BPS Ascend A-10 for $300, or maybe the future beach trophy 126 Kayak which is a angler kayak which only includes a dry storage area and 2 rod holders priced at $370 but have heard that it don't track straight </p>
<p>I probaly just got to get the Kayak that I was looking at. The BPS Ascend A-10 for $300, or maybe the future beach trophy 126 Kayak which is a angler kayak which only includes a dry storage area and 2 rod holders priced at $370 but have heard that it don't track straight </p> Thanks David, you are startin…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-29:2036984:Comment:3235662012-10-29T16:11:09.325ZAngelo C Mastrando Jr.http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/AngeloCMastrandoJr
<p>Thanks David, you are starting to open up my eyes now on a Kayak. I do see some major disadvantages in a sit-in mostly on the fly casting for me owning a 7'6'' fly rod I can see smacking the water behind me. With the room it won't be an issue, I have all my gear I need I keep in a little tackle bag that is only 11in by 6in also have some water bottles. I cannot find a nice decent SOT Kayak in my range they are pricey in the high 400s which some don't include sits. I did see a nice SOT which…</p>
<p>Thanks David, you are starting to open up my eyes now on a Kayak. I do see some major disadvantages in a sit-in mostly on the fly casting for me owning a 7'6'' fly rod I can see smacking the water behind me. With the room it won't be an issue, I have all my gear I need I keep in a little tackle bag that is only 11in by 6in also have some water bottles. I cannot find a nice decent SOT Kayak in my range they are pricey in the high 400s which some don't include sits. I did see a nice SOT which priced at $500 and it was a Hobie <b>Malibu Mini-X Kayak. But that is just out of my range by alot. David I have checked on craigslist and other sites but they all almost staying in the same price range as new. </b></p> Now there is a truth that cer…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-29:2036984:Comment:3237782012-10-29T15:57:25.003ZDavid, aka, "McScruff"http://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/david553
<p>Now there is a truth that certainly applies to kayak fishing, i.e., "Less is More."</p>
<p>My problem is I'm a gadgeteer; I like to make a lot of my own gear and I want to have everything I own with me.</p>
<p>A kayak, however, is like the Space Shuttle - there is only so much room. Most angling-specific kayaks offer features like molded in trays, tackle keepers and so on that help you organize your gear. These are just the sort of handy, engineered-in features I've referred to…</p>
<p>Now there is a truth that certainly applies to kayak fishing, i.e., "Less is More."</p>
<p>My problem is I'm a gadgeteer; I like to make a lot of my own gear and I want to have everything I own with me.</p>
<p>A kayak, however, is like the Space Shuttle - there is only so much room. Most angling-specific kayaks offer features like molded in trays, tackle keepers and so on that help you organize your gear. These are just the sort of handy, engineered-in features I've referred to already.</p>
<p>Regardless, you really have to work to pare down the stuff you DO take out on the water. I'm always culling and re-organizing the things I have with me. Much of what I bring is learned from experience. This is very specific to your locale and "style" of fishing and there aren't many hard and fast rules.</p>
<p>So, whatever type of kayak you use, keep an eye on the essentials. Expect, too, that it will be cramped. Some boats offer an open layout that alleviates some of this - Steve Crowders 'NuCanoe' comes to mind (out of your price range, sorry to say). But most of them never seem to have enough space.</p>
<p>Next comes the main challenge: keeping the RIGHT things both within reach and properly stowed. Nothing is worse than bringing a needed item, only to have it "migrate" out of reach because you didn't have it stowed well. For a sit in type boat, I definitely recommend a fishing vest, some inside monkey hammocks port and starboard and a small, behind the seat kit bag.</p>
<p>My vest has a Leatherman multi-use fishing tool, a pair of line nippers, hook hone, whistle, signal mirror, various lures, a camera-phone and a few small odds and ends.</p>
<p>Because I have a SOT boat, I can use a voluminous kit bag. Mine is a heavy canvas satchel found in a thrift store. The bag contains 2 medium sized Plano-style tackle boxes, two knives (a solid hunters drop point and a filet knife), a trowel for digging on-shore toilets, toilet paper, match safe, stringer, bio-degradeable soap, folded alminum foil, super glue, extra bungees and Velcro straps, sunscreen, granola bars and water.</p>
<p>SOT kayaks have another feature the sit in's don't - a hollow, watertight hull. This means they can offer interior stowage. For example, my center deck well is where I stow my anchor. When I'm on the water, though, the anchor comes out and my small cooler bag goes in. The forward storage well has some extra tie off line and secures my rod holders.</p> Hello Angelo. I agree with Da…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-10-29:2036984:Comment:3237632012-10-29T14:44:49.420ZRichie Brittinghamhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/RichieBrittingham
<p>Hello Angelo. I agree with David and Rex. I have a Pungo 120 sit in. But it is not the best fishing kayak. Harder to get into than a SOT. There are several SOTs on market. Wilderness systems has a couple nice models, but they are pricey. I would suggest Ebay or Craigslist. I have found that when flyfishing from my sit in kayak that the least amount of extras, such as clips, holders, etc the better. My fly line seems to get tangled in everything when stripping. My next kayak will be a sot…</p>
<p>Hello Angelo. I agree with David and Rex. I have a Pungo 120 sit in. But it is not the best fishing kayak. Harder to get into than a SOT. There are several SOTs on market. Wilderness systems has a couple nice models, but they are pricey. I would suggest Ebay or Craigslist. I have found that when flyfishing from my sit in kayak that the least amount of extras, such as clips, holders, etc the better. My fly line seems to get tangled in everything when stripping. My next kayak will be a sot designed for fishing. Fly fishing from kayak is a lot of fun.</p>