Kayak Fishing

Skeeter McSkeet · May 18, 2018

Just wondering if anyone else does any kayak fishing. I have always fished whether it's beating it from the bank, wading, canoe, or boat. I tried an extra kayak my buddy had one day to float and fish in, I became addicted to kayak fishing that day about 5 years ago.

I loved the idea of being the captain of my own ship, no space you need to share with anyone else on board. No engine to repair or refuel, no battery to recharge (well that can be false for some), no trailer needed, no boat ramp needed, you can store it about anywhere, and you don't need a boat registration (here in West Virginia as least). On top of that, you can go anywhere a boat can, and everywhere they can't. You can all but sneak up right on top of fish and flat out wear them out!

I have got to access some sections of river I have not ever been able to get on before. It has really opened a whole new world up for me. I've set up camp countless times along the water, or on islands in the middle of the river. It's so easy to load a yak up in the bed and head to the water. I go solo more times than not after work during the week as i only have a few hours to kill before dark; weekends we have a solid group of 5-6 of us that get together to float and camp along the river. I prefer rivers/creeks and fish them about 99% of the time. I target smallmouth mainly, and I am strictly CPR (catch photo release) myself for bass; Other species have been known to get released into the grease though. I fly fish sometimes out of mine, but usually stick to traditional gear.

My two weapons of choice are the Jackson Coosa and Coosa HD. The coosa was my first one I bought, and I have kept it ever since. I added the HD a few months later so myself and my fiance could go together. She usually floats the coosa when she joins me, and I float the HD. I've been through several other models in the last 5 years or so, but those 2 have always had a place in the garage, and they are currently the only two I own. I'm planning on getting into a whitewater yak this year and taking some classes in one. I thought whitewater rafting was fun, but man a kayak through some nice class 2/3 water is just such an intense rush! Of course, so is having a nice fish on the line start to pull your kayak around for a bit.

bndawgs · May 28, 2018

I have two canoes, a Discovery 169 and a discovery 119. I just picked up the 119 which is basically the same size as a kayak but i'm also able to bring my 7 yr old with me in that.

Fix29 · May 29, 2018

I really enjoy kayak fishing. I just got into it a year or 2 ago and wish I would have gotten one years ago. I mostly fish lakes around here for largemouth bass or catfish. Also get some crappie and blue gill when they are biting. My kayak isn't anything fancy, Sundolphin Bali 10 ss, but it was cheap and gets me on the water.

Fix29 · May 29, 2018

Here's my setup.

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Skeeter McSkeet · May 29, 2018

If it gets you on the water, then that’s all that matters. Fish don’t care what kind of gear you got. you know they say it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian. I floated an Aruba 10 for a good while before I saved some cash and made up my mind on what I wanted.

I guess I could post a couple pics too!

This was the day of the first maiden voyage in the first yak I purchased. Months of research later..
nickname: slimer. Status: upgraded

Here’s the next one I bought so my fiancé could also float with me, well that was my excuse at least, it worked! I initially wanted this model, but they were sold out until who knew when, so slimer was the next model on my radar.
Nickname:the battleship. Status: still in use weekly

So then I got real bad off...and wanted to buy a kayak for every type of water I float. I had my big river boat, skinny water boat, needed a lake boat.

Next excuse: We have lots of good friends who could come along with us, it worked too!
Nickname:swamp thing. Status:out of my life

Things I learned from this yak: rapids will fill it up quick! Floatbags are a must.

Sold swamp thing after a month or so, just don’t fish lakes enough, and it wasn’t too great on a lot of the rivers I fish. If we went out, I would use it bc I felt safer with everyone else in a more qualified river runner. Got a steal of a deal on it used locally, made a couple bucks off it, decided I needed a fly fishing yak.

Found an end of the year model closeout sale, funny how these things are like vehicles. This one made it out 4-5 times before I decided the first two I bought were the best 2 for me. Literally the only picture I have if it.
Nickname:the barge. status:sold

Was back down to one yak, fiancé liked slimer the best, so I got a newer model of it. I’m done buying them lol. Goes to show the months of research I initially did, was in fact correct, as the first two are the ones I’m still sticking with.
Nickname:the captain. Status:under fiancé’s control

Couple fish pics via kayak, because when do fishing threads not turn into pages of fish pics.

Hooksets are free...

bndawgs · May 31, 2018

Dick's was having a pretty decent sale on kayaks and canoes for memorial day and i really wanted a hook 105 model. Decent price at $450, but couldn't swing it with the wife. I'll eventually get a kayak at some point, but right now with little ones, canoes are definitely a better option. I mainly hit the shenandoah and i'm waiting for a few weeks with no rain to try out my new canoe. It's just my luck that i get a new canoe and then can't use it for weeks. lol

Skeeter McSkeet · May 31, 2018

I usually fish the New River in WV and VA. Did a 5 mile float in just over an hour last weekend, that section usually takes me a good 5-6 hours. they’ve been raging here for months it seems like. All the Eddys are gone, shoals are washed out into wave trains, and the tree tops make up the river bank right now, I’ve got the fever bad and can’t cure it!

You could look into a tandem kayak, but that’ll only seat two of you. I love a good canoe trip too though, it’s what I first floated in Boy Scouts many moons ago.

Hooksets are free...

bndawgs · June 1, 2018

Damn, $380 now with 20% off sale going on.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/perception-hook-105-angler-kayak-15ptnuhknglr105xxpsk/15ptnuhknglr105xxpsk

i think i'm going to have to pull the trigger at $380. Seems like a pretty good kayak for that price

Skeeter McSkeet · June 1, 2018

Damn, $380 now with 20% off sale going on.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/perception-hook-105-angler-kayak-15ptnuhknglr105xxpsk/15ptnuhknglr105xxpsk

i think i'm going to have to pull the trigger at $380. Seems like a pretty good kayak for that price

Perception has been stepping their game up the last couple years and started putting out some nice yaks!

Hooksets are free...

bndawgs · June 1, 2018

Yeah, they have. This one is a Dick's exclusive, but now I'm just wondering if i really need both a kayak and a solo canoe?

Does a kayak get me anything I'd be missing with a canoe?

Skeeter McSkeet · June 1, 2018

A sit on top kayak will self drain through scuppers located throughout the deck. You won’t ever fill one of them up with water. A sit inside kayak won’t give you anything but maybe a little more maneuverability than a canoe would. This is all referencing fishing kayaks. Obviously a whitewater kayak will be a whole other discussion lol.

Hooksets are free...

kstruckcountry · August 10, 2018

I fish from an Ascend 12T. The storage and nice seat drew me to it. It handles bigger waves on the lake easily.

I would feel comfortable taking it through a Class 2+, and maybe a 3 after another season with it. It is much more stable than "recreational" kayaks I've paddled.

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