Well I sold my boat a while back just because I didn't use it enough. Catfishing out here is mostly done from shore. But sometimes you can't catch bait from shore. So I was looking at buying a jetski and putting some rod holders and all that stuff but I don't know if I want to drop $2000 plus on one to possibly not use it. So I was thinking of buying a kayak. To me this is very practical. I can cruise the whole lake in it, run my baits out and it won't cost me a penny on gas. Put I was just wondering if any of y'all have any experience fishing out of one and what type if set ups y'all use
Quote from: Topshot on February 16, 2014, 06:37:51 PM
Well I sold my boat a while back just because I didn't use it enough. Catfishing out here is mostly done from shore. But sometimes you can't catch bait from shore. So I was looking at buying a jetski and putting some rod holders and all that stuff but I don't know if I want to drop $2000 plus on one to possibly not use it. So I was thinking of buying a kayak. To me this is very practical. I can cruise the whole lake in it, run my baits out and it won't cost me a penny on gas. Put I was just wondering if any of y'all have any experience fishing out of one and what type if set ups y'all use
There are some videos by Kau Grown. I don't know if you can get enough information for a set-up from the videos but if you PM him and ask him to post some in your thread we'd all be interested in how he sets up. Dominick
Kayak fishing is an established art. Their are several forums that discuss all aspects, and their are a bewildering number of aspects, of kayak fishing. I'm purely guessing you are looking into sit on top boats and not something like a Greenland style. The good thing for you is, unless your lake is named Superior or something close in size to that, any sit on top kayak will do for lake fishing. You can run down to your local Wally World and buy what they have got and not only can you fish it, but somebody already HAS fished it and has put a detailed rigging thread on the internet. I have 2 of those hulls on my front lawn right now so the girls can get started.
As for specifics, I think a PVC rod rack would work for what you want and a basket in the hold for stuff. Are you trying to keep bait alive? If so then you may need more of a boat just to accommodate the tank. Good luck, I'm having lots of fun and I'm just getting started.
Ron
Topshot,
Pete knows several kayaker's, ask him to put you in touch. As a matter of fact, some of the pictures of big fish on his walls are from a guy that kayaks PV (Ive met and spoke with him). Just for the heck of it, check out Ketas/Lee's post on pontoon. Its more than you want to pay but would be perfect for a lake, motorized and NO GAS. Also check out Extreme Kayaking on youtube, they endorse the Ocean Kayak brand. Here's a video from one of my favorite guys on youtube (he cracks me up) and he's interviewing a guy with a well thought out Hobie kayak:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiiuJ7p28A4
Next time you see Pete, tell him Leo say hi,
Leo
Check out this forum..
http://forum.aquahunters.com/
Lots of good information in best fishing Yaks and ideas on how to set em up.
Rob fishes out of an Ocean Kayak prowler. I have a 14' Trident. Probably overkill for your application, but it is a Cadillac! ;)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/DSCN1740_zpsae4afb30.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/Thule4_zps59a1e5fd.jpg)
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/Thule3_zps1fcaa22b.jpg)
You need a milk crate setup for your rods. Its the cheapest way to go. This Kingfisher has no rod holders, hence the crate.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/JeromesKayak_zpsed75dcd1.jpg)
I stole this pic off aqua hunters. Rob has his yak tricked out. Depth finder, go pro cameras, the Prowler is very nice.
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/BUMP15_zpsf6bd74d4.jpg)
Hey Daron, is that your silverado? ... I gotta ask..
What's that in the garage behind it?
looks like one of those 6x6 amphibians...
Yea, that's my Truck. That's a Hummer kit car in the garage.
hahaha... my second guess was some kind of mini hummer, looks too narrow to be the real mcoy
Well, if that kayak is the Cadillac of fishing kayaks, this must be the Aston Martin, or perhaps even the Bugatti Veyron.....and you want to get big, fast fish this is the one ot get. One owner from Cape Town landed a 185kgs (375lbs) Black Marlin from his - it towed him 13kms (9 miles) with his feet over the side mind! It was taken on 30lb stand up gear because you cannot put more than about 12lbs of pressure on a fish from a kayak that isn't anchored. The kayak moves through the water too easily.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/simoneverett/CRW_5652.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/simoneverett/media/CRW_5652.jpg.html)
12 miles off the coast of Cornwall, after blue sharks with the charter boats! Same model of kayak...do you know what it is yet? (as Rolf Harris would say!)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/simoneverett/Sharking011.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/simoneverett/media/Sharking011.jpg.html)
We have had conger, anchored at the edge of a tide race, at night. Nothing huge, about 50lbs, but the picture is deceiving - the measurements were ratified and accepted as entry to the Conger Club.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/simoneverett/IMGP0318-3.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/simoneverett/media/IMGP0318-3.jpg.html)
Common skate around the 180lb mark. Force 5 and 2 knots of tide in 380ft of water, anchored.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/simoneverett/skate.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/simoneverett/media/skate.jpg.html)
Just a few - there are several of these kayaks in Florida and around the New York area chasing stripers, anyone you know?
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/simoneverett/Fishing/Carl-DiNardoStriper-1_zpsbcc55e0f.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/simoneverett/media/Fishing/Carl-DiNardoStriper-1_zpsbcc55e0f.jpg.html)
If you want a PERFORMANCE kayak, look at the Dorado and forget the price tag, because 10 years down the line it doesn't matter anymore. Mine is well used and was built in 2005. I have been kayak fishing since 1973, when I built my first sea kayak for fishing. It is not new - the northern peoples have been using them for hundreds of years!
Quote from: erikpowell on February 17, 2014, 02:01:46 AM
hahaha... my second guess was some kind of mini hummer, looks too narrow to be the real mcoy
Its footprint is 7'9" wheel to wheel. Nothing mini about it.
Its the same size as an H1. 400 hp small block.
IMO, the Ocean Kayak line are the best built for the money. That Dorado is $2400 for the cheapest model.
My Trident was less than $900 and is better than most.
For Lake fishing Chris, A wal mart yak should do you fine.
Hey Chris,
Bet you werent expecting all of this. ;D ;D
Leo
Did expect that big of a response!! I guess kayak fishing is bigger then I thought. I got a good deal on a 12'2 emotion mojo. Looks perfect for what I need it for. Those kayak fishing site are loaded with lots of info. Already got some good ideas for storage(milk crate seems really popular). And got some outrigger ideas and livewell. Should be pretty sweet by the time I'm done with it.
Chris,
Pay careful attention to the shape of your livewell storage.
Leo
Quote from: LTM on February 18, 2014, 05:41:25 AM
Chris,
Pay careful attention to the shape of your livewell storage.
Leo
Any livewell I've ever made has either been round or oval shaped. I learned somewhere that for some reason the fish tend to die when in a livewell with corners. It was weird but completely true
Your yak will be perfect.
I have heard everything from the fish get stuck into the corners to the cavitation doesn't allow the air to oxygenate correctly. I'd imagine their is a truth to most of it but all I know is corners kill bait almost as fast as clogging the sea water intake.
Ron
It's also important to pay attention to the weight rating on a kayak you're selecting. Don't want to go too lightweight.
You have to consider not only YOUR weight, but the additional weight of ALL your gear....AND conditions you'll be paddling in.... AND
the weight of whatever catch you bring in.... it all adds up and before you know it your boat becomes swampy.
I have wilderness system Tarpon 160 and a 140. The 140 is built for a 165-180lb person, the 160 for up to 220lbs.
I only paddle the 14' if I feel like sitting with a wet butt all day even though it handles deep mangrove better.
By the time I'm all rigged up for a day of fishing in the 160, I'm lucky if I have a 30lb window for my catch without swamping the cockpit and sitting in 2 inches of water!
Man, I watch Rob's videos and I must say, those Predators can handle some weight!
If i were to throw a 50lb tuna over my lap, I'd need some more volume in my kayak! ;D
Erik,
I think the awnser to that issue is outriggers!!
Ron
My Trident can hold over 400lbs! :o
No Swamp butt for me. ;D
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/Trident_zps07749c2a.jpg)
I love my Old Town Caspian..first cousin to the OK Scrambler. It's frequently breezy here on my lake in TX and these yaks are known for there stability. I mostly fly fish out of it. One of my fellow yakers has and Emotion and we all like it and so will you. I bet the blue water guys are chuckling right now and I'm jealous of some of the pictures posted.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on February 18, 2014, 08:38:12 PM
My Trident can hold over 400lbs! :o
No Swamp butt for me. ;D
(http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag93/darondyer/Trident_zps07749c2a.jpg)
Noice! Thats what I'm talking about...
and I hear ya Ron, outriggers would be a solid addition especially for offshore and I've considered that island style, but stability isn't really an issue for me, i've been kayaking half of my life. For me it's more about volume and flotation... But, add a sail like a hobie... then an outrigger almost becomes a must... for most people.
I like the look of Darons Trident, and Robs Prowler...lots of volume & freeboard above the waterline....
I'm not sneezin at my own ride though ;D
But in the end nothing beats sheer volume (and a good hull shape) especially if you're targeting the big ones & or heading outside the reef for open water.
Here's a few shots of a recent drive-to spot I can share to illustrate...though I'd be embarrassed to show the meager catch pics ;D
from here I could paddle a mile or two further out & be out in the open channel 1000m deep.
But i don't consider my hatches waterproof enough to be out there. I know from experience ;)
Here we start in the river about ½ mile up from the river mouth.
Both Wilderness Systems Tarpons orange is a 160i, blue a 140.
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0424_zps1d5f33cb.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0424_zps1d5f33cb.jpg.html)
Head out into the river and turn right just after the mudflat.
Notice I'm sitting pretty low ....I even left behind the gaff,club,net,and trolling rod... 6pack is on ice though ;D
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0426_zpsdcd93d24.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0426_zpsdcd93d24.jpg.html)
That's Yanuca island behind me out past the river mouth...it's 13miles away across the channel.
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0428_zps9560bb27.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0428_zps9560bb27.jpg.html)
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0437_zps4f509e3b.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0437_zps4f509e3b.jpg.html)
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0443_zpsb053a805.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0443_zpsb053a805.jpg.html)
The blue 140 is wider, if ur good you stand up in it & cast, has more storage, doesn't track as well, BUT has a beer holder built in...
I'm just a little overweight for it at 190-200lb, unless I plug the scuppers..then I get by sorta dry butt
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0444_zps3c53f118.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0444_zps3c53f118.jpg.html)
On the river left bank at the mouth... drops off to about 30 ft just after you step in.
There's big bullsharks, huge GT's, and bigass mangrove jacks swimming in and out of this river...
Usually test the waters with lighter gear, but have a 50lb rig on board just in case.. but not today ;D
(http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/q680/fijigreen69/IMGP0445_zpsec7b6568.jpg) (http://s1353.photobucket.com/user/fijigreen69/media/IMGP0445_zpsec7b6568.jpg.html)
There ya go.... pimp my ride.. ;D
Cheers boyz
Nice pics Eric!
Looking Good Bro! You need an Ocean Yak, then you could bring at least a case! ;D