Need Some Help With Kayaks

[Fisher_C]

I have never ridden in a kayak before but i have canoed quite a bit. I dont know anything about kayaks so i was looking for some advice on this kayak. I was looking for a boat, but the wife says no right now so i guess i have to settle for something like this. Just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with this kayak and if they could tell me whether its a good price or not. Also how big of a lake/ pond could i use this in?  Thanks and any advice would be great.

 

Its a Pelican 120 getaway kayak..its used and there asking 350 for it. Here is a picture

 

 

[Darren.]

That's a Sit Inside, I personally rather fish from a Sit On Top. Some don't mind. Do you have a Big-Box retailer around you like BJ's or Costco, or Sam's?

 

I picked up a brand new Pelican SoT fishing yak for $350 at BJ's. It was my first yak. I upgraded within the first year to a Native Ultimate 12 which is a canoe/kayak hybrid (best of both worlds, IMO).

 

The retail on that's about $599, I think. The paddle is pretty much junk, IMO. After using our Pelican a couple times,  I went out and bought new paddles right away. Theirs are very heavy and very tiring to use.

 

As for size of lake, river, that's really up to your comfort level. It will work for fishing, altho it may be a little cramped storage-wise.

 

That you have canoe experience will help you transition, rather easily, to kayaking. It isn't that difficult once you get the hang of things.

[HeavyDluxe]

Look in your phone book and see if there is a kayak store near you... Most of the kayak shops are trying to blow out 2012 models now that 2013 is in full swing (and the season is almost upon us).  The benefit there, too, is that you might be able to paddle a boat and see what you like.

 

My sense is that price probably isn't too awful, but you can probably get a nicer boat for not a lot more investment.

 

I'll echo what has been said above... For me, personally, a sit-on-top kayak is a much more comfortable fishing platform.  

[flyfisher]

I also prefer either a SOT or a hybrid style boat myself. I would also take a hard look at the native redfish line of boats. They are a few hundred more than that boat and it would be brand new. My first kayak was a redfish 12 and I loved that boat. One of my buddies bought it from me and it is still going strong.

Also look for used boats on Craigslist or other bulletin boards a lot of people unload boats this time of year.

[bassinjody39]

Thats the same kayak that i own it is my first one im no expert but its very stable  in the the water i got mine on sale at dicks for$ 200 for the money its good.

[Marty]

 Also how big of a lake/ pond could i use this in?

 

Any size, it's a matter of where. Obviously you don't want to be in the middle of a large body of water where huge waves could kick in at any time, but big waters have protected areas plus you can go out from a lee shore. I've seen canoes and kayaks on Lake Ontario, but not far out from shore.

 

I regularly take my canoe out on a 10,000-acre lake, but I'm at the extreme south end in weeds and can go there anytime except when there's a big wind out of the north.

 

The fact that you have canoe experience should make it easier on deciding when and where to go.

[Jig Meister]

You are no so limited to where you want to go, a lot of people kayak fish in the ocean, and out pretty far. It is all in what you feel comfortable doing.

 

I personally would look for a used, rigged sit on top kayak from CL

[Fisher_C]

Thanks for the advice everyone what is a good rigged fishing kayak?

[Darren.]

Thanks for the advice everyone what is a good rigged fishing kayak?

 

Well, if I may be so bold, you may NOT want a rigged fishing kayak. Here's why. Some yaks are rigged by companies who talked to a bunch of fishermen and took the aggregate vote as to where stuff should be placed (rod holders, etc.).

 

You may not fit that aggregate. I.e., you may say, "no, I prefer to put my rods over here".

 

So that said, if you find a suitable kayak, rig it up for fishing after you've fished in it for a while. Where would YOU like things to be? Where do you find yourself wishing the rod holder was? Stuff like that.

 

On my current yak, the Native Ultimate 12, I use a milk crate to which I've attached several pieces of cut grey PVC for rod holders. The way I want them.

 

So you can save a few coins by buying a NON-fishing kayak and rigging it on your own.

 

Does that make sense? Hey, if that doesn't jazz you up, then by all means, get one that is pre-rigged for fishing. Some folks love 'em!

 

In that case, may I recommend the Moken series of kayaks. They are solid, have a built-in rear wheel for carting the yak to and from. If your budget is under a grand, even under $500, then you can certainly find something used on the web, or at a kayak store. I bought mine at a yak store and the folks there were awesome. They didn't try to squeeze me into something THEY wanted to sell, rather they sold me what I wanted.

[Packard]

Dick's Sporting Goods carries a good variety of fishing kayaks. You can get a Perception Pescador 10 for $450.

[alexstep88]

My first kayak was a 12' pelican. Don't know if it is the same model, but it looks the same. I don't want to bash pelican, but I can't express how much I disliked this kayak. I got it really cheap so I could get on the water, which is about all it was good for. It tracks very badly. Basically impossible to paddle straight. I thought I was a horrible paddler, but that wasn't the case when I tried other yaks. The seat is also very poor

As far as price goes, I paid $350 for it new and sold it on Craigslist last year for $250 with an aluminum paddle.

Since you're fishing from it, consider a sit on top. Trying to fish in a sit in was a complete headache for me. Also, consider one you could stand in. Even if you don't care about fishing while standing, your time will be more enjoyable if you can get away from a seated position every now and then.

Let me know if you have any questions.