blackmax135 Posted October 10, 2014 Posted October 10, 2014 I'm really thinking about investing in a kayak but I am concerned about the fish ability in strong current. I normally fish in the river witch has a very strong current. I also like to fish in the marshes here in SC and don't know how the control is on a kayak. The tides going in and out can be strong. Would a kayak be a good investment with this type of fishing Quote
Super User Darren. Posted October 10, 2014 Super User Posted October 10, 2014 How much are you wanting to spend? You can go straight kayak (paddling) or peddle kayak like the Hobie Outback, Pro Angler ($$$), or you can take most any kayak and mod it with a trolling motor (what I did). For rivers, Jackson makes the Coosa which is designed for river bassing. I have a Native Ultimate, which some use on rivers, and in salt water. But I don't. I mostly stick to smaller waters, reservoirs. Feel Free makes a new boat called the Lure, they also have the Moken both of which have a wheel-in-the-keel allowing for easier mobility getting to and from places. Native and Wilderness Systems make great yaks. Others will chime in here. You can, and should if you have the opportunity, go to a kayak store near you and talk with the folks there. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted October 10, 2014 Super User Posted October 10, 2014 How stiff of current are we talking and how deep of a river? I have a hybrid boat like Darren and i love it and have used it in the salt but nothing with any type of heavy current. I used to have a coosa and that boat performed very well in current. Honestly though, boat positioning in heavy wind and/or current are probably the two hardest things to manage in a kayak unless you have a pedal drive or trolling motor set up. Quote
blackmax135 Posted October 10, 2014 Author Posted October 10, 2014 My bass boat has trouble staying in place with the trolling motor. But Its a little to small for my boat and wore out I believe. Ive always been interested in kayaks but I don't want invest if I can't enjoy my fishing because of struggling with current. How stiff of current are we talking and how deep of a river? I have a hybrid boat like Darren and i love it and have used it in the salt but nothing with any type of heavy current. I used to have a coosa and that boat performed very well in current. Honestly though, boat positioning in heavy wind and/or current are probably the two hardest things to manage in a kayak unless you have a pedal drive or trolling motor set up. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted October 10, 2014 Super User Posted October 10, 2014 you can do it but it will take some practice and learning to really read the river and use the eddies and other current breaks to your advantage. 1 Quote
LAkayakbass Posted October 10, 2014 Posted October 10, 2014 Darren has the solution nailed, of course I'm bias, but either in a current or wind the Hobie Mirage line of kayaks are great. I don't have much experience in freshwater (river) currents, but have experienced currents while inshore saltwater fishing (specks, reds, flounder). Also, nosing into the wind and lightly pumping the Mirage drive to stay in position is a good tactic and you can do it hands free. The only drawback to the Hobie line is the $$. Any kayak choice you make will be good, it is a great way to fish...enjoy!! Quote
Super User buzzed bait Posted October 10, 2014 Super User Posted October 10, 2014 i would try to borrow one from a friend or demo from a dealer before you pull the trigger. just that way you can make sure you would enjoy it before diving right in... i absolutely love fishing from my kayak Quote
Hookn1 Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 The best thing hands down is to demo yaks, and I mean all of them...not just the cool ones. I am a die hard hobie guy, but I see advantages and disadvantages to all of the. As far as current goes, I have fished several years in the Everglades with 4-8' tidal ranges twice a day and haven't had any problems. Although I would never suggest going up current of an 8' tidal range....it's VERY slow going...been there..it's not fun. I will say pedaling is the way to go. Not paddling, unless your main source us shallow streets, then the before mentioned Cusa by Jackson is a heck of a kayak. I have lots of stories and some videos in current that you can see at www.hookn1.blogspot.com or at www.fincrazy.net If you have any questions around any lines, pros and cons I am sure we will all help you out, but even as a Hobie team member, I can't stress the need to demo demo demo, before you buy. Good luck.. Quote
MassBass Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 I have used my sevylor k5 inflatable in the river. First of all you need to know the river and know where there is swift current and where it is more slack. When paddling upriver I try to stay near shore or the shoal at my spot. This is where the current is lesser. I would not kayak when the river is high, the best time is low water low flow. If you get into the swift currents just muscle through it. Stopping to cast is going to set you back aways, so plan when you are going to cast and for how long. I only kayaked the river 5 times this fall, im bringing home my kayak and calling it a season today. Quote
carlm01 Posted October 11, 2014 Posted October 11, 2014 Have you considered a inflatable pontoon boat ? I have a seaeagle 285 fpb and it's really versatile I use it on lakes ,ponds and rivers , I have a 40lb MK also have an anchor ,Just another option... Best of luck .... Quote
BassinCoalMiner Posted October 12, 2014 Posted October 12, 2014 i have a trophey beach kayak. its an angler edition. i paid 150 for it used and have caught a hundred bass out of it. mine is one that u have to paddle. Quote
jaysen Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 i would not use a kayak for rivers unless you mount a trolling motor. in the ocean with the tides moving, you can stay along the shore or mangroves to avoid areas of high current. you can look into a kayak anchor as well. Quote
Jay Ell Gee Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 The best thing hands down is to demo yaks, and I mean all of them...not just the cool ones. I am a die hard hobie guy, but I see advantages and disadvantages to all of the. As far as current goes, I have fished several years in the Everglades with 4-8' tidal ranges twice a day and haven't had any problems. Although I would never suggest going up current of an 8' tidal range....it's VERY slow going...been there..it's not fun. I will say pedaling is the way to go. Not paddling, unless your main source us shallow streets, then the before mentioned Cusa by Jackson is a heck of a kayak. I have lots of stories and some videos in current that you can see at www.hookn1.blogspot.com or at www.fincrazy.net If you have any questions around any lines, pros and cons I am sure we will all help you out, but even as a Hobie team member, I can't stress the need to demo demo demo, before you buy. Good luck.. Hey... I know you! Neat to see a BCKFC guy around here. Quote
kikstand454 Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Do not buy a kayak and then buy a trolling motor for it. IMO that defeats the entire purpose of a kayak to begin with. If your going to go that route- might as well get a gheenoe and be done with it. Or better yet. .. spend that money on a 101# trolling motor and batteries for your existing bass boat. Demo- ing a kayak in the waters you plan to use it is really the only way to answer this. Find a local kayak forum for your area and ask them about the water you plan to fish. See if any others do it or if they consider it a bad idea. Also see if anyone can take you out on a float trip with one of their spares. If the water you're looking to fish is as swift as you make it out to be. ....you don't want to go out there alone anyway- espicially being a novice. Quote
200racing Posted October 15, 2014 Posted October 15, 2014 if have buddy so you can do floats trips and not have to paddle upstream in it, fishing in current is a lot of fun. in current i usually pick a bank, get side ways, and start casting to targets as they come. matching the time a certain lure takes with current speed. Quote
SHaugh Posted October 15, 2014 Posted October 15, 2014 How do you guys fish in fast current? Do you put in upstream and take out downstream or fight your way against current ? In my local river I have to struggle even with a trolling motor to get upstream, and it's always an overriding issue unless I anchor. I find this takes a significant amount of the "relaxation factor" out of my fishing. Like others have suggested I'd try one out in the area you will fish and see how well you can manage the current first. You'll also get a better idea what the mechanics would be for fishing, anchoring etc.... There is a definite point where current can become "unmanageable" unless you are floating to a pickup point. Quote
200racing Posted October 15, 2014 Posted October 15, 2014 How do you guys fish in fast current? Do you put in upstream and take out downstream or fight your way against current ? In my local river I have to struggle even with a trolling motor to get upstream, and it's always an overriding issue unless I anchor. I find this takes a significant amount of the "relaxation factor" out of my fishing. Like others have suggested I'd try one out in the area you will fish and see how well you can manage the current first. You'll also get a better idea what the mechanics would be for fishing, anchoring etc.... There is a definite point where current can become "unmanageable" unless you are floating to a pickup point. yep. two vehicles that can haul our yaks. we will normally float as far as 9 miles in a trip.we did 15 once by accident and we dead by the end. we like to pick routes with fun shoals and rapids as well. have some adventure besides just fishing. here is some footage of our float down the coosa river saturday. 2 Quote
blackmax135 Posted October 18, 2014 Author Posted October 18, 2014 How much are you wanting to spend? You can go straight kayak (paddling) or peddle kayak like the Hobie Outback, Pro Angler ($$$), or you can take most any kayak and mod it with a trolling motor (what I did). For rivers, Jackson makes the Coosa which is designed for river bassing. I have a Native Ultimate, which some use on rivers, and in salt water. But I don't. I mostly stick to smaller waters, reservoirs. Feel Free makes a new boat called the Lure, they also have the Moken both of which have a wheel-in-the-keel allowing for easier mobility getting to and from places. Native and Wilderness Systems make great yaks. Others will chime in here. You can, and should if you have the opportunity, go to a kayak store near you and talk with the folks there. Im not looking to spend much. Around 500 at the most. Do you know of anywhere to find used kayaks or cheap new ones? I don't have very much spending money these days Quote
carlm01 Posted October 18, 2014 Posted October 18, 2014 You can go to your local C/L online I know up in MA there's always a bunch of kayaks for sale . You can usually get a good deal .... Quote
blackmax135 Posted October 18, 2014 Author Posted October 18, 2014 I don't know of anyone were I live that even fishes out of kayaks or even has a kayak I've never even seen a kayak in the water around here (I know people do but I never see them). I really don't know were they would demo one either. Quote
blackmax135 Posted October 18, 2014 Author Posted October 18, 2014 You can go to your local C/L online I know up in MA there's always a bunch of kayaks for sale . You can usually get a good deal .... C/L? Quote
blackmax135 Posted October 18, 2014 Author Posted October 18, 2014 Thanks guys!! I think im gonna find a pontoon boat like yours I really like that Quote
carlm01 Posted October 18, 2014 Posted October 18, 2014 Seaeagle.com It's the 285 fpb pro... Good luck ,If you have any questions just shoot me an e-mail Quote
SHaugh Posted October 18, 2014 Posted October 18, 2014 You can build your own for less than $300 from easy to get materials. If you're interested I'd be happy to show you how. Quote
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