Why are kayaks a thing?

[billmac]

Let me clarify.  Obviously you can fish from anything that floats.  But kayak fishing seems to be a "thing" now, in a way that canoe fishing doesn't seem to be.  I have kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and now a bassboat.  I think for me I would much rather fish from a canoe than a kayak, but that's fine if someone disagrees.  I'm just wondering why there seems to be an emphasis on kayaks.

[Allen Der]

Kayaks are generally shorter, more stable and easier to paddle for one person.  I have a hybrid kayak which is essentially a one person canoe

[Yakalong]

I have a boat and a kayak. Both have there places when to be used. However, there is something about catching fish from the yak. I love it. 

[billmac]

Has anyone told you that you look just like Al Lindner?

 

[billmac]

I like my kayak but I like being higher up when I'm fishing.  I've been known to stand in my canoe (don't try this at home kids).

[Darren.]

Hmmm. I, too, have a hybrid. I came from a 15, or was it 16' Grumman

aluminum canoe. I MUCH prefer my Native Ultimate 12, exception being

I cannot take another person or two with me.

 

My hybrid is much more stable. I made pontoons for the canoe, which 

definitely helped. But I just prefer the kayak.

[Dens228]

A kayak, especially a SOT made for fishing, is much more stable than a canoe. Plus the way they are made now are extremely able to rig up in various configurations. 

 

I'd love to have a boat, and may get one in the near future but absolutely love fishing out of my kayak.  Including the part where 5-10 minutes after pulling into the parking lot I'm on the water.

[TOXIC]

Easy answer:  A way to get out on the water in a craft that can be customized for fishing that doesn't cost you 30k or more.  I'm 6 foot 300lbs and have fished from a Kayak........I have a 21 foot boat with a 250hp outboard.  My preference is the 21 footer and all of the associated costs that go with it.  There's a long list of pros and cons with a yak.  To each his own, getting on the water is the important thing.  

[Shane Y]

I love my kayak. I have buddies with boats (nice ones) and really enjoy fishing with them....but I much prefer going out in my bonafide ss127 kayak. Especially when my wife is with me in hers. I like the way that it  forces you to slow down and really take it all in. Plus I know of a few places that most boats cant get to that holds some big ones. The main thing for me though is just enjoying time on the water. When me and the wife get out enjoying life in our kayaks its like nothing else exists. 

[kenmitch]

I fish out of a fully rigged Slayer 10 propel and see no real advantage a fully rigged bass boat has over me other than they can get there faster. I guess the only other advantage the boat has is being able to fish in nastier weather if one chooses. Moving faster in the water doesn't mean you'll catch more fish in the end.

 

I very seldom stand in my kayak, but when I do it's godlike as all I can see is the water. I prefer to just sit and put around while enjoying my time on the water. 

 

 

 

 

 

[J Francho]

I had a canoe years ago, and it worked well, but compared to fishing out of a rigged up, fishing kayak, it's no contest.  The wind doewsn't blow you around as much, better storage, can stand easily in certain models, easier to rig electronics, less fuss to transport.  A canoe is still fun to take out for a "nature paddle," but not for fishing. 

[Brad Reid]

I have both: two kayaks and one canoe. But, while I fish out of different kayaks, there is only one canoe for me as regards fishing. While a lot of people talk about standing and fishing from kayaks, few do. Even then, for extreme ease, it is relegated to just a few bigger and wider kayaks like the Jackson Big Rig, the Hobie PA 14. But, neither of these are even close to as stable as my Meyers Sportspal S-15, not even close. As a matter of fact, two men can stand simultaneously in my canoe at the same time. I often paddle standing going out for over a mile, then back standing, too. I sit to rest or re-tie or eat lunch.

 

Here's the deal, I think. Kayaks for fishing have rapidly moved toward pedaling over paddling. And, now they are rapidly moving toward various battery power sources. And, most kayaks generally handle better in wind than most canoes. And, kayaks are just generally deemed sexier than canoes.

 

But, for camping with lots of gear, tandem fishing with partners/kids, lighter weight/portaging, standing ability, small outboard motors and/or trolling motors, the skinniest possible water coverage, no kayak in my book comes even remotely close to an S-13 or an S-14 Sportspal. Made of aircraft quality aluminum, they'll last a life time.

 

Here is the S-13.  Brad

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Wind at 10 mph or above, kayak. Wind below 10, canoe. I can put way more stuff in wide open space in my canoe. And I can walk around and get to it, mine is an alumacraft and easy to stand it. I don’t like having to reach back behind me to get tackle in a kayak but I would still choose it on a windy day. I like Sit on top kayak for summer and cockpit kayak for winter . I maybe just maybe have too many boats??

[NYWayfarer]

I have both a canoe and a kayak. I prefer the kayak. The kayak is much more stable, easier to maneuver, faster and everything I store in it is easy to reach.

[JLBBass]

34 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I had a canoe years ago, and it worked well, but compared to fishing out of a rigged up, fishing kayak, it's no contest.  The wind doewsn't blow you around as much, better storage, can stand easily in certain models, easier to rig electronics, less fuss to transport.  A canoe is still fun to take out for a "nature paddle," but not for fishing. 

^^^THAT^^^

Love my Yak!

[J Francho]

11 minutes ago, Brad Reid said:

While a lot of people talk about standing and fishing from kayaks, few do.

Pretty much everyone that kayak fishes, stands.  That's provided they have a boat made for standing.

[Shane Y]

I'm 6'1 and over 200 pounds. I stand in my ss127 kayak very comfortably.  Even on pretty rough waters

[Choporoz]

What was the question?  Why a kayak over a canoe?

I've fished from canoes only a half dozen times - and always rented boats....so, I haven't any experience with better equipped, more stable canoes.  That said, my preference for kayaks is strong:

-Much more stable (to me)

-I generally fish alone -- handling a canoe on the water alone, for me, was difficult at best....terrible, if windy

-As challenging as car-topping a heavy kayak can be, I don't think I could handle even a 'light canoe' any better. 

 --- mostly the second point -- first couple times I rented a canoe to fish for bass, I ran into significant windy afternoons and had an extremely difficult time just transiting, never mind, fishing

[kenmitch]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

Pretty much everyone that kayak fishes, stands.  That's provided they have a boat made for standing

I can stand in mine, but choose not to. My kayak gets pulled around too easily by a fiesty bass and often have to back peddle to keep control. First reaction for me when a bass strikes is to back peddle....Unless I'm in open water in a rare occasion.

[J Francho]

I've had pike do that in creeks.  I'm more an open water bass angler, so not as much an issue.

There's always this move:

 

[TOXIC]

I fish the Potomac.  It can be 3 miles wide at some points.  In a casual day of fishing I may travel 15-20-30 miles hitting spots/creeks, etc.  Even on a calm day the river can be testy with current, boat traffic and wind.  Most Kayak fishermen launch where they are going to fish and stay fairly close to that area all day.  I could never cover the water I fish in a Kayak.  I have nothing against a Yak, it just doesn't fit my style of fishing.  I will admit there is a certain amount of pleasure from running down the river, kind of like riding a motorcycle, could you get there on a skateboard?  Sure.  Different strokes for different folks.  

[kenmitch]

44 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Most Kayak fishermen launch where they are going to fish and stay fairly close to that area all day

 

I guess it depends on the waters being fished. Last week when I caught my 7 lb'r my brother asked me how far from the ramp it was. Google maps said a little over 1.5 miles as the crow flies. I usually do 5-6 miles per outing when I'm just fishing. 

 

If I'm sonar logging the lake even more. I'm probably up to 800 acres or so of Lake Perris. Maps are outdated in areas of the lake I fish. Water level was down for a decade and the lakes terrain was altered to enhance fish habitat during the last year of dam reinforcement.

[J Francho]

I cover about 5 or 6 miles, and fish as I go.  Toxic is right, running fast in a boat is fun.  Even in the boat, the farthest I ran was around 10 miles tops.  Gas is too expensive, and mine guzzles it.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Choporoz said:

What was the question?  Why a kayak over a canoe?

I've fished from canoes only a half dozen times - and always rented boats....so, I haven't any experience with better equipped, more stable canoes.  That said, my preference for kayaks is strong:

-Much more stable (to me)

-I generally fish alone -- handling a canoe on the water alone, for me, was difficult at best....terrible, if windy

-As challenging as car-topping a heavy kayak can be, I don't think I could handle even a 'light canoe' any better. 

 --- mostly the second point -- first couple times I rented a canoe to fish for bass, I ran into significant windy afternoons and had an extremely difficult time just transiting, never mind, fishing

Sounds like you won't need this tip anymore but when canoe fishing solo, don't sit in the back seat. The front seat is way closer to the middle and will balance it out waaaay better. I stand up in mine and push pole upstream through some unbelievably shallow shoals. All the weight is on the push pole and allows crazy shallow draft. As for the car topping, all fishermen should drive a pickup truck! Or any red blooded american man for that reason (as I type this from my work van hahaha). I can pick up my girlfriend's sit on top kayak and literally throw it into the bed of my truck. One ratchet strap or truckers hitch in a rope and off to the river !!!

[Fishing Rhino]

7 hours ago, kenmitch said:

I fish out of a fully rigged Slayer 10 propel and see no real advantage a fully rigged bass boat has over me other than they can get there faster. I guess the only other advantage the boat has is being able to fish in nastier weather if one chooses. Moving faster in the water doesn't mean you'll catch more fish in the end.

 

I very seldom stand in my kayak, but when I do it's godlike as all I can see is the water. I prefer to just sit and put around while enjoying my time on the water. 

 

 

 

 

 

I second the motion.  I have a square stern canoe with a trolling motor, and a Z-8 Nitro.  I catch more fish out of the canoe, but that is because I have two great fishing holes within five minutes of my door that I would not, even if I couid get on them with the Nitro.

 

It's not just the speed with the bass boat, but I can bring more gear with me, and fish in more comfort with the Nitro.  The canoe, with two of us in it, and more gear than we could possibly need is a bit cramped.  After a few trips in the canoe, the Nitro feels like a luxury liner.