Why are kayaks a thing?

[J Francho]

The Mirage Drive actually works well in pads.  It sweeps the pads aside, rather getting them wrapped up in a prop.  You can feel them, and there is some Resistance, but I rarely get stuck.  Slop, that's another story.  The Mirage Drive can also go shallower than prop drives, without pulling the drive, since the fins can rest snug to the hull.  Here's mine in inches of water, drive deployed:

 

[TOXIC]

 

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Row or sell?  Think you mean PEDAL!

 

Peddle pedal kayaks, but still sell them a paddle.

Peddle, Pedal, Puddle, Poodle, it's all Greek to me.  

[Brad Reid]

There is nothing more "finesse" than grabbing a paddle kayak, a couple of rods and a tackle bag and heading out. I find the great advantage here is, for most of us, the less fuss it is to get on and off the water, the more we get out, the more we fish.

 

On my Propel 10, I always carry along my paddle. I pedal most of the time, use the paddle whenever I want to get into slop, fish in the pads. For this particular kayak, I fasten the two thwart bar locking tabs but leave the third unfastened so I can just grab my pedal drive and lift it out of the water.

 

The first two NTXKC kayak angler events, the first on my home lake? They were won by paddlers!

 

Brad

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

The Mirage Drive actually works well in pads.  It sweeps the pads aside, rather getting them wrapped up in a prop.  You can feel them, and there is some Resistance, but I rarely get stuck.  Slop, that's another story.  The Mirage Drive can also go shallower than prop drives, without pulling the drive, since the fins can rest snug to the hull.  Here's mine in inches of water, drive deployed:

 

Yea, Other than instant reverse, I think the flipper design is far better than any prop design will ever be.

 

I bought my kayak maybe four or five years ago now? Any case it was before the market really blew up and before Hobie had come out with their reverse system.  I still place a ton of value on the ability to hands-free and instantaneous reverse however.  I generally fish very close to cover with relatively light tackle and the ability to instantly reverse myself and whatever fish I’ve hooked into more open water comes in handy for me all the time.   

[Harold Scoggins]

On ‎3‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 9:50 AM, Brad Reid said:

kayaks are just generally deemed sexier than canoes

So, that's why all those girls are waving at me from the bank, and here I thought it was because I was flexing my arms as I slowly paddled by them.

[jaimeastin]

I've been kayak fishing for years, kinda before it was the big thing it is now.  There is a reason it took off and somewhat of reason it is going through wrong way.

 

Kayak fishing changed the game for me.  Gave me access to lots of water.  The best part I could keep it at my condo, put it on my SUV, go just about anywhere and launch.  My first kayak was and is 12 feet.  Very stable, sit on top, and I rigged it up weighing about 70 pounds.

 

For many people, especially living in cities and such, don't have the space to store a boat to drage around.  My kayak lived on .y vehicle and I fished around 4 times a week.  I was going right after work.  Not major prep needed.  Even if I didn't have my kayak, I coipsosd it in less than 10 minutes.

 

[jaimeastin]

Where I believe that the industry of kayak fishing is going wrong is that the kayaks are too big!  

 

I currently have 4 kayaks right now.  I have 10-12 feet, sit in and sit on top.  I had a neighbor give me a huge 16' that I passed along.  The beauty with kayak fishing is that you can get out there and anywhere quickly and safely.  Another nice thing was DIY rigging.

 

The new kayaks are huge, heavy, slow, pre rigged, motorized, pedal driven, electric motorized, require two people, trailer, truck bed, etc.  For me all the things that I loved about kayak fishing are being lost with these "fishing kayaks".  At this point, you may as well use a canoe or row boat because storing and setup is so much more envolved.  You may have to register it.

 

Believe me... I was the guy going fishing in a 12 foot or less with about 6 rods and other gear.  Kayak fishing got me very strong. In my upper body.  I could take a good headwind and punch right through.  I never need to stand up or have a big seat.  

 

At the end of the day, use what gets you out there.  For me, I love kayak fishing over boat fishing.  Fishing out if a boat seems lazy. I like fishing out of my float tube more than my boat.   However, I have been fishing out of my boat more than all mainly due to being rear ended and me ultimately having back surgery.  We got the boat just so I could fish pre surgery.  

 

I fish anywhere and almost out of anything... Or just than bank.  Just go fishing.

[Hawkeye21]

14 hours ago, jaimeastin said:

Where I believe that the industry of kayak fishing is going wrong is that the kayaks are too big!  

 

I currently have 4 kayaks right now.  I have 10-12 feet, sit in and sit on top.  I had a neighbor give me a huge 16' that I passed along.  The beauty with kayak fishing is that you can get out there and anywhere quickly and safely.  Another nice thing was DIY rigging.

 

The new kayaks are huge, heavy, slow, pre rigged, motorized, pedal driven, electric motorized, require two people, trailer, truck bed, etc.  For me all the things that I loved about kayak fishing are being lost with these "fishing kayaks".  At this point, you may as well use a canoe or row boat because storing and setup is so much more envolved.  You may have to register it.

 

Believe me... I was the guy going fishing in a 12 foot or less with about 6 rods and other gear.  Kayak fishing got me very strong. In my upper body.  I could take a good headwind and punch right through.  I never need to stand up or have a big seat.  

 

At the end of the day, use what gets you out there.  For me, I love kayak fishing over boat fishing.  Fishing out if a boat seems lazy. I like fishing out of my float tube more than my boat.   However, I have been fishing out of my boat more than all mainly due to being rear ended and me ultimately having back surgery.  We got the boat just so I could fish pre surgery.  

 

I fish anywhere and almost out of anything... Or just than bank.  Just go fishing.

 

I don't see how kayak fishing is going wrong with this direction.  They are giving people what they want.  There are more options than there ever have before and that's good because now people can buy what fits their needs, not just buying what's available.

 

There's nothing stopping anyone from fishing from a small kayak.  Some prefer light, small and fast.  Some prefer more space and stability.  Some want to put a motor on it.  The best think about kayaks is that there is something for everyone.

[Choporoz]

My biggest reason for choosing kayak over boat was/is storage.  I live in a townhouse without a garage and the only boat storage options are miles from my house, over $100/month and nearly all uncovered and without electricity.  So, several years ago, I saw kayak as my best option.  I grew to love it.  I like fishing from a boat, as well - and do it often.   But, as much as ease of storage and overall cost of ownership, I've also come to appreciate the time saved on general maintenance.  I'm not mechanically inclined and don't enjoy tinkering, routine or even preventative maintenance, very much.  Wouldn't be so bad if I could do it in an attached garage, but doing everything off-site, or paying someone else to do it isn't appealing, either.

[jaimeastin]

4 hours ago, Hawkeye21 said:

 

I don't see how kayak fishing is going wrong with this direction.  They are giving people what they want.  There are more options than there ever have before and that's good because now people can buy what fits their needs, not just buying what's available.

 

There's nothing stopping anyone from fishing from a small kayak.  Some prefer light, small and fast.  Some prefer more space and stability.  Some want to put a motor on it.  The best think about kayaks is that there is something for everyone.

My kayak is like 70+ lbs.  It is still fast, carries a lot of weight etc.

 

I look at the accend kayaks and they are super  stable and slower.  Many people complain about weight.  I seem them as boats more than kayaks.  

 

I get that many people want them.  I listed pro's and cons.  For me, this direction is just more involved that was simpler kayak fishing was/is.  

 

I have seen it, performed it... I get my kayak out, rigged, and paddled off faster than a lot of the other ones, even pedal drive.  Getting back out, I am also fast.  Get home, I would then hoist it up on my paitio ceiling using a pully system.  That was when I lived in a condo.  Now I own a house and I just put it in the back.

 

Finally, looking over the years, a lot of the fun was rigging it up.  Cutting and running things.  Now all is done and people are afraid of their kayaks.  This the same in all industries though. No real slight, just the costs of innovation.

 

I have GAS, GEAR ACQUISITION SYNDROME.  I am always looking for something.  When I see these kayaks, I like them, but I see more limitations for some of my personal application.

 

As you said, thankfully we all have a wide variety to select from.  In the end it gets us all fishing.  All because it is not my cup of tea does not mean it is not good for others or the industry.  Their direction is just where I chose to stay or course or turn away, however you want to see it. We all get to some water to fish. 

[TnRiver46]

On 3/6/2019 at 10:13 PM, WRB said:

S-13 looks interesting until the hull thickness of 1/32" (.032)!

The 1st kayaks out west were white water river and the 1st fishing kayaks were ocean models that soon became known as the plastic navy they are so popular. I can't recall seeing a canoe on the ocean.

I have fished out of everything but a kayak and would own one if I was 20 years younger.

Tom

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3pTVaM8rkW5pJLvm9

 

canoe serves me pretty well in the ocean. We just stay inshore or paddle up bays and mangroves 

[Paul Roberts]

Well, I've "fished" out of a lot of boats. I think the largest was a 65ft trawler in the Great Lakes. Right now, I'm steeped in small waters. For most of them I've grown pretty attached to my snug little float tube. And boat control doesn't much more precise there.

 

However, I finally picked up a yak, so that I can more efficiently handle, and cover, larger waters. Not much larger waters, though. But speed and sea-worthiness (wind/chop) helps a lot when tackling larger waters. I've stayed with a small yak -a 10fter- for ease of transport, as I have to hike in to some of my waters.

 

I must say, though, I really miss standing up when fishing. My 10fter I can stand up and paddle around in, but, I don't trust myself fishing, when I'm really focused on my lure and the goings on "out and down there". I'd really need a larger yak for that. I really like the looks of that Meyer's Sports Pal @Brad Reid posted. Looks slow, but, certainly faster than a float tube.

 

The real deals for standing and fishing, though, are a dock, and a bass boat (a floating dock that'll do mph).

 

Like @jaimeastin said, "I'll fish anywhere and almost out of anything". And I can tell you I've learned the "almost" hard way -more than once, unfortunately. Except maybe for that lawn chair mod that @J Francho posted once upon a time.  That image is forever burned into my brain. I think I knew that guy. I think we've all known that guy.  Let's hope none of us, are that guy. Highly doubt he's still around to tell that tale though.

 

 

[Sam]

Wife and I decided to give her father's pick-up truck to son and we purchased a trailer.

 

This is what happened:

1. No City of Richmond property taxes

2. No Commonwealth of Virginia license plates.

3. No Commonwealth of Virginia safety inspections.

4. No insurance premiums on the pick-up.

5. No car washes.

6. No pick-up truck repairs.

7. No new pick-up truck battery.

8. Son took old pick-up apart and could not get it together again. Sold it for junk.

 

And we love our trailer. Hauls so much more than a pick-up and is easier to load and unload.

 

Same is true when you compare a bass boat with a kayak.

[crankbait2009]

For me, I started out with a jon boat that I converted to a decked/carpeted/lighting bass boat.  Over the couple years that I owned it, I was always fishing alone.  It was quite overkill for me.  To go along with that, the maintenance, and the process of getting it in and out of the water was becoming less enjoyable.  I don't mind fishing alone, but the boat was two large for just me and the type of fishing I was doing.

 

So I sold it for a fishing kayak.  I haven't regretted that decision yet.  Kayaks are smaller, no batteries to charge (unless you have electronics), next to ZERO maintenance.  Everything I need in one tight package.  Plus, I can get that kayak in to places a boat cannot go. It's great for a solo angler.

 

I have an Amish kayak (no electronics), so there are no trolling motor, or depth finder batteries to charge.  My set up is very simple.  A long way from the jon boat.

 

After all that, I didn't really answer "why a kayak"  ?