New Fishing Kayak - What should I Know?

[Riversidebassin]

 I’ve done lots of research on fishing kayaks (specifically ones you can stand up in) for the past couple of weeks and decided to take advantage of a good deal I found on a Old Town Predator 13. This is my very first fishing kayak and I’m very eager to jump in and start fishing!

 

This is not my first time in a kayak (I practically grew up in boats and kayaks), so I got all the safety knowledge down.

 

What I’d like to know though, are there any tips or tricks you could give a first-time kayak angler to help them start out a little more confidently and successfully?

[mhtranger]

First I would find a dealer that will let you demo a few brands and models. If you are dead set on the Old Town ( great kayak btw) remember you need a paddle and a pfd. All I will tell you is don’t skimp on a cheap paddle. The right size is also important. I know of a few people that bought a cheap paddle and then ended up buying another one so the money spent on two paddles ended up being more than the better one. I have an adjustable because my seat is adjustable.  Also the pfd needs to be comfortable so you wear it. 

Good luck with whatever you decide. 

Might also want to check out YouTube for videos. Dan at headwaters does some very informative videos. 

[Darren.]

My advice for any new fishing kayak is to fish out of it for a while

and determine your own preference as to what should be where

in terms of mounts, etc.

 

A milk crate is a great DIY which you can mount PVC to for rod

holders, etc.

 

Definitely consider dual (both sides) anchor trolleys. While I don't

have dual at this juncture, it is something I've always wanted as it

would make for much better anchoring in wind and such.

 

Bottom line is your layout is personal. It's yours. Fishing kayaks 

come with mounts and all that that may not necessarily be in the

best positions for YOU. That's where fishing for a while and tweaking

thereafter will make it YOURS.

[Skunkd]

Take your new boat out a few times and get used to it before you start adding rod holders, fish finders etc. Think about where those things will work best based on your fishing/casting style. Leave a section of gunwale open for reentry should you capsize.

[Yakalong]

I agree with Darren, fish out of it for awhile that will help you decide what you need and where to put it. Also, downsize your gear. Don't take the entire tackle box, less is usually better for me. It's a blast fishing from a yak.

[Brad Reid]

Several come to mind and you will know many of them.

 

1) We generally fish up close to our targets so short rods are better than long rods. More accurate, better leverage.

2) Unless you are in a competition, carrying > 4 rods is often counterproductive. Stick to something and give it a chance to work. Don't carry too much tackle out either.

3) Experiment with trolling when you move positions with some distance between them. Few do this but you can net some fish trolling.

4) Get up and in the pads, vegetation, floating logs, places boat can't go.

 

Brad

 

[Deeare]

I got a predator and love it.   Couple things to think about :

 

Wheels - I got the ctug after breaking a couple cheap set of wheels. Ctug has been great.   You get what you pay for 

 

transducer mount - I got the Scotty transducer arm that hangs over the side.   It works for me.  

 

Crate - I got a crate off of Amazon that’s longer than a regular milk crate.   And you can get pockets that Velcro on the sides for extra storage.

 

Bazooka tube/flag - I fly an orange flag in the big lakes that have heavy boat traffic on the weekends.  It only takes one idiot to run you over.  And there’s a lot out there

 

 

[Smalls]

Go out with nothing but a paddle and a PFD and learn the limitations of your kayak. Find out where the tipping point is, and how it “feels” just before you hit that point. 

 

If you don’t wanna lose it forever, tether it down. 

 

Kayak gear is usually expensive and overpriced. DIY whatever you can. 

 

Be safe. Know your limitations, watch the weather like a hawk, make yourself as visible as you can to others on the water. 

[Choporoz]

Everything about kayak fishing is so personal....I found a way to at least partially disagree with almost everything said to this point....and yet they're all good suggestions. 

A lot depends on what kind of water you plan to be on. 

And it depends on the yak....I'm not familiar with that yak -- is it pedal?   If so, you may find that you don't need to mess with the anchor trolleys -- loved them on paddle yaks...never anchor at all in my Hobie.

I'd put a priority on visibility (flag/light...consider bright paddle blades, bright pfd, etc.)

Storage will become almost as important as anything else....tackle, rods, tools, etc.  Keep that in mind first couple times out and get laid out so that you're comfortable.

Speaking of comfortable, also get your seat adjusted and padded and whatever else you need to make sure that you are not hurting after a few hours....can take some trips to be sure what needs doing, but every muscle and joint from neck to ankles can be affected by your seat.

 

[J Francho]

The three things you want to address seat are seat/foot peg position, paddle storage, then rod storage.  After that, You'll find you want something rigged up for tools here, or a rod holder there.  I like to mock up the rigging with duct tape before drilling holes or installing rigging rails.

[DogBone_384]

.... I agree with Darren 100% ....

 

Saves my thumbs a lot of work too!

[Krux5506]

Good reading in here as I'm slowly considering upgrading from my Field and Stream Eagle Talon, which I've rigged pretty effectively but the seat, even upgraded, is killing me. 9 hours on the water yesterday and I'm now exploring yet another new seat option. So my suggestion is to just make sure you like the seat although I know it will be better on that Old Town than on the Eagle Talon BY FAR. For me, all of my fatigue is due to the seat and seat position on that kayak. 

[J Francho]

27 minutes ago, Krux5506 said:

9 hours on the water yesterday

Let me guess, The City Dump?

[Harold Scoggins]

21 hours ago, Riversidebassin said:

are there any tips or tricks you could give a first-time kayak angler to help them start out a little more confidently and successfully?

Fishing out of a kayak, I don't think I could add anything that you haven't already seen (videos) or read other than you'll learn by doing. You have a nice kayak there, have fun!

[CountryboyinDC]

I have the pedal drive Predator.  For me, the first thing I would do is mount some track rail to the mounting plates (particularly the far forward ones) or swap them out for the Yakattack ones, which is what I did.  That way you can try accessories, move/adjust them, and take them off.  Swapping them all out for Yakattacks will set you back over $200 at full retail, but it sure does make it easier to figure out the rigging.  As @Darren. mentioned, a crate is something you'll probably want.  If nothing else, it keeps all your gear together rather than making 10 trips from the truck to the kayak when you launch.

[Krux5506]

15 hours ago, J Francho said:

Let me guess, The City Dump?

lol no I've yet to hit the Dump on the yak. I've just been hitting smaller water all summer - misc ponds in the area. 

[Riversidebassin]

Thank you for all the feedback! I decided to get several things for the yak: a dolly/kayak kart, a crate for tackle, and have mounted a couple of rod holders in the front and back of the kayak. 

All of your input is greatly appreciated!

[LadiMopar]

On 8/25/2019 at 7:48 PM, Darren. said:

My advice for any new fishing kayak is to fish out of it for a while

and determine your own preference as to what should be where

in terms of mounts, etc.

 

A milk crate is a great DIY which you can mount PVC to for rod

holders, etc.

 

Definitely consider dual (both sides) anchor trolleys. While I don't

have dual at this juncture, it is something I've always wanted as it

would make for much better anchoring in wind and such.

 

Bottom line is your layout is personal. It's yours. Fishing kayaks 

come with mounts and all that that may not necessarily be in the

best positions for YOU. That's where fishing for a while and tweaking

thereafter will make it YOURS.

Absolutely agree, but will add one small caveat here; every yak is designed differently and I noticed a huge difference in layout, comfort and overall performance (mine and the yaks) when I upgraded from a 10 ft paddle model to a 12.5 ft peddle/motor drive model by the same manufacturer. Suddenly every thing felt foreign, and the reason I mention this is you said you have used other kayaks in the past. Don't expect a fishing yak to move or feel like any of the others you've been in. Have patience, don't be in a rush to outfit it, and perhaps take a second look at the model you're planning to buy to make sure it's basic layout fits your needs.