Tired of the bank

[Saavedra9]

Good afternoon everyone. Was wondering what would be an affordable kayak for a beginner to get? Tired of bank fishing and wanna be able to enjoy fishing from out on the water. Not looking for something to expensive not more than $400. Not gonna be out in the ocean or a huge lake. Any recommendations welcome and your reason why you like the kayak. Appreciate the help, thanks everyone.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Saavedra9
Misspelling

[Kdizzle]

I have a Brooklyn Kayak Company yak and I really like it.  I spent about 800 dollars for it.  I think the Bass Pro line Ascend is plenty for most anyone.  Just make sure you know what kind you'd rather have when you buy.  In my opinion sit-on-tops are more comfortable and I think a bit safer than the sit-in types.

[haggard]

$400 should easily get you a kayak that will get you off the bank, especially if you're not looking at big water.

 

Sundolphin makes some good cheap yaks. I got a Journey 10 SS sit-on-top ("F/V Last Resort") a couple years ago for $185 from Walmart on rollback and while it has its quirks, it does the job. The ads say "stable" and "tracks well" but, well, just no, that's just not true in my experience. But if you keep your mass down low and are willing to make frequent corrections with the paddles, it actually works out pretty well, especially for the price.

 

I'd recommend a sit-on-top style for angling. Besides, if something goes wrong, you have a better chance of escaping vs. a sit-inside.

 

If your budget for a kayak alone is $400 you can probably find better options. That said, I love this thing.

 

[MN Fisher]

  On 4/29/2020 at 12:04 AM, haggard said:

$400 should easily get you a kayak that will get you off the bank, especially if you're not looking at big water.

 

Sundolphin makes some good cheap yaks. I got a Journey 10 SS sit-on-top ("F/V Last Resort") a couple years ago for $185 from Walmart on rollback and while it has its quirks, it does the job. The ads say "stable" and "tracks well" but, well, just no, that's just not true in my experience. But if you keep your mass down low and are willing to make frequent corrections with the paddles, it actually works out pretty well, especially for the price.

 

I'd recommend a sit-on-top style for angling. Besides, if something goes wrong, you have a better chance of escaping vs. a sit-inside.

 

If your budget for a kayak alone is $400 you can probably find better options. That said, I love this thing.

 

Expand  

If there's a DSG or Field and Stream that's open near you - go look at the F&S Kayaks...the ones made by KL Industries are just re-branded Sun Dolphins...same for the F&S Canoes made by KL.

[wisconsin heat]

  On 4/29/2020 at 12:04 AM, haggard said:

$400 should easily get you a kayak that will get you off the bank, especially if you're not looking at big water.

 

Sundolphin makes some good cheap yaks. I got a Journey 10 SS sit-on-top ("F/V Last Resort") a couple years ago for $185 from Walmart on rollback and while it has its quirks, it does the job. The ads say "stable" and "tracks well" but, well, just no, that's just not true in my experience. 

 

Expand  

I agree $400 will definitely get you a good Budget kayak. I've fished out of the sun dolphin journey you mentioned a number of times and I can confirm the experience. It doesn't track well. I've said it's like trying to paddle a bathtub ?. That being said, any kayak is better than no kayak.

 

Luckily for the OP there are plenty of options in the $400 range. My kayak is a lifetime tamarack angler that k got for under $200 - and can commonly be found for under $300.

 

If you are looking for a little bit better options, but still budget- I would stick with Lifetime, or maybe pelican brands.

 

DICK'S has a lifetime Teton angler which looks nice for the money.

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/lifetime-teton-angler-kayak-19lifuttnnglrxxxxpsk/19lifuttnnglrxxxxpsk?sku=19690382&camp=CSE:DSG_92700052916300573_pla_aud-359064049599:pla-338506295450&gclid=CjwKCAjwqJ_1BRBZEiwAv73uwEU09osHNs3voKCaqK4mLp5TUKt275IqUXXE3IkNrTgAZHDZ35AdRxoCKTMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

 

[jeffo21]

you might also look at getting a small pontoon boat like a pelican bass raider. I have a 10E but they make an 8FT edition also.

[MassYak85]

  On 4/28/2020 at 11:57 PM, Kdizzle said:

I have a Brooklyn Kayak Company yak and I really like it.  I spent about 800 dollars for it.  I think the Bass Pro line Ascend is plenty for most anyone.  Just make sure you know what kind you'd rather have when you buy.  In my opinion sit-on-tops are more comfortable and I think a bit safer than the sit-in types.

Expand  

I have an older model Ascend FS-10. It's been good to me but I've heavily modified it. It's been a good yak for 500 bucks. I think it's going on close to 10 years now. 

 

[slonezp]

Buy used. Buy from somebody that got the itch and then lost the itch.

[kdubracing]

  On 4/29/2020 at 12:32 AM, wisconsin heat said:

Luckily for the OP there are plenty of options in the $400 range. My kayak is a lifetime tamarack angler that k got for under $200 - and can commonly be found for under $300.

Expand  

We have a couple of Lifetime Tamarak Anglers from Walmart, about $250. We also have a Bass Pro Ascend 10T that was like $450. I bought the Ascend for me and the others for my wife and son. I ended up giving the Ascend to my wife. My son and I use the Lifetimes. They are great for $250 or so. It comes with a decent rod holder and a crappy paddle, but the paddle will work fine for a little while. It's a great way to get off the bank for not much money. And getting off the bank has been much more fun. You can spend the rest of the $400 on a pfd and a better paddle. Make your own crate for cheap if you want more tackle room. I have a crate, a Garmin Striker 4, and I have a waterproof 3600 I velcro between my feet for an easy access box. It's a great starter setup, or an inexpensive setup for someone that just wants to have some fun. 

[Manly Studson]

The Lifetime kayaks work well for me too. The rear storage hatch is oddly placed, but I can still place a crate on top of it.

[Hammer 4]

  On 4/29/2020 at 1:05 AM, slonezp said:

Buy used. Buy from somebody that got the itch and then lost the itch.

Expand  

^^^^ This...Check craigslist. In my area I see lots of em for sale.

[kdubracing]

  On 4/29/2020 at 1:32 AM, Manly Studson said:

The Lifetime kayaks work well for me too. The rear storage hatch is oddly placed, but I can still place a crate on top of it.

Expand  

I cut a pool noodle and attached it all the way around the bottom of the crate. It helped that problem a lot.

[Bluebasser86]

Academy has one from Pelican that looks really nice that goes on sale pretty often. I think they had it for a little under $300 last time I was there (which seems like years ago at this point).

[Ogandrews]

For the last 2 years I have been fishing out of a 12 ft sit in field and stream kayak I bought for $200. It’s not fancy, the only real features are two rod holders but it gave me the opportunity to get off the bank and catch some amazing fish. If you can find a used sit on kayak I would go for that but if all you can afford is a sit in than go for it, I have been very successful fishing out of mine. Got my pb musky, largemouth, smallmouth, sauger, rainbow trout, channel catfish, and my pb pike at 44.5 which is 3/4 an inch off of the Minnesota state record. It is a pretty wide and being 12 ft it is pretty stable for a sit in. I have a trolling motor and a small garmin hooked up to it so it is a joy to fish out of. Only thing I wish is that it had more rod storage, I always bring a big musky sized net with me in case I hook a big pike/musky so I’m limited to 2 rods but I make it work. I now own a boat but I still use the kayak all the time, can’t beat the ease of use and being able to launch wherever you want.

[redux]

I recommend saving up for a bit and buy something above $400. Why? The seats in cheap kayaks are trash. Between transporting and loading the kayak, paddling, and all the twisting you will do fishing they simply do not have enough support to keep your lower back in a good position.

 

Last year I was at my friend's in-law's river house and we fished from cheap sit-in kayaks a few hours a day for three days. I ended up with a bad case of sciatica and could barely walk for two weeks. It took two months for it to completely go away and I could not manage to even bank fish for more than 15 minutes before the pain sent me packing.

 

I recently bough a Bonafide S127 and have been using it 5-6 days a week for 4-6 hours each trip the the past six weeks and have never once had any pain or discomfort. Why? The seat.

 

Yes, the kayak I have is way above the $400 mark. However, you still need to find something with a good seat. The Ascend kayaks seem to have good seats. I was looking into those for a long time before I decided on the Bonafide. Definitely look at the used market to get a good deal on someone's lost dream.

 

BTW, I am not a big person. 5'9" and 160 pounds and have always been active.

[kdubracing]

  On 4/29/2020 at 3:29 PM, redux said:

I recommend saving up for a bit and buy something above $400. Why? The seats in cheap kayaks are trash. Between transporting and loading the kayak, paddling, and all the twisting you will do fishing they simply do not have enough support to keep your lower back in a good position.

 

Last year I was at my friend's in-law's river house and we fished from cheap sit-in kayaks a few hours a day for three days. I ended up with a bad case of sciatica and could barely walk for two weeks. It took two months for it to completely go away and I could not manage to even bank fish for more than 15 minutes before the pain sent me packing.

 

I recently bough a Bonafide S127 and have been using it 5-6 days a week for 4-6 hours each trip the the past six weeks and have never once had any pain or discomfort. Why? The seat.

 

Yes, the kayak I have is way above the $400 mark. However, you still need to find something with a good seat. The Ascend kayaks seem to have good seats. I was looking into those for a long time before I decided on the Bonafide. Definitely look at the used market to get a good deal on someone's lost dream.

 

BTW, I am not a big person. 5'9" and 160 pounds and have always been active.

Expand  

This is going to be an individual thing. My back has no issues at all with my kayak. My butt gets sore after a while, but a $20 hunting cushion from Dick's helps that a lot. I'm also not trying to fish in any kayak tournaments either. I just want to get out on the water for a while and have some fun fishing.

 

There will always be a "yeah, but if you spend $xxxx more you can get this". Each person has their own needs. Maybe OP doesn't have the money to spend on a $1500 kayak. Maybe he does, but doesn't want to. I personally could get a $1500 kayak if I really wanted to, but I don't. I want to spend my money on other things. I also have 2 other people that want to kayak fish with me. So that's 2 more of everything. 

 

OP, decide what you want out of it. Would you be content with fishing a little less time because you have an inexpensive kayak that won't allow you to comfortably spend 10 hours on the water? Will your budget only allow a $400 or less kayak? Do you want to entertain the thought of a more expensive kayak? I'd rather spend $400 and get out on the water and have some fun rather than not get anything because the more expensive kayaks are nicer. 

[Saavedra9]

@kdubracingYea I do have enough to get a more expensive kayak but id prefer not to spend a butt load. I'm just wanting a good time on the water not looking to spend all day, but 2-4 hrs per day to go out on the water is good enough for me. To enjoy some fishing and get out there and experience something new. 

Edited April 29, 2020 by Saavedra9
Tagging a member

[Armtx77]

  On 4/29/2020 at 1:05 AM, slonezp said:

Buy used. Buy from somebody that got the itch and then lost the itch.

Expand  

This right here.

 

Scour Craigslist, Facebook and check out any kayak forums they may be local to your AO.

[BoatSquirrel]

Fishing from a $250 kayak beats the heck out of bank fishing.  I fished for 3 years from one before deciding I liked the kayak bassin enough to shell out for an expensive boat.  Now that old boat is my creek rig and I can not imagine not having both.  Hope you get one-and a good pfd!

[schplurg]

You will also need a PFD, paddle, so there's $100 minimum right there.

 

Buy a used yak for sure, many come with paddles and other stuff.

 

I recommend a good seat. Not the kind that is molded into the plastic but one that's like a small folding chair. Your butt and back will thank you, unless you're young  

[WRB]

Study what you want to have then find it used and save your budget. You can find exactly what you want already outfitted.

Tom

[Alex from GA]

I started kayaking to get to places I couldn't with my boat and haven't looked back.  I fish small rivers and creeks all summer in N GA.  Usually on weekends when the lakes are full of wake boats and such.  Like others said look for used boats that new would be out of your price range.

[LCG]

I was in the same situation last year. One day I noticed a kayak package that came with a 10ft pelican sit inside kayak, paddle, and car topping kit for $325 canadian, which would be much cheaper in the States, at Costco. It was basic but for about $50 I installed two rod holders and a bunch of pad eyes to attach various things. Got a decent life jacket at Walmart for $25. So $400 Canadian all in. 

 

It opened up a while new world for fishing. And I found I actually like the sport of kayaking itself. It's very peaceful and relaxing. I didn't want a heavy kayak as I have to transport solo most of the time. My son liked it so much he got an 8ft sit on top.