Getting into kayak fishing.

[Boomstick]

You can definitely get a kayak for $700 but it may be missing stability or tracking of a more expensive model. And then you may have to pay to add extra tracks and rod holders, so that runs up the price a bit. But you will enjoy kayaking a lot more if you are properly equipped for it. My first day out on my new kayak this year was on a fairly windy day and every boater was out on the water. If I didn't have a stable unit, I very well could have capsized, no joke! 

 

What I would suggest is spending a little bit more to get a little better boat. I bought myself and the kids kayaks this year, and it's so much fun. I got my youngest an Old Town Topwater (renamed the Sportsman for 2020 and I believe they now include the premium seat which is a nice plus too) in the 12' model which runs around $1k. It's a fantastic boat for the money. It's much lighter than my Bonafide, nearly as stable and actually tracks notably better too without the rudder deployed on the Bonafide. It comes with 3 rod holders, two rigged for trolling and one is designed to rig up with but it's near impossible to paddle using the third one. Add a YakAttack Blackpak or milk crate with a rod holder kit will hold 3 more rods. The only other thing we did to it was add an anchor trolley and an Anchor Wizard.

 

The other thing you get with the Sportsman/Topwater is a transducer mount built right in. Most more expensive fishing kayaks have some sort of transducer mount or a way to mount them, but if you get something around $700 you are going to have to get one of those RAM mounts that mounts to a track and runs the transducer alongside of the boat, which is not nearly as clean of an install. If you look up on Youtube how to add a transducer to an Old Town Topwater you should find a couple of videos, it's a breeze. The only thing you'll need is either a YakAttack or similar mount that fits into a track, maybe a small track if you want to mount it front and center, and maybe some cable glands to run the extra transducer cable and battery into the hull storage.

 

If you really want a PDL, I would say just go for it. It's cheaper to do it now an pay interest if you can't find a 0% or low APR financing offer. There is also a Sportsman PDL version which isn't too expensive. They have the Predator which is more expensive and is faster but less stable, but the biggest pro is they include the upgraded seat. I have heard great things about the Lightning Strike HD, they are supposed to be quite stable and they run around $1800. I decided not to go the pedal drive route for both costs and paddling is great exercise.

 

I am in the process of looking to add a fish finder to my Bonafide SS127. I am looking at a Garmin EchoMap UHD 93sv. Because it mounts dead center in the Bonafide, the 9" seems like it will be a perfect fit. If I was mounting one on say a side track mount, I would probably go with a 5" or 7".

 

As for paddles, once you get to around $100 the only thing you're getting is a lighter paddle. Really cheap paddles may have some play in the handle and that's just awkward. If you don't know what kind of paddle you want, I would recommend the Bending Branches Angler Ace. Why this paddle? Because it's a very generic uniform design that is designed to work with both high angle paddling and low angle paddling, so if you aren't sure which you prefer then it'll work both ways pretty well. On a wide kayak like the Old Town Sportsman, you will probably want a 240cm or 250cm paddle, I use a 250cm because I'm 6'3" but if you're closer to 5' than 6' then a 240cm will be fine, and if you aren't sure the Angler Ace Plus is adjustable for another $25 or so.

 

As for a PFD, you should be fine with the one you have for starters. You may find the back is too low and interferes with your seating position, but half the time I don't lean back far enough to hit the back of my seat anyway. I started off with a $6 Cabela's XL when I first got my kayak on the water but more recently I upgraded to a NRS Chinook PFD in XL. I have no problem with it being too small and it has a high back so it doesn't hit my seat.

[Boomstick]

On 6/4/2020 at 5:54 PM, flyfisher said:

I'll disagree with the paddling well and being able to stand.  I have an ATAK 140 and have paddled the 120 as well.  The 140 paddles very well and is decent in the maneuverability aspect given it is a 14' boat.  I can easily paddle at 3.5 mph for extended periods of time and over 4 if i want to give it a little more effort.  Both of the boats are very easy to stand in and i even paddle standing up to get to different spots.  Is it going to be super nimble like a boat designed for rivers, nah but i'll take it for lakes any day of the week.  It is the first kayak i have owned that I haven't thought about upgrading after a few seasons.  it truly is a great kayak for fishing.

The ATAK 140 was my second choice behind the Bonafide SS127. Stable and well designed knowing how users will rig it out, just like the Bonafide.

[flyfisher]

1 hour ago, Boomstick said:

The ATAK 140 was my second choice behind the Bonafide SS127. Stable and well designed knowing how users will rig it out, just like the Bonafide.

Yeah the only thing i have added to mine are 6 flush mount rod holders, anchor trolley and an anchor chute off the bow for river use.  

[Boomstick]

Just now, flyfisher said:

Yeah the only thing i have added to mine are 6 flush mount rod holders, anchor trolley and an anchor chute off the bow for river use.  

I use a BlackPak, 2 YakAttack Omega rod holders, 1 Zooka II for my net, an anchor trolley and anchor wizard. I will get a fish finder hopefully soon on my dry pod which puts it front and center. You can do the same setup on the ATAK except I would have to add a track in the back for the rod holders, so I would have considered flush mounts, although they won't hold the net.

[flyfisher]

Yeah on the first kayak i bought a long long long time ago i got the rod holders and i learned real quick they aren't for me lol  I do use them for my fly rods though as they are the only thing that will hold them and being longer, it is nice to angle them flat to keep them from anything overhanging and my back cast.  i use one of my flush mounts for my stake out pole probably as often as i do for rods though, on lakes anyways.  I like the anchor wizards but i went with the DIY version and used a retractable clothesline under my seat and fashioned a bracket and piece ov PVC i heated up and used a bottle to make the funnel at the front.  Seems to work very well thus far too.  

[Boomstick]

2 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Yeah on the first kayak i bought a long long long time ago i got the rod holders and i learned real quick they aren't for me lol  I do use them for my fly rods though as they are the only thing that will hold them and being longer, it is nice to angle them flat to keep them from anything overhanging and my back cast.  i use one of my flush mounts for my stake out pole probably as often as i do for rods though, on lakes anyways.  I like the anchor wizards but i went with the DIY version and used a retractable clothesline under my seat and fashioned a bracket and piece ov PVC i heated up and used a bottle to make the funnel at the front.  Seems to work very well thus far too.  

I like the Omegas, they keep rods low and out of the way. They're a little difficult to get rods out of sometimes though.

[Hertboi]

On 6/4/2020 at 4:54 PM, flyfisher said:

I'll disagree with the paddling well and being able to stand.  I have an ATAK 140 and have paddled the 120 as well.  The 140 paddles very well and is decent in the maneuverability aspect given it is a 14' boat.  I can easily paddle at 3.5 mph for extended periods of time and over 4 if i want to give it a little more effort.  Both of the boats are very easy to stand in and i even paddle standing up to get to different spots.  Is it going to be super nimble like a boat designed for rivers, nah but i'll take it for lakes any day of the week.  It is the first kayak i have owned that I haven't thought about upgrading after a few seasons.  it truly is a great kayak for fishing.

I second the ATAK 140! I paddle one, stand in it, sit sideways on it and all. It’s a very stable boat. I’m 5’ 10, weigh 260 and I can move around in it pretty well. Like one of the other gentlemen said in a post earlier, you will find out what you like and what you don’t pretty quick. I love the room, the layout, the maneuverability, tracking and the best is the seat. For me, the worst thing for the ATAK 140 is the weight. 

 

I was recently on the fence about getting my son a new kayak. I came down to Bonafide and Oldtown this time. I personally feel that 14ft is a lot of kayak and if I had it to do over I’d go 12. 

 

Consider your height and weight when thinking about stability. A 5 ft 125lb man can say something is very stable. Put a 6ft 230lb man in the same kayak and things change quite a bit. 

[Brian Goldsborough]

I bought a Pelican Soul 12' years ago. Still have it and it serves me well. It came bare bones ( meaning your booty would hurt after 10 mins. Slowly, I upgraded it. Added a used Lowrance Mark 4, mainly to mark spots. Scotty main rod holder, (only way to go. 2 flush mounts in the rear. A rail to mount a gopro, RAM, etc. Put 3 hatches in. Quick way to bail water. You never know. Got a fairly decent light paddle. Added a few rubber handle grips. Plenty of stickers! Also added a water bottle holder, homemade trolling motor mount for my 40lb thrust Motor and a W.A.N.G. shallow water anchor. I'm 240. It's slow at paddle. Tracks well for a cheaper kayak. 7 years old -no leaks. Plenty of room for softside Yeti, small deep cycle battery, dry bag, shoes and tackle bag. Nice little rig. Oh yes. Invest in a GOOD CUSHION. In the process of trying to sell the trolling motor and getting a 2.5 hp O.B. would be lighter than battery and trolling motor.