Cheap ways to get on the water?

[Terran Elam]

I wouldn’t go out on a kayak this time of year without a wetsuit or a drysuit which can easily eat up your $150. Add in a PFD , rod leashes and all the little stuff. A dry bag for dry clothes. 
 

 It will be warm in a couple months. Start then. Decide you like it, then start investing in your winter gear.

[Stasher1]

9 hours ago, kdubracing said:

That's an option as well. Most of the people I have heard about that bought a sit in kayak for fishing immediately want a sit on top. But OP can decide what would be best for him.

 

I started out with a sit-inside kayak roughly 10 years ago, and caught lots of fish. I've since bought/sold a half-dozen or so in both sit-on and sit-in, and I've learned that there is no such thing as a "one size fits all" kayak. I currently have a sit-on for warm water lake/pond fishing and a sit-inside for river/stream and colder weather. 

 

Honestly, if I had to give one of them up, it would be the sit-on. 

 

OP said he lives by/on a reservoir with limited bank access, so whatever he buys would need to be easy to carry/launch, and sit-inside is simply easier to carry than a sit-on...especially if he has to deal with small trails and/or overgrown banks.

[BrianMDTX]

I think (other than legality which is paramount IMO) the main thing is that the OP is looking for something for reservoirs. I have a Sea Eagle Packfish7, which while a little over his price point is perfect for the 2-3 acre ponds I fish. But I would not consider it a good choice for reservoirs. Bigger waters and trying to row/paddle for distances would not be easy. 

[Way2slow]

Wal-Mart sells float rings, tire shops sell inner tubes.

 

For $150, you might find and older 12' jon that's pretty beat up but still floats, HOWEVER!, it might not have any paper work to register it.  This can create major problems because most states require it to have a registration if you put any kind of motor on it, even electric TM, and some require it to be registered just to put it on public waters even without a motor.  This could make you have to lie and falsify legal documents to get a registration, and when you look at the penalties in the fine print, things like $10,000 and jail time, not real sure it's worth it.

Sometimes you find some little boat that so unstable the owner is scared to use it and just wants to get rid of it.

Even if someone gave you a boat, it's hard to get everything else you need for $150, but if you check craig's list and things that list items for sale, you can find something pop up from time to time. 

 

[volzfan59]

With a $150.00 budget, I would tuck the cash back in my wallet. This may take a few weeks or even months, but hit every yard sale that you can find. While I hate the idea of going to yard sales, just not my thing, there are plenty of unadvertised deals to be had. I would also add to my cash stack at every opportunity. Someone might not sell you a cheap Walmart type of kayak they had priced at $200.00 for $150.00, if you have $175.00 they might. Hope this helps.

[GaryH]

BnB have you checked on the flea market here on the site. When you do, post what your looking for and you may get lucky. I've seen camps up this way that have had john boats that they just wanted to get rid of. Not to mention that during this Christmas season you may find someone who may just want to get a good holiday feeling and give you a great deal.

I wish you great luck on your quest.

[Stasher1]

Unfortunately, the pandemic drove the price of entry-level kayaks thru the roof over the spring/summer. If you're patient, you may be able to score a lightly used one for around your budget once people get tired of tripping over them in their garage or basement...but I have a feeling we're going to see a whole lot of them listed for full retail (or higher) this spring.

[king fisher]

There is a commercial fisherman that uses a cast net in the marina inlet in PV.  His boat is an old jet ski with the motor and drive removed.  For propulsion he uses a stand up paddle board paddle.  I don't know how much the old jet ski cost.  Probably got it for free at the dump.  I would bet with the paddle it comes in under $150.  

     I thought this was a one of a kind boat for many years.  Then last week I was fishing my favorite bass lake, and two men drifted past me in another gutted out jet ski.  On this lake the wind consistently blows from the east in the mornings and from the west in the afternoon.  They launched their jet ski in the morning letting the wind drift them all the way to the west end in the morning.  Then waited until the wind switched to drift them back to launch in the afternoon.  They also had two shovels, they used as paddles and a rock and rope for an anchor. While not a fancy boat, it was stable enough for both of them to stand up and cast.  They were able to fish the whole southern shoreline, make it back to their pickup safely and had bass for dinner.  I had an expensive kayak complete with a fish finder, and I'm glad I didn't have to depend on bass for my dinner.

[Bluebasser86]

A reminder;

We are absolutely against any form of illegal fishing
and will not allow any such threads or posts advocating such activity. All such posts are deleted. In addition, any material or posting that advocates or discusses illegal activities, with or without the intent to commit them, is prohibited. This includes activities such as software and music piracy, and other intellectual property violations.

 

It's just a fish, breaking the law is not worth it to catch them.

[Guitarfish]

Geez some of you guys need to get a life.  Angels and sheriffs uploading the law to the letter.

 

He fished an unregistered boat and didn't get caught.  Hang 'em from the highest tree lol.

 

I belong to a lot of sites and this one has some real hero's that make their mamas proud.

 

Dogpile in 3..2...1...

[Way2slow]

 

 

OK, fill your truck up with gas, ride around until you see one sitting next to someone's pond, (tank if in Texas) load it up and go with it or find someone that has done that already.  Sounds like what you are looking for.

 

Is that what we a supposed to respond with.

[VolFan]

I fished out of a Dagger Delta (sit-in) for years before my current boat and Nucanoe. The Delta is a great boat and if you could find one with similar specs it is a great first boat. I'd save more money or sell some gear to have more than $150, but if you can't you should post on some local boards and marketplace and see what you can get. Shipping isn't an option in that budget. You might also try posting on local kayak groups - sometimes people have spare boats and gear they just need gone.

[TnRiver46]

17 hours ago, king fisher said:

There is a commercial fisherman that uses a cast net in the marina inlet in PV.  His boat is an old jet ski with the motor and drive removed.  For propulsion he uses a stand up paddle board paddle.  I don't know how much the old jet ski cost.  Probably got it for free at the dump.  I would bet with the paddle it comes in under $150.  

     I thought this was a one of a kind boat for many years.  Then last week I was fishing my favorite bass lake, and two men drifted past me in another gutted out jet ski.  On this lake the wind consistently blows from the east in the mornings and from the west in the afternoon.  They launched their jet ski in the morning letting the wind drift them all the way to the west end in the morning.  Then waited until the wind switched to drift them back to launch in the afternoon.  They also had two shovels, they used as paddles and a rock and rope for an anchor. While not a fancy boat, it was stable enough for both of them to stand up and cast.  They were able to fish the whole southern shoreline, make it back to their pickup safely and had bass for dinner.  I had an expensive kayak complete with a fish finder, and I'm glad I didn't have to depend on bass for my dinner.

Paddle board paddles cost $150! 
 

what the OP needs is a used canoe. 

[king fisher]

57 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Paddle board paddles cost $150! 
 

what the OP needs is a used canoe. 

I wasn't suggesting the OP get an old jet ski.  Was only giving an example of how creative fisherman can be when they want to get on the water and don't have the money for a boat.  Paddle board paddles can be purchased new for as little as $50 and up to $300.  I I own both.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, king fisher said:

I wasn't suggesting the OP get an old jet ski.  Was only giving an example of how creative fisherman can be when they want to get on the water and don't have the money for a boat.  Paddle board paddles can be purchased new for as little as $50 and up to $300.  I I own both.

I’d be carving one out of a tree limb before I dropped $300 hahah! I know what you’re saying, I’ve been out fished by individuals that used a Mountain Dew bottle for a rod/reel and line and hooks they found between the rocks. 

[Way2slow]

Lets face it, if a person has a max budget of $150, there's not a lot they can do to legally and safely cast toward the banks instead of off them.  

An old beat up small jon, might show up from time to time, or something like a plastic boat/pontoon that someone just wants gone, but again, that's still being in the right place at the right time.  

If a person has the skills and tools, yea, they can make something out of thin plywood that would last a few years but by the time you had a usable floater, you might still be over budget.

 

I am a firm believer in karma.  You do something you know in your gut is not right, it's going to come back to bite you in a major way.  You will pay, one way or the other.

I should also add, do what's right and you are usually rewarded in some way.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Way2slow said:

I am a firm believer in karma.  You do something you know in your gut is not right, it's going to come back to bite you in a major way.

Yep - unfortunately there seems to be more and more people who've shut down their conscience and just go with what benefits themselves without thought to anything else.

[Guitarfish]

I totally agree with Karma finding you,  and people that poach are the lowest of the low.  And I agree this country seems inundated with a general lack of respect for the environs.  But my point was who hasn't done something wrong in their life.  Roll a bit thru the stop sign, go a bit fast, make a you turn where you shouldn't, etc.  

 

I came to this site and was really impressed with the helpful suggestions and downright fun people seemed to be having.  And then I found the group that likes to drop stuff in every ones bowl of cornflakes while patting themselves on top of the head.  They kind of ruin it for the ones that just enjoy fishing and boating and buying cool toys.  

 

None of which has a darn thing to do with the OP's question about a cheap way of getting  his butt on the water.  I apologize for my part in the off topic veer,  and my lack of a useful suggestion.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Yep - unfortunately there seems to be more and more people who've shut down their conscience and just go with what benefits themselves without thought to anything else.

Yeah but they mostly live in Las Vegas and NYC............

 

just kidding they are everywhere, the law of large numbers just deposits a lot of them in those cities 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yeah but they mostly live in NYC............

Not all, my friend...I've heard things like that happening in my area.

[TnRiver46]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Not all, my friend...I've heard things like that happening in my area.

Yeah I had to edit in a disclaimer haha

[DaubsNU1]

I fished a belly-boat for a long time. Picked one up from the Bargain Cave at Cabela's...unfortunately they got rid of the bargain cave. Amazon... https://www.amazon.com/Belly-Boat/s?k=Belly+Boat

 

Belly-boat can be fished in a swimsuit, or with waders. Easy to transport as well. 

 

Next fishing vessel was an old canoe a buddy got from his uncle for next to nothing. 

 

Hunting buddy sold me his 12' jon-boat for $100. Paid welder to patch all the holes for $75. It's a decoy boat at our waterfowl spot now. 

 

Found my 14" Rich Line in 2000. Paid $600 for boat, trailer and 20hp Merc...the trailer was basically brand new at the time. Good deals are out there...keep searching.

[TnRiver46]

34 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I fished a belly-boat for a long time. Picked one up from the Bargain Cave at Cabela's...unfortunately they got rid of the bargain cave. Amazon... https://www.amazon.com/Belly-Boat/s?k=Belly+Boat

 

Belly-boat can be fished in a swimsuit, or with waders. Easy to transport as well. 

 

Next fishing vessel was an old canoe a buddy got from his uncle for next to nothing. 

 

Hunting buddy sold me his 12' jon-boat for $100. Paid welder to patch all the holes for $75. It's a decoy boat at our waterfowl spot now. 

 

Found my 14" Rich Line in 2000. Paid $600 for boat, trailer and 20hp Merc...the trailer was basically brand new at the time. Good deals are out there...keep searching.

^this man has walked the walk like most of us.  It can be done

[Shimano_1]

Sometimes its just not in the cards to spend more money.  Obviously savings would work of thats an option.  Id look around. May find someone selling a solid old jon boat for cheap or something similar.  Maybe try to barter for something.  If you put your mind to it there's likely a way to get something that'll work for now.

[Daniel Abram]

On 12/27/2020 at 12:57 PM, Jaderose said:

 

I wish I you had put this one about a month ago. I had a sit in that I used about 10 times. I sold paddle and life jacket all for $125. I paid like $300. I had it a couple years and being disabled vet with a service dog with me all the time. We could not fit on the kayak together. So now I just use my 16’  pontoon.  Good luck. Maybe you can fall into a good deal like I had.