Is the misery of kayak fishing worth it?

[Retiredguns]

My Brother-in-Law and I have been out in the kayaks 4 times this spring. EVERY single time it has been windy and cold even if the day before was beautiful. Today I was cramping, sore as heck, twirling in circles when not anchored and tangling my lines. As annoying as it was, we caught 8-9 4-5lb Bass and loss at least 4 even bigger. A couple of the fish came in about 8" of water and it is nice to go anywhere I want.  Fishing so low to the water and behind my back sometimes was the cause for losing those hogs. I freely admit that I really enjoy fishing out of my boat, elevated with a trolling motor.

 

The Wife and I do use the kayaks quite a bit for just paddling and exercise but it might be a while before I fish in it again. 

[Deleted account]

No. 

[Boulderman]

Yes.

[Kdizzle]

Very much worth it.  If you have good riverways and lakes around you suitable for fishing anyway.  Also, a fishing kayak is still a kayak, and a fish and float can turn into a regular relax and float real quick.

[LCG]

Having a kayak has opened up so much more fishing opportunities for me. The access you can get, stealth, good exercise. 

 

Yes there is some tradeoffs, but if you can adjust, I think it is a great investment. 

[schplurg]

I haven't decided yet. I will probably sell mine and do a jon boat. I need to be able to move around, and I want a trolling motor too.

 

IF IF a pedal yak comes at the right price I may consider that instead. Paddling is a problem with my tendinitis and I'd rather save my strength for actual fishing. Could be a game changer.

 

But probably going to do the boat and add a casting deck and seat. I don't like being stuck in the yak seat.

[Dens228]

I love kayak bass fishing.   

[the reel ess]

I say yes. I caught these this morning. 7.93 and 5.75. Both on the Whopper Plopper. There's just no thrill like having a big gal hauling your kayak around.

 

[Dumbbassanglr]

I was frustrated at first too until I got an anchor wizard.

[Retiredguns]

Thanks for the replies. The fishing is good and a local lake is carry on only so the kayak works for that. I am 60 and it takes a little while to recover after 6-7 hours in the kayak. I know a calm day will be a treat. I’m grateful to have options.

[NYWayfarer]

Yes. 
 

You can minimize or eliminate the misery with some planning and accessories.

 

Windy day, find spots that you can paddle to that are sheltered from the winds. Anchors help. I have a brush anchor  that I use way more that I ever used my mushroom anchor. 
 

Landing fish, make sure and have a net handy. Nothing worse than losing a fish that bumps into the kayak.

 

Tired, a kayak moves with little effort. If you want to get somewhere fast it’s nice to have the option to paddle hard. Most of the time you can barely dip the paddle and get yourself to cruising speed.

 

Adjustments while fishing, get a hand paddle. I use the Backwaters Assault Paddle with one hand while fighting a fish with the rod in my other hand. 
 

[Koz]

I fished using rented paddle kayaks for a while and I spent more time paddling trying to adjust my position than I did casting and fishing. I hated it. When I was looking to buy a kayak I could not see purchasing a paddle fishing kayak without having an anchor trolley system. Even then, it still means less time casting.

 

So I didn't buy a paddle kayak.

 

I bought a pedal kayak. And I didn't spend a fortune.

 

I bought a Seastream Angler 120 PD for $1,399 and I don't regret one penny of that purchase. Between the pedals and the rudder I can jog the craft in place or I can just set the rudder and drift along the area I want to fish. I can cover miles of water to get to a location in very little time, even in choppy waters and windy conditions. No worries about stability whatsoever.

[Drew03cmc]

2 hours ago, Koz said:

I fished using rented paddle kayaks for a while and I spent more time paddling trying to adjust my position than I did casting and fishing. I hated it. When I was looking to buy a kayak I could not see purchasing a paddle fishing kayak without having an anchor trolley system. Even then, it still means less time casting.

 

So I didn't buy a paddle kayak.

 

I bought a pedal kayak. And I didn't spend a fortune.

 

I bought a Seastream Angler 120 PD for $1,399 and I don't regret one penny of that purchase. Between the pedals and the rudder I can jog the craft in place or I can just set the rudder and drift along the area I want to fish. I can cover miles of water to get to a location in very little time, even in choppy waters and windy conditions. No worries about stability whatsoever.

I have a Feel free Moken and was wondering how you like the Seastream 120PD. The Moken 12.5 is a fast, straight paddling boat. It is stable enough to stand and fish, handles wind well and has a comfortable enough seat.

[billmac]

Frankly I still haven't quite figured out the allure of kayak fishing.  I have kayaks and like to take them out on the water, but if I need to use a carry-on craft I'd much rather fish from a canoe.

[the reel ess]

10 hours ago, Retiredguns said:

Thanks for the replies. The fishing is good and a local lake is carry on only so the kayak works for that. I am 60 and it takes a little while to recover after 6-7 hours in the kayak. I know a calm day will be a treat. I’m grateful to have options.

I'm 50 and I feel it day after. I don't know what kayak you have but a stadium type seat helps a lot. I also have access to a smaller pond that's in a lower lying area that I can fish even during lake wind advisory level winds. And I have another couple that I can walk. I don't really like kayak fishing in 10+ MPH winds. I also limit myself to about 4 hours in the saddle or try to get out and stretch halfway through.

[Scott F]

I’m very uncomfortable in a kayak. I need to be able to move my legs more than a kayak allows. 

[roadwarrior]

I had a two man Ocean Kayak for a couple of seasons. I did not like it at all.

Spent most of my fighting the wind, even the slightest breeze changed the 

position of the boat. More importantly, I am simply to stiff to sit, turn or fish 

in a kayak.  Just not my deal.

[Jaderose]

As a person with a titanium cage built around his fused spine to hold everything together, I cannot imagine spending more than10 minutes in a kayak without being crippled

[DaubsNU1]

I started fishing with a belly boat, then to a canoe. It was all we had and we loved it. 

 

Got this in 2000. WOW, so much better to be able to stand, sit, move around, tick off the side, run trolling motor with my foot. It is 14’ and can get about any place I need to go. 

 

 

 

Wife and I have kayaks, she loves taking them out on the lake for exercise. I last about 50-60 minutes, then I’m ready to be done. Hard to sit that long. 

 

Kayak is not for me...but I understand some people don’t have the vehicle to tow a boat, or the place to store them. To each his own. 

 

My brother just picked up a 18’ Lund Alaskan. It’s a FANTASTIC boat, 112lb Ulterra trolling motor with auto-deploy, spot-lock, all the bells and whistles. It’s a great boat, but it’s really big. Great for my 80 year old dad who has balance issues. 

 

Get the bet rig you can afford, and fish the hell out of it!!

[Kevin Shoot]

I like to fish out my yak. I've had it for 20 years. A recreational yak that it a sit inside and very stable.

I take 1 rod and reel. 1 spare spinner, and 1 bottle of water. Takes only a couple of minutes to load on my car. 3/4 mile drive to a 25 acre pond. If some one else wants to fish on the water, I take my Sportspal canoe.

 

Mostly I bank fish 75% of the time about 4 times a week.

[GaryH]

20 hours ago, Retiredguns said:

My Brother-in-Law and I have been out in the kayaks 4 times this spring. EVERY single time it has been windy and cold even if the day before was beautiful. Today I was cramping, sore as heck, twirling in circles when not anchored and tangling my lines. As annoying as it was, we caught 8-9 4-5lb Bass and loss at least 4 even bigger. A couple of the fish came in about 8" of water and it is nice to go anywhere I want.  Fishing so low to the water and behind my back sometimes was the cause for losing those hogs. I freely admit that I really enjoy fishing out of my boat, elevated with a trolling motor.

 

The Wife and I do use the kayaks quite a bit for just paddling and exercise but it might be a while before I fish in it again. 

Just have to go with what you enjoy. I prefer a boat but have friends that love there yaks. Truck vs compact car. Everyone has a preference. Fish and enjoy yourself.

9 minutes ago, Kevin Shoot said:

I like to fish out my yak. I've had it for 20 years. A recreational yak that it a sit inside and very stable.

I take 1 rod and reel. 1 spare spinner, and 1 bottle of water. Takes only a couple of minutes to load on my car. 3/4 mile drive to a 25 acre pond. If some one else wants to fish on the water, I take my Sportspal canoe.

 

Mostly I bank fish 75% of the time about 4 times a week.

Welcome to the forum Kevin...

[Kevin Shoot]

Thanks,,

 

Bradford County.

[GaryH]

Corner of Bradford, Lycoming, Tioga. Trout run area

[Brutal_boost]

I don't currently have space for anything bigger than a kayak so I am kind of forced into the kayak situation. However I just upgraded to a new kayak from a little sit inside kayak and it is worlds better. A good sit on top fishing kayak that is stable to stand on makes a ton of difference. It isn't going to be as cheap as a regular sit in but it is definitely worth it. I have also heard that a nicer paddle helps a ton. I ordered one and it won't come in until Thursday so I can't confirm that yet. The wind situation makes kayak fishing painful. Two things that will help is an anchor with a trolley system and/or a stakeout pole/ power pole for your shallow water situations. 

 

I would recommend upgrading kayaks if at all possible (given I don't know what you have as of now but it probably isn't ideal). I got the Nucanoe Flint and it comes in at around $1,000. I am able to stand up and fish and it cuts through the water pretty good. There is all sorts of possibilities with this kayak also. I just got a fish finder setup installed this weekend and that elevates it a little further.

[the reel ess]

10 hours ago, billmac said:

Frankly I still haven't quite figured out the allure of kayak fishing.  I have kayaks and like to take them out on the water, but if I need to use a carry-on craft I'd much rather fish from a canoe.

I had a canoe. It was fine for two people. But I find the kayak much easier to handle, both on land and water. I have a small light one specifically designed for fishing still waters or slow rivers. It only weighs 57 lbs. I find that, since a big fish can turn the kayak easily, I don't have the issue of them going under the boat. But I understand they're not everybody's bag. I have some people say they want to go fishing with me until I tell them I only have 2 kayaks.