Is the misery of kayak fishing worth it?

[Retiredguns]

35 minutes ago, HookInMouth said:

"I think comfort is a big thing. I can't imagine anyone being uncomfortable in a Bonafide SS127. Honestly, that seat might be more comfortable than anything I have in my living room. I think a high well made seat is paramount."

 

I am certain a nicer, higher chair will help. My knees are toast and having them straight out for hours really hurts. Sitting in a boat chair doesn't bother them at all.  I am still working on mounting a stadium seat as that can't hurt.

 

That chair in the bonefide looks awesome! Almost full height.

[HookInMouth]

37 minutes ago, Retiredguns said:

 

That chair in the bonefide looks awesome! Almost full height.

It really is. I'm not a tall guy (5-7") but my legs bend perfectly off the seat and I sit flat foot while fishing. But it's not just the height either. They put a lot of thought into the ergonomics. I'm not in the greatest shape and I've had back problems since high school (44 now). I can easily put 6-8 hours in that seat without issue. 

[Yakalong]

Love fishing from my boat but love the kayak as well. There is something about being right on the water when you pull that fish up. Also, I can get my kayak into some very tight places and shallow that a boat can't touch. Each has there place and I wouldn't ever get rid of kayak. 

[Koz]

On 5/16/2021 at 12:31 AM, Drew03cmc said:

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.

I love my Seastream Angler PD and have zero regrets on purchasing it. I can cover a lot of water with minimal effort. In fact, pedaling hard is counter productive because you really don't go that much faster and you tire quicker.

 

It's a 2 mile jaunt to one of my fishing spots and I can make that in about 15 minutes in choppy water and riding the wakes of motorized craft. That's a clip of 8 mph with pedaling easy.

 

It's handled the choppy waters well and is incredibly stable. I have not stood in it to fish because it's always windy and choppy out on the big lake, but I have stood up in it when removing the pedal drive and placing it on the dock.

 

I also prefer to sit and fish, and the seat is comfortable. I just wish it was a few inches higher.

[michaelb]

9 hours ago, Koz said:

It's a 2 mile jaunt to one of my fishing spots and I can make that in about 15 minutes in choppy water and riding the wakes of motorized craft. That's a clip of 8 mph with pedaling easy.

I am curious about how accurately you have measured that distance time? that is impressive. Googling average peddle speed, it seems like 8 mph is the high top end speed, and that 4-5 mph would be more the expected speed for the average user.

 

I don't have a peddle kayak and I like paddling, in part because we also bike quite a bit over the summer too. I can cover 3-4 miles an hour paddling, but that is working hard and not something I could sustain over any distance. I much prefer fishing off my kayak than I do off my boat, so that is not even close or a question for me.

[snake95]

On 5/17/2021 at 10:49 PM, schplurg said:

Maybe I'll get the jon boat and keep the yak as well.

That would be a good combo.

[Junk Fisherman]

On 5/17/2021 at 11:33 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Gas, oil, constantly worrying about what might break the next trip out, trailer tires, trailer bearings, trailer bunks, trailer lights, boat carpet, boat insurance, electrical issues, boat seats, boat covers, multiple batteries, it all adds up and is so crazy expensive and really does take some of the fun out of it. My boat just sits around unless the family wants to go or weather won't allow me to take my kayak anymore. Worse case with my kayak (other than losing or breaking the actual kayak), is I destroy my drive. A new one is $1,000, or about the starting cost of every boat repair I've ever had to do. Difference is, in that case, it's like getting a whole new motor put on the boat instead of just fixing a part of an already used motor. 

 

In the last 2 months I have spent on my boat:

$272 for insurance

$340 for relube my bearings, trailer inspection, 1 new tire

$120 new starting battery

$157 license plate sticker for the trailer

 

That was kinda depressing adding that up.  

[li_bass_hunter]

I hate kayaks. Give me waders or a boat

[the reel ess]

On 5/18/2021 at 7:52 PM, Yakalong said:

Love fishing from my boat but love the kayak as well. There is something about being right on the water when you pull that fish up. Also, I can get my kayak into some very tight places and shallow that a boat can't touch. Each has there place and I wouldn't ever get rid of kayak. 

I've lost fewer fish since I started kayak fishing. I think it has to do with the lower rod angle and of course being on water level. And the fish can't really go under the kayak if you keep the rod angle right. They'll just turn the boat. I don't usually use a landing net for single hooks, but I do for trebles so I don't hesitate to secure the fish at the boat. It's scary when a big fish is thrashing with a face full of Whopper Plopper trebles.

[volzfan59]

Some folks love kayak fishing, I didn't. I sold both of mine and bought a Jon boat. I may buy a canoe too, haven't decided yet.

[Koz]

11 hours ago, michaelb said:

I am curious about how accurately you have measured that distance time? that is impressive. Googling average peddle speed, it seems like 8 mph is the high top end speed, and that 4-5 mph would be more the expected speed for the average user.

 

I don't have a peddle kayak and I like paddling, in part because we also bike quite a bit over the summer too. I can cover 3-4 miles an hour paddling, but that is working hard and not something I could sustain over any distance. I much prefer fishing off my kayak than I do off my boat, so that is not even close or a question for me.

 

I timed how long it took me to get from my launch point to my destination, then later plotted it on Google Earth. The wind was pretty much at my back that day and that helped. I've read multiple articles that pedal kayaks can do 8-10 knots.

 

Another article says the average speed on a Hobie mirage is 4.5 knots, but I guess that depends upon how determined you are. I had to cross a decent amount of open water perpendicular to a primary travel area for motorboats. I was very determined to cross that open water area as quick as possible. There's way too many knuckleheads and weekend warriors on jet skis and pontoon boats in that part of the lake.

[Allen Der]

On 5/17/2021 at 10:11 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

on the flip side.  a bass boat has it's own misery.  FUEL!  I put $120 into my friends boat gas tank.  it moved the needle to 1/4 tank.  by my math, a full tank is over $400.  I am a simple man, with a simple job.  that would break my fun-bank, and suck some of the fun out of fishing for me.  I would have a stick with some string with my remaining  discretionary spending funds. 

 

add that to the truck towing the boat.  FUEL!  

 

brutal.  I have the green light to buy a PRIUS and a roof rack.  moving my kayak around with a smaller gas footprint is a possibility.  not sure I can stomach driving a Prius, but I have options.

this to me is for 100% fun.  blowing my retirement isn't fun.  

 

my kayak had a slightly painful, but relatively surmountable entry fee.  but I am done.  I am out on the water easy, under my own power, and catching the heck out of fish.  I have never ever in my entire life been such a successful fisherman, than when I embraced "the kayak life"

There's a lot of cooler hybrid and electric vehicles now.  Don't limit yourself to a Prius

[gim]

On 5/17/2021 at 10:11 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

FUEL!  I put $120 into my friends boat gas tank.  it moved the needle to 1/4 tank.  by my math, a full tank is over $400.

Holy! How big of a fuel tank are you using?!

 

My 4-stroke outboard sips fuel. I buy gas once or twice all season for an 18 gallon tank.

[bulldog1935]

here's what fuels my boat

 

[TnRiver46]

Something about sitting in a kayak hurts, and I’ve paddled probably 30 different ones over the years. They all hurt. Even in a top of the line sit on top with awesome chair, it still hurts. I have no idea why but it does. I can sit in my aluminum canoe with a flat metal seat for 13-14 hours and not even feel uncomfortable, much less hurt. It doesn’t really make sense. Maybe it’s the freedom of movement, I don’t know. I remember kayaking one time in some swift water and my left leg went completely numb, I’ve never felt anything like that before or since. I beached the boat and walked around a while, it went away 

[bulldog1935]

what I like about long, narrow boats, aside from speed and distance, is straddling them for easy-chair fishing.  

 

 

 

[Allen Der]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:00 PM, bulldog1935 said:

what I like about long, narrow boats, aside from speed and distance, is straddling them for easy-chair fishing.  

 

 

Wildy Tarpon? Sitting side saddle is nice too

[Darth-Baiter]

Heck yes!  Today was great. 

 

 

[Harold Scoggins]

Yeah, it's worth it...

 

[Stasher1]

Imo, if you can't spend the better part of a day on/in a kayak without being sore for a couple days, you should take a long hard look at your current level of physical fitness. 

 

My current fishing kayak caused minor pain and numbness in one leg, and that was remedied by reworking the seat for less than $100. Now it's an all-day fishing machine...but I have a strong core and do a good bit of hiking and recreational canoe/kayak paddling.

[Boomstick]

On 5/15/2021 at 9:34 PM, Dumbbassanglr said:

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

I set mine up with an anchor wizard and an anchor trolley off the bat, it's definitely addition. I just run a single anchor, but I am able to keep myself pointed at my target plus or minus about 30 degrees to either side, and if there is a single directional decent current then even less.

 

As for the original question, it's definitely worth it. At least if you have a spacious and stable fishing kayak. Fishing out of something that is tight for space and not stable is still fun, but much more challenging to say the least.

 

The seat in my Bonafide SS127 has two positions, and I usually just use the low because I can't find a paddle long enough for the high - and the high position sits you pretty high. I've become very comfortable casting out of the seat. My oldest son has a Kaku Voodoo which is essentially a flat top kayak that comes with a full blown metal frame seat. You can sit on top of the seat when you anchor down.

On 5/24/2021 at 12:23 AM, Harold Scoggins said:

Yeah, it's worth it...

 

Awesome video.

[DogBone_384]

On 5/15/2021 at 7:21 PM, Retiredguns said:

As annoying as it was, we caught 8-9 4-5lb Bass and loss at least 4 even bigger.

I think you answered your own question.

 

The membership’s pretty well covered the plusses of kayak fishing.

 

I have anchor trolleys on both sides of my kayaks and use a seven pound claw anchor to keep in place.

 

I also have a drift sock for times I want to work slowly with the wind/current.

 

I own a Ranger RT178 too, and there are times I prefer fishing from my kayak. 
 

I have access to many more waters with my kayak than boat. That’s a huge plus.

[DogBone_384]

On 5/20/2021 at 11:34 PM, Koz said:

That's a clip of 8 mph with pedaling easy.

I have a FeelFree Lure 11.5 with their Overdrive and average 3.5 - 4 mph while pedaling at a normal pace.

[Darth-Baiter]

Did someone say they can kick pedal a kayak at 8mph?!

[Bankc]

On 5/21/2021 at 8:05 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Something about sitting in a kayak hurts, and I’ve paddled probably 30 different ones over the years. They all hurt. Even in a top of the line sit on top with awesome chair, it still hurts. I have no idea why but it does. I can sit in my aluminum canoe with a flat metal seat for 13-14 hours and not even feel uncomfortable, much less hurt. It doesn’t really make sense. Maybe it’s the freedom of movement, I don’t know. I remember kayaking one time in some swift water and my left leg went completely numb, I’ve never felt anything like that before or since. I beached the boat and walked around a while, it went away 

It probably is the inability to move.  Long plane rides and car drives do this to me.  If you get a stable enough kayak so that you can stand and crawl around in, it really helps to prolong your day without pain.  Even if you don't stand up, it's nice to be able to drop your legs over the side or kneel near the front or turn around towards the back.  Just the stability to not have to maintain one seated position the whole time makes a huge difference.  But you have to remember to take advantage of that and get up and move around often.  

 

I always make it a point to move around.  I have lower back and knee issues and if I stay in one position too long, I'll get stiff and find myself in a world of hurt.  Only I won't know it until it's too late.  So I make it a point to not stay in one position too long.