Is the misery of kayak fishing worth it?

[TnRiver46]

On 5/24/2021 at 7:28 PM, Stasher1 said:

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. 

 

I guess I’ll just have to agree to disagree with that . I can fish out of my metal canoe with flat metal seats like folding chairs for 14 hours straight no problem. 2-3 hours in the super stable Jackson kayak with top of the line comfy seat that I can stand in is nearly crippling . 
 

take the seat out and sit around the fire and it’s just fine 

 

Also I don’t have physical fitness issues

 

its not being sore for days after, it’s while I’m in the kayak. As soon as I get out of it, all is better 

[Bankc]

19 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I guess I’ll just have to agree to disagree with that . I can fish out of my metal canoe with flat metal seats like folding chairs for 14 hours straight no problem. 2-3 hours in the super stable Jackson kayak with top of the line comfy seat that I can stand in is nearly crippling . 
 

take the seat out and sit around the fire and it’s just fine 

 

Also I don’t have physical fitness issues

 

its not being sore for days after, it’s while I’m in the kayak. As soon as I get out of it, all is better 

Well, you've got me stumped!  Perhaps you have an allergy to Polyethylene?  I'm running out of ideas here!

[TnRiver46]

15 minutes ago, Bankc said:

Well, you've got me stumped!  Perhaps you have an allergy to Polyethylene?  I'm running out of ideas here!

That combined with an abnormally long torso and bad posture haha

 

not all spines are created equally 

[Hawkeye21]

I really don't want to fish any other way, unless I'm on someone else's boat.  Boat ownership is not for me.

[Stasher1]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I guess I’ll just have to agree to disagree with that . I can fish out of my metal canoe with flat metal seats like folding chairs for 14 hours straight no problem. 2-3 hours in the super stable Jackson kayak with top of the line comfy seat that I can stand in is nearly crippling . 
 

take the seat out and sit around the fire and it’s just fine 

 

Also I don’t have physical fitness issues

 

its not being sore for days after, it’s while I’m in the kayak. As soon as I get out of it, all is better 

 

No disagreement. If you're not sore for days afterwards, only while underway, it's ergonomics and not physical fitness. It doesn't matter how comfortable the chair is while you're sitting around the fire. If it's not comfortable while you're paddling/fishing, it's simply not the right seat for you.

[bulldog1935]

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

Well, you've got me stumped!  Perhaps you have an allergy to Polyethylene?  I'm running out of ideas here!

I'm back to straddling my narrow T160 as the way to fish comfy.  

I'm 6'3" and all limbs - 35" inseam.  I've only had two vehicles in my life with the right thigh support (no such thing as a dining chair my size). 

Without it I have shin splints after 2 hours behind the wheel.  

Almost no kayak seat is going to have thigh support - until you get sitting height far above the roll center -  unless your feet are dangling in the water and your thighs resting on the gunwhales.  

Of course you travel with your feet inside the kayak.  

 

As far as back goes, that's all about core muscles - you need to be in a position that you begin paddle strokes from your abdomen.  

Same holds for pedaling, whether bicycle or pedal kayak.  Pedaling should begin in your abdomen (on a bicycle, if you're leaning on your arms instead of core muscles, you're begging for back pain).  

[TnRiver46]

16 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

I'm back to straddling my narrow T160 as the way to fish comfy.  

I'm 6'3" and all limbs - 35" inseam.  I've only had two vehicles in my life with the right thigh support (no such thing as a dining chair my size). 

Without it I have shin splints after 2 hours behind the wheel.  

Almost no kayak seat is going to have thigh support - until you get sitting height far above the roll center -  unless your feet are dangling in the water and your thighs resting on the gunwhales.  

Of course you travel with your feet inside the kayak.  

 

As far as back goes, that's all about core muscles - you need to be in a position that you begin paddle strokes from your abdomen.  

Same holds for pedaling, whether bicycle or pedal kayak.  Pedaling should begin in your abdomen (on a bicycle, if you're leaning on your arms instead of core muscles, you're begging for back pain).  

You are the fishing technician! I just cast it out and feel for the bite, trying to cease all thinking 

[bulldog1935]

at 63, you gotta do it right, or it's gonna catch up with you.  

 

Two of three old codgers taking a beer-thirty break on East Flats.  

Both of these friends are most of 10 years my senior.  

@TnRiver46

Edited for below - this day was so perfect and read it beforehand in the tide chart - wind and tide. We had just come back from a successful coast trip when Josh invited me - called Lou, and we blasted back just for this day.  

Drifting between island and oyster reef.  From here there were two shelves before the oyster reef.  The reds were in this skinny grass, the small trout on the first shelf, and the big trout in the second deeper shelf up to the reef. 

Fished 1/8 oz from here to the end of the first shelf, and 3/8 oz on the 2nd shelf - caught fish nonstop.  

We made zig-zag drifts working up the island to cover it all, and the day turned off when the falling tide current slacked.  

We keep this spot in our back pocket just for this wind and tide.  

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

at 63, you gotta do it right, or it's gonna catch up with you.  

 

Two of three old codgers taking a beer-thirty break on East Flats.  

 

 

I’m the worst at stopping fishing....... 

 

sweet spot!

[Retiredguns]

Went out for a casual paddle with the Wife and it wasn't bad. Mild wind and no fishing. I think if I did have a higher sitting position, it would help some. My knees after 20 years running in the Corps are shot. Gives me enough disability to forgo a fishing license in Illinois though.  There is definitely truth in being able to move around a bit as I can also sit in a canoe or boat for 12+ hours with no issues except maybe a little back soreness in the canoe.  Sitting flat with legs straight out is what does most of the damage. I do dangle them once in a while and it helps. I am 60, 5'7" and 160lbs. Doc says I am in good shape and I feel that way most days. I installed a recessed trolling motor foot pedal tray on my boat and that has been a terrific upgrade as now I do not have to basically balance on one foot all day.  Need to make things as comfy as I can. No shame in that.

[TnRiver46]

I feel as though @Bankc @bulldog1935 and @Retiredguns have properly diagnosed my problem. The same things happens when I sit behind a steering wheel for more than an hour or two straight so it just about has to be the restriction of movement. 

[kjfishman]

I have a bass boat and a kayak and spend more time in the kayak.

[Bluebasser86]

14 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

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

I think it was an estimated/calculated speed. I've given mine everything I've got on smooth water and got to 5.5mph. I don't know how I could get that extra 2.5mph without a motor or something. 

[TnRiver46]

11 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I think it was an estimated/calculated speed. I've given mine everything I've got on smooth water and got to 5.5mph. I don't know how I could get that extra 2.5mph without a motor or something. 

You could chug a quart of racing fuel before you hop into the yak 

[bulldog1935]

or some liquid bread 

 

I can tell you that Revo 16, the fastest pedal yak made, has a hard time keeping up with my paddle Kestrel, while my fast T160 can't keep up with him.  

 

 

Can also add that in 28-kt gusts with waves (not predicted by NWS), can aim my T160 where I want and it's still stable.  In the same condition, the Revo won't steer or head up, windcocks and flips.  

[Darth-Baiter]

My Hobie I can slow Kick as in zero effort.  Well almost zero effort 2.8mph - 3 mph.   It’s my speed to socialize with paddlers.  When solo. I put some back into it and get 4.5 for fairly long runs.  My HR gets to 120-130 sometimes, so I’m “exercising “:). I’m fast, but not anywhere near 8. 

[Dye99]

I am a kayak angler at heart. It just makes sense to me.

in 2004 I was fishing in a canoe in Austin Texas and saw my first yak coming down the lake towards me. I stopped and spoke with the guy for a few minutes and he showed me his boat and told me he bought it in town at a little store called Austin Canoe and Kayak.

I left that afternoon and went directly there and bought a Ocean Kayak Trident. 

Fished the hell out of that boat. 

Now its years later, countless tournaments, and thousands of hours in the cockpit.

Ive gone through 5-6 different boats and these days I just stick with my Wilderness systems ATAK. 

 

But I fell in love with the freedom, the exercise, the low cost and just the simplicity of it. 

As a 50 year old bass fishing fanatic I really cant see my self fishing any other way.

 

Once you learn to understand how the weather effects you, you will find that there is a true freedom that is good fo the soul in a kayak.

[Fir3hawk]

It’s all about perspective. I have a 17’ Deep-V with two 9” Garmins and a 115 Mercury. Great boat, wouldnt trade it for the world.

 

I also have a Vibe Sea Gost 110. I put a 5” fish finder on it and thats it. I didnt want a big fish finder or a pedal drive, trolling motor on my kayak. It fits in my garage and is great for a week night trip to the local city lake.

 

My boat is to wide for my 8’ garage doors so I have to store it about 40 mins away. Both are different approaches to fishing and have their pros and cons.

 

Heck even with those I just shore fished today.

[Backroad Angler]

When it comes to fishing, my time is split between bank fishing and kayak fishing. Like many have listed already and you pointed out, Its a joy of how many places that open up when in the kayak, you have the ability to slide in smaller places a boat cannot go. I currently have two kayaks, a cheaper pelican 10 footer sit on top, and a little more expensive feelfree moken 12.5 footer sit on top. When the time is right, I will probably eventually get a boat whether that's a jon boat or whatever. But to wrap it up, kayaks to me are super versatile and one of the parts I love the most is the easiness of transporting it, I figure not as much of a headache as a full size boat.  

[bulldog1935]

16 hours ago, JoshFromBolo said:

When it comes to fishing, my time is split between bank fishing and kayak fishing. Like many have listed already and you pointed out, Its a joy of how many places that open up when in the kayak, you have the ability to slide in smaller places a boat cannot go. I currently have two kayaks, a cheaper pelican 10 footer sit on top, and a little more expensive feelfree moken 12.5 footer sit on top. When the time is right, I will probably eventually get a boat whether that's a jon boat or whatever. But to wrap it up, kayaks to me are super versatile and one of the parts I love the most is the easiness of transporting it, I figure not as much of a headache as a full size boat.  

 

Kayak also lets you taxi your bank and wade fishing to awesome spots.  

 

 

But then, a boat will let you mothership your kayak to even more awesome spots.  

[Backroad Angler]

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

Kayak also lets you taxi your bank and wade fishing to awesome spots.  

 

 

But then, a boat will let you mothership your kayak to even more awesome spots.  

Also want to point out, the maintenance, storage, and caretaking of a kayak are much more, lack of a better word, trouble free when compared to other boats, jon boats, bass boats, etc. I agree with you though, finding a bank somewhere not really accessible to get to by foot, is awesome. 

[Bluebasser86]

Getting ready for a road trip with the family this week, taking the boat and kayak because I have a kayak tournament at the lake we're staying at Saturday. Doing the normal checks and noticed grease inside the wheel cover ?‍♂️ So I spent this morning tearing apart my trailer hub and cleaning the grease out and then remembered it's a holiday so there's no way I'm getting any bearings. So the trailer sat on jacks and blocked the whole garage all day waiting to hopefully get fixed tomorrow when I can buy the needed supplies. I get closer every time I have to mess with junk like this to selling it and becoming a full time kayak angler. The amount of hassle and stress that could be avoided. If my family didn't enjoy going with me, it'd be long gone.

[DaubsNU1]

Brother has been saving, planning, and waiting for 20+ years to get his dream boat...a Lund Alaskan. 

 

He wanted this boat for the deep sides so our 80 year old Dad could fish safely and comfortably. Dad's old Lowe was not as stable, or spacious. Dad can't stand when fishing, and we have to hold him up to tick. This is the perfect set up for our crew. 

 

Yes, it's more maintenance, more $, takes up a garage spot, and we can't fish little ponds / out-of-the-way spots...but it's big enough to fish South Dakota reservoirs, yet small enough to launch at pretty much any boat ramp. 

 

 

And we eat like kings!

 

[king fisher]

yes

[David 7]

It is absolutely worth it IMO, in fact, I think bass fishing in a kayak is the best if fishing alone. You really have to keep an eye on the weather forecast though; if there is going to be more than 5mph wind or so, I wouldn't take one out. The only real downside to kayak fishing is that you can't take anyone with you. But then again, what do I know.. don't even have a truck so couldn't tow a boat even if I had one!