Why Kayak over Bass Hunter/Pelican?

[KP Duty]

I have been a Pelican Bass Raider owner for over 20 years now....upgrading from an 8' to a 10' a few years ago.  I don't feel like my fishing is limited at all....I stand up and work my baits like I would in any other larger boat.  Watching kayak fishing grow immensely in the last decade, I've been wondering why you would want the limited space and manuverability that a kayak gives you.  Looks to me like both require a truck bed to haul around.  Thoughts?

[padlin]

Kind of hard to paddle a Raider all day, don't need to invest in a motor, also less susceptible to wind.

 

I own a Raider and canoes, when I'm in the weeds it's in a canoe.

[Fishingmickey]

Sure KP,

     The pelican bass raider is a fishing platform that you can't paddle effectively for any distance.  A trolling motor or small outboard is pretty much required to go any distance. Motorized vessel requires registration in most states. Pedal or paddle kayak's do not. 

     It won't take rough water for squat. Or let me rephrase that, I wouldn't take one out on a larger lake where there is a possibility of winds higher then about 8-10mph.  If it is a lee shore and protected water close to the ramp that's a different story.  It has a very large wind profile. 

   It's not very maneuverable for floating rivers, which cans that option for most of the rivers here.  It doesn't have a dolly/hand cart or wheels that can be used to launch it at non-boat ramp places unless you can drag it easily terrain permitting.

  I suspect that there is quite a few other reasons too. The above were some that came to mind pretty quickly.  Feel free to correct me, you asked for the reasons why Kayak instead or the Bass Raider.

Regards,

FM

 

3 minutes ago, padlin said:

Kind of hard to paddle a Raider all day, don't need to invest in a motor, also less susceptible to wind.

 

I own a Raider and canoes, when I'm in the weeds it's in a canoe.

Simultaneous posts, I got to windy with mine.

 

[KP Duty]

I can see a small kayak on s stream/creek...guess I was thinking more of the pond/lake fisherman.    

[Born 2 fish]

I have a bass raider 10e and kayaks I prefer the raider. Sitting on my kayak kills my back if I’m out longer than a couple hours. 

[padlin]

46 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

I have a bass raider 10e and kayaks I prefer the raider. Sitting on my kayak kills my back if I’m out longer than a couple hours. 

Same goes for the canoe, this is why I got the Raider last year. 20 years ago I could sit in a canoe all day, now after 4 or more hours I can hardly stand up to get out of the boat when I'm done, tend to cut my sessions short too when I can't take the scrunched up sitting position any more.

[FishTank]

I was out at local resivor last weekend and there was a guy in one of these that got stuck out in the middle of the lake. His trolling motor died. We had 20+ mph winds and 1+ foot swells. He was unable to paddle in against the wind and current.  A boat with a 9.9 had just shown up and towed him.  There were several other people in kayaks that came in successfully but based on how that boat was made, paddling was very difficult.  He was lucky he didn't tip over when he was crushed against the bank.  Here is what it looked like just before the wind really picked up. 

 

[HookInMouth]

I think for some things the Bass Raider is probably better. Seems like it would be a great pond boat. I looked at them when I was shopping for a small vessel. Shallow rivers were my main focus though and you really just need a kayak or canoe for that. 

 

I will say that I don't think the Raider would be more comfortable than some higher end kayaks. I would put the seat in my SS127 up against anything in most living rooms lol. I can easily spend 8 hours in that seat and I have back issues. 

[DaubsNU1]

Seen lots of people fishing the Pelican Bass Raider, and yaks, and canoes. I even had a belly-boat back when I first started fishing.  

 

If my trolling motor and outboard shot craps, I'd have a difficult time paddling my boat back to the ramp in any kind of wind. And would likely need a tow. 

 

I'm 54 and can't stand to sit all day...really prefer being able to fish standing up, and like having swivel seats and ability to move around in my 14" v-hull. 

 

When I first got in to fishing, all we had was a canoe. Couldn't do it by myself (we carried it on top of my buddy's Crown Victoria). One of us was always paddling and trying to keep the canoe in the right place. Seems like one person could load, unload, work a Raider or Yak as needed. 

 

Belly-boat was pretty d**n fun, I have to admit! Easy to maneuver and fish at the same time. But limited in the areas we could fish...d**n legs got tired trying to kick across the lake.

 

I will tell you, I was pretty d**n happy the day I scored my boat and trailer. Made fishing MUCH easier, and more productive. 

[Bankc]

19 hours ago, KP Duty said:

I can see a small kayak on s stream/creek...guess I was thinking more of the pond/lake fisherman.    

I only fish in ponds and lakes, and a kayak has a definite advantage there for me.  Some ponds around me won't allow any kind of motor.  And kayaks are much easier to paddle.  Also, before I got my truck, I had to car top my kayak.  I couldn't do that with a Bass Raider.  And lastly, in central Oklahoma, it's almost always windy.  And ponds and lakes don't have any trees or buildings in them to break the wind.  So when you're out on the water, you going to get pushed around.  The kayak makes that easier to deal with. 

 

I've been caught in 40mph winds with my kayak before.  Oklahoma weather is notoriously unpredictable.  In a SOT kayak with scupper holes, the waves can crash over the top and flood it, and so long as you don't get hit from the side, it will stay upright and afloat.  You and your gear can get back safely (though forget fishing).  A Bass Raider is just so top heavy that I'd be afraid to venture out on the water in all but the calmest of days, just in case a storm pops up out of nowhere.  

 

However, that doesn't mean it's right for everyone.  Not everyone needs to be able to car top.  Not everyone lives in an unpredictable wind tunnel.  And not everyone fishes ponds that don't allow any kind of motor.  And Bass Raiders and the like are easier to stand up in and cast and probably more comfortable on a long day.   You don't see many Bass Raiders where I live for those reasons.  I think I've seen one in the past three years.  Though they still remain very popular in other parts of the country.  

[Bird]

I have a fishing kayak and the Bass Raider 10E with 55lb trolling motor.

Only time the kayak gets used is river fishing but much prefer fishing out of the Bass Raider.

 

I'm 61 and can easily throw the Bass Raider on back of my truck, no trailer required but the ability to comfortably stand is perhaps the biggest plus for me personally.

 

If you're asking me ? Keep that Raider.

[CrashVector]

I use a pelican kayak.  It's been my go-to fishing boat for the past three years.

 

Most SOT kayaks don't have much of a side wall, which is something I appreciate about my Pelican Catch.  The sidewalls are tall enough to store my lure boxes against and I get get swamped by passing boats.

[king fisher]

I can launch my kayak on the beach in large surf and fish on the open ocean.  For small ponds I can’t think of any advantage a kayak would have

[flyfisher]

A matter of preference really.  I have been kayak fishing for a long time.  I have no issues standing and fly fishing from my kayak and have plenty of space.  I can paddle comfortably in the 3.5-4mph range and have done so on many 10+ mile days.  I have also been in some pretty rough water and did just fine, took a little longer but manageable.  I motorized my kayak last year and it makes it even better.  I can sit back and cruise at 4mph with zero effort and should my battery die, I can still paddle with no issues.

 

If i lived on a pond or small lake, I'd probably have a bass hunter on the shore for ease of use but for the variety of water I can take my kayak, i'll take that over a bass hunter style of boat.