Why a Kayak?

[TNBankFishing]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I wouldn't even consider launching my boat in winds that stiff.  Not only is it unsafe, but boat control is impossible.  If you are fishing in conditions like that from a kayak...nice knowing ya.

How about fishing with another person or two?  You aren't going to have 2 or 3 people fishing together in your kayak.

 

I often take my dog with when I fish.  There's no way she is coming with me in a kayak.

I’ve fished tourneys in 40mph winds. With spot lock and experience it’s doable. Not may favorite, and definitely sketchy but use whatever you can to break the wind. 
 

My wife and I often take our dogs out on our kayaks. I get the 70lb staffy and she takes the corgi. My kayak isn’t the standard sit in variety. I run a Native Titan 12 and the rear well is large enough for my pup. 

[gim]

Just now, TNBankFishing said:

I get the 70lb staffy

 

I would like to see a photo of that!

[A-Jay]

39 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

I get the 70lb staffy 

 

38 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I would like to see a photo of that!

I had to read this one twice ~

?

A-Jay

 

[Darth-Baiter]

39 minutes ago, TNBankFishing said:

I’ve fished tourneys in 40mph winds. With spot lock and experience it’s doable. Not may favorite, and definitely sketchy but use whatever you can to break the wind. 
 

My wife and I often take our dogs out on our kayaks. I get the 70lb staffy and she takes the corgi. My kayak isn’t the standard sit in variety. I run a Native Titan 12 and the rear well is large enough for my pup. 

40 mph winds is a lot!!  wow.  kudos.  

 

 

[FishTank]

I have a Hobie PA14 and it has redefined how I fish and what I think of fishing.  I can't explain it but catching fish in a kayak seems more rewarding than being in a boat. Probably the same thing could be said about fly fishing as compared to bass fishing from the bank. It's just different.  Bottom line,  I enjoy it more. 

[Darth-Baiter]

22 minutes ago, FishTank said:

I have a Hobie PA14 and it has redefined how I fish and what I think of fishing.  I can't explain it but catching fish in a kayak seems more rewarding than being in a boat. Probably the same thing could be said about fly fishing as compared to bass fishing from the bank. It's just different.  Bottom line,  I enjoy it more. 

hahah..you bring up a few good points.  

 

my PB is 7lbs.  I caught it from my buddies bass boat.  in my mind, I need one from my kayak to make it official.  dumb and ridiculous I know, but only in my mind.  which is a weird place to begin with. 

 

finally, your main point hits home.  in Mandarin there is a saying that states, "a simple life is a good life".  it sounds way awesome in Mandarin.  I think a kayak is perhaps a simpler life.  thanks Fishtank.

[Bankc]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

I wouldn't even consider launching my boat in winds that stiff.  Not only is it unsafe, but boat control is impossible.  If you are fishing in conditions like that from a kayak...nice knowing ya.

Oh, I wasn't considering it.  That's how I got stuck in it.  And I wasn't doing any fishing, just fighting to get back to the dock.  Winds were probably around 15 mph when I set out, but in Oklahoma, the winds and weather can change on a dime, and completely unexpectedly.  I had considered turning around and going with the wind to get to the bank and ride it out.  But instead, I used a combination of tossing my grapple anchor and dead-sprint paddling to fight the wind for the 1/4 mile distance to the ramp.  It took me over an hour, and I was beat!   It was a dumb move.  But I learned that my kayak can handle a lot more abuse than I can.  It can get submerged by wave after wave and remain afloat, so long as you don't get hit from the side.  And I learned next time to not fight the wind, and just let it blow me to the nearest bit of safe bank where I can ride out the storm, or walk back to the car.  Because that was scary and tiresome! 

[WaterOtter]

On 7/20/2022 at 8:08 AM, Functional said:

Wind blowing you off spot fast, waves moving you off your spot, hooking a fish and it reeling YOU in.

 Have you not tried an anchor trolley?  They're amazing.  Soon after buying my fishing kayak I got pulled into a honey hole while pulling in the third bass in three casts, and that scared the rest away, so I installed a full length anchor trolley and it makes all the difference.  Even with a very small  lightweight folding anchor the trolley lets me point the kayak upwind, downwind, or any point in between, and keeps me in that position.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, WaterOtter said:

Have you not tried an anchor trolley?  They're amazing.

Ya, anchor trolleys are 'Da Bomb'.  Had one on my canoe and it was great.

[Bluebasser86]

On 7/21/2022 at 1:23 PM, gimruis said:

 

I would like to see a photo of that!

I use to take my 80lb Golden Retriever, and this wasn't even in my big kayak I have now.

[VirginiaKayakBasser]

I would say it's mostly about money.  You can get a deluxe kayak for less than a second hand jon boat.  Storage is also a consideration.  Kayaks will fit in most garages whereas a boat might not.  Finally access.  You can take a kayak into place a boat cannot or would have trouble going.  Some lakes are also kayaks only.  I think most people would choose a boat if they could afford it and store it.  A kayak is a good alternative for those who can't.  For me, it's about storage.  My kayak fit easily in my garage.

 

[casts_by_fly]

36 minutes ago, VirginiaKayakBasser said:

I would say it's mostly about money.  You can get a deluxe kayak for less than a second hand jon boat.  

 

Your other points might be debatable depending on the circumstance, but I can tell you this isn't correct.  Maybe you have a different definition of deluxe, but if you call deluxe the top of market and loaded out, then you can buy a couple jon boats for the price of a deluxe kayak.  A guy asked me at the ramp the other day what my kayak costs so I did the math for him.  Boat, batteries, and the Helix 7 are over $5k alone.  That's before you get into the smaller stuff that adds up.  That doesn't count a trailer since I use my truck bed.  You can get a basic used jon boat on a trailer (no motor or equipment) for under $1k, or one with a motor and trolling motor for $2500.

 

thanks

rick

[Bluebasser86]

4 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Your other points might be debatable depending on the circumstance, but I can tell you this isn't correct.  Maybe you have a different definition of deluxe, but if you call deluxe the top of market and loaded out, then you can buy a couple jon boats for the price of a deluxe kayak.  A guy asked me at the ramp the other day what my kayak costs so I did the math for him.  Boat, batteries, and the Helix 7 are over $5k alone.  That's before you get into the smaller stuff that adds up.  That doesn't count a trailer since I use my truck bed.  You can get a basic used jon boat on a trailer (no motor or equipment) for under $1k, or one with a motor and trolling motor for $2500.

 

thanks

rick

I paid $300 for my johnboat with a pretty solid trailer and a fair amount of equipment. The boat needed work but it was useable the day I brought it home. My kayak is nice but nowhere near top of the line and was $2,500 shipped to my door. The initial cost can be pretty high for a kayak, but maintaining and continued use is way cheaper. 

[DaubsNU1]

23 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

A guy asked me at the ramp the other day what my kayak costs so I did the math for him.  Boat, batteries, and the Helix 7 are over $5k alone.  That's before you get into the smaller stuff that adds up.  That doesn't count a trailer since I use my truck bed.  You can get a basic used jon boat on a trailer (no motor or equipment) for under $1k, or one with a motor and trolling motor for $2500.

 

Good details @casts_by_fly, and excellent point.

 

I purchased my boat/motor/trailer for $600 (granted, that was in 2000). Immediately added casting deck, two seats and the bow mounted Minn Kota.

 

Through the years I have lots of upgrades, changes, renovations, etc.

 

I probably have ~$3k in the boat total.

 

So when my buddy suggests I sell my boat, and get a kayak...that does not make sense for me.

[king fisher]

30 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

the Helix 7 are over $5k alone.

Electronics will cost the same regardless if installed on a boat or Kayak.  Kayak with no accessories, and a small john boat with small outboard and no accessories, are about equal in cost.  Start adding electric motors, and fish finders, and sky is the limit on the cost for both.   

[Choporoz]

Might be interesting to see how all kayak bass fishermen and women rank these factors.  I think boaters might be surprised.

 

-Initial cost

-Storage

-Maintenance Time

-Maintenance Cost

-Convenience

-Increased accessibility 

-Exercise

-'Feel closer to nature'/The 'kayak experience'

 

I may be missing some big factors.  But I think there's a lot fewer than imagined who would be in a boat if they could/would afford to buy one.

 

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

8 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Electronics will cost the same regardless if installed on a boat or Kayak.  Kayak with no accessories, and a small john boat with small outboard and no accessories, are about equal in cost.  Start adding electric motors, and fish finders, and sky is the limit on the cost for both.   

 

Since the quote was deluxe, which I took to mean 'top of the line', I'm using an autopilot with trolling motor included as an example.  If we take the electronics and battery out, you're at $4200.  If you want to go to a Hobie PA 12 (no motor) you're at $5300.  You're right that electronics are subject to user and I thought about taking them out of the comparison.  Regardless, a jon boat with an electric motor and trailer is under $2k on the used market now.  A basic jon boat with trailer will run you $1k.  Add a spot lock trolling motor and you're still under $4k that the kayak costs.  Certainly not double the kayak cost.

 

2 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Might be interesting to see how all kayak bass fishermen and women rank these factors.  I think boaters might be surprised.

 

-Initial cost

-Storage

-Maintenance Time

-Maintenance Cost

-Convenience

-Increased accessibility 

-Exercise

-'Feel closer to nature'/The 'kayak experience'

 

I may be missing some big factors.  But I think there's a lot fewer than imagined who would be in a boat if they could/would afford to buy one.

 

For me personally, I'd still swap to a boat.  I'd miss my kayak, but not that much.  The smaller waters that I can't drop a boat onto wouldn't get fished but there are only a couple and I don't care about them that much.  The waters that would open up because I don't fish them as much in the kayak as I would if I had a bigger motor are greater than what I'd lose.  My storage would be about the same (1 garage bay), my convenience would be better in a boat (keep my rods and takle in the boat and don't have to load them every trip).  Maintenance would go up a little since the kayak has no maintenence I wouldn't do in a boat (wipe it down, charge batteries) and the boat has maintenance like bearings, tires, etc.  I don't care about exercise and if I want to feel closer to nature I'll fish the lakes that don't have party boats or run along the highway.

[Togue]

For me the kayak is about versatility. I can do very big water, very small water, and everything in between. I've trolled for salmon on the great lakes, fished the salt for stripers across New England, floated creeks for trout, camped out of it, and duck hunted out of it. The price is high - I paid $3500 for my Hobie PA14, and then added fish finder/battery/rod holders etc. I think a small boat in the same price range would be better in many situations but not able to do them all for me. If your fishing is limited to lakes and ponds with ramps, a boat is the better tool. Smaller or bigger than that and I like the kayak. 

 

Also, I think a simple, cheap kayak (where I started at $175 used) is the best way for someone to get off the bank. I've tried small aluminum boats with trolling motors and always found it brutal getting to the water if there is no ramp, which is most of my local water. I also have a canoe for river tripping and when I need to hike way back in to a trout pond. I'm looking to add a 16' aluminum soon so I can have the benefits of each. 

[VirginiaKayakBasser]

I guess we all have different standards and opinions when we shop for used boats.  The jon boats I look at are all welded, major brands, 14-18 ft, with late model 4 cycle motor and nice trolling motor.  They usually run in the $6-12K range used.  Maybe more with a decent trailer.  My kayak (Old Town Big Water 132 PDL) with trailer and electronics was about $6000.

[gim]

18 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Increased accessibility

I wouldn't necessarily say that a kayak has increased accessibility compared to a boat.  I realize that some people use their kayaks on large bodies of water, but in general, they are more limited and designed to be used on smaller bodies of water or where a boat can't go.  The same rule applies the other way around.  You generally aren't going to take a kayak onto a big lake and head offshore in rougher water.

 

All of the other reasons you listed I agree with though.  I don't own a kayak, I own a bass boat and a small aluminum jon boat.  The only place I use my jon boat is when we float a small river where the bass boat can't go (and for duck hunting in the fall).

[Choporoz]

31 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I wouldn't necessarily say that a kayak has increased accessibility compared to a boat.  I realize that some people use their kayaks on large bodies of water, but in general, they are more limited and designed to be used on smaller bodies of water or where a boat can't go. 

A kayak angler won an open salmon tournament on Lake Michigan the other day.  

  I suppose the accessibility aspect may depend on your location.  Within two hours of here, I can think of a couple dozen ponds, creeks, and rivers I can get my kayak to, but no trailered boat could access.  Also, probably 90% of the boat ramps are gated at night, but many of those same waters have public shoreline accessible by kayak that isn't behind a gate.   Except for areas of maybe four lakes in the state, and areas of the Potomac, I probably can access any bass fishing spot in Virginia that a boat can.

 

[Togue]

20 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I wouldn't necessarily say that a kayak has increased accessibility compared to a boat.  I realize that some people use their kayaks on large bodies of water, but in general, they are more limited and designed to be used on smaller bodies of water or where a boat can't go.  The same rule applies the other way around.  You generally aren't going to take a kayak onto a big lake and head offshore in rougher water.

 

All of the other reasons you listed I agree with though.  I don't own a kayak, I own a bass boat and a small aluminum jon boat.  The only place I use my jon boat is when we float a small river where the bass boat can't go (and for duck hunting in the fall).

 

I think for accessibility the kayak of course can't cover more water but doesnt require a boat ramp. For some people that opens up new water based on where they live and others it doesn't. One of the ways to overcome the lack of the outboard is to find "creative" launching spots. We have found amazing smallmouth fishing on lakes up in the woods that don't have any access, let alone ramps. We launch from the closest logging road with some bushwhacking, which I guess is part of the fun.

 

 

[KSanford33]

Not to redirect the conversation, but I see a lot of the pro-boaters mentioning that you can't take a kayak offshore. Since this is primarily a bass fishing forum, how far offshore are you trying to go where you couldn't take a kayak? I've fished offshore on 40,000+ acre lakes in legitimate chop (waves coming over the bow of my kayak), and never once felt that I was in danger or that what I was doing was even unwise. Granted, I could be woefully ignorant, but even fishing in rough water, I've never once been in a position where I was concerned that my kayak my capsize. 

 

 

Don't get me wrong; I'm a competition junkie, so if owning a bass boat made sense for my situation currently I'd do it. Quite frankly, I'd rather fish in BASS tournaments than KBF tournaments, but for right now I'm happy where I'm at.

[DaubsNU1]

6 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

Not to redirect the conversation, but I see a lot of the pro-boaters mentioning that you can't take a kayak offshore. Since this is primarily a bass fishing forum, how far offshore are you trying to go where you couldn't take a kayak? I've fished offshore on 40,000+ acre lakes in legitimate chop (waves coming over the bow of my kayak), and never once felt that I was in danger or that what I was doing was even unwise. Granted, I could be woefully ignorant, but even fishing in rough water, I've never once been in a position where I was concerned that my kayak my capsize.

 

Most all of the lakes I fish around here are perfect for a kayak, or my small v-hull boat.

 

Fished Lake Poinsett in South Dakota about 15 years ago.  8,000 acre lake...the wind picked up...I honestly thought were would not make it back to shore. Ugh.

 

Brother has a 18' Lund Alaskan...we took my Dad to Frances Case in South Dakota a few times. That lake can get scary really quick. No way I'm taking a kayak out there.

 

I think it really depends on the lakes in your area, and your comfort / expertise on the water.

 

 

[KSanford33]

2 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Most all of the lakes I fish around here are perfect for a kayak, or my small v-hull boat.

 

Fished Lake Poinsett in South Dakota about 15 years ago.  8,000 acre lake...the wind picked up...I honestly thought were would not make it back to shore. Ugh.

 

Brother has a 18' Lund Alaskan...we took my Dad to Frances Case in South Dakota a few times. That lake can get scary really quick. No way I'm taking a kayak out there.

 

I think it really depends on the lakes in your area, and your comfort / expertise on the water.

 

 

I think you're right. I'm sure there's times that I've gone in because there was an impending storm that an actual bass boat would've been fine in. Plus, upstate NY rarely has the rapid swings in weather that occur elsewhere in the country.

 

Like you said, it's all about comfort and expertise. As my wife will happily tell anyone who will listen, oftentimes her husband does not make smart choices (except in marrying her).