Fishing kayak worth it?

[immortl]

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I partly agree with what you're saying.  There are certainly considerations when fishing from a kayak and things you have to think through.  But a kayak and a boat are different animals made for different (but overlapping) places and circumstances.  I think I've put this in another post here before, but for me, the lakes I fish, the space I have, and my needs, a kayak is a fine choice (and especially the kayak I have).  Here in north jersey, we don't have big reservoirs and lakes like other places.  There are two over 2k acres (round valley and Hopatcong.  I am excluding Greenwood as it is only half NJ and there are no public ramps), 2 or 3 more in the 1-2k acre range, and then the rest are largely under 500 acres.  There are lots of places in the 5-200 acre range.  Across all of them, we have 4 lakes that are unlimited horsepower (three are under 300 acres and barely 1.5mi in the longest dimension).  We have 3-4 more that are limited to 9.9 HP (including two of the bigger ones).  The rest are electric only.  A 20' bass boat with a 250 HP isn't going to be used to its full capability and in some places it will be a hindrance.  The ideal boat for this area is an electric powered aluminum bass boat with a 9.9 equivalent electric motor.  A jon boat with a 9.9 and a good bow mount wouldn't be a bad choice either.  But some people don't have a place to keep a boat.  Some don't want the maintenance of a boat.  A lot of waters up here don't have a ramp for a boat.  For $2k or so, you can pick up a very good PDL kayak that you can load in the bed of the truck yourself, fish practically any lake here, and then roll it into your garage corner when you get home.  It can be a low intensity way to get onto the water and be 85% as capable as a boat if that's what your situation calls for.

I'm back in NJ again for a while. You have summed up NJ very well.  Now when anyone asks me why I bought a kayak, I'm going to refer them to this, instead of my standard answer, "because I wanted one".  I figure I can now find the spots I fished growing up with my dad and his buddies as well as fish the random little places I find driving around.

 

Another reason for the kayak, for me, is the portability. We're doing the RV full timing deal and while I don't think it'll really work on the roof of the truck with the 5th wheel hooked up (kayak is a 14' Pro Angler, I think it'll be to far forward in order to clear the trailer) I figure I can toss it on a rack on the roof of her VW wagon when we get back to moving around the country again.  This past summer we spent a good amount of time in NC and a few weeks camped on the shore of Jordan lake.  Would have loved to have had a kayak then.

[casts_by_fly]

8 hours ago, immortl said:

I'm back in NJ again for a while. You have summed up NJ very well.  Now when anyone asks me why I bought a kayak, I'm going to refer them to this, instead of my standard answer, "because I wanted one".  I figure I can now find the spots I fished growing up with my dad and his buddies as well as fish the random little places I find driving around.

 

Another reason for the kayak, for me, is the portability. We're doing the RV full timing deal and while I don't think it'll really work on the roof of the truck with the 5th wheel hooked up (kayak is a 14' Pro Angler, I think it'll be to far forward in order to clear the trailer) I figure I can toss it on a rack on the roof of her VW wagon when we get back to moving around the country again.  This past summer we spent a good amount of time in NC and a few weeks camped on the shore of Jordan lake.  Would have loved to have had a kayak then.

 

What part of NJ are you in?

[Deeare]

On 1/9/2023 at 11:33 PM, Gregorym38 said:

Can i test drive kayaks??? I will go tomorrow if i can. What kayak do you have?

I started with a similar kayak to the $400 one you are looking at.   I used it for one season and sold it.   I like to fish long days and big lakes and the salt in New England so I saved me money and bought a pedal predator.   Got a decent deal at the boat show , $400 off and a free healix 5.   Best purchase Ive made.  
 

the predator is comfortable and sturdy and I can stand in it.   Lots of other great kayaks out there.   The pedals/foot drive is a game changer

[Gregorym38]

6 minutes ago, Deeare said:

I started with a similar kayak to the $400 one you are looking at.   I used it for one season and sold it.   I like to fish long days and big lakes and the salt in New England so I saved me money and bought a pedal predator.   Got a decent deal at the boat show , $400 off and a free healix 5.   Best purchase Ive made.  
 

the predator is comfortable and sturdy and I can stand in it.   Lots of other great kayaks out there.   The pedals/foot drive is a game changer

Yeah i wish i could afford that, most i can justify spending on the kayak is 700

 would you guys recommend getting a 10 or 12 footer? I will be using in rivers, lakes, and the  bay

[the reel ess]

55 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

Yeah i wish i could afford that, most i can justify spending on the kayak is 700

 would you guys recommend getting a 10 or 12 footer? I will be using in rivers, lakes, and the  bay

Take it from a guy who's currently using a 10 footer, I'd rather have  12 footer. They track better. My last one was a 12. I wanted the stadium seat and cheaped out on the length. Here's what I have. Only changes to it, I have added two flush mount rod holders. Those molded in ones are trash. And I strapped a milk crate with PVC pipe rod holders zip tied in. I can stow 8 rods.

 

https://www.academy.com/p/perception-pescador-pro-100-10-ft-6-in-fishing-kayak?sku=10-green-black

 

If you can get out and stretch every hour or two, that will relieve a lot of the butt/back stress from a molded-in seat like the one you're looking at..

[Gregorym38]

18 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Take it from a guy who's currently using a 10 footer, I'd rather have  12 footer. They track better. My last one was a 12. I wanted the stadium seat and cheaped out on the length. Here's what I have. Only changes to it, I have added two flush mount rod holders. Those molded in ones are trash. And I strapped a milk crate with PVC pipe rod holders zip tied in. I can stow 8 rods.

 

https://www.academy.com/p/perception-pescador-pro-100-10-ft-6-in-fishing-kayak?sku=10-green-black

 

If you can get out and stretch every hour or two, that will relieve a lot of the butt/back stress from a molded-in seat like the one you're looking at..

I can get a sportsmen 120 for 800, is that worth it? 
or should i go with bkc and get a pedal kayak for 900? I just worry that the bkc will be inferior to oldtown and it will be less stable or rust

[Fishingmickey]

22 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Too many irons in the fire right now. LOL. I bought a 1981 Z28 back in September that takes my "spare cash". I have a laundry list of things I want/need to do to it and have only marked off 3.

Is putting a trailer hitch on it one of the items on the list?

FM

[the reel ess]

13 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

I can get a sportsmen 120 for 800, is that worth it? 
or should i go with bkc and get a pedal kayak for 900? I just worry that the bkc will be inferior to oldtown and it will be less stable or rust

I have no experience with either. I like to paddle for the exercise unless it's windy. Looks like you can't go wrong with either at those prices. Just looking at them I'd say the Old Town Sportsman looks superior quality. read reviews carefully and on different sites.

8 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Is putting a trailer hitch on it one of the items on the list?

FM

LOL. I actually have a 2008 Silverado 4WD. The thing operates like it's new. So I carry the kayak in the bed. But it has a hitch. I actually bought the truck because I got my old V6 2WD stuck on a private boat ramp once and determined it would never happen again. Now I don't own that boat. I kick myself occasionally for selling it.

 

[casts_by_fly]

46 minutes ago, Gregorym38 said:

I can get a sportsmen 120 for 800, is that worth it? 
or should i go with bkc and get a pedal kayak for 900? I just worry that the bkc will be inferior to oldtown and it will be less stable or rust

 

If you can get a sportsman 120 for an extra $100 or so over the 106 I'd do it.  18" doesn't sound like a lot, but it will give you a lot of space.  It also lengthens the wider middle section of the boat for a little more stability.  A sportsman 120 is a great platform regardless of the propulsion (I love my sportsman AP 120).

[immortl]

6 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

What part of NJ are you in?

I am in central Jersey, Monroe Township (exit 8a off Turnpike, not the Monroe down south somewhere).  Belong to a trout club up on the Musky off of 78 just past Clinton (Jugtown Mountain).  Primarily a worm jockey for trout, but have been known to break out the fly rod on occasion and actually caught 3 in a row one day last summer when I tried the fly rod again after a 15 or so year hiatus.  So far I have bass fished Round Valley, Spruce Run, and Assunpink with a buddy and his dad's canoe.  Looking forward to to the kayak for this coming season.

[casts_by_fly]

13 minutes ago, immortl said:

I am in central Jersey, Monroe Township (exit 8a off Turnpike, not the Monroe down south somewhere).  Belong to a trout club up on the Musky off of 78 just past Clinton (Jugtown Mountain).  Primarily a worm jockey for trout, but have been known to break out the fly rod on occasion and actually caught 3 in a row one day last summer when I tried the fly rod again after a 15 or so year hiatus.  So far I have bass fished Round Valley, Spruce Run, and Assunpink with a buddy and his dad's canoe.  Looking forward to to the kayak for this coming season.

 

I know the club you mean.  Supposedly you guys put in some good quality fish.  I've not fished down that way though, and I haven't fished trout since 2020.

 

I have Mercer, carnegie, and farringdon on my 'to fish' list.  I wouldn't mind fishing Assunpink but it's pushing my distance rules for a day trip, especially with the pressure it gets on weekends when I'd have to fish it.  I don't know about you, but I don't rate round valley for bass- not my kind of water.  Spruce fished well  for me last year until the water dropped.  First year for me fishing it and its made the regular rotation now.  Next time you fish it drop me a line.

[Choporoz]

On 1/10/2023 at 9:12 AM, Captain Phil said:

  Buying a kayak looks like a way to get into fishing on the cheap.  

It probably begins that way for some.

 

 

 

[Captain Phil]

Yes, and that's a good thing.  I started fishing from the bank because I couldn't afford a boat.  If I could have bought a Kayak on my $1.10 an hour paycheck, I would have. ?

[the reel ess]

15 hours ago, Choporoz said:

It probably begins that way for some.

 

 

 

It can be almost as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it. Get a Hobie, a trailer, electronics, a tow vehicle, etc. and you've paid for a cheap used boat.

[flyfisher]

Lots of good perspective and opinions on this thread for sure.  I can add my .02  as well I guess.  I am a big proponent of a longer boat if possible.  I ran a 12' boat for years and then switched to a 14' and it was a big difference.   It would glide better and stay at speed more easily.  I had to warranty it and went back t a 12' and I have no complaints.  Stability and a good seat are super important to me over about everything else as UI primarily fly fish.  I also want a good paddling boat even if it is motorized or pedal driven, mine has a motor but i use it more for spot to spot than anything else.  It also allows me to take the kayak out without a motor and paddle easily.  Every kayak is different and one other thing to add is to not try and solve a problem you don't have based on others.  You have to find your groove and what you want kayak fishing to be and go from there.  I see lots of fully rigged out boats that are brand new looking and it is because people spent more time on internet forums than on the water with their boat and then the wonder why they don't like their set up.  I have fished for over 2 decades out of a kayak and even my most recent kayak i paddled and fished for 5-6 times before I started rigging things up.

 

Kayak fishing isn't for everyone but it is a fun way to get on the water and open up a bunch of new opportunities to get out and fish.  

34 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

It can be almost as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it. Get a Hobie, a trailer, electronics, a tow vehicle, etc. and you've paid for a cheap used boat.

This is true but at the same time it can also be added on over time as you get deeper into the sport without a larger initial investment.  I think i have probably 6k into all my stuff but it was an evolution over time which works for me.  Now I am saving up for a jet boat for the rivers

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

It can be almost as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it. Get a Hobie, a trailer, electronics, a tow vehicle, etc. and you've paid for a cheap used boat.

 

That is absolutely the truth in all aspects of what you said.  greg is trying to come in at the lower end of the price range without getting junk.  I'm probably at the higher end of the range (and if my bonus is as good as planned then going higher) with an autopilot, a pair of lithium batteries, and a Helix plus other mods.  You can totally get a functional used tracker with a newish motor and trolling motor in the $5k bucket.  That's practically the retail price of an autopilot and is cheaper than the retail of a new Hobie PA 14 360.  Serious kayak tournament guys are running dual 10" FF, some with livescope.  That's another $3500, though that's the same if you put it on a kayak or a boat.  If you're going to spend $10k and a boat is an option, that's probably the better choice.  Kayaks at that range are getting pretty specialized.  But if you're in an area that has significant motor restrictions like major watershed reservoirs, then a kayak might be your best choice still.

[the reel ess]

9 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

That is absolutely the truth in all aspects of what you said.  greg is trying to come in at the lower end of the price range without getting junk.  I'm probably at the higher end of the range (and if my bonus is as good as planned then going higher) with an autopilot, a pair of lithium batteries, and a Helix plus other mods.  You can totally get a functional used tracker with a newish motor and trolling motor in the $5k bucket.  That's practically the retail price of an autopilot and is cheaper than the retail of a new Hobie PA 14 360.  Serious kayak tournament guys are running dual 10" FF, some with livescope.  That's another $3500, though that's the same if you put it on a kayak or a boat.  If you're going to spend $10k and a boat is an option, that's probably the better choice.  Kayaks at that range are getting pretty specialized.  But if you're in an area that has significant motor restrictions like major watershed reservoirs, then a kayak might be your best choice still.

Lately, I've started "trolling" for crappie with down rods. I don't think I could find an affordable trolling motor for the kayak that will go slow enough. I am on the cheap side. No electronics. I have a milk crate and some rod holders I just bought.

[casts_by_fly]

10 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Lately, I've started "trolling" for crappie with down rods. I don't think I could find an affordable trolling motor for the kayak that will go slow enough. I am on the cheap side. No electronics. I have a milk crate and some rod holders I just bought.

 

exactly.  Everyone needs to find the solution for their needs.  The beauty of kayaks is that you can go low or high.  You can modify to your hearts delight.  I've been back and forth on livescope and/or 360.  My current head unit won't do either so its a full upgrade (about $2500 no matter how you slice it).  I like HBird though megalive doesn't seem quite as advanced as the others yet.  I don't really want to run two units but I could rig a LS unit from anyone and then leave my helix in place for side imaging and mapping which is what I mostly use it for.  Who knows where I'll end up.  But at the end of the day a kayak will let you do that in a tiny package.

[Captain Phil]

Here in Florida, we have a small boat called a Ghennoe. They are made in Titusville on the East Coast.  At 13' to 16'. they aren't much bigger than a good fishing kayak.  They mount fishing chairs and trolling motors.  Some are rigged to the gills with electronics and gas motors.  You could easily power one of these with an electric motor. I have owned a few of them and found them to be great for smaller waters.  They can be bought used on Facebook Marketplace or Craig's list for very little money.  They are a great way to get into a small boat without the negatives of a kayak or a canoe.

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

18 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Here in Florida, we have a small boat called a Ghennoe. They are made in Titusville on the East Coast.  At 13' to 16'. they aren't much bigger than a good fishing kayak.  They mount fishing chairs and trolling motors.  Some are rigged to the gills with electronics and gas motors.  You could easily power one of these with an electric motor. I have owned a few of them and found them to be great for smaller waters.  They can be bought used on Facebook Marketplace or Craig's list for very little money.  They are a great way to get into a small boat without the negatives of a kayak or a canoe.

 

 

 

 

I've looked at those a couple times (and also microskiffs)  Guys up here will convert them to duck boats too.  certainly a cool little option.

[immortl]

On 1/11/2023 at 3:42 PM, casts_by_fly said:

 

I know the club you mean.  Supposedly you guys put in some good quality fish.  I've not fished down that way though, and I haven't fished trout since 2020.

 

I have Mercer, carnegie, and farringdon on my 'to fish' list.  I wouldn't mind fishing Assunpink but it's pushing my distance rules for a day trip, especially with the pressure it gets on weekends when I'd have to fish it.  I don't know about you, but I don't rate round valley for bass- not my kind of water.  Spruce fished well  for me last year until the water dropped.  First year for me fishing it and its made the regular rotation now.  Next time you fish it drop me a line.

There are 2 clubs up there, I think of them as the blue collar and then the lawyer/doctor clubs.  I'm in the blue collar one.  We both put in good quality fish, perhaps the other club a bit more or higher in quality though.  The fish go up and down and back and forth, it's all good. 

 

I will drop you a line next time I'm heading up to Spruce Run or when I have my kayak ready for the water.  Round Valley we hit right after the water drop, didn't do much there.  Farrington is also on my list and is only 15 minutes or less down the road from me.  I was thinking that could be one of my 'after work, run out quick spots'.  I seem to drive over/past it once or twice each week running errands.   Don't think I've found out about Mercer or Carnegie yet, I'll look them up.

 

14 hours ago, flyfisher said:

<snip>  I see lots of fully rigged out boats that are brand new looking and it is because people spent more time on internet forums than on the water with their boat and then the wonder why they don't like their set up.  I have fished for over 2 decades out of a kayak and even my most recent kayak i paddled and fished for 5-6 times before I started rigging things up. <snip>

Hmmm, that remark has the potential to closely resemble me   I'm torn between acquiring what I 'think or know' I want now while the getting is good before things are hard to find in the spring vs waiting.  I know I want a spotlock trolling motor and I know I want fancy electronics and forward facing sonar.  My compromise, so far, is to only acquire a few bigger things and to fish the kayak without any of it first, before I start actually rigging things onto it.  We'll see if I can be disciplined and pull that off.  

 

Agree that if I am to follow through with what I think I want on this kayak, I'll be well into the cost of a used cheaper bass boat.  But for my use case, the kayak, I think, will be better suited, so I'm happy to have gotten one.   We shall see how it works out.

[flyfisher]

On 1/12/2023 at 10:27 PM, immortl said:

  I know I want a spotlock trolling motor

I think if you fish offshore a lot a spot lock motor would be very nice to have.  My dad has the old town autopilot with spot lock and it is a nice set up for holding location, even seen him do it in rivers but the motor to me is severely underpowered.  My NK180s will be at under 50% throttle while his is at 100% and it isn't great for moving water at all.  I did envy him a little though on our last river trip when he just hit the button and it held him in current very nicely.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I think if you fish offshore a lot a spot lock motor would be very nice to have.  My dad has the old town autopilot with spot lock and it is a nice set up for holding location, even seen him do it in rivers but the motor to me is severely underpowered.  My NK180s will be at under 50% throttle while his is at 100% and it isn't great for moving water at all.  I did envy him a little though on our last river trip when he just hit the button and it held him in current very nicely.

I don’t know what boat you have, but the autopilot’s speed limitation is the hull design, not the motor. It’s a barge which is what makes it so stable. It takes a lot more power to push it much faster. You can swap the prop to the airplane prop to get 0.3 mph more or so, but more thrust isn’t going to do too much. 

[flyfisher]

1 minute ago, casts_by_fly said:

I don’t know what boat you have, but the autopilot’s speed limitation is the hull design, not the motor. It’s a barge which is what makes it so stable. It takes a lot more power to push it much faster. You can swap the prop to the airplane prop to get 0.3 mph more or so, but more thrust isn’t going to do too much. 

Hull design is a major factor as is the lower thrust, it is 45lb i believe and those are big heavy boats. Higher thrust would be able to maintain the same speed with less battery drain too though.   I have an ATAK 120 right now as my preference is to motorize a good paddling boat.  As far as stability goes, after being in my dad's AP and my ATAK i don't see a different in stability between the two.  I personally think they made it so it looks more like the hobie PA to make you think it is more stable...it is stable though don't get me wrong and look like that PA style of kayak.  

[roadwarrior]

On 1/9/2023 at 7:03 AM, Choporoz said:

My back started hurting just looking at the picture 

Borrow or rent a kayak before buying. Most guys think they are great, but I'm not one of them.

Old, stiff bodies don't match up well.