help choosing a kayak for fishing

[Cannibalcritter]

I see them in my region: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 w/ Accessories - $500 (Virginia Beach) Darn good deal with the accessories


Problem is, it's too tempting. Theres' a WS16' that's calling....

Man i posted to this earlyer I reckon it didnt post. I was saying i wish i lived were u did. I see me being tempted as well.. Nice price's for good yaks by far. U dont see that around here.. Kayaking is somewhat growing more and more here. Now more anglers are fishing lake erie where i live. And they are also kayakers building clubs around here. If'n i lived were u did it would be hard to pass up a deal such as that.. and a ws16' man that just kills me..lol.. Like a dog with drooling. May have to virgina beach one day lol

[Mark J]

Ever thought of building your own?
JEM watercraft has good stable of canoe, traditional kayak, and sit on top plans available. Great plans and easy to follow. Simple build method which is stitch and glue. http://www.jemwatercraft.com/

Here is the story of me building 2 modified ENO's with pictures.
http://www.catfish1.com/forums/showt...noe&highlight=

[dnunn]

Man i posted to this earlyer I reckon it didnt post. I was saying i wish i lived were u did. I see me being tempted as well.. Nice price's for good yaks by far. U dont see that around here.. Kayaking is somewhat growing more and more here. Now more anglers are fishing lake erie where i live. And they are also kayakers building clubs around here. If'n i lived were u did it would be hard to pass up a deal such as that.. and a ws16' man that just kills me..lol.. Like a dog with drooling. May have to virgina beach one day lol

Yep! that WS16 is only $550 w/paddle, accessories, plus bed extender for pickup trucks. These deals go quick, etc. I toyed with another similar offer last fall. Unfortunately, that was right when I got a letter from IRS saying they had re-figured my taxes from several years ago...Needless to say, I had to pass on that kayak deal.

I'm happy with my 12' model. It's easy to handle and perfect for small rivers, ponds, etc too. Still, wouldn't you like to see how a 16' model goes on the water....?

[Cannibalcritter]

Yep! that WS16 is only $550 w/paddle, accessories, plus bed extender for pickup trucks. These deals go quick, etc. I toyed with another similar offer last fall. Unfortunately, that was right when I got a letter from IRS saying they had re-figured my taxes from several years ago...Needless to say, I had to pass on that kayak deal.

I'm happy with my 12' model. It's easy to handle and perfect for small rivers, ponds, etc too. Still, wouldn't you like to see how a 16' model goes on the water....?

Man that would b nuts. Id love to give er a whirl i got a prowler 13 and u would never thing a foot would make a diffrence. Now a 16 im game lol

[dnunn]

I saw this ad on craigslist. Something like this might be worth a try.

"I am looking for a used kayak, sit-on-top with dry storage compartments. I would like something 10 to 14 feet long. I can customize to make more compatable for fishing but would enjoy any angler modifications or existing angler tools like rod mounts or depth finder. If you have a kayak similar to this description that you no longer want, please send me a message. I would like to jump into the sport of Kayak fishing!"


And when you get hooked up, don't forget a waterproof camera. I tried using my usual point-n-shoot. It survived a view trips, but it didn't take much moisture to kill it.

[plainsman]

Hobie makes some good fishing kayaks, also the jackson coosa has good reviews. Best advice I can give is check em out and take a test drive if possible. Then go buy a used one. There are good deals out there at times, Ocean Kayak has some good models, and other companies, so if ya get a chance check em out to see which is best for ya.

[mch4fishing]

I considered several models including a Tarpon, Prowler, and the Manta Ray, all in the 12-14' range. I went with the Manta Ray 12', mainly because it was the most comfortable seat (really thick cushions!). I'm 6'2" 235, age 54, and a hip replacement. The nice seat and easily adjustable foot rests were nice features. And the Manta Ray has a stern-mounted 'wheel' so you don't have to carry the boat across the parking lot or wherever. Just pick up the bow and the wheel carries the bulk of the weight. It's noisy, people will look at you, but it works! (I often go solo, so this feature really is useful.) When I looked at these boats in person, I was really surprised that the 12' model appeared very capable, plenty boat to get me on the water, plus it rides in the bed of my pickup (with tail gate down). No carrier racks necessary. The only 'negative' is the cockpit storage compartment. So far, it has kept things dry, but I think it could have been designed better.

For $500 or so, I'd look for a used package deal. I've seen several deals. I like a longer paddle. And no question, fish finder is a great add-on.

Hope this helps!

I also went with the Manta ray 12 (Great Seat)
With that said let me go to this....Look for a boat that is around 12'..It will handle your and your gears weight. You can turn a 12' around in most canals as you need to back paddle longer boats to get out of canals and streams. Also a 12'6" boat is easy to store. SOT will let you also use in the ocean. Wont sink if flooded of turtled.
Look for a boat that has a med free board. You don't want to take on to much water (To low) or get pushed around in the wind (to high)
A crate, anchor and rod holders leashes for everything a must...Don't forget the PFD ( Life Vest ) Yep you are good to go
Enjoy