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Not a kayak or a canoe fisherman, but better!

7K views 26 replies 5 participants last post by  Capt. Butch Rickey 
#1 ·
I used to religiously fish from my Kayak, but after a while was longing for more open real estate to play on.

Old rig: (can barely see the crate, poles and folding net.)
Vehicle Boat Watercraft Kayak Skiff


New Rig: (going to delete the Larry Chair and just sit/stand on the cooler and use my crate from my kayak.)

Boat Water Leisure Vehicle Backyard


I will never go back to a kayak after fishing from the paddle board. I did upgrade the cooler to a Coleman Xtreme5 recently and got a butt pad glued to the top of the cooler. It's a killer rig! I plan to get an action shot of it soon.
 
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#4 ·
If it gets you on the water and gets your line wet, it is worth it. Nice to see your better half is on the water also.

Now all you have to do is out fish her. :sneaky:

Thanks for the pics.
 
#5 ·
The paddle board is by far more stable than my kayak, is more conducive to walking around and just generally has a flatter more open top to use. Plus the paddle strokes seem more efficient and less fatiguing, that may also be simply because the way it glides across the top of the water rather than cutting through the water. It's literally stable enough that I can stand on the cooler, extend my paddle to max length and paddle and fish from an elevated perspective.

It's easier to store, load, unload, rig, etc. Both paddle boards take up less space in the truck and in the storage shed than even one single kayak. Did I mention they are insanely stable? Like doing handstands stable.

There is also a neat little method for turning a paddle board involving putting all your weight on the back until over half of the paddle board is out of the water, 2 paddle strokes later you are going in the complete opposite direction, can't even come close to that in a titanic kayak needed to equal the real estate I have on the paddle board.. I almost had it mastered before we stopped going this winter. I was paddling and fishing off the cooler like I was bank fishing. $700 average for a Kaku Kahuna vs. $1200+ for a Kayak that holds only a weight capacity advantage over the paddle board, I'm a minimalist and a small person, it was a no brainer. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this thing.
 
#7 · (Edited)
For the most part my stuff stays just as dry on the paddleboard. I may have a little more wet on the feet after using it, but my lap and legs stay MUCH more dry on the paddle board. As far as falling over, the ones we have are incredibly stable. I almost never fall off, and when I do it's because I was trying new things or playing around doing flips off my cooler and such.

I don't get tired of standing. I have the cooler strapped to the board behind me, so I can sit or stand (yes, I can fish from on top of my cooler <Try that kayak guys!>) as I choose. And sitting on the cooler is much more comfortable for much longer than on any kayak I've ever cruised. Yeah, those fancy seats are comfy, but the positional requirement on the kayaks isn't remotely as comfy long term and MUCH more wet.

We upgraded the wife to a nicer Paddle Board Sunday afternoon.
View media item 7940Old Rig
View media item 7939New Rig
 
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#10 ·
Hey Jeff! With all due respect, I'd have to take issue with virtually every claim you've made about your paddle board. As the long-time owner of Native Watercraft Ultimates, and a 15.5 for the last few years, I'm here to tell you that the Ultimate will outshine your board on every issue, and is also designed for SUF. The First Class seats are far more comfortable than any cooler I ever sat on, and are high/low. From the high position you don't have to grab anything to stand up. Like getting up out of any chair. Even at my age I can spend hours in the First Class seat without discomfort or legs going to sleep on me. Just sayin'!
 
#8 ·
I'm curious as I've seen casual paddle borders out on the water on the Tennessee River before and I questioned if they were sane lol How are the paddle boards stability when a big barge passes or any larger vessel that creates a wake? Asking because my daughter's want kayaks since I got mine and wondering if this would be an option on a tidal river (James/Potomac) with lots of barge traffic and tons weekend warriors? Weighing my options with safety and price. Also have you got caught in any waves on it yet?
 
#9 · (Edited)
As long as you ensure you are getting a nice stable paddle board, they really are just as safe as a kayak. If you can fish it in your kayak, they can cruise it or fish it from a paddle board. Unless you set them up for failure by buying them cheap boards that aren't very stable. Most cheap kayaks are still less stable than cheap paddle boards. The Lifetime Kayaks are hard to beat for stability and solid plastics for the money. They also make a couple decent paddle boards but they are a bit more pricey.

We've paddled ours with full fishing gear and kids in Indian Pass Florida. It doesn't get much more tidal and weekend warrior than that. Seriously, I've fished windy weather with 2' swells standing on top of my cooler on my paddle board. I have yet to see an unmodified kayak capable of that.

View media item 7936Have a beautiful day!
 
#17 ·
The pads on the top of the boards are generally very grippy, things don't tend to slide around. There have been nice calm days where I never tied anything down including my cooler and crate.

But yes, I'd imagine that's a mod you could do.

If you decide to go with an SUP at some point I can not recommend the Kaku and Vibe boats enough for the money. Yolo Yak Board is also a cool option that stays relatively affordable. I love my Kaku Kahuna, but I really thing my wifes Vibe board is better. I mean it's 5 years newer too, but still lol.

Her SUP can handle 475lbs. Mine is right at 300lbs. The Kaku Voodoo I can't say much about that one yet, but it has a similar weight range as the Vibe Maverick 120 and might be worth a look.

Look for last years models on close out and you'll be surprised how cheap you can get one. We got my wifes Maverick for $400 brand new with warranty (had to be mispriced, but I asked NO questions lol). I got my Kahuna a couple years ago for $500 as a Demo boat.

Look into a Maverick 120 and a Kaku VooDoo. I think you'll be surprised at how awesome they are.

Edit: The Kaku boats have power pole mounts FYI.
 
#19 ·
Depends on the kayak. Most reputable brand kayaks made of quality materials with comfortable space will be 80+ pounds at 12'. My wife's paddle board is 80lbs because it's incredibly rigid and has a foam core. My paddle board is 60lbs.

I've ran both, I've also been kayak fishing since 1999 when I got my first Wilderness Systems Pungo 120. I later upgraded to a newer Pungo 120 in 2001. After that started whitewater kayaking and traded some stuff around and eventually stopped and traded around until I got an Ascend D10t.

Through my whitewater kayaking years I got to meet Eric Jackson several times and have been demoing Jackson Kayaks fishing rigs and every other brand known to man off and on since when I find a nearby demo day.. You should start seeing if you can find some demo days in your area, you'll learn a lot. Also get togethers and local clubs will give you some insight and opportunities to try things out.

I still ended up on a paddle board. I'm not trying to sell you on those. If you want to pile on and do silly things like motors, 60 rod holders, 3 anchors, 2 sonars, a tackle box, a bait tank, a fish bag, etc. You'll need a $1600 kayak.

For what I do, a paddleboard beats a kayak in every way. And it's cheaper and easier to manage too. I leave the kayaks to those who need an over priced and undersized plastic Jon Boat.
 
#20 ·
Been doing some online shopping and im having a hard time finding something under $700. We dont have any Kaku's around here.

Dick's sells a Connelly Neptune Angler that looks decent....11.6' long, 33' wide, 30 some odd pounds heavy. Carries around 275lbs. They have it for $499 but $120 for shipping. And I cringe thinking about the damage that can occur before it gets to me.

Besides Dick's, we have a WestMarine store near by. And Dunham's, which might only be in my area and not nationwide.
 
#24 ·
Been doing some online shopping and im having a hard time finding something under $700. We dont have any Kaku's around here.

Dick's sells a Connelly Neptune Angler that looks decent....11.6' long, 33' wide, 30 some odd pounds heavy. Carries around 275lbs. They have it for $499 but $120 for shipping. And I cringe thinking about the damage that can occur before it gets to me.

Besides Dick's, we have a WestMarine store near by. And Dunham's, which might only be in my area and not nationwide.
That really sucks, all we have here is Dunhams too. I actually have to travel to find the things I need. Dunhams is over priced and their discounts might get things to normal retail prices lol. Dicks is about the same and at minimum a 30 minute drive.

I live in a fishing Mecca too. You'd think someone would have started carrying this stuff by now.

The Vibes are really new so finding close outs may take a year. Kaku is only a few years old and growing. Maybe that'll improve soon too.

Look into the Imagine Surf Angler, I demo'd one and they are pretty nice for the money. Usually sub $700.
 
#22 ·
Good points.

What i'm finding thru research so far is that, at least in my neck o the woods, its hard to find a good board cheap. I paid $600 for my Prowler 13, and it looks like id have to spend at least the same for a board that would do what I want.

I was assuming before that a kayak would have to be faster due to its narrower design. But then i got to thinking about my kneeboard, which is basically a small paddleboard, and how its planing hull flies across the water if you give a shove. Trying to get back up on that damn thing isnt easy lol. It just wants to scoot out from under you and go zinging across the water making you swim after it.

What I dont like about my Prowler is that I am pretty much locked in to the position. I can hardly even stretch forward a couple feet, let along getting something out of the front hatch. Same with reaching to the deck behind.....I feel like it would roll over if I stretched out to grab a bait bucket behind me.

Now...it does paddle nice. And it sits low out of the wind, and that same locked in position makes me feel more secure, oddly.

But it is limited in movement
 
#23 ·
But finding a board cheap enough to keep me above the waterline at all times doesnt look easy. Im about 210lbs, so it would have to have enough flotation.

I do like the idea of being able to move around, sit and stand. And lashing stuff down to tie-downs solves the issue of losing stuff off the side.

The narrow profile would make it easier to slide in the back of the SUV using just the open window.
 
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#25 ·
But finding a board cheap enough to keep me above the waterline at all times doesnt look easy. Im about 210lbs, so it would have to have enough flotation.

I do like the idea of being able to move around, sit and stand. And lashing stuff down to tie-downs solves the issue of losing stuff off the side.

The narrow profile would make it easier to slide in the back of the SUV using just the open window.
Hey Zeke,
I know picking out a kayak/SUP, etc., isn't easy. And, I can relate to your size concerns. Most of my adult life I was 6' 2", 245#. That was also a factor in my love of the Ultimates. Ben Franklin used to use a Pro/Con method of making important decisions. If forget what he called it, Decision Tree, or something like that. What he did was write down on a piece of paper all the factors he had to consider and then after lots of thought, he'd mark each one either "Pro" or "Con". Then he'd count 'em up, and the "Pros" win, and made the decision. Pretty cool way to works things out.
 
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