flyfisher

You are going to want to get out in it once or twice before you start raising the center of gravity by mounting a crate on top. Judging by the picture, that boat isn't going to have the same level of stability as a standard fishing kayak so any added weight should be as low as possible. Since it is a tandem, I would probably try and move the front seat as far back as a I could and still have room for the crate behind me.

beautiful and I love the scum line on the boat...shows it is used.

Nah he is just to soft to handle a kayak Anyways....I wouldn't do anything to it until you paddle it a few times. All the advice in the world isn't worth anything if you are solving a problem you don't have. Without actual seat time you won't truly understand where you want something and why. I have owned many kayaks and each one I go out and paddle and fish with nothing permanently mounted because I want to make sure what I think I want to do and what needs to be done are one in the same. Lots of internet/armchair kayak fisherman are going to give advice to fix problems that you don't have. Now once you know what problem you are trying to solve then you can find the answers for solving that problem in a multitude of places, with this being one of them as there are quite a few more veteran kayak anglers on here. Have fun and enjoy your time on the water.

However many your finances and storage allow you to have is the only right number or another way to look it is x+1=# total rods where x=number of current rods. Conventional I usually carry 6-7 Fly rod is usually 3-4 I just got a new kayak so we will see how it works for rod storage.

I guess now I will have to buy a few tickets.

That was exactly my thought as well. It doesn't have to move much as you are crimping to create a weak spot.

I remember when I started kayak fishing decades ago i would see another kayak fisherman maybe once every 4-5 trips out. fast forward to the last 5 years and they outnumber the boats on many lakes around here. I will say that in general kayakers are the absolute worst at a boat ramp and for talking to people while fishing. I guess some like the social aspect and want to chat and fish for me, i am out there to fish and not hang out and chat 99% of the time and that other 1% i usually have a few adult beverages along and a line out with cutbait searching for big catfish

Reading through this ever evolving thread shows me a few things. One is boat owners really don't understand the cost of kayaks and where the industry has gone. Two kayakers are quick to use exception circumstances to justify the use of a kayak aka offshore, rough water, extreme shallow water etc. Third, many think kayak owners primary driver is money. And lastly, it all boils down to preference and not making the exception the rule in the argument for or against etc.. The craft with which I fish from is just another tool to me as I mentioned before on this thread. Some people the craft is part of their enjoyment. My kayak doesn't give me any more joy than going out in my dad's jet boat or vice versa but catching fish does and if one tool puts me in a better position to do that, then I am all for it.

Will do. The 14' version I had was the best balance between paddling and stability i have ever been on and it was pretty easy to paddle 3-3.5 mph and my motro got my almost to 6mph. I did sacrifice some maneuverability but I was ok with that, if this boat is 75% of my old one I will be fine with it thank you sir. I bought that trailer, I don't know, 5+ years ago and it wasn't cheap but I have had to do zero maintenance other than a few bulbs. Well worth the coin.

I previously posted about a crack I had in a kayak that I bought some 7 odd years ago. Well after some back and forth they decided to warranty it. Now they don't make my exact boat anymore but they do make the same boat in a 12' version so that is what was in my driveway when I got home today. A brand spanking new ATAK 120. In my first lookover before a mnster thunderstorm came through I can see that they made some adjustments based on feedback from pro staff consumers or whoever really and I like what I see so far. Hopefully I can get it rigged up a little at least and head out this weekend. One huge advantage for me is that I have fished this same style of boat so I know what I want and where I want it so I shouldn't have to take my usual 5-6 trips before I know where I want everything to go.

in conventional gear i see more of a difference on reels for bait casting and rods for spinning but upgrades on both are noticeable to a certain point. On my fly gear I notice a bigger upgrade on the line than the rod and the reels, while pretty rarely do more than counterbalance and hold the line.

That is cause it is like -40 for you 6 months out of the year and you are retired And yes I am jealous....not hte cold but the retired part maybe a little even though I love my work.

Nope. I reorganize my gear at the beginning of the year and if i need to do it for a specific trip and then again at the end of the year. I primarioy fly fish and I can say that those of you who enjoy doing this thing I will gladly have you come over, I'll provide the beverages, and you can fulfill your inner OCD by sorting through my fly boxes lol. In case you don't know, a standard plano 3600 box could easily hold a hundred or so flies Now this thread has me thinking that maybe I should go sort my fly boxes since I can't fish....

I don't have a pedal yak but I do have a motor now and I always bring a paddle and i don't even put it away. I guess old habits die hard because I use it a lot when i get to a spot to maneuver and even though it probably doesn't matter, i am sure it is quieter to paddle than motor.

I rarely if ever buy anything from a door to door person and not sure i can think of one time actually. I do usually let them do their routine though and then decline. The last one who came was trying to sell some educational software so kids can learn over the summer. I quickly stated look, I am a teacher with access to anything and everything I need for my kids so no thanks. She was persistent and so I closed the door after declining about 4 times. When we got windows put in we had the local place who was known as the best come out and give the demo. I told him he was first on our list of people so we would not be making a decision today. He persisted with his pitch and kept asking if we were going to do the deal today to which i declined each time. it got to the point where i said look buddy i am NOT buying from you today and if you don't find your way out right now, I will help you find your way out.

definitely a factor. I do think going from a boat to a kayak the learning curve is steeper but having never owned a boat myself I have zero issues standing in mine and all the kayaks i have owned. With the height of the seats on a lot of kayaks now, standing isn't as necesarry as it was in years past. I stand when needed for sure though. There are so many kayaks out there now that you will fall out of before flipping but again, knowing that line is an experience thing. I have noticed as i get older, 45 now, that flexibility is more of an issue than in years past so I am working on that anyways.

wow. I have heard a lot of stories around fishing but that was the first i have heard of something like that one.

ignorance is bliss and that is shown by this comment..... When I was looking at getting a boat I took an inventory of all the areas around me and noticed that many were electric only or HP restricted. I started looking at kayaks before kayak fishing was a thing and decided to go for it. It has served me well for the 20+ years or so I have been kayak fishing and the cost was not a primary driver of the decision in the slightest. My current kayak setup, including trailer I could easily get a bass tracker style aluminum boat but again, I would be limited to where I could take it so it wasn't the best option. I have multiple smaller rivers near me as well that even a small jon boat would be difficult to navigate with but my kayak makes it pretty easy. Sure there are things i don't like but overall it suits what I need and does it pretty well. I am looking to increase the fleet to include a jet boat for rivers though in the next few years. Kayaks can be cheap for sure but those who are into kayak fishing have no issues spending money on them. It is funny how the boat crowd seems to think that people get into kayak fishing solely because of cost.

Guess I am in the minority here because being 45 I am not even thinking about retirement. I mean if i hit the lottery sure i would stop working but I truly love going to work every day and I plan on working until, well, whenever. Oh and by not thinking that doesn't mean not preparing.

You broke a rod due to negligence, ignorance or whatever and are trying to act like a company should cater to you because of it, if that isn't feeling entitled I am not sure what is. This mindset is part of what has caused such an issue in the rod industry, people confusing warranty with replacement program.

You already admitted it wasn't a warranty issue so why even try to warranty it? Your actions broke the rod not the manufacturing process.

I misread and thought you said sinking line but yeah sinking leaders are a thing. For bass and panfish i usually just go straight leaders and use mono if i want it to "float" and flouro for sinking when I use a floating line.

Nice work. You are one of the few people I have seen that start with a sink tip line and catch their first fly rod fish. Keep it up and you will be rewarded each time out. I have always said that fly fishing when not catching is way more fun than conventional and when you are catching it is a blast. Before you know it, you will be tying flies too

If they need to be replaced, then replace them if not then don't. Most stock hooks are decent and ike has been mentioned, can be touched up a little and be fine. I replace hooks as needed or in the case of jerk baits, to change the buoyancy. This is especially important on baits like jigs that you cannot replace the hook and get banged around and dulled up much quicker than one would think.

There are two ways to find out. One is to fish it and see and the other is to don the snorkeling gear and have a gander. On smaller rivers I have found that fish in deeper holes are kind of just hanging out and not actively feeding. Sure you can catch them but when they do want to eat they move out of those places and are in the prime lies nearby. As you probably already know, stealth is super key on this size of river as they are generally more cautious than on larger rivers.