I did forget to mention that I don't plan on fishing in current/rivers very much. I bought this kayak to mostly get out on lakes/ponds that don't allow outboard motors on them and have a speed limit (like 5mph). There are a few that I know have some BIG bass in them but you can't get at them from the bank nor can you take a motorboat on them (either no outboards allowed or no place to launch).

Y'all wear your daggum PFD or Old Gregg will take you down to his underwater lair and make you his fuzzy little man peach.

8 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

I did forget to mention that I don't plan on fishing in current/rivers very much. I bought this kayak to mostly get out on lakes/ponds that don't allow outboard motors on them and have a speed limit (like 5mph). There are a few that I know have some BIG bass in them but you can't get at them from the bank nor can you take a motorboat on them (either no outboards allowed or no place to launch).

I never fish in rivers.  But I love using the drift sock in lakes and ponds.  What I do is figure out the wind direction ahead of time.  Then I plan on fishing the banks that run parallel to the wind direction, and a way to go upwind to where I want to fish.  From there, I just let the wind blow me along the bank, back down wind, and cast towards the bank.  That allows me to cover a lot of ground, fairly quickly, and without having to paddle much, which gives me more time for casting.  The drift sock slows you down, allowing you more casts, and depending on where you connect it to your kayak, can help to orient your kayak so that you're facing the direction you want.  It's especially useful if you stand up in your kayak, as you don't have to use your paddle or pedals near as much.  It's really more of a tool to help you utilize the wind, rather than just leaving you to fight it.  However if the pond is really small, the wind is out of a direction that you can't make use of, or there is no wind, then a drift sock won't do you much good.  

The only place I fish, in my kayak, are places I can't get to in my boat so my opinion isn't worth a d**n but....  I use a 2' piece of 3/8" chain as an anchor.  I also use short rods, 6'6" maximum, to cast under trees and bushes.  If I hook a large fish it'll turn the kayak so the line will be clear of the boat.  I'll either lip a bass or belly lift it in the kayak, never grab the line.

My only word of advise is to attach some floats to your rods....  nothing sucks worse than sinking a 500.00 rod and reel set to the bottom of 30 feet when it could have been saved by a .50 float.

 

ask me how I know...

12 hours ago, Tackett1980 said:

My only word of advise is to attach some floats to your rods....  nothing sucks worse than sinking a 500.00 rod and reel set to the bottom of 30 feet when it could have been saved by a .50 float.

 

ask me how I know...

Oh man, that would suck!

13 hours ago, Tackett1980 said:

My only word of advise is to attach some floats to your rods....  nothing sucks worse than sinking a 500.00 rod and reel set to the bottom of 30 feet when it could have been saved by a .50 float.

 

ask me how I know...

And watch out for tree branches and docks.  Anything that sticks up high out of the water.  In a kayak, you'll be tempted to get closer.  Or you might snag a lure and decide to go free it.  And unlike on most boats, your rods are probably sticking straight up into the air (or at an angle off to the sides).  Either way, eventually, a tree or something is going to try to grab one of your rods that sticking up behind you, and since it's behind you, you can easily paddle off while it slowly, and silently, pulls your rod out and quietly dunks it into the water below.  You won't even know it's gone until you reach for it again.  I don't use rod floats, but I do use rod leashes whenever I'm not holding the rod in my hands.  The leash is strong enough to jerk my boat and make the rod bounce against my kayak or the water, giving me a heads up that something isn't right.  I too learned the hard way, only it wasn't a $500 rod and reel, thank goodness.  Either way, make plans for some kind of protection from this.  

 

In fact, that's good advice for everything in your kayak.  If it isn't tied down, you better be prepared to lose it.  

4 hours ago, Bankc said:

And watch out for tree branches and docks.  Anything that sticks up high out of the water.  In a kayak, you'll be tempted to get closer.  Or you might snag a lure and decide to go free it.  And unlike on most boats, your rods are probably sticking straight up into the air (or at an angle off to the sides).  Either way, eventually, a tree or something is going to try to grab one of your rods that sticking up behind you, and since it's behind you, you can easily paddle off while it slowly, and silently, pulls your rod out and quietly dunks it into the water below.  You won't even know it's gone until you reach for it again.  I don't use rod floats, but I do use rod leashes whenever I'm not holding the rod in my hands.  The leash is strong enough to jerk my boat and make the rod bounce against my kayak or the water, giving me a heads up that something isn't right.  I too learned the hard way, only it wasn't a $500 rod and reel, thank goodness.  Either way, make plans for some kind of protection from this.  

 

In fact, that's good advice for everything in your kayak.  If it isn't tied down, you better be prepared to lose it.  

Yep, I agree with this.  Every time I go out I plan to roll.