Kayak vs small boat?

[MN Fisher]

What you can do with a 14'-16' Semi-V Jon

[Darth-Baiter]

On 7/28/2023 at 2:50 PM, Cody28 said:

My biggest concern is not being able to navigate while standing for thinks like skipping docks and punching.
 

 

I have only a Hobie Outback.  It isn’t the gold standard of stability, but I can stand to punch easily.  It’s actually better than a boat since I can let the current push me into the mat and I can punch around me, move to a new spot and repeat.  Skipping isn’t a problem either.  Well the standing parts is great. I skip a bait like a moron.  I never know how it will play out.   I have skipped like a pro and I have skipped where I was happy nobody is watching.  
 

some kayaks are super stable.  Wildly stable. But $$$. 

[Dye99]

Fished out of a bass boat as a kid, great times. Its how I learned how to fish in the first place.

I prefer a different style of fishing as an adult though. Spent a few years overseas and earned myself a little trauma. Doc's said medication. I said exercise in the great outdoors. In the end I won. Been in the kayak since 06.

The yak was a turning point in my life. I almost take it as spiritual as funny as it sounds.

Silence, exercise, freedom, cost, and the people Ive met over the years in tourneys and on our lakes has been a real blessing.

Yak fishermen still roll up and talk to each other. Here at least.

 

And I stand in mine most of the time fishing. ( I own a bonafide, ATAK, and a Old town )

Im 52 now, and when my body starts to tell me I cant paddle anymore I'll get a bass boat, until then Im gonna be out there before light, paddling away.

 

There is no wrong answer as long as your fishing.

[GTN-NY]

7 minutes ago, Dye99 said:

Fished out of a bass boat as a kid, great times. Its how I learned how to fish in the first place.

I prefer a different style of fishing as an adult though. Spent a few years overseas and earned myself a little trauma. Doc's said medication. I said exercise in the great outdoors. In the end I won. Been in the kayak since 06.

The yak was a turning point in my life. I almost take it as spiritual as funny as it sounds.

Silence, exercise, freedom, cost, and the people Ive met over the years in tourneys and on our lakes has been a real blessing.

Yak fishermen still roll up and talk to each other. Here at least.

 

And I stand in mine most of the time fishing. ( I own a bonafide, ATAK, and a Old town )

Im 52 now, and when my body starts to tell me I cant paddle anymore I'll get a bass boat, until then Im gonna be out there before light, paddling away.

 

There is no wrong answer as long as your fishing.

I find paddling to give me piece of mind. But of course I had to step it up a couple notches and get into yay tournaments and they allow motors. So I put a trolling motor on it. Now it’s a big project to go out. ?‍♂️

This week on vacation I left the motor at home (no I didn’t forget it). It was nice to paddle again

[Dye99]

29 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

I find paddling to give me piece of mind. But of course I had to step it up a couple notches and get into yay tournaments and they allow motors. So I put a trolling motor on it. Now it’s a big project to go out. ?‍♂️

This week on vacation I left the motor at home (no I didn’t forget it). It was nice to paddle again

I havent gone to the trolling motor and I stopped the tourney action when all the boats starting going to motors. But I do have cameras, fish finders and a metric ton of other crap on the boat these days. I agree with you, it becomes a chore.

I also keep one boat stock as they come, nothing but a seat, rods and tackle for ponds and when Im tired of taking 30 minutes at the launch!

[Darth-Baiter]

I think @Dye99 gets it!   
 

 

[hunterPRO1]

On 7/28/2023 at 6:30 PM, Woody B said:

Another reason (for me) to have a boat instead of a Yak.  I'm 59.  I have to pee pretty often.   I suspect it's kinda hard to relieve yourself in a Yak.  

Thats what scupper holes are for.

[Darth-Baiter]

@Woody B  nope.  I have hours of unintended GoPro footage of me standing and peeing off the side of my kayak.    I am in trouble if the lakeside residents have binoculars or (worse) a telescoped trained on the lake.   hahhaa..I prefer for my fishing friends not to see my junk, so I face away from them.  and usually towards a lake house.  (sorry folks).

 

I subscribe to the mantra..."anywhere is better than in my pants"

[DaubsNU1]

I'm with @MN Fisher, and love my 14' semi-v aluminum boat. It was built in 1960. The 20hp Merc is from 1974. Runs great and can push me 20 MPH.  

 

I built the decking two years back...all my tackle and gear is stored. I can stand, walk around, pee, holds 6 rods and more tackle than I should bring on any excursion. I've even tied up to a tree an taken a nap in this little boat. 

 

No way I would trade it for a kayak.

 

I have mad respect for kayakers, having fished out of a canoe in my younger days. Maneuvering and casting takes skills. 

 

Map out your pros and cons, and do what works for you. 

 

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I built the decking two years back...all my tackle and gear is stored. I can stand, walk around, pee, holds 6 rods and more tackle than I should bring on any excursion.

Another view showing the jack-plate (short shaft transom, long shaft motor). I can fit all 20 of my rod/reel combos (16 bass, 4 panfish) with room for more, and all my tackle in lidded compartments and mid-ship is a 15 gallon livewell with digitally controlled re-circulation

 

Still doing little bits here and there, but the main construction was my winter project Sept '21- June '22.

[DaubsNU1]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Another view showing the jack-plate (short shaft transom, long shaft motor). I can fit all 20 of my rod/reel combos (16 bass, 4 panfish) with room for more, and all my tackle in lidded compartments and mid-ship is a 15 gallon livewell with digitally controlled re-circulation

 

Still doing little bits here and there, but the main construction was my winter project Sept '21- June '22.

 

Outstanding work!!!

 

 

 

[Krux5506]

I have both and would give up neither. Lately I get to use my boat far more often than the kayak which at this point, i may be getting out 2 or 3 times a year on the yak. Best advantage to the kayak is simply fishing places that I cannot access with my boat, or bodies of water that are either motorless or have HP limits. 

 

It's very difficult for me to pick which one I like better. Boats obviously are better for longer outings, more comfortable etc but kayak fishing really is fun. Just avoid the super windy days on a yak. 

[Scott804]

I love the kayak. More importantly, I love kayak tournaments. I am enthralled by the thrill of the live updating leaderboard. There is nothing like being in the lead and seeing familiar names hot on your tail and dueling them fish for fish until the best (fisher)man comes out on top. Another cool thing is a lot of fisheries that aren't viable for traditional boat tournaments are for kayak tournaments. I did one on the New River here in Virginia last weekend. That type of river smallmouth fishing has never really been tournament relevant until now and that is nifty to me. Also catch-photo-release is awesome and as guilt free as it gets as a hardcore tournament guy who also really cares about conservation of the fish. Always hated having to haul them back the ramp, despite how cool weighing in a big bag feels. 

 

In the beginning my kayak was a holdover until I could afford a bass boat. Now, I don't even want one anymore. At least not for how much it costs to run one now, not worth what I would be putting in. Another thing with the kayak is it makes going for short trips real easy. I can go after work for 2-3 hours and it is relatively easy and quick, no worrying about gas or anything, and for me that means I get out A LOT more. I can go 4-6 days a week (part of the reason I am not as active on here anymore lol) and I cannot see myself affording running a boat like that year round, but I have also never done it so I can't totally say. Don't get me wrong, fishing out of a boat is awesome, but the world of kayaks has been perfect for me. The only thing I will warn you about is that if you are going to give it an honest go I would go for a nice kayak. The boat you are in can make or break your experience as the margin between a 300$ kayak and a 2500$ kayak is practically not even the same thing. 

 

A few more key things, 1. the stealth is pretty awesome. You can go behind bass boats and pick up fish pretty consistently if you're making a conceited effort to be stealthy and especially if you get crafty and use surrounding cover and things to hide your boat/person behind while making your casts. Less aware fish =  they're more willing to bat. 2. You mentioned punching and skipping, I have not found a technique that you can't do in the kayak yet so I wouldn't worry about it. 3. I would try to find a dealer and demo some of the popular boats if you can. I know multiple guys who got into it once and picked the wrong boat and hated it and then came back around later on and found the one that fit them and then it was great for them. I haven't had one I have disliked yet, but I also do hours of research before biting the bullet on that kind of thing.  

 

In short, it's been an awesome way for me to experience bass fishing and I recommend you try it. 

[TnRiver46]

I’d keep the boat the same and get a kayak. Best of both worlds, engine is most important part of a boat. 
 

I have two motor boats on trailers, 4 kayaks, a canoe, and am the keeper of a friends 6 person inflatable paddle board. Diversify! 

[Cody28]

Thank you everyone for the advice. While looking, I just saw that there is an Oldtown 120 PDL on Amazon listed at $1750. Is this legitimate? Does anyone know if Amazon guarantees money back if it’s not on something like this? 

[casts_by_fly]

54 minutes ago, Cody28 said:

Thank you everyone for the advice. While looking, I just saw that there is an Oldtown 120 PDL on Amazon listed at $1750. Is this legitimate? Does anyone know if Amazon guarantees money back if it’s not on something like this? 

definitely not legit. Seller has 6 ratings and is based in china. 

[Gera]

Just remember that everyone on this site is bias. I would keep the boat and buy a kayak, once you spend the time on the water you can make your own opinion if it is for you or not. 

 

There are pros and cons to both so try it for your self and you will get the right answer. 

[TNBankFishing]

I’ve fished tournaments for the last three years out of a yak all across the southeast. I can transport my yak anywhere for cheap and store it easily at a camp site, rental, or friends place. I started with a pedal drive and some affordable gear. Graph and net picked up from Walmart. Not having a boat payment, and not dealing with engine maintenance have been the keys for freedom and enjoyment for me. 

[FryDog62]

I have both a bass boat and kayak and like them equally. A couple differentiators in your decision:

 

1) If you get a kayak and are used to having good electronics including a trolling motor, go with an Autopilot. Boat control is key and there’s nothing like spot-lock. I would hate kayak fishing if I was always out of position, constantly paddling/peddling while trying to cast, etc. Wind and current can be your enemy. 
 

2) If you like to fish with others, stay with your boat - otherwise you end up buying 2 kayaks. 

[JackstrawIII]

On 7/28/2023 at 5:54 PM, Woody B said:

Keep the boat.  Forget the tournaments.  Fish is supposed to be fun,

That was gonna be the essence of my comment. 

I started fishing with a kayak but bought a boat recently. Fishing from the boat is WAY better... and I'm selling the kayak. Being able to stand and move comfortably while fishing is just SO preferable to being stuck on a kayak. 

To me, at least. 

 

 

[DaubsNU1]

You are going to get a lot of opinions on here. Fish with both, and see what fits your needs best. 

 

I started bank fishing...wanted to be on the water. 

 

Got a belly boat...that was cool and fun, but a lot of work, and limited my range. 

 

Fished with a buddy who had a canoe....much more range, and out of the water...but hard to fish sitting down all the time, limited storage, and had to manually paddle and maneuver the canoe. 

 

Got a boat in 2000, immediately installed casting deck and foot controlled trolling motor. Fit my needs almost perfectly. Three years ago built decking, installed two fish finders, one with side imaging, etc. Even better. 

 

This coming Saturday I am picking up a new-to-me Lund Adventure 1775. Cannot wait! 

 

You will find your path to fishing. Enjoy the journey. 

[Choporoz]

On 7/29/2023 at 1:02 PM, WRB said:

If you have funds and space to store both your aluminum and kayak keep your boat and buy a kayak.

Tom

 

On 7/31/2023 at 8:40 AM, Krux5506 said:

I have both and would give up neither.

Got yak about 6-7 years ago when a boat wasn't an option.  Now I have both and wouldn't give up either 

[Darth-Baiter]

if my home had storage space for a boat, I might consider it.  I can't stomach storage fees for something.  

 

and the truck.  dont forget the truck.  I subscribe to "overkill" w respect to torque (and almost more importantly) braking and truck leverage. 

 

I saw a guy pulling a big bass boat with a Nissan Rouge yesterday.  NOPE

[Junk Fisherman]

I wish I loved kayak fishing as much as fishing out of a boat.  I own a kayak and only use it if something is wrong with my boat.  I started with a boat similar to yours and put hundreds and hundreds of fish into that thing.  But with that said if I was content with a kayak, life would be so much easier for a number of reasons.  Because if you stick with your boat, you'll end up upgrading until one day you have a 75k+ bassboat and need a 60k+ truck to tow it.   Hell, you could even get a camper one day if you were a kayak fisherman and go anywhere fishing and camping.  Another option, is to join a bass club and fish as a nonboater to satisfy that urge to tournament fish if you decided to keep your boat.  If I was in your position I'd get the kayak and start fishing the tournaments.  You can always sell the kayak down the road if it's not for you and go back to a boat.  Good luck.

[Kirtley Howe]

7 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

if my home had storage space for a boat, I might consider it.  I can't stomach storage fees for something.  

 

and the truck.  dont forget the truck.  I subscribe to "overkill" w respect to torque (and almost more importantly) braking and truck leverage. 

 

I saw a guy pulling a big bass boat with a Nissan Rouge yesterday.  NOPE

Well, you can certainly pull a big bass boat with a Nissan Rouge, or Rave 4, or similar vehicles. The big problem is when you try to stop. The boat most likely outweighs the tow vehicle, so it is really easy for the tail to wag the dog, so to speak. Plus the brakes on those vehicles are not really up to the job of stopping all that weight. For me that is also a big nope.