Super User Koz Posted May 3 Author Super User Share Posted May 3 3 hours ago, Boomstick said: With the kayak, you have to approach fishing differently and be a little more targeting in your approach. You might make an educated guess where the fish are using all the data that’s available to you and if you’re wrong, you get skunked. But when you’re right, it sure feels good. I just upgraded to a pedal kayak for this season. I got the Old Town Bigwater 132 PDL which might be the fastest sit on top fishing kayak or if not it’s pretty close and I can maintain 4mph for a while. I just got it out the first time on Sunday and only had a few hours but being able to make small adjustments by pedaling and not needing to anchor was game changing. Instead of setting up at spots that let me produce, I went spot to spot and threw a square bill until I got bit, then worked that area some more. Before I bought my Autpilot I really liked my pedal kayak. It didn’t take long to get to a point where everything became intuitive where I would jog the pedals and bump the rudder to maintain relative position without missing a beat while fishing. But let me tell you, it is much easier with spot lock. But again, intuitiveness still comes into play. For example, when I hook on to a fish while in a tight spot I will grab the iPilot remote hanging around my neck and kill the motor or pop on spot lock without looking at the buttons or even thinking about it while still reeling in the catch. Have fun with your new kayak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Boomstick Posted May 3 Super User Share Posted May 3 8 hours ago, Koz said: But let me tell you, it is much easier with spot lock. But again, intuitiveness still comes into play. For example, when I hook on to a fish while in a tight spot I will grab the iPilot remote hanging around my neck and kill the motor or pop on spot lock without looking at the buttons or even thinking about it while still reeling in the catch. Yeah, I was kind of getting at this. With pedals you have to think what to do... hmm I got a fish and I'm blowing into shore so I should pedal backwards. I can work with that. With a paddle I'd have to throw my anchor down quickly and hope it catches. But motor or pedals really give you same sort of freedom. So while you still can cover a certain limited area being a kayak, you can cover a lot more of it a lot quicker. If I had a boat, I could cross some of the medium sized lakes I fish in like a minute, but at the same time the experience wouldn't be the same getting there. Sometimes I like traveling between spots and taking in the view. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook2Jaw Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 We fish the same lake, @Koz. I'm pretty sure we've even spoken about fishing together. I can't offer any advice besides my own take, running a Bonafide PWR129 with a Newport NK180s and soon to add live sonar. My neighbor has a 17' aluminum bass boat with a 115 on the rear of it, and a day on Lake Sinclair with him showed me that one, gas is expensive. He didn't want to run and that's one of the advantages of a boat to me. Second, Lake Sinclair is awful for boat traffic in the recreational months and that thing absolutely beat me to death. I'll be sticking with a kayak for the rest of my fishing days. I can go wherever a boat can and tend to just focus on early launches when I want to hit a spot far away. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you took the Autopilot up to Rooty Creek. I've made that run a few times and it takes about an hour. I'm gonna continue making that hour run and telling my spinal cord, "you're welcome." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Koz Posted May 6 Author Super User Share Posted May 6 3 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said: We fish the same lake, @Koz. I'm pretty sure we've even spoken about fishing together. I can't offer any advice besides my own take, running a Bonafide PWR129 with a Newport NK180s and soon to add live sonar. My neighbor has a 17' aluminum bass boat with a 115 on the rear of it, and a day on Lake Sinclair with him showed me that one, gas is expensive. He didn't want to run and that's one of the advantages of a boat to me. Second, Lake Sinclair is awful for boat traffic in the recreational months and that thing absolutely beat me to death. I'll be sticking with a kayak for the rest of my fishing days. I can go wherever a boat can and tend to just focus on early launches when I want to hit a spot far away. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you took the Autopilot up to Rooty Creek. I've made that run a few times and it takes about an hour. I'm gonna continue making that hour run and telling my spinal cord, "you're welcome." We should get together sometime and fish Oconee or Sinclair. I live in the Buck Creek area of Sinclair, near Haslam’s Marina. You’re right about the boat traffic, especially on this narrow lake. Now that it’s getting hot I’ll probably be doing some night fishing as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook2Jaw Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 1 hour ago, Koz said: We should get together sometime and fish Oconee or Sinclair. I live in the Buck Creek area of Sinclair, near Haslam’s Marina. You’re right about the boat traffic, especially on this narrow lake. Now that it’s getting hot I’ll probably be doing some night fishing as well. I fish mostly weekdays now. Let me know when and I'll get my bells on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Koz Posted May 6 Author Super User Share Posted May 6 1 hour ago, Hook2Jaw said: I fish mostly weekdays now. Let me know when and I'll get my bells on. Sounds good. Weekdays often work better as I have my kids’ fishing program and other activities at the hotel on weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Darth-Baiter Posted May 10 Super User Share Posted May 10 In my opinion. buying a kayak for $10k (all-in) and putting $10k down as a down-payment for a boat are vastly different things. i'm a kayaker thru and thru. i love how it is simply more difficult. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted May 10 Super User Share Posted May 10 Hey @Darth-Baiter what's going on? Been MIA for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Standard Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 On 5/2/2024 at 9:17 PM, Boomstick said: With the kayak, you have to approach fishing differently and be a little more targeting in your approach. You might make an educated guess where the fish are using all the data that’s available to you and if you’re wrong, you get skunked. But when you’re right, it sure feels good. I just upgraded to a pedal kayak for this season. I got the Old Town Bigwater 132 PDL which might be the fastest sit on top fishing kayak or if not it’s pretty close and I can maintain 4mph for a while. I just got it out the first time on Sunday and only had a few hours but being able to make small adjustments by pedaling and not needing to anchor was game changing. Instead of setting up at spots that let me produce, I went spot to spot and threw a square bill until I got bit, then worked that area some more. I think 4mph is a target speed for most pedal kayak manufacturers. My Jackson pedal drive will do 4mph with a token effort. 3mph without trying so I have to actually pedal pretty slow to hit my desired trolling speed of 2-2.5 mph. If I want to sweat I can get to 5mph. But yeah, being able to make adjustments and such without putting the rod down is so nice, I don't think I'll ever give up a pedal yak. I've thought getting something with a motor but the added complexity and weight just hasn't made sense to me yet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Boomstick Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 On 5/10/2024 at 3:23 PM, Standard said: I think 4mph is a target speed for most pedal kayak manufacturers. My Jackson pedal drive will do 4mph with a token effort. 3mph without trying so I have to actually pedal pretty slow to hit my desired trolling speed of 2-2.5 mph. If I want to sweat I can get to 5mph. But yeah, being able to make adjustments and such without putting the rod down is so nice, I don't think I'll ever give up a pedal yak. I've thought getting something with a motor but the added complexity and weight just hasn't made sense to me yet. When I said 4mph on my Bigwater, that is a fairly effortless speed that I can maintain for miles. If I get out enough and get in better shape, I might be able to sustain 5mph. I can top 7 but not for long, that gets tiring fast. But this kayak is fast! On many other kayaks demo’d which tend to have a catamaran style hull and favor stability over speed, I can do 2.5-3 with the same effort and maybe peak in the high 4s or around 5. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbox99 Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 Many often fall into the kayak trap. They get a kayak then load it up with electronics, motor ect and before you know it, it's too heavy to car top and has to be drug around on a little trailer like a boat. If you need a small fishing boat then get a small fishing boat. If you need a kayak get a kayak. To me, the kayak fills a special niche of one man transportable and deployable fishing platform that can be transported without the need of a trailer and deployed without the requirement of a boat ramp. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Koz Posted May 23 Author Super User Share Posted May 23 4 hours ago, Bigbox99 said: Many often fall into the kayak trap. They get a kayak then load it up with electronics, motor ect and before you know it, it's too heavy to car top and has to be drug around on a little trailer like a boat. If you need a small fishing boat then get a small fishing boat. If you need a kayak get a kayak. To me, the kayak fills a special niche of one man transportable and deployable fishing platform that can be transported without the need of a trailer and deployed without the requirement of a boat ramp. I still love my kayak. And there’s no way any sane person would try to car top an Autopilot. It’s not a recreational kayak - it’s a fishing machine. And a dang good one. Speed is the limiting issue. It’s a big issue at times, especially on big lakes. That can be frustrating on some days. But by the same token, a kayak provides tranquility that you can’t find on a bass boat. You can also get to waters impossible to navigate in a fiberglass boat. It’s still a tossup for me, but I still love my kayak. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 5 hours ago, Bigbox99 said: Many often fall into the kayak trap. They get a kayak then load it up with electronics, motor ect and before you know it, it's too heavy to car top and has to be drug around on a little trailer like a boat. If you need a small fishing boat then get a small fishing boat. If you need a kayak get a kayak. To me, the kayak fills a special niche of one man transportable and deployable fishing platform that can be transported without the need of a trailer and deployed without the requirement of a boat ramp. Allow me to add a different perspective to the above. I have a kayak trailer and it's a godsend. Instead of having to lift my yak over my head and onto the roof of my truck, I only have to lift it maybe 2 feet to sit it on the trailer. My yak is only a 10 footer and a budget one. Stripped down it weighs under 50#'s. With all the add-ons, it weighs a lot more. At this stage in life, I'm all about making tasks easier and the trailer checks that box. I used to put our yaks in the bed of the truck but that ate up valuable space for gear & tackle. The trailer opens the bed up for safe transport & storage of that gear. At the end of the day, this arrangement works really well for me. Everyone's needs are different. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susky River Rat Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 8 hours ago, Koz said: You can also get to waters impossible to navigate in a fiberglass boat. Get an aluminum one. If you don’t have to get out of your yak to get to somewhere that has a boat ramp there’s a very very high chance I can get there as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junk Fisherman Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 On 4/7/2024 at 9:22 PM, Susky River Rat said: to me it seems like kayak guys want their kayak to be a boat anyway. All kinds of batteries TM FFS etc. just buy a boat. I think this all the time myself with all the gadgets and whatnot that some cram into a kayak. I keep it simple when I kayak fish and my only electronics is a 20-year old Eagle 320 fishfinder with a tiny little 5" screen. I like the way Craig says how kayak fishing is a "connected" experience. Personally, I always lower my expectations and fish simpler when I am kayak fishing using a Ned rig probably 80% of the time. To the OP, if you are spending that much time wanting to move from spot to spot then a boat is your better option. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 It's never ending. You've got what I consider a super nice top of the line kayak. My bottom of the line boat (that I love) is going to be a little more than 2 times the price or your kayak by the time you add electronics and decent trolling motor........and barely under 2000 pounds. If you had my boat you would no longer be able to fish kayak tournaments. If you decided to fish tournaments you'd be busting across the lake wide open at a blazing 38 to 40 mph with other boats passing you like you're sitting still. So then, it would be a pickup truck or larger suv, and a bigger boat that would run 55 to 60 mph.........then an even bigger boat and engine that would run 70+ mph. You've got to decide what you want to do. Tournaments don't matter to me. I'm a 12 month a year fisherman. I fish lake between 1500 and 35000 acres. The lake I fish most of the time is ~13,000 acres. There's a few city lakes I could fish with a kayak, but I'm 60, tired and lazy. I'm not exactly a kayak guy. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Functional Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 I wouldnt underestimate a aluminum bass boat. I'm constantly shocked how little water my boat can float in. Most times I'm limited by how shallow I can go by my TM and have used a small paddle to push my way through some areas. Sounds like a Tracker Classic would be a nice fit for you. Weight is your biggest issue. The Classic XL gives enough room to load up the boat with gear and still be under the 2K lb mark. The 170 only leaves about 150# between gas and gear before you are at your tow max. Agreed overall. If you truely only want to reach a few more places you cant get to quick enough in a day with your kayak either of those will do. If you think youll really want to "fish in a boat" then youll really need to rethink your vehicle and the type of boat you have/get. It would just end up as a stop gap like the kayak you have now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaubsNU1 Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 I have mad respect for kayak fishermen. Unloading and loading by hand, sitting all day (I gotta pee about once an hour), twisting around to access tackle, maneuvering AND fishing at the same time...it's a lot. Thirty years ago what got me off the bank and on to the water was a belly boat, then a canoe. Space was limited, spent a lot of time positioning, but we could get in to water big bass boats could not access. It was fun. I really liked my old Rich Line...I could float in 3-4" of water...and did not care if I banged against trees, rocks, etc. Last week I trimmed up the Mercury on the Lund, and was running in 8-10" of water looking for shallow bass. Not a problem. Lund's site lists boat / motor / trailer towing weight at 1,984 lbs (yea, I probably have another 400-600 lbs in there). Something to consider. Most of the lakes in my area are under 500 acres, and 5 MPH limit. I see lots of kayak fishermen on these lakes. I do take the Lund to South Dakota and fish the big Missouri river reservoirs. I love the layout and versatility of my boat. Super comfortable, easy for my 83 year old Dad to fish, I can launch and retrieve by myself, heck, even the wife likes to join me...and bring an adult beverage + book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted May 23 Global Moderator Share Posted May 23 I have some of both, leave no water unexplored 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted May 23 Super User Share Posted May 23 Obviously the OP @Koz has an interest in fishing kayak tournaments. So a boat would disqualify him from being able to do that. Sure, he could then fish in a standard boat tournament, but not with a basic setup like is being advised here. I've been following his experiences at Guntersville and its obvious that there is a lot of time required when moving from one spot to another with a yak. Quite often, you have to load the yak into the truck/trailer, and then drive to another point, and unload again. And then pedal or paddle your way to the next spot. That wastes a lot of fishing time and with a boat, its not as much time wasted. But in a boat, you would not be participating anyways, so its a moot point. I would stick with the yak for now and try to refine your strategy. Focus on shorter distance between fishing areas if possible. I am a boat guy so I am not commenting on any type of personal kayak experience here. I am only speculating. If I didn't have a boat, I'd for sure have a tricked out fishing kayak. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted May 23 Super User Share Posted May 23 I’ll be THAT guy. There will always be something that you want to buy that will improve your fishing experience. If you pay $150K for a top of the line bass boat and a truck to pull it there will still be more that you will want to buy. How fast do you want to go? 20 mph? 50 mph? 80 mph? I’ve always lived by the rule that you shouldn’t borrow money for fishing. You’re catching fish now in a nice kayak. Start making your boat payment into a special fishing account and buy the boat you want and the truck you need when you can pay cash. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Koz Posted May 23 Author Super User Share Posted May 23 6 hours ago, Susky River Rat said: Get an aluminum one. If you don’t have to get out of your yak to get to somewhere that has a boat ramp there’s a very very high chance I can get there as well. I’ve looked at both a Tracker and a Lowe boat but haven’t pulled the trigger. I know a few people look down on aluminum boats and they are not the greatest handling the wind, but I still like them. My Bronco can tow only 2,200 pounds so that’s a big consideration. I also like my Bronco and have never even considered a pickup truck. But yesterday I entered to win KVD’s last tournament boat. If I win, that may change things 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaubsNU1 Posted May 23 Share Posted May 23 1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said: I’ve always lived by the rule that you shouldn’t borrow money for fishing. You’re catching fish now in a nice kayak. Start making your boat payment into a special fishing account and buy the boat you want and the truck you need when you can pay cash. @Tennessee Boy, wise words! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Koz Posted May 23 Author Super User Share Posted May 23 3 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said: I have mad respect for kayak fishermen. Unloading and loading by hand, sitting all day (I gotta pee about once an hour), twisting around to access tackle, maneuvering AND fishing at the same time...it's a lot. Thirty years ago what got me off the bank and on to the water was a belly boat, then a canoe. Space was limited, spent a lot of time positioning, but we could get in to water big bass boats could not access. It was fun. I really liked my old Rich Line...I could float in 3-4" of water...and did not care if I banged against trees, rocks, etc. Last week I trimmed up the Mercury on the Lund, and was running in 8-10" of water looking for shallow bass. Not a problem. Lund's site lists boat / motor / trailer towing weight at 1,984 lbs (yea, I probably have another 400-600 lbs in there). Something to consider. Most of the lakes in my area are under 500 acres, and 5 MPH limit. I see lots of kayak fishermen on these lakes. I do take the Lund to South Dakota and fish the big Missouri river reservoirs. I love the layout and versatility of my boat. Super comfortable, easy for my 83 year old Dad to fish, I can launch and retrieve by myself, heck, even the wife likes to join me...and bring an adult beverage + book. Trailering on and out of the water makes loading and unloading easier. But I have been pulling it onto the bunks with a dock bungee. I’m going to add a winch within the next week or so. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User A-Jay Posted May 23 Super User Share Posted May 23 On the open road, a trailer is really my only option for this Party Barge ~ But that doesn't disqualify her from portage duty when necessary A-Jay 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.