I see a lot of posts about them.  I see several of them on the water.  Some are in places that I consider to be dangerous because of motor powered boats in the area especially the green and brown ones.  I've never been in one and am too old to even try.  I am just wondering why you kayakers use them instead of a bigger more seeable boat. 

kayaks could do a flight orange flag at the stern to help see them.

Tom

When I bought a motorized kayak in 2020 I deliberately bought a seeable 👀 color.

Only had it 2 years before getting a bass boat.

A few reasons.

1- I don't have the money to buy a boat.

2- I don't have the money to buy a pickup to tow a boat.

3- I don't have a place to store a boat.

4- I can launch my kayak in the surf at the beach

5- I can fish places that are difficult to get to with a boat.

6-  

The storage and towing seem to be the biggest obstacles when you compare a boat and a yak.

 

The cost that some people are putting into yaks is head scratching though. For a negligible amount, a boat could be had instead.

I’ve had a kayak for about ten years and used it probably 25 times. I definitely understand the allure of kayak fishing. It’s a much more intimate experience—you’re closer to the water, you work a spot more thoroughly, and fighting a fish feels like a true one-on-one battle, especially when it’s a big one. Paddling feels authentic, and when I catch a good fish from the kayak, I always feel an extra sense of accomplishment. I enjoy it in a completely different way than fishing from a boat.

 

But with that said… I will always choose to fish from my boat over my kayak. There is nothing better than standing on my deck with a half-dozen rods ready to go, using Livescope to see what’s ahead, and letting my trolling motor quietly move me or hold me in place with spot-lock. It’s efficient, it’s comfortable, and it lets me fish exactly how I want.  The only times I take the kayak out are when my boat is down or when I’m heading out with a buddy and the situation calls for it.

 

My personal fishing hierarchy:
Boat fishing > Kayak fishing > Wading > Shore fishing

 

11 minutes ago, gim said:

The cost that some people are putting into yaks is head scratching though. For a negligible amount, a boat could be had instead.

Not a boat where I live, especially one that can be used on the ocean, as well as lakes.  I paid $3000.00 for my kayak and it was brand new.  Another $500 for accessories, including a Garmin fish finder.  I looked for a boat, and didn't find anything decent for under $10,000.00 and calling a ten grand boat decent would be a stretch.  In the states a good used aluminum boat and 15 hp. motor can be had for $5000.00, but there still might be a significant cost to get electronics, trolling motor and batteries.

 

Everyone always points out how much money someone has invested in their kayaks, but most of the added on items are also expensive to put on a boat.  If you compare just the boat and motor price, to a bare bones kayak, the kayak is far cheaper.  

 

I would love to have a boat, and when I can afford one I will buy one.  Until then I will have to somehow get by with my kayak.

 

By far the biggest disadvantage with a kayak for me is not being able to take friends fishing with me.  You better like fishing solo, if you want to kayak fish.

I agree with @gim, the storage and towing are problematic, and I will add the expense.  Many do not have the budget for a boat or the knowledge on how to fix up a cheap used boat.

 

I am fortunate to have owned both.  I understand your point of view @Jig Man and having been on both sides, as a possible future kayaker again, I'll be staying away from those powered boating areas, I've seen too much. I will boast however, I will enjoy the heck out of getting to the areas those boats cannot go.

 

On the other hand, If my wife and I were to move to an area with more boating opportunities than my current area, I will be right back in a boat.

Yak tournaments are definitely gaining popularity. Can’t participate in a yak tourney with a bass boat. So there’s that.

I have both a kayak and a boat. I like to fish out of the kayak it is fun.  I fish because I think fishing is fun.  I put a Torqeedo motor on my kayak so I could go up dive on the Mississippi.  I would never take my V hull Lund on the river.  Also MN has a lot of little lakes and the kayak work well in them.  
 

the other side is Mille Lac lake and the boat is way better!  
 

kayaks and boats are tools there is a best fit for each tool.

I’m not a kayak owner myself, I have a different style personal watercraft, but I know a lot of bass fishermen who have them. The guys I know who have them are all smallmouth guys. In northern Illinois, there aren’t many lakes with largemouth but there are many miles of rivers that have good populations of smallies. Normal prop driven boats can’t safely navigate these rivers so if you want to catch those bass, a kayak is one of the best tools. I’m older with some back issues and I’m not comfortable in a kayak. I use a personal pontoon. Much more stable than a kayak and I can get in and out of them easily. The only other real disadvantage to kayaks is that for the most part, rivers are one way. You float down and need a shuttle to get you back to your car. 

@Scott F I don’t mean to pry but I’ve never heard of a personal pontoon, is this what you’re referring to? 

@Eric 26 I've fished with Scott several times. Hopefully he doesn't mind me chiming in. His pontoon is like a hybrid pontoon/belly boat. It has pontoons and oars but you sit with your legs in the water like a belly boat. It's a little cumbersome on land but really slick once you're in the water. 

 

As to the OP's question. Never had the extra funds, space, etc. to be able to own a boat. Also mostly do the smaller, shallow river/smallmouth thing so a kayak makes more sense. Only downside is needing a shuttle. Unless I wade upstream and float back.

 

Cuz I like it 

15 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I see a lot of posts about them.  I see several of them on the water.  Some are in places that I consider to be dangerous because of motor powered boats in the area especially the green and brown ones.  I've never been in one and am too old to even try.  I am just wondering why you kayakers use them instead of a bigger more seeable boat. 

My intent is not to be snarky or appear angry but having been on both sides of the issue; I don’t see why people fish from big , really dangerous overpowered rigs. Do you really need two hundred/three hundred horsepower on a five hundred acre lake? Or spend $60-100k to go fishing? Kayakers are only in danger from inattentive bass/pleasure (large) boaters whom believe they own the water, like the Karens who think they own the water around their docks. Some boaters inattentive somewhat elitist attitude is really the true issue to safety to others sharing the water. You’ve never heard of a kayak running into a big boater at 3mph and killing someone. 
I see your question as a “they” problem but not “me” attitude.

 

Kayaks are a more personal experience, without all the bling, forty two rods, multiple big screen tv’s, coolers for beers and subway sandwiches or the ability to run four hours and miles only to fish for an hour in total all day. Believe me, I’ve been there! I can stand, move about, cast in any direction, spotlock on a point, and get to places a big boat can’t with less effort or investment all the while being “in” the outdoors. Plus I can fish small water, big water and rivers with one rig that fits in my truck, if I choose and stores easily.

 

In total, kayak tournaments have become more popular with close to or above participation nation wide exceeding bass boater tournaments. Most offer multi-day opportunities without having to outlay hundreds in entry fees, launch and fuel expenses. It has drawn new and the casual fisherman back or into the sport. Which is a good thing.

 

I'm in my 70’s and have never enjoyed fishing more than in my kayak and canoe. Outside of physical limitations you’re never too old to learn new tricks, just too stubborn to try.

I have both kayaks and a bass boat, I much prefer to fish out of a kayak. It's cheaper, less maintanence, easier to haul, and I usually fish by myself on smaller lakes anyways, so not really any reason to use a bigger boat. 

 

The newer fishing kayaks are incredibly stable, it really takes a lot to flip one. For the most part, if I wouldn't go out in it on my kayak, I wouldn't go out in it on my boat either. Would it be a little safer in my boat? Sure, but I'm not doing anything dumb like crossing a bigger lake in rolling, whitecaps either. If I'm crossing a big lake where I expect boat traffic, I try to plan accordingly and pay attention to boats that are approaching. My kayak is orange and I have my flag up 100% of the time and the more I do it, the more I've started to wear bright colors just to make myself easier to see, but I know that still won't get some folks attention. I'm always ready to stand and make myself more obvious if necessary. 

 

The flip side of it, as a boater, if you wouldn't see a kayak on the water before hitting them, you're probaby not operating safely because even the camo colored ones are more obvious than a floating log or stump just above the surface. 

I fish from a kayak because I live in Massachusetts, bodies of water are small. Boat traffic is light to non-existent and tend not to do 70mph.

 

I fish from a kayak because there is nothing like being on the water first light. No motor noise, nature, serenity. Oh my!

 

If I was to own a boat I would want to be able to prep it for winter storage, the same for a new season, and all maintenance/repairs in between. I don't think I can currently do that. 

 

 

#1 reason I went from a bass boat to a kayak is lack of boat storage. I have the largest possible watercraft now that fits in the new smaller garage when we moved. 

 

I maxed out all the possible options on my newest kayak ($20k) and some have commented how expensive it is.  For a kayak, true - but it is still a fraction of what I spent on my bass boat (hull, motor, electronics, gas, insurance, etc. - $60k+). 

 

I also now have a vessel that is compatible in both fresh and salt water... beats having 2 watercraft with further expense and storage issues. I'm able to fish both Bassmaster/kayak - and 10,000 islands near Marco. 

 

16 hours ago, Junk Fisherman said:

I will always choose to fish from my boat over my kayak. There is nothing better than standing on my deck with a half-dozen rods ready to go, using Livescope to see what’s ahead, and letting my trolling motor quietly move me or hold me in place with spot-lock. It’s efficient, it’s comfortable.. 

My personal fishing hierarchy:
Boat fishing > Kayak fishing > Wading > Shore fishing

 

I can't disagree with your hierarchy above - do I miss my bass boat? At times absolutely. But if I still had my boat, would I give up my kayak?  Absolutely not. It's a blast. 

 

What I didn't give up with my kayak was much of the above you mentioned - I still have 8 rods ready to go, Livescope, 360 Imaging, a trolling motor that scoots me 6 mph, Spot-lock, etc. I got spoiled with those things on my boat - didn't want to give them up now. 

19 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I've never been in one and am too old to even try...

I hear you on the age thing... although I'm seeing more and more 60-70 year old guys (and women - see Dena Davis YouTube, Old Lady Angler, etc.) venture into kayak fishing.

 

Two primary reasons:

 

1) The new trailers are so easy to launch and load kayaks (much easier than your standard 18 foot bass boat). Easy to push around the trailer in the garage too.

 

2) The comfort and creature features in the newer kayaks (everything at arms reach, Tempress boat seats, etc.) They aren't your father's Oldsmobile any more...  With my leg neuropathy caused by cholesterol medicine, I refer to it as my "water wheelchair." 

 

Not trying to talk anyone into it - it can be a rabbit hole in many ways, but it isn't just a young guys hobby any more.. 

Cost

14 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

@Scott F I don’t mean to pry but I’ve never heard of a personal pontoon, is this what you’re referring to? 

 

This is my personal pontoon. 

I just went kayak to boat.  I too had a pretty spec'd out kayak (9" helix and mega live, spotlock motor, etc).  Not a dual screen, torqueedo, 20k unit but pretty well spec'd for a non tournament angler.  Most of the lakes around me are 300 acres or less, restricted motors (either 10 hp or electric only), and negligible pleasure boats.  That all sets up well for a kayak (especially motorized with spotlock) and it fished well for me for 4 seasons.  I went kayak because of storage constraints and the fact my wife didn't want a boat sitting in the driveway.  I don't think she realized that I could fit a good boat in the garage so she was adament on no boat.  I am glad I fished from a kayak.  It gives a certain intimacy with the lakes others have noted above.  You can slip in and out of skinny/quiet places.  I was able to fish basically every lake around and know what's here.  I didn't shy away from the couple bigger lakes with pleasure boats.  The autopilot could handle all the wakes they could dish out and I'd be mindful about when and where I was at times.

 

At the end of the day, I swapped to a boat for ease and range.  The downside of the kayak was that I had to load and unload it every trip.  That meant 4-6 rods, tackle bag, fish finder, etc.  Not terrible, but I always had to make a choice of what rods were being left behind, what tackle I wanted to carry or not, do I bring rain gear today, etc.  Lifting in and out of the truck wasn't great but I'm still young enough to be able to do it.  Range and speed on the bigger lakes wasn't great which meant either a preplanned path around the lake or not fishing those lakes when I didn't have enough time to devote to travel (meaning evening quickie trips were limited to other lakes).  With the boat, I can go to any of the lakes around and be fishing much faster than with the kayak.  Just the loading and unloading gives me back 20 minutes a trip (considering I make a lot of 2-4 hours trips, that's a significant percentage) not to mention travel time on the water.  The boat has opened up the couple bigger lakes and I've taken advantage of that.  The boat was still 2-3x the money put into the kayak and I'll have more ongoing costs that I ever would have with the kayak.  

 

If I could have both I would.  I've given up a couple smaller lakes that I can't get the boat in but could with the kayak.  They aren't set the world on fire lakes, but they are close and have their merits some times.  I'm still happy with the trade though.  

Not to dismiss the advantages of a kayak, glad to hear most enjoy them.

Years ago after having kids and working long hours, sold my bass boat.

As free time became more available I dabled into kayaks.

What I noticed right away was my casting accuracy took a dive from the lower position.

Skipping was out of the question.

My last kayak was motorized and very stable but attempting to stand was quite entertaining. 😁

I don't have a bad back but felt like I did after 2 hours...... yes I'm 65.

Soon as I retired, bought a bass boat and sold both kayaks and a Bass Raider.

Will admit though, if I didn't have indoor storage which eliminates many of the conveniences of owning a boat, I wouldn't have bought one.

Just back it in , unhook and walk inside.

Enjoy what you have and be thankful.

 

My one and only reason for a kayak was to get to places my boat wouldn't go.  When I moved to N GA I passed good looking rivers and creeks and have had a kayak for 20+ years.  There are bass species in rivers that don't live in lakes and I've caught those.  If another person goes with me we'll float down and shuttle back.  As for tackle I carry one or at the most 2 rods and the rest of my tackle in my PFD.