Littoral........Kayak ?

Post by **Ken K** » November 5th, 2003, 2:11 pm

How do you use your Kayak? Do you fish from the boat or use it to get to a wading spot? What about trolling?

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 5th, 2003, 5:37 pm

d. all of the above
Ken, if I read into your question Iâ€™m guessing that you imagine fishing from the kayak is an option but not a primary function. No, fishing from the kayak is how I use it. In fact, when Iâ€™m around oyster bars prime for wading I find myself staying in the boat. I like to wade the bars but given that Iâ€™m in a lounge chair already why get out? Itâ€™s comfortable, stable, easy to paddle, quiet, and the logistics of fishing are easy. There are a few things to get used to but if you already know how to fish itâ€™s easy. I donâ€™t even deal with rod holders. I carry two rods that I lay forward and switch at will. You can cast 270 degrees around you. There is essentially no comparing my kayak to a canoe. Stability in the kayak is a non-issue. You have to try hard to turn over. Profile to the wind is so low that you donâ€™t get blown or turned around. It drifts one way or the other. Anchoring is also easy.
If you want more info obviously Iâ€™d be happy to help. Paddle.net is a great site for a lot of info. Hereâ€™s their url to 80+ reviews on my boat.
http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showRev ... l?prod=235

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 5th, 2003, 5:44 pm

Oh yeah, trolling. I've done it off the beach and off the oil docks at St Joe mostly for Spanish. It works fine but it's not my preference. Although I missed it this year next fall I will be in St Joe using it to troll for those 30lb kings that come in close. That I want. I also want to try to negotiate a big Cobia in it. I'm not sure how that would work out. I have caught bull reds and decent sized sharks in it. Damn fun.

Post by **Ken K** » November 5th, 2003, 6:36 pm

Thanks, Littoral.
I keep going back and forth between a canoe and kayak. I have done a lot of canoeing so I kind of lean that way but I also see lots of benefits to the kayak. I think I would prefer a sit-on-top model (big ass), what do you think about the Tarpon 160?

Post by **Chalk** » November 5th, 2003, 9:15 pm

Tarpon 160 is what I want....

or Perception Bimini....
Some sites for ya.....
http://www.paddle-fishing.com/
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/

Littoral......Look at the header picture, I love that rod holder....

http://www.castandpaddle.com/index2.html

Post by **Chalk** » November 5th, 2003, 9:35 pm

Another one Ken.....http://www.stillwaterboats.com/sbsunset.html

Canoe/Kayak and you build it too......

Littoral...rigged Pungo for you....
http://www.paddle-fishing.com/rigs/ddpungo140.htm

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 6th, 2003, 11:29 am

Ken, so yes, I read into your question that youâ€™re experience is comparing to a canoe. No comparison at all. When I canoe there is a degree of tension at all times because of its lack of stability. Not so with my kayak. I wasnâ€™t making a sales pitch when I said I felt like I was in a lounge chair. No comparison at all. None.
The beauty of fishing out of a kayak is simplicity. Thatâ€™s significant to me because thatâ€™s essentially why I go fishing anyway. I spent a lot of time pouring over what to rig and what boat would work for me. Iâ€™m 6â€™4â€

Post by **Chalk** » November 6th, 2003, 11:37 am

My kayak weighs 43lbs and can be had now for $395.

Where? Not the angler is it!?!

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 6th, 2003, 12:05 pm

Not the angler -which you don't want with it's generic pre-rig anyway.
Here's the fine print -but not much.
It's actually $399.
You have to pick it up in Panama City.
I think it's only available in yellow (or worse, maybe orange)
The reason that you have to pick it up is they want $200 to ship to you or they'll ship it free to the nearest store, PC. Unless you have a store closer?
http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/wcs/ ... d=13079153

Post by **Ken K** » November 6th, 2003, 12:07 pm

Thanks for the info.:

I agree completely about the benefits of keeping it simple. I have a 14' jon boat that I keep at my pond; no trailer, no motor. Maintenance consists of turning it upside down periodically and dumping the accumulated crap out.

I just don't think I could go with a sit in kayak. I'm a little claustrophobic.

The stability of a canoe has never bothered me. Done lots of fly fishing standing up in a canoe.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 6th, 2003, 12:10 pm

The canoe shop will let you try anything for free. And actually I'm remiss to have not made that point first. Don't buy anything until you tried it.

Post by **Ken K** » November 6th, 2003, 12:14 pm

Where is this "canoe shop" you speak of ?

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 6th, 2003, 12:27 pm

Orange Ave, just east of Springhill Road on the south side of the road. Closed Tuesdays.
(I call it Springhill Road because but I don't remember the road name after it changes over Capital Circle)

Post by **Ken K** » November 6th, 2003, 7:59 pm

I clicked some links and read reviews today. The Tarpon 140 looks very nice... I like the tank well. It's not on Wilderness Systems web site yet so I don't know if it is readily available.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » November 7th, 2003, 10:34 am

I didn't see the 140 either. If I bought another boat it would be high on my list.
Two thoughts,
1. My boat is 12â€™1â€™â€™ and I find I can play a fish all the way around the boat with a 7â€™ rod. If the boat was longer and the fish ran under the boat Iâ€™m not sure how I would handle it. Iâ€™d like to hear what people who have bigger boats say about it.
2. I agree that being confined in a kayak is not appealing. On my boat, with the cockpit size, the only part of me that is inside/under are my shins and feet. I donâ€™t feel claustrophobic but I'm not real prone to it anyway.