Kayak Fishing

I was considering getting a kayak this summer to get into the ponds and small lakes I fish alot from the shore. Does anyone have a kayak that they fish from? How stable are they? I was thinking about buying a cheap one from****s for like $200 and then adding a set of outrigger pontoons. I have access to a couple robotic cnc mills here at school, so i could whip out some pontoons and cover them with fiberglass in no time. I am looking for some general input on kayak angling. Thanks.

Here is a link with some good info:
http://forums.fishusa.com/m_12925/mpage_1/key_kayak%252Cfishing/tm.htm#13818

I'll sell you my kayak and skirt reasonable.  Retails for $499, plus the skirt was another $40 or $50.  Used one summer.  Let me know.  

I'v been kayak fishing for about 6 years. I'm still using my first kayak which is a wilderness systems pungo 12'. First piece of advice is by the kayak you want first. I've witnessed it w/ friends and strangers on the water and cheaper kayaks don't track well (hold a straight line). This means they take alot more effort to travel the same distance and it takes away from effectiveness while fishing and enjoyment.
Other considerations are a large cockpit (around 55") and comfortable padded seat. Add rodholders yourself. This will save you money and give you what you want. The rodholders set in behind the seat have very limited use and will tangle two lines on the turns when trolling. The worst I've seen these holders do is one guy bumped his rod while paddling andthe rod ened up falling out to be lost in the lake.
I can answer most specific questions about kayak fishing if you ask.

The sit in kayaks are almost necessary if you want to do some cold weather fishing. You usually won't dry out with temps 50F or lower.

I have a 10' cheaper yak, decked out as a fishing yak. It doesn't track as well as my one of my buddy's Pungo, same with my other buddy's I think Hobie sit in, but is more stable (usually trade off one for the other). I had no issue paddling around Arthur for fishing. If you are looking to buy one for soul purpose to paddle all day, then I'm sure the better tracking would make a bigger difference. Mine was about $300, sit in, with a "pickup" truck rear (made by Liesure something boats - owned by Johnson Outdoors who make Necky, Ocean and Old Town). I like the back for storing gear and not having to mess around with hatches, similar to sit on tops. I added a few stick on seat cushions, which made it more comfortable, but after about 4 hours, you need to get up and stretch the legs out. The same deal in my office sitting on a $800 ergonomic chair which is better to sit in than any kayak seat available. The accessories added, paddle, vest, depth finder, multiple rod holders (the rear ones are ABS pipes), and anchor ended up totalling about $500 (entier package). It is a pretty fun toy and project turning it into a fishing machine. I have been debating to sell, but living closer to the Yough now, I figure that I'll see if it gets more use.

Once I bought a "fishing boat", I have used my kayak maybe 5 times in the past 4 years. I found it to be impractical with most of my other fishing buddies (including my own kids now) not having one. So, measure your situation for what you are buying. If I were single or my kids were older and not into fishing or older and had their own kayaks, and other friends having kayaks, I'd probably go with one of the nicest ones around (Hobie Outback with pedals is really sweet). If you can get one with pedals cheaper (not sure if they make), this is probably the best idea that I have seen on kayaks for fishing. One of the things that really disturbed me about kayak fishing, was the wind. I'd get myself into a nice spot, by the time I as ready to cast, I was 20 yards away. I'm guessing the Outback pedals can keep you in place, or at least move you back and keep your hands free to tie/fish, kind of like an electric motor on a powered boat.

They are great fun, just thought that I'd add my 2 cents in. Not sure if I would have changed my mind if someone told me this prior to buying mine, but would have likely had my 17' fishing boat a year or two earlier if I saved my money. A fishing boat is something that I wanted since I was about 5 years old, the kayak to me was something I had just settled for. If a kayak is what you want for the long run, then I'd highly recommend something like the Outback, or at least trying one out.

I have a Pelican Castaway its cheaper around 400. I didn't want to spend to much for my first yak not knowing if i wouldnt like it. I ended up loving it. the tracking could be better but it doesn't take long to learn how to paddle to correct it. I added a fish finder (dont buy a small motorcycle battery, you can get an AA 8 pack cell at radio shack that will power a fish finder (small, cheap and light weight). I ended up putting stabilizer arms on it so I can stand up and spot fish and fly fish. I can kneel without them but standing up it gets ugly. The seat is pretty good for the one that comes with it but after awhile your __ will want a new one. 

I would much rather fish out of a canoe. Casting is a PIA in a kayak because you are too close to the water. I can take class 3+ water in my canoe, even loaded down with gear and I spend 80% of my time standing and casting. Its MUCH better to fish out of than a kayak. I also have a kayak that is set up for fishing, but it doesn't see the water much.

Good points Bubble. I can see where you are coming from, but I see it differently.

I wouldn't recommend standing and fishing in a canoe until you are proficient and understand secondary stability. Obviously, sit or kneel when navigating any heavy water. That is the 20% of the time, I’m not fishing. Also, my comments are more in regard to soloing a canoe. I have an Allagash 164 and when fishing heavier water, I usually flip it around and solo it from the front seat backwards, so I am closer to the middle of the canoe. When you are by yourself, put all the weight you can find in the front of the canoe, so it can be turned and does not act like a sail. With two people in the boat and either one or both standing any instability or sudden movement is magnified. The people I fish with have been canoeing for a long time and are pretty good at reading the other person’s movement in the canoe. Sometimes we switch off standing and casting, or at least alert the other person when standing. This is all done without stabilizers. I have stabilizers for the canoe, but in general, they are a huge PIA to use. I only use them on very calm, placid lakes or streams. Trying to negotiate a rocky, fast moving stream with stabilizers on will make you want to give up fishing. Alternately, having to put them away every time you reach another rapid is just as big of a pain. In my opinion, I do not see any advantage to a kayak for fishing unless you have a super long portage or are going to be fishing class 4+ water. At that point you would want a self-bailing raft anyway.

All of them?

I thought we did pretty well, haha.

The trolling is a huge advantage. Kayaks are trollig machines.On Tamarak Lake I'm usually faster than those with trolling motors. Speed can be a great trigger for muskies anytime of year and other fish 3/4 of the year while slow works for all to. Can get from one spot to another faster.
Ever paddle upsteam on french creek or the middle Allegheny through riffles? It can be done in a kayak. Great way to have a solo float on a day off during the week.
This point is void if you use a kayak paddle but canoe paddles will get you wet switching left to right. Definitely not what I want in cold weather fishing.
Closeness to the water provides a lower center of gravity (stability) and helps me land big fish. I don't have to pick a big fish up unless I want a picture and even with a musky, once the hooks are free I just slide the fish up for the pic.
I have stood to cast (or pee) before but sitting does just fine for me except I don't see as many follows ans I do standing in a boat.
On a rainy day I can stow gear that should stay dry in a hatch (cellphone- already in drybag but you can't be too safe) or under front deck (depthfinder).
I guess it's still all what you like but I could not go back to a canoe except to be a kind guest to a host.
I didn't really think you were standing and casting in class 3's. Just being a jag.

bubble-

i'm looking for  a SOT kayak, for musky/pike fishing.  the jackson coosa seems like a very stable kayak and would be great for river fishing.. the freedom hawk kayak looks good with the built in outrigger and ability to stand, cast, figure 8... etc. the hobie mirage outback looks good because youre easily able to troll hands-free. what is your opinion on these kayaks... i know they are a lot of money but their advantages seem very strong compared to a regular kayak with regards to musky fishing

Wow wish I would have had the cash for the jackson coosa when I bought my kayak. Looks like its well worth the $. Someday I would like to upgrade and i have also looked at the Hobie and had the same concerns of the fins hitting something and breaking.

I bought a cheaper yak last year and used it a few times on the Mon River on the SouthSide and also at Peters Lake. It wasn't stable at all. The problem was I thought that I could buy just any sit on top Kayak and turn it into a fishing kayak. I was wrong.

The outriggers you mentioned will definitely solve that problem, but I would still recommend just dropping the $450 at a local Sports Store and get one that is cut out for fishing. Flat bottom is key.

I'm going to start taking it seriously this year. I bought a future beach 144 angler sit on top (12 feet long) and I also bought a few books on kayak fishing. I rented an ocean kayak "Big Yak" down at the outerbanks last Summer and took it out fishing for a little while. It was so stable I got caught in the surf on the way back in, was literally sideways getting pounded by waves, and it didn't even come close to flipping.

One book i got is called The Complete Kayak Angler. It was very informative. Every book and magazine I've read recommended sit on top kayaks over sit inside kayaks because of the extra room and the ease of landing fish. (I think I would go nuts in a sit inside kayak.) The only downside to the sit on top is you'll be exposed to the weather. BE SURE TO LOAD UP ON THE SUNBLOCK. I went out on a 70 degree sunny day last year with no sunblock and I literally had water blysters all over my ankles and feet for a week afterwards.

One other tip I can give after my limited experience last year is get yourself a nice high backed seat. Your back and midsection will be screaming after an hour of paddling out on the water, or just sitting up even. That added back support is HUGE! Maybe I'll run into you out on the water this summer. If Summer ever arrives! And of course always wear a pfd! Better to be safe than sorry.

Later!

Freedom Hawk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfp1Rp_tmwQ
Jackson Coosa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-1nq7m97lo
Hobie Fishing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEQmVssKilY&feature=related