Hey Guys,
I have had a pontoon boat for about 10 years and have fished all over with it. I am seeing more and more fishing kayaks out and about and they have really peaked my interest. I have been doing some research and am thinking of selling the pontoon and picking up a Yak.
Wanted to get some opinions and experiences from you guys as I am deciding what to do.
What do you like or dislike about each and is there anything I should be cautious about when looking at kayaks
Thanks
CREED
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you need both[shocked]
Don't sell the toon
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I was thinking that too about both. The Kayak is nice for traveling far and fast, but the fin action of a pontoon plus the motor capability.
I have seriously looked at SUP for the best of both worlds plus standing ability. So far anything you want is in an SUP, even a motor! Plus a lot less wind resistance.
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I went from bank tangler to a tuber to a tooner and finally became a yakker. Ther are plusses and minusses to all of them, of course and no one method does everything. But you could not induce me to give up my Hobie Pro Angler, period.
There are a few places where getting the Prangler from truck to water is a bit too difficult for me at age 66, and a light 'toon or tube would be better. But in all other ways, the kayak wins hands down.
You can get a paddle kayak designed for fishing from Lifetime Products for about $500 or a Hobie like mine for three grand - and dozens of fishing kayaks in between.
In my 'yak, I stay dry, I have tons of storage - and no matter how many hooks I have bouncing around, my kayak never goes "ssssssssssssss...." LOL!
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I did the same thing. Tube to toon to yak. Right now I have an OK Power big game i got for $300. i stand in it all the time. It is very stable. I still have my tube but i never use it. With a cart for my yak it makes life easier. I made mine from a milk crate and works like a charm.
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After fishing with both, I prefer kayaks. I use a touring yak rigged for fishing. With a touring kayak you have much more control and are less vurnable to the wind. Also, with utah's famous weather changes...If the going gets ruff, you are in a sea worthy vessel. And they can float in 3" of water, a motor boat can't do that. And on reservoirs that don't allow motors, you have a huge advantage compared to shore fisherman and pontoon.
The type of fishing is a huge factor, fly fishing from a sit in kayak is tricky, you are alot closer to the water and almost always have to use side arm casting. Sit on tops are nicer becuase you can stand up, but their tracking isnt as good as a sit in, thus limmiting your range. I think pontoons are easier to fly fish from. Sit it Kayaks have them beat in regards to trolling and overall distance covered.
So overall I like touring kayaks because I can get to areas that shore fisherman, pontoon fisherman, and big boats cant. I feel this is a major advantage.
Just remember that kayaking is a whole other discipline outside of fishing.
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Thanks for all the input, I wish I could have both but it is one or the other on a young family budget.
I like the idea of using it for fishing and recreation, something that I could do with friends and family that are not interested in fishing.
I have seen pictures online of kayak mods to accommodate a trolling motor. Has any one had any experience doing this?
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Me, too! Same situation. But, I want a couple other features without having to own more than two boats.
I looked at the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler for it's designed in and tested and proven practical fishing features that I can buy with confidence and figure out why it works well as I use it:
http://www.hobiecat.com/...irage-pro-angler-14/
BUT, being me, I'm wanting to compromise all that for some additional features and attempt to add the fishing features to a boat type not already set up for fishing and accept less than optimal fishing utility on this:
http://www.hobiecat.com/...irage-tandem-island/
Yep, I want a fishing sailboat!
I don't have any experience with sailing or any of the above, so input and suggestions are invited. I'd like to both sail and fish.
I'll then add this i-Pilot-saltwater:
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/...ount/riptide_st.aspx
I already bought the three bank charger because I already know I'll buy some kind of boat and complete package.
... with solar panels and lightweight lithium ion batteries to power it and recharge while fishing.
That's the basic concept. I might build the boat myself. I bought a huge roll of Kevlar for that and other projects which would allow me to make it stronger and lighter and with custom features.
My current boat is the Venture Outdoors pontoon boat:
http://www.ventureoutdoors.net/pages/DURAPRO.html
Comments, thoughts, suggestions and advice are invited.
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Hobie has a motor specifically for their kayaks as well as Ocean Kayak has one also for theirs.
Both are great boats with great quality and many boats in their line ups. Hobies have the mirage drive. Great for tolling. It is very slick but I actually like to paddle so will put the plug in often. The accessories for Hobies seem endless. The boats cost more up front but they are worth it.. They come with the mirage drive (except the quest and a couple smaller ones), a seat, paddle (cheap but functional considering it has the mirage drive),
Almost all of the Hobies have a sail you can get for them. They are a blast. The Adventure Island is a fun machine for sure.
Our house has or had the 13' Revolution, Outback, and the 12' inflatable. Unless you are a great big guy I would recommend the Revolution over the Outback. The inflatable is a great boat too if storage is an issue. Hobies quality is great and they stand behind their stuff.
Ocean Kayak is great also as are Malibu and Cobra. The Cobras are a bit harder to find. All are made with fishing in mind and easy to rig accessories onto.
Thing is tho, as much as I like my kayaks and how they are great, fun, and easy to rig as fishing machines ever since I got a paddle board the kayaks sit pretty lonely in the garage. Same thing happened to the pontoon when I got the kayaks. I have a pontoon, kayaks, and paddleboards. Pontoon first which hardly gets any use anymore. Kayaks made the pontoon lonely and now the paddleboards get all the use. My main goal is to be on the water and that is how I enjoy my time on it the most it seems.
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The hobies are nice but don't think I can afford one right now, that will be on my wish list. After hearing the input here on the board and doing more research I think I have pretty much made up my mind and will be getting a Kayak. Sounds like they are great fun for fishing and normal recreation.
Thanks for all the help.
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Recreation Outlet in Ogden has a good supply of kayaks in stock, and they just reduced then for end-of-summer. They carry several brands, but not Hobie.
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Thanks for the tip I may have to check that out next week, I am going to Idaho for a family vacation I think a new kayak is in order...
I have been looking at one from Dick's made by Field and Stream called the Eagle Run 12. Has really good reviews and it is a price I can afford.
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Coincidentally, the Hobie dealer where I bought mine (the nearest to us) is in Burley. If you go by that way, stop at Idaho Watersports (2165 Overland). They'll let you test-drive a Hobie.
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Did Sid's Sports in SLC drop Hobie? Sounds like it's out of his price range regardless. Hobie Mirage kayaks are fairly nice even if not especially durable but just too expensive for what you get in my opinion. Their Hobie Evolve Torqeedo Motor runs roughly $2000 alone. Real easy to dump $4000- $5000 on a bunch of plastic and a small motor.There are others that make motors that'll fit those models at a small fraction of the cost.
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As long as we are bouncing back and forth, I have got to post this up. And there are several companies that make these, so I am not saying it has to be an NFO. Keep in mind, these also roll up to the size of a sleeping pad.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=463...=2&theater
These also take rough water better than most pontoons or tubes because of almost zero wind resistance.
Just a thought.
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Those are cool, so many choices not enough time or money!
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Just IMHO, but if you're going to put a motor on something, you may as well just buy a motorboat. That goes for tubes, toons, yaks or SUPs. And once you do, you also have to register it and somehow get those big numbers on it.
I'll stick to a small, quiet, man-powered craft, thank you.
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I have to admit that is sweet. Would be nice to have something that is so portable and could take on flights (without motor anyways). Be a great alternative to a heavy SOT kayak.
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I'm in full agreement on you on that one. I like the exercise involved in being self propelled. I've never owned a watercraft with a motor. When I get too old and beat up ( hopefully not fat) maybe one day I will. I'll hit the half century mark in a few months but hopefully I have a couple decades until I break down and need a motor.
Creed mention using it for recreation and not just fishing. I do that quite a bit as well with kayaks.
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[quote riverdog]I'm in full agreement on you on that one. I like the exercise involved in being self propelled. I've never owned a watercraft with a motor. When I get too old and beat up ( hopefully not fat) maybe one day I will. I'll hit the half century mark in a few months but hopefully I have a couple decades until I break down and need a motor.
Creed mention using it for recreation and not just fishing. I do that quite a bit as well with kayaks.[/quote]
I can't speak for all motor users out there, but you only listed the extreme. I don't resemble any of those on your list.[cool] But, I do enjoy the convenience specially in the wind which is 99% of my fishing.
And Rocky, there are far too many people that don't grasp that 3" number and letter thing to this day, and n o one has enforced that. Just like the idiots that put the stickers all over their license plates.[crazy]
I agree it is exercise, and still possible to get plenty of that, but why beat yourself up?
You can catch fish swinging a broom stick and lord knows, more exercise, but isn't the 1 oz nicer[
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