Kayak

[passedpawn]

Will there be a semipro fishing YouTube channel? There are some slick fishing vids made with drones.

I wound up with the Bonafide SS127. Very nice. The seat is great. Super stable. Paddles well. I don't have the fins yet. Haven't felt a need for them.

I have a sit-on-top kayak (and two others) that I converted into a fishing kayak. Spend a few weekends going ape over outfitting it. Went out, caught a trout, hated the whole experience, done with that. I guess I didn't do a good job, as others seem to love fishing from kayaks, but I felt claustrophobic.

 

[CKuhns]

Other considerations.

I am a canoe guy and have been for as long as i can remember. Had a kayak and hated it for fishing. As well, got too darned old and crippled to sit in it for too long.

I modified a 12' 6" solo Old Town canoe with a kneeling bar, pad on the floor and an extended kayak paddle. Can kneel in it for hours fishing without too much trouble. The Old Town Sportsman comes with a seat and foot rests. I didnt care for the seat it was too low and would strongly recommend a long kayak paddle.

 

[Homercidal]

@Yooper This reminds me I forgot to ask Bob about setting up my kayak for fishing. I think I will want to at least add a pump and rig up an anchor. I thought he might have some insight. I intend to just fish in the calmer, smaller lakes here in northern michigan.

 

[Zuljin]

I came back here to post a Florida, by way of Virginia, man story and realized I never showed off my big upgrade. Bonafide SS127.

 

[Zuljin]

So check this guy out. Doesn't say how long he was floating like a cork in the Everglades, but he was due back 1-29. They found coords on his washed up phone from 1-31. They pulled him out yesterday or this morning.

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/v...lRlPGo9MN8SJdHWa_4LnW30Co8OWiducF5IN8v84L92aE

PFD! And a whistle. And a water proof phone bag. I know a lot of us go alone, it is how it is, but having people know where he was and when he should be back all went a long way toward his rescue.

 

[Shwagger]

So check this guy out. Doesn't say how long he was floating like a cork in the Everglades, but he was due back 1-29. They found coords on his washed up phone from 1-31. They pulled him out yesterday or this morning.

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/v...lRlPGo9MN8SJdHWa_4LnW30Co8OWiducF5IN8v84L92aE

PFD! And a whistle. And a water proof phone bag. I know a lot of us go alone, it is how it is, but having people know where he was and when he should be back all went a long way toward his rescue.

I'm never out of sight of land and I live in a concrete jungle. Fishing is good 50 yards from shore!

But I still have a pfd and whistle by law, a waterproof box with my phone, and i do have a epirb I never carry (ya ya). I'm usually never deeper than 3 or 4 feet of water, too. This guy should have had an epirb. No excuse. Everglades are huge and full of things that kills

 

[passedpawn]

I'm never out of sight of land and I live in a concrete jungle. Fishing is good 50 yards from shore!

But I still have a pfd and whistle by law, a waterproof box with my phone, and i do have a epirb I never carry (ya ya). I'm usually never deeper than 3 or 4 feet of water, too. This guy should have had an epirb. No excuse. Everglades are huge and full of things that kills

I always have my phone/wallet in a drybag that floats. PFD is under the bungies behind me. No whistle though. Never even considered it. I do have lights for night kayaking.

I think the most important thing that is rarely mentioned is a paddle leash. If you drop your paddle (easy to do if you're resting it on the cowling) it can get away from you pretty quickly. If you flip on a windy day, all you have to do is keep a grasp on your paddle and your boat won't float away from you. THAT one can be a major problem. Another thing is to never open a compartment hatch while in deep water. If by chance the kayak flips, it becomes a submarine and there is no way to right it - yer screwed.

 

[passedpawn]

So check this guy out. Doesn't say how long he was floating like a cork in the Everglades, but he was due back 1-29. They found coords on his washed up phone from 1-31. They pulled him out yesterday or this morning.

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/v...lRlPGo9MN8SJdHWa_4LnW30Co8OWiducF5IN8v84L92aE

PFD! And a whistle. And a water proof phone bag. I know a lot of us go alone, it is how it is, but having people know where he was and when he should be back all went a long way toward his rescue.

Yea, saw that in the local papers. I'm looking forward to hearing this guy's story. I'm surprised he didn't succomb to hypothermia.

 

[passedpawn]

Hey, for you kayakers that like to read, here's a few that I've read that I can recommend. All were excellent reads.

• Running the Amazon (exciting)
• Keep Austrailia on your Left (funny)
• On Celtic Tides (a bit of an Ireland travelog, by kayaking around the island)

 

[Snuffy]

Jackson Kayaks makes about the best fishing sit-on-tops I've found. Ocean Kayak makes good boats too, but for solo kayak fishing, the Jackson Coosa is hard to beat. Rod holders, loads of storage, mounts for electronics, lots of accessories and stable enough to sit crossways on with your legs in the water. And the seat has a high and low position and can be removed and used as a camp chair.
https://www.jacksonadventures.com/products/coosa/

 

[passedpawn]

Jackson Kayaks makes about the best fishing sit-on-tops I've found. Ocean Kayak makes good boats too, but for solo kayak fishing, the Jackson Coosa is hard to beat. Rod holders, loads of storage, mounts for electronics, lots of accessories and stable enough to sit crossways on with your legs in the water. And the seat has a high and low position and can be removed and used as a camp chair.
https://www.jacksonadventures.com/products/coosa/

I've got a SOT that that I outfit myself - not as nice as that ^^. aftermarket pole holders and tackle crates, etc.

A fried of mine bought one that split halfway and opened up like wings - tons of stability when spread. Don't know the model. He loved it.

Have you checked out the Hobie Mirage? It's mostly unbelievable. The one I saw even had a mini-Powerpole to keep it in place in shallow water. $$$ though.

 

[Snuffy]

I've got a SOT that that I outfit myself - not as nice as that ^^. aftermarket pole holders and tackle crates, etc.

A fried of mine bought one that split halfway and opened up like wings - tons of stability when spread. Don't know the model. He loved it.

Have you checked out the Hobie Mirage? It's mostly unbelievable. The one I saw even had a mini-Powerpole to keep it in place in shallow water. $$$ though.

Hobie stuff is always top quality but top dollar too. There are a lot of good stable sit-on-tops for recreational use, but the engineering of add-ons and features specifically for fishing is what makes a brand stand out. Jackson has one of those split hull designs that can use a power pole. It's called the 360 Escape. They also have a larger boat that can fit 2 people called the Big Tuna. Their boats aren't cheap either, but you get what you pay for.

 

[AJinJacksonville]

Was just down in the Everglades over Thanksgiving with the wife/kids. I've been in Florida half my life...but I mean to tell you...the sheer size of that land is absolutely ridiculous. If you started paddling on the finger creeks and lost sight of landmarks (of which there are very few), you're done. I'd be more concerned with exposure to the sun/elements than the wildlife (which we also saw a ton of). Glad he's alive.

On another note, I have a SOT Heritage 12' kayak that I use for fishing/touring creeks, and then I have an Old Town Loon tandem sit-in kayak that is a beast at 16'. Thing tracks like a dream though. I wish I was on it with some sudsy drink right now...

 

[Zuljin]

I always have my phone/wallet in a drybag that floats. PFD is under the bungies behind me. No whistle though. Never even considered it. I do have lights for night kayaking.

I think the most important thing that is rarely mentioned is a paddle leash. If you drop your paddle (easy to do if you're resting it on the cowling) it can get away from you pretty quickly. If you flip on a windy day, all you have to do is keep a grasp on your paddle and your boat won't float away from you. THAT one can be a major problem. Another thing is to never open a compartment hatch while in deep water. If by chance the kayak flips, it becomes a submarine and there is no way to right it - yer screwed.

Most def on the leash. Rod floats, too.