Bass Fishing Yak 2024

topwater.va reply :

I am looking to buy a good kayak for bass fishing. If possible I would like to be able to stand up on and feel comfortable. I would also like something that is able to store things in it.

Any help with suggestions would be great.

Thanks guys

Kayak Tad reply :

You will want a sit on top kayak, if you want to stand a wide one will be more stable than a narrower one.

Check out models from Ocean Kayak, Hobie Kayak, Malibu Kayak, and Wilderness Kayaks.

My best advice to you is to test paddle a few different models before you buy and wear a PFD.

Welcome to the wonderful world of kayak fishing 8-)

aceman387 reply :

freedom hawk kayaks makes a nice looking rig.

little_stephen reply :

i will forwarn you. u look young. younger than me. and i obviously have no idea how well off you are finacially, but generally speaking, bass fishermen are pinned down by the bait monkey. so you should keep in mind that ocean kayak is not a cheap comapny. lol

my personal oppinion, look into canoes. for me, i find theyre easier to fish from. hold more gear comfortably. sometimes cost as much as kayaks . maybe a hair more. and can be tricked out really nicely.....

they alsoget back to where kayaks go. they can be alittle more difficult to transport. but for me, I think the benefits way outweigh the drawbacks. As soon as i can get one, im buying a flat stern canoe.

(and the big plus.... you can rig them with a trolling motor if you wanted to and you can stand up comfortably)

andamtoft reply :

I've seen JFrancho has a totally awesome rig that is plenty stable to stand in, he has tons of picutres up i found one here... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1260237816/15 I'm sure he could send you in the right direction, and i believe minn kota just came out with a kayak trolling motor, there is also a lot of room for modifications if you are a do-it-yourselfer. good luck in the search for a boat

Bigs reply :

I was at Gander Mountain today and they sell a nice 10 foot jon boat for 550 new. Its very light, I lifted it by myself and it's made fairly well. Much better then a kayak.

flipin4bass reply :

I got an Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident 13 last year for the smaller lakes where I'm not allowed to use my Tracker. I added Scotty rod holders and a crate to carry other gear and I really love it. I got the sand colored prowler because the bees are really bad when it comes to yellow.

Eternal Angler reply :

Man I can't think of the name of kayak boats that are made for fishing. Look'em up on google when you get a chance. They have built-in paddles and place where you can store your tackle box.

Jepu reply :

The Hobie pro anglers are insane. Check out the rod storage and tackle storage capabilities. I have fished out of a malibu pro explorer for 5 or 6 years and it has treated me well, but that hobie takes kayak fishing for bass to a whole new level.

Buckeye1955 reply :

I agree with the Hobie Pro angler choice. Depends on how you want to propel yourself. With the Pro Angler your hands are free to fish instead of paddling. Easily move along at 2+ MPH. A utility trailer with a drop down rear ramp makes a great way to transport one, even on a hitch on a car. Back the trailer up to the ramp, drop the rear down and slide the Hobie off. Tons of watertight storage on it. I've gone the jon boat route. It works, but a kayak seems a lot more of a stealth attack then a noisy old aluminum boat. If money is a limiting factor though, the prices on the Hobie are similar to a nicely equiped 16ft used Sylvan or Lund with a 9.9 outboard motor. A jon boat is way cheaper. Storage is on my mind. I just don't have the room for storing a 14 or 16ft boat and trailer. I can leave the Hobie on my utility trailer as I only use it a few times a year for landscapping stuff.

ArcticCat500 reply :

take this into consideration with the Hobie PA, great rig no doubt, but....if your planning on slipping into the shallows, fish weedy and grassy areas, like to skip over logs and such, well good luck, that pedal power hangs down below the kayak and can and will get hung up on things. Yea sure you can pull the unit up and plug it but whats the use.

I just bought a Winderness Systems Ride 135 kayak at a local dealer have a HUGE sale. Now Richmond VA isnt that far, you do an overniter trip to RI, and with gas and hotel still save a couple hundered bux even more, easy. Now I dont know about you but a couple hundred bux will help in rigging a kayak with some rod holders a paddle and a couple other goodies.

Eternal Angler reply :

Quote

The Hobie pro anglers are insane. Check out the rod storage and tackle storage capabilities. I have fished out of a malibu pro explorer for 5 or 6 years and it has treated me well, but that hobie takes kayak fishing for bass to a whole new level.

Awesome video, do like that kayak. I found the one kayak I wanted to suggest. It may be expensive, I thought it would be cool to post anyways. It's called the Hobie Mirage Drive Kayak, got a new way to propel across the lake. Don't have to worry about batteries or rowing, let your legs do the work.

Casca reply :

here's mine. go with a sit on top kayak.

regards,

Casca

J Francho reply :

My boats:

OK PBG, totally outfitted:

Freedom 12, bare necessities:

Sit on tops (SOT) lend themselves to rigging and fishing quite well. There are other "hybrid" style boats that fish well, too. The Wilderness Systems Commander is one.I may be getting one of these as well.

A few others you can't go wrong with: Moken Angler 12, Ride 135, Tarpon 120, Redfish 12.

J Francho reply :

Quote
I was at Gander Mountain today and they sell a nice 10 foot jon boat for 550 new. Its very light, I lifted it by myself and it's made fairly well. Much better then a kayak.

I've never been in ANY jon boat that's as stable and as useful as a proper fishing kayak. Noisy, metal dinosaurs, LOL.

coryjames reply :

i fish alot of canals and small calm lakes so i have a native ultimate 12.love it ,i can stand and paddle very easily.

Buckeye1955 reply :

I agree with Artic Cat about the Hobie Pro Angler and trying to use it say on a small rocky river. Probably not the right boat. But for a small lake that I can't use my Triton on very well - sweet! We have several 9.9 lakes in our area where you can sit out in deeper water and attack the coves. Perfect for that! And much less hassle then messing with a bigger boat for a few hours fishing say in an evening.

ArcticCat500 reply :

Nice looking rigs here. I opted out the tin can this year, although I did still register it so I can take my daughter out just in case she dont like the kayak.

As soon as we the weather breaks its rigging time.

Well done JF as always, wondering how you like that Freedom compared to your PBG, also what kind of bag is that infront of you in the Freedom?

J Francho reply :

I hate that I had that bag in the boat that day, but I was doing some product testing. I tanked it in my review: http://www.kayakbassfishing.com/kbfBB3/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=2407. Its junk.

The Freedom 12 is a much smaller boat than the specs say. It tracks fairly well with the outriggers, and better with them out, and in the parallel position. The hull has a ton of reinforcement, and is much more solid than the PBG. Do not stand up in the Freedom 12 without the outriggers deployed, unless you want to go swimming. With them out, its like fishing from a dock. Only downside, is a lack of storage.

NewAngler reply :

I'd take the PBG over your freedom hawk 10 days outta 10!

Again, sweet rides. Completely poops on my Blast 9.5

J Francho reply :

It depends on where your fishing. If you are in current that moves faster than 5 knots, you'll be going backwards in the PBG.

RedhookRR reply :

not sure about Cory's ultimate 12 but have fished from my Dad's ultimate tandem 12.5 has a hybrid hull design that is like a pontoon design where you r sitting that gives ya a good platform to stand in.

Myself I ended up with a 15 foot Alumacraft flatback canoe (was in my price range) that i plan to get out after it warms up from the -25 degree winter we are having.

The Hobie PA looks real sweet though, and I think that there is a plug that can replace the foot drive/ troll motor unit for skinny water.

RandySBreth reply :

Just remember if you rig your rod holders where your spare rods stick up like most 'Yak guys do (like on J Francho's sweet rig there), you're in deep stuff trying to go under low hanging trees, bridges, etc. I use a solo canoe that keeps my rods inside the boat, but obviously, I'm not standing up in it.

Wouldn't want too, really, but that probably makes it a no go if the standing thing is a "must have" item.

J Francho reply :

I hear some bring that issue up, and wjile sometimes the rods are in the way, but really, there's no need to be that close to cover, if you can stand. A pitch cast gets your bait in there. Its just a different boat, and a different way to fish. I do have some spots with low bridges, and I get through by simply laying my rods between the front rod holder.

RandySBreth reply :

Yeah, I hear you. Here where I'm at (Ozarks) you get pools in our Smallmouth Rivers that have trees leaning over pretty low - all the way down one bank, sometimes hundreds of yards long. I realize not everyone has that issue. Most of my smaller lakes that I hit with the solo could be fished just as easy from a rig like yours.

c17Lat reply :

ocean kayak ambush

i always stand and fish in it...even if my partner is doing the same. it's very stable, and you can put a tm on it. the problem is finding one

morts10 reply :

Hey JF Would there be more usable space in the 14' freedom hawk? I realize that most of the room is in the bow of these boats would it be hard to access? I also did not see any rod holders. Would I have to install my own?

I'm 5'10" and 250lbs so weight is an issue with any boat. You've sold me on the kayak idea but standing is how I like to fish. Do you know if the powered ocean kayak is stable enough to stand up in?

Alot of questions I know but the sales are on right now.

Thanks

mort

J Francho reply :

Th Freedom 14 would suit your weight. There is a lot more room in the 14 as well. There are two rod holders in the stern, and plenty of places to mount more. Most good shops can install them for you, but its pretty simple to do yourself.

I don't have any issue getting to my gear, and the 14's leaning post is easier to take down and bring up than the 12.

There are power options out now for just about every boat, Freedomhawk included. Look at Bassyaks and Torqueedo.

As far as which Ocean Kayak for you...if you like to stand, then definitely a PBG. If you go that route, get the steerable rudder option, makes life a lot easier.

A final option is the Wilderness Systems Commander 120. My friend is about your size, a bit taller and heavier, and he fishes it standing up. Very cool little boat.

morts10 reply :

Thanks for the information. I'll be checking out those other boats online. Need to get to Farmville to a boat store soon.

Last spring I installed rod holders on my wife's old swifty kayak to try out the idea. At 10' was easy to load in my VW van. Have racks but parking garage at work is not tall enough for van plus racks. Swifty does not have much room for me and gear. Also pushing the weight limit. Worked ok on the rivers but was not comfortable for long periods on lakes.

BP and Cabelas have powered kayak in catalog but it is new and have not seen any real world reviews. Hobie pro angler is just a bit pricey right now. Maybe would consider later when some come on used market.

Thanks again for advice.

mort

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