New to the kayak bassin scene 2025
prjavelin reply :
Hi, its been a little while since ive last posted. I Sold my boat around 8 months ago and have been suffering the downs of not fishing since(went twice from shore but sucked). I moved to a house that has no garage and its not safe to leave a boat in the driveway so ive gone the kayak way.
I bought a Wilderness system Tarpon 120 yesterday. Ive kayaked before a couple times but not alot like a total of 3 times.
What tips can you guys give me about fishing from it?
the yak has an anchor and a rod holder which should make it a little easier for me. should i drop de anchor and use it to move slower considering the reservoirs I fish from are alittle windy at times?
is there a technique or something to mount and dismount the kayak from the suv by myself?
I want a trolling motor on it, is it a great idea like having a mini boat or should i stick with the paddling?
how different is casting that close to the water than casting from a boat? how about the hookset, fighting fish?
Tracker22 reply :
An anchor trolley will help you position the boat.
The low profile will actually help with the wind.
Ive had the most problems working a jerk bait unless your standing. Crank baits tend to pull the boat.
A motor is nice, but not necessary. It adds a lot of weight to carry around.
Good luck with your endeavors!
Dye99 reply :
Fish it. Throw it in the water every chance you get. That way you figure out what you need for your style of fishing.
You will get the loading aspect down just takes a few times. The more time you spend in the water the more you will understand how you want to rig it.
Welcome to the fun, be safe, and catch some fish!!
buzzed bait reply :
you'll have to try, try and try again until you figure out the best way to load it. and that may change depending on the slope where you try to load it...
i have a motor on mine and it's nice, but i wouldn't do it again. it's a lot of extra weight and no faster than i can paddle, but helps tremendously with holding position in wind.
paddle, paddle, fish, fish and then worry about adding stuff. fish it a lot and then start to rig it so that you don't do something you may regret later on.
A-Jay reply :
PFD ~ wear it.
A-Jay
Neil McCauley reply :
Why not get a canoe?
You are significantly limiting yourself choosing a kayak imo.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 7:15 AM, Neil McCauley said:Why not get a canoe?
You are significantly limiting yourself choosing a kayak imo.
I would think it would be the other way around?
trick worms reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 4:23 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I would think it would be the other way around?
Why do you think you can do more with a kayak?
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 8:42 PM, trick worms said:Why do you think you can do more with a kayak?
It's more stable is one of the main reasons. I've never been in a canoe I didn't constantly feel like I was about to tip over, and I've spent a pretty fair amount of time in them. I really couldn't imagine trying to stand up in a canoe like I can my kayak. Lots of modification options out there for kayaks. Smaller and easier to transport, I can pick mine up and carry it on top of my shoulders. They sit lower to the water so it doesn't catch the wind as bad. Controlling one with one person is easier.
buzzed bait reply :
having had a canoe my entire childhood and having fished from a kayak for the last 5 years, THEY ARE NIGHT AND DAY. but they both have their uses.
if you think you're limiting yourself somehow in a kayak, it's evident you've never been in one.
A-Jay reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 9:50 PM, Bluebasser86 said:It's more stable is one of the main reasons. I've never been in a canoe I didn't constantly feel like I was about to tip over, and I've spent a pretty fair amount of time in them. I really couldn't imagine trying to stand up in a canoe like I can my kayak. Lots of modification options out there for kayaks. Smaller and easier to transport, I can pick mine up and carry it on top of my shoulders. They sit lower to the water so it doesn't catch the wind as bad. Controlling one with one person is easier.
Stability is a function of design ~ some are better than others.
This one's pretty good.
A-Jay
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/10/2016 at 2:07 AM, A-Jay said:Stability is a function of design ~ some are better than others.
This one's pretty good.
A-Jay
I have no doubt that the canoes I've been in weren't built for stability and some out there are, just like some kayaks are and some aren't.
A-Jay reply :
On 3/10/2016 at 3:36 AM, Bluebasser86 said:I have no doubt that the canoes I've been in weren't built for stability and some out there are, just like some kayaks are and some aren't.
Agreed ~
A-Jay
stk reply :
@prjavelin I'm not sure of the vehicle you are using for your trips, but I car top my wilderness systems ride 135 on my Honda CRV. I place the front end of the kayak on the back of the car and then push it up and forward. My kayak weighs about 88lbs, I can lift and carry it by myself, but the 13.5ft length makes it awkward. I've found this is the best way to car top it. I put a little rug on the back of the car to help protect the car. They make rollers (you can probably make your own) to help guide the kayak on top of the car. Once in position I use Malone saddle up pro to hold the kayak onto my roof rack.
To answer your other questions, you just have to adjust to the seated position. I use mostly 7ft rods and I can do most presentations fine. Hooksets are mainly side sweeps for moving baits like spinner baits, swim jigs. Upward for jigs and t rigs. Just have to figure out what works best for you.
flyfisher reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 8:42 PM, trick worms said:Why do you think you can do more with a kayak?
well the biggest thing for me or at least way high up on the list is self draining ability. There are zero places i can't take my kayak that a canoe can go but there are plenty of places that a kayak can go that a canoe can't.
Darren. reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 7:15 AM, Neil McCauley said:Why not get a canoe?
You are significantly limiting yourself choosing a kayak imo.
On 3/9/2016 at 8:42 PM, trick worms said:Why do you think you can do more with a kayak?
My personal take on this is different than the others
in that I bought a kayak after a long time with a canoe,
and loved the kayak...except for the things I missed
with the canoe, like a dry interior, though scupper holes
are indeed a great reason to get a kayak...among other
reasons...
So when I set out to upgrade my kayak I decided to look
at hybrids like the Wilderness Systems Commander and
the Native Watercraft Ultimate series.
They're "like" a canoe, but also built like, and lower to the
water like a kayak.
I bought the Native Ultimate 12 because I liked it better
than the WS Commander - though that's a fine yak. The
argument of WS vs Native is similar to Shimano vs. Daiwa,
and so on. I picked the one that "fit ME" better.
The U12 is unbelievably customizable, and I've even
outfitted mine with a trolling motor I control with a box next
to my left hand, and steer with my foot pedals. A truly
awesome fishing machine it is.
And stable. I could stand all day if I had to.
My .02
flyfisher reply :
i like hybrid kayaks too but the scuppers for my yearly treks in the salt were needed. I will say though that i never thought i would have a more stable kayak than my commander for standing until i got the atak....
The other added plus is there are a ton of great kayaks out there, canoes, not so much.
sully99 reply :
It's all about what works for you, one is not better that the other. There are some very well built canoes out there, you are not going to find any kayaks with scuppers under 40 pounds.
trick worms reply :
Can you get pontoons or anything to stabilize a canoe?
flyfisher reply :
On 3/10/2016 at 11:08 AM, trick worms said:Can you get pontoons or anything to stabilize a canoe?
people put pontoons on anything that floats lol I have seen them on kayaks and canoes.
prjavelin reply :
thanks for all the info guys. I went to the lake on tuesday and caught 2 bass. I worked the alabama rig for a while. if i can cast that I can cast anything. f
Im hooked im going tomorrow again!!
the kayak moved abit at first but within the first 15 min I had great control and felt very comfortable. The kayak Is very good!!
paleus reply :
On 3/9/2016 at 7:15 AM, Neil McCauley said:Why not get a canoe?
You are significantly limiting yourself choosing a kayak imo.
What? Just the opposite in my opinion.
Kayaks are self draining, can't get swamped by a wave.
Kayaks are usually more stable, the ones designed for fishing anyways.
Kayaks usually have a more comfortable seat.
Can't take a canoe out in the ocean beyond the breakers.
Kayaks have a shallower draft so don't get hung up on rocks like a canoe.
Kayaks have a lower profile so are less affected by wind.
The list goes on...
Murrica reply :
I am a little biased and I have fished out of both. Canoes can be very stable depending on how they are setup. Kayaks can go anywhere a canoe can and can get there faster. I wouldn't do a lot of stuff on a canoe that I would do on a kayak though. I am glad you are hooked now @prjavelin soon enough you will be very comfortable in your kayak.
It would be tough to do this in a canoe.
Dye99 reply :
This thread reminds me of the 1911/glock argument.
Fact is, poster got a yak, so telling him to get a canoe since its better is crazy.
If it floats, fish it!
Darren. reply :
On 3/10/2016 at 11:08 AM, trick worms said:Can you get pontoons or anything to stabilize a canoe?
Absolutely. There are people out there who
put pontoons on the same kayak I have even
though I say there's absolutely no need for
them.
I did use pontoons (homemade) on my old
canoe. Helped immensely.
Phil_NH reply :
I'll speak to the loading part. I have an Ascend FS12T that weighs about 78 ish pounds and my vehicle is a toyota rav 4. I put 2 bath mats ( the ones with the no slip backing) on the rear roof of the vehicle. I then take the kayak and put it ( hull up) on the ground with the end of the kayak dead center about 3 feet behind the vehicle and the rest of the kayak lays at a 45 degree angle of to the side. Then its just a matter of going to the front of the kayak, lifting it up and sliding it over onto the bath mats. Once I have it leaning against the vehicle like that I go to the back of the kayak and lift it up and slide it forward onto the roof racks. Sometimes it will take a bit of wiggling to get it up there, but after a few loads and unloads you will be a pro. Good Luck and tight lines.
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