Anyone fish from a Kayak?

-

Cope

Fusing with fire
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
6,737
Reaction score
10,191
Location
San Jose, Ca.
My new place is about 2 min from a large reservoir. The lake does not allow motors of any kind. So im thinking about outfitting a Kayak for fishing and the occasional tour with my lady.

Im thinking a 2 person Kayak so we can paddle around together bit more focused on catching.

The lake contains mostly bass and trout. So id like to fish both. Bass for fun and trout for dinner.

What does your set up look like and ball park on what it cost to set up?

What works, what sucks?

Thanks again for all the time and advice.
 
I fish Lake Casitas in Ojai, Ca. and also scuba dive from a kayak. You can get crazy on setups. Mine is basic for bass and trout. Most boats have tracks you can mount accessories.

A good Used boat $500-700
Accessories $200-300
Other misc **** 100-200

$1500 for something nicely setup if buying a used boat.

Craigslist has some good finds if you are patient.

It’s a ton of fun catching from a kayak. You can get to all honey holes.
 
My wife got us kayaks a few weeks ago and we've already thought of getting some fishing poles...
IMG_20190827_113820.jpg

My wife at Trillium Lake last week and my kayak with my Hurst sticker on the side....
IMG_20190823_171651.jpg
 
It’s a bunch of fun and can be a good workout.
You can spend lots of money on a high end outfit if you’d rather peddle than row.
Lots of options and types out there and Dave’s right about craigslist. Now’s the time of year to buy a good used one reasonably for sure.
 
There is actually a tournament series for kayak fishing. My nephew in Colorado goes all over the country to fish in these. He'll be here in Missouri on Table Rock in a couple weeks.

Kayak Bass Fishing - KBF

This is him.

nc_oc=AQllCGXOXYdfRGS7MdLZ3IZc420yDd89WdjpSuyZJAvgH6EOg3W_-b5sXETcm3aqs5o&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.jpg
 
A two seater paddle boat is what you need. Therefor your girl could paddle while you troll and drink beer.
 
Sadly no, no trolling motors.


The landlady did mention she has a canoe i can use. My worry is having my lady in a canoe. She has no idea how right a canoe or get in a flooded canoe.

I grew up in scouts, we learned how to bail by hand a sunk canoe, right it, climb in, bail and race to the finish.
My lady did not...
 
..
View attachment 1715389551
My wife at Trillium Lake last week and my kayak with my Hurst sticker on the side....
View attachment 1715389552
You can row that Kayak too!

My buddy used to fish from one of those big rings with rubber boots attached to them? Said the lake was full of 'em after work in Washington as they had about 5 more hours of sunlight left in the summer time. We had 20 kids on sea kayaks and the wind started to blow and we all got blown down the coast about 2 miles. We ended up tying them end to end and getting towed back to our Boy Scout camp sight by a little outboard motorboat. That was more fun that rowing!

59b21a3d293f4abb821dc44760b05f2e.jpg
 
Ive spent most of my life on the water.

If the dorsal and pectoral fin don't break the surface at the same time, keep surfing.

When the dorsal and pectoral fin are above the water, take note of the distance between the two and KETCH THAT WAVE!!!
 
You can row that Kayak too!

My buddy used to fish from one of those big rings with rubber boots attached to them? Said the lake was full of 'em after work in Washington as they had about 5 more hours of sunlight left in the summer time. We had 20 kids on sea kayaks and the wind started to blow and we all got blown down the coast about 2 miles. We ended up tying them end to end and getting towed back to our Boy Scout camp sight by a little outboard motorboat. That was more fun that rowing!

View attachment 1715389597
I just showed my wife that picture and you can bet your sweet Simon there ain't no way...lol.... I'm never going to get my wife to take one of those on the ocean...
 
Nice kayak's. You live in the Pacific Northwest and don't have a fishing pole. You spend to much time on the car. lol
We were sitting out on that Lake in my life just was rolling her eyes as I kept thinking of ideas of how to put a battery in it and get some electric motors going...
We've been picking out furniture and I want one of those big Lazy Boy things with electric motors....
 
My wife and I shopped these out and got unheard of deals on them and she really enjoys them. I asked her what happens when she falls over and she's been in a panic since then LOL...
She finally found out from a friend you just grab your stuff up and paddle over to the edge and get back in LOL...
 
I’d rather have a 12’ rowboat to fish from than a kayak. Better stability and enhanced ability to cast and retrieve.

Just as easy to get around as a kayak and more comfortable for time on the water for two.
 
Thats the main benefit of a Kayak. You just flip it over and climb in.

They dont hold water like a canoe.

Coming from someone who is an avid boater and first responder (EMT). I have had to drag a few folks out of the water on lake Tahoe when the water got to rough and they had no idea how to self right their vessel.

No matter what, one of the first things will be me dumping my lady out of the boat and standing by while she re rights it.
 
Thats the main benefit of a Kayak. You just flip it over and climb in.

They dont hold water like a canoe.

Coming from someone who is an avid boater and first responder (EMT). I have had to drag a few folks out of the water on lake Tahoe when the water got to rough and they had no idea how to self right their vessel.

No matter what, one of the first things will be me dumping my lady out of the boat and standing by while she re rights it.
Different kind of canoe or I mean kayak I'm sorry I keep calling them canoes all the time...
You're talking like a White River kayak where y'all Buckle in. a blue water kayak like what we have you just fall out it's like a canoe with a little piece of plastic over your feet..
As a matter of fact the fishing ones are more of an open area that have fishing rod holders and livewells in them and stuff so you kind of just sit on top of them...
 
We were sitting out on that Lake in my life just was rolling her eyes as I kept thinking of ideas of how to put a battery in it and get some electric motors going...
We've been picking out furniture and I want one of those big Lazy Boy things with electric motors....
Just cut down a trolling motor and rig it off the stern or side. I had a 12V Walmart by Brunswick 40 lb thrust motor I found in a telephone closet of an abandoned building. I was going to gut it and use it as a bike tire traction motor but ended up selling it for 40 bucks. They were cheap ones on craigslist. That would get that kayak going on the long trip back or into a headwind. Invisible depending on what type of battery you were using. I used 2 smaller '5 lb' 7.2AH 12V gell cells from a battery back up in parallel.
 
Spent a lot of time in these. Trolling motor so probably not what you need. Deadly on crappie. The SC boys know.
ss1.jpg
 
Just cut down a trolling motor and rig it off the stern or side. I had a 12V Walmart by Brunswick 40 lb thrust motor I found in a telephone closet of an abandoned building. I was going to gut it and use it as a bike tire traction motor but ended up selling it for 40 bucks. They were cheap ones on craigslist. That would get that kayak going on the long trip back or into a headwind. Invisible depending on what type of battery you were using. I used 2 smaller '5 lb' 7.2AH 12V gell cells from a battery back up in parallel.
See now this is the exact conversation I want to have while kayaking and my wife not so much...
 
I am in Charleston SC, so I have tides to deal with when fishing from mine. So, I was patient and found a demo Hobie tandem Mirage drive. My GF has trashed shoulders, mine aren’t great anymore either. So, I can paddle, peddle, and I have to admit, I put a trolling motor on it as well.

For fishing, pedal drive with a rudder is awesome if it is in the budget. If fishing is the priority, get a sit on, not sit in.
 
My neighbor is a Pro Kayak fisherman. Prolly the same series as the guy posted above. He is sponsored by Hobie and has some nice rigs. He posts YouTube video's showing how to setup and what gear works for him. Look for Tim Percy on YouTube.

Riddler
 
If the dorsal and pectoral fin don't break the surface at the same time, keep surfing.

When the dorsal and pectoral fin are above the water, take note of the distance between the two and KETCH THAT WAVE!!!

Pectoral fin above water? Yikes - I'd never seen that before. That'd probably be one pissed off shark!
 
-
Back
Top