I’m an avid flats fly guy and would like your thoughts/■■■■■■■■ on some of the following:
Anyone have a standup kayak or brand that you recommend? If casting a fly, especially if casting distance or punching through the wind, I’d need to be able to stand with relative stability and little wobble.
Anyone have a motor on their yak (of is that taboo?). I figure the less paddling, the faster you can get to your spot, the more time to fish. There’s lots of cool examples on youtube.
Are there rules in the kayak fishing tourneys not allowing standup or motorized yaks?
What about the best of all worlds: A stand up yak, with a trolling motor, with foot controls?
(I guess if you add enough bells/whistles, you might as well get an actual flats boat).
For standing a wider kayak is obviously going to be more stable. Something like a WS Ride or Hobie Pro-Angler would be fine for fly fishing. They do make trolling motors for kayaks. Personally, that defeats the purpose of a kayak in my opinion. Why not just get a jon boat. Most tournaments require a kayak to be self powered (paddle or peddle) but there are no rules against standing. Check with nikonjedi. He fly fishes out of his kayak and can get you headed in the right direction.
Motors on a yak are not taboo, to some. Lots of manufacturers are making them specifically for motors now. JP is right, all kayak tourneys I have run or know of do not allow them, he is right, might as well get a jon boat IMO.
JP is also right, wider kayaks are more stable and allow you to stand. of course that really depends on you. I can;t stand in my Tarpon 160 but TooBusy can in his… Standing is always allowed in tourneys. The Ride 135, Hobie PA, and Native ultimate 12 are the ones I prefer for standing.
Fly casting form a kayak… PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE… Sit down in the yard and practice casting. It does get easier. I have found that an 7’10" Redington Predator or my 8’10" Hardy Proaxis allow me to cast better and farther sitting down in a kayak… Punching through the wind is the same in a kayak or from a bank… if it is blowing 25+ I usually don’t plan on casting in it but I do practice in the wind. I usually step up to a 10wt rod and an intermediate line and that helps a lot.
Stop by the shop if ya have any other questions and we’ll get ya sorted out!
On the motor part of your question, if you put a motor on the kayak the boat has to be registered with DNR (and titled and taxed…). Something to consider.
Test paddle a ride 135 and a tarpon 160, I’ve persinakly fished, poked, cast netted, and stood from s 135 down in Florida. They are fish catchin machines!
I’m an avid flats fly guy and would like your thoughts/■■■■■■■■ on some of the following:
Anyone have a standup kayak or brand that you recommend? If casting a fly, especially if casting distance or punching through the wind, I’d need to be able to stand with relative stability and little wobble.
Anyone have a motor on their yak (of is that taboo?). I figure the less paddling, the faster you can get to your spot, the more time to fish. There’s lots of cool examples on youtube.
Are there rules in the kayak fishing tourneys not allowing standup or motorized yaks?
What about the best of all worlds: A stand up yak, with a trolling motor, with foot controls?
(I guess if you add enough bells/whistles, you might as well get an actual flats boat).
Thanks for the thoughts/■■■■■■■■.
It sounds like you want a gheenoe.
I’m 6’4", and I can comfortably stand and fish on a 12’ Malibu Stealth. Sitting back down is the tricky part on a yak.
There are lots of good yaks. You should definitely test drive a few before you buy one.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Thanks guys, good info. I definitely need to get out and paddle around in a few. My main reason for wanting a yak is that the boat launch in our hood (Dunes West) is less than a five minute walk from my house. I’m thinking I could drag the yak down there on a dolly or something, launch, fish a few hours and be home before the wife gets pissed that I’m fishing too much.
Here are some other questions:
-Is it practical to paddle a mile or more to reach fishing areas? At and average paddle, how long would that take?
-Anyone have pontoons for stability or a swivel seat?
-can you explain how the foot pedals work? Are they for propulsion (so you can fish and move at the same time) or only stearing? Do some people swear by them and others think they’re a gimmick?
Thanks again.
Thanks guys, good info. I definitely need to get out and paddle around in a few. My main reason for wanting a yak is that the boat launch in our hood (Dunes West) is less than a five minute walk from my house. I’m thinking I could drag the yak down there on a dolly or something, launch, fish a few hours and be home before the wife gets pissed that I’m fishing too much.
Here are some other questions:
-Is it practical to paddle a mile or more to reach fishing areas? At and average paddle, how long would that take?
-Anyone have pontoons for stability or a swivel seat?
-can you explain how the foot pedals work? Are they for propulsion (so you can fish and move at the same time) or only stearing? Do some people swear by them and others think they’re a gimmick?
Thanks again.
The foot pedals, when pushed, drive a pair of fins underneath the kayak that make propulsion. I like the ‘hands free’ aspect of it - I can fish while moving around if I choose, plus I find that I can cover a lot more ground with the pedal-drive…
You can definitely paddle a mile to get to your fishing spot, depending on what your paddling and experience 2-5 mph is a rough estimate of average speed. Some days can be 15 mile days but I would say most days average somewhere around 4-7 mile trips but patience isn’t one of my strong points so I move a lot and fishing arties. I am an old fat guy and can do these kind of trips, I have noticed the kayaks getting alittle heavier to load on the roof lately.
As far as paddling versus pedaling I have always had a paddle in my hands but the force is getting strong with the draw to the dark side of pedal craft. Initial cost of a pedal yak/boat is only draw back but over the years and several different yaks it would have been less to start out with pedal yak. You are going to be able to keep better position and get more cast in with a pedal yak hands down.
For standing , poling, fly casting look at a WS Ride (paddle) or a Hobie PA ( pedal) throw a large beach towel ( wet it if it is windy) over the deck of either to keep your fly line from snagging and go at it.
My advice go to Time out sports buy two Hobie Pa’s , one for you and one for the wife, when the wife loses interest sell it to me
Hey Sauerkraut, thanks for the offer, will definitely take you up on it. I think it’d be helpful for me to get out with some of you guys who know the ropes and can share some knowledge. Is the next meet n fish confirmed?
You can easily make an inexpensive kayak cart out of PVC and a couple of 8" inflatable tires from harbor Freight. Go online, I found several sites with plans, instructions, videos, etc… and made one that works for me. Cost about $20. Makes getting my 135 where I need it a good bit easier.
I have a future beach 144 angler. Paddles like a barge but I could do a backflip on it and it wouldn’t flip. Got it cheap off Craigslist. Good deal, but I wouldn’t go that route. To test a few before pulling the trigger. Save up and get on worth getting for the long haul. Mine has been good for me since I don’t get to use it as much I would like to. Take your time and try some out for yourself.
