So my Punkin Pie and I went kayak shopping. We ended up picking up a couple of Walmart yaks on clearance as beginner/starter rigs. We tested them out on a local small 60-acre lake. I really enjoyed fishing out of it and think this is the ticket when fishing alone instead of launching my 17-foot semi v on these small lakes and streams. I can also see how this can change up my water fowl hunting and allow access to some areas that you can't wade to or hide a big boat.
So what I have is a Lifetime Tahoma Pro and I have a couple of rails and rod holders to put on it for now. I think it will be fine for the time being. That being said, if I find myself using a yak a lot for fishing and hunting, I think I would like to eventually get something of a little more quality.
So, what are you all's thoughts? I have zero knowledge or experience with yaks but considering my area, I think it's time to learn.
So, some additional information. We have Middle Island Creek. 77 miles of creek to fish for catfish, smallmouth, drum, muskie, etc. The muskie fishing is phenomenal. This creek has one of the only places that I know of where you can launch a kayak or canoe, do a lazy 3.5 mile float through the woods, and be back where you started. I am working with our DNR to establish more boat/kayak, canoe launch ramps on the creek to provide more opportunities for fishing and recreational kayaking. Another thing is Fish and Wildlife owns the islands on the Ohio River. Our OEM director is working with them because they have grant money to establish kayak and canoe launch pads and parking areas on the Ohio so people can kayak to the islands. F&W is starting a "challenge" There are 20 islands and if you access so many of them, or maybe all of them, I don't know how it's going to work, you get a certificate or something. Well, 10 of those islands are accessible from my county and the county south of us, basically about a 20 mile stretch.
So with a few lakes, the river and it's backwaters, plus the creek, fishing, hunting, and leisurely cruises on kayaks is getting to be more prevalent here. I'm a young 61 so I want to take advantage of it while I can.
Thanks,
Welcome to the wonderful life of Kayak Fishing :congrats:
I wish I would have discovered it 30 years ago. Absolutely life changing for me.
The Lifetime Tahoma Pro has a 275 lb capacity and it's 10 long. That means your going to have to be fairly skilled to keep it upright. Add in the fact that those kayaks are 31 inches wide and the stability drops even more.
Dont get me wrong, they work and I dont want to sound like I'm ripping on your new kayak. Just want you to know that when your upgrade, your going to get SO MUCH more out of this.
Higher quality kayaks, track better, navigate better, float flatter, they are MUCH MUCH more comfortable to sit in, you actually stay dry, and best of all, SOOOo much more stable. You can stand up in a good fishing kayak.
When your ready to upgrade, the best advice I can give it to stay away from the big stores, Walmart, Dicks, Target, etc.
If you have a paddle sports store near, give them a visit. There are kayaks manufactured specifically for each type of water. Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, Oceans, Rapids, etc, etc. The people at those stores know their products very well, and the best part is, NONE of the paddle sports stores sell the big department store brand cheapys. That says something right there. lol
My kayak is a Jackson Coosa HD, it has a bit of a bulbous bow for staying above small waves, but still allows turning and navigating very easy. I never get wet. Boat waves or high wind waves, I never get wet. You may find that you Lifetime Tahoma Pro takes water over the bow in those conditions.
Also, look for length. the long the kayak is the more stable it will be. Especially once you start going over 32inches wide. 1 inch make a helluva difference. Just ask nastygunz :innocentwhistle: :alscalls:
No seriously, a 32 inch wide kayak is going to be very noticeably different in stability then a 31 inch is. And obviously the wider, the more stability you gain.
Then there is a TON of videos on YouTube explaining the difference in kayaks and reviewing different kayaks. There's a goldmine of information there. They explain the pros and cons of certain kayaks on certain type of water, etc. YouTube will be your most useful source because your not limited to one opinion.
Hobie Kayaks are the best in the industry to me. Their price tags are out of my range.
Bonifide is a very top competitor, has many designs for different applications and is affordable.
Jackson Kayaks. I'd say one very small notch under Bonifide, and I absolutely love mine. Had it for a few years now.
Old Towne, I'm not a fan of. I know they are very quality, but they seem unpractical to me. Never been in one.
Wilderness Systems, got a bad rap years ago for melting kayaks and cheap manufacturing. I FEEL like they have recovered from that. I did own one years ago, but it was uncomfortable when used for long periods of time.
Thats about all I can give. :shrug: :laf:
I pretty much knew that the Lifetime yaks were going to leave a lot to be desired. I figured they would be a good way to dip our toes in to try it out before taking a full plunge. They will also make decent spares for buddies that don't have one or would like to go along to try out kayaking.
I feel the same. I wish that I had delve into these 20 years or so ago.
So far, I have been perusing Old Towne, Vibe, and Crescent. I'll check out the others you mentioned. Unfortunately, we don't have a water sports store close because with the low population density everyone gravitates to Bass Pro, Dunhams, or Wally World. This means we're limited mostly to Lifetime or Ascend with a few other limited options.
You can order from a manufacturer too. If you find one you like they will ship it.
I should of mentioned this before and forgot until you brought them up, Vibe kayaks.
If you ignore everything I posted dont ignore this part. Do not buy a Vibe Kayak. No matter how good of a deal you think your getting.
The company is and has been in very deep trouble financially. And it keeps changing hands as one investment company ditches it and another tries to rebuild it. I honestly think any positive reviews or articles you see online at this point regarding Vibe are manufactured.
The negative reviews are plentiful, ongoing and appalling.
Even had a buddy order one, two years ago. Thats how I learned about their company failing. I started doing some research.
After many months of phone calls, emails, threats. He never received his Kayak. I'll have to ask him, I dont recall, but I dont think he even got his money back. They just kept shifting the blame and buying time.
The crazy part is we saw big, beautiful enticing ads all over the internet the whole time advertising this brand. :alscalls: :doh2:
WTH!..." 1 inch make a helluva difference. Just ask nastygunz :innocentwhistle: :alscalls:".
Vibe kayaksQuote from: nastygunz on September 13, 2025, 01:43:22 PMWTH!..." 1 inch make a helluva difference. Just ask nastygunz :innocentwhistle: :alscalls:".
Almost twice as useful. :originalhahaha: