Kayak fishing???

FinsnFur · March 05, 2016, 03:36:06 PM

damn damn damn

Had to get some groceries so we swung into Cabelas to see if they had the one I've been eyeballing on line. The Emotion Stealth 11 Angler.
Of course they did.

On sale $70 bucks off which places it at $379... right into my very small window budget.

I rubbed my hands over it a lil while, looked at Kristee and said we better go. Shes like Dad...just get it. If not now...then when?

I feel like it's an impulse purchase that I"ll regret

riverboss · March 05, 2016, 06:59:44 PM

Someone is going to have fun soon.

Sent from my BLU STUDIO 5.0 C HD using Tapatalk

Okanagan · March 05, 2016, 08:00:12 PM

That looks like a steal of a deal to me. You're gonna love it.

slagmaker · March 05, 2016, 08:56:27 PM

So I take it you pulled the trigger on it then

FinsnFur · March 05, 2016, 11:51:15 PM

Nope...not yet...we left and I'm still throwing it all around in my head

HaMeR · March 06, 2016, 05:06:18 AM

"Just buy it Dad!!"

Yeah it's a tough decision to make with the impulse buy thought. On the other hand at that price you shouldn't have a hard time selling it later for your initial sale price investment. Just sayin.

Buy it when it's on sale. You'll need a few accessories for it & that'll free up a few $$ for those.

riverboss · March 06, 2016, 05:19:54 AM

Jim zombie's can't swim!
Just another reason for you to ponder.
Aside from the virgin fish you can get to.

Sent from my BLU STUDIO 5.0 C HD using Tapatalk

Okanagan · March 06, 2016, 06:30:52 AM

I'd vote "buy it!" Life is short and uncertain.

I bought my kayak after I recovered from several years of fighting blindness and disease, five surgeries, etc. It was a "got well" present and a welcome to the rest of my life. While sick and blind I thought about what I'd like to do if I got well and buying a kayak was on top of my toy list. I decided that I had been stingy with myself in my middle years as much as I'd been responsible and frugal. I didn't want to swing over to selfish and self centered, but wanted to open up to enjoying life opportunities a little more. FWIW

slagmaker · March 06, 2016, 11:16:46 AM

Yeah, Just buy it dad!

slagmaker · March 06, 2016, 11:19:43 AM

I have my canoe but still want a kayak. I am trying to decide if I want a sit in or sit on. Leaning towards a sit in cause I have some creaks around here that would be a lot of fun when the waters up and a moving. Dont think I want a sit on for doing the rapids.

FinsnFur · March 06, 2016, 05:25:55 PM

Ronnie, you look like your dressed for cold weather. Im pretty sure one can bank on getting wet at some point when in a kayak, so what do you wear like from the waist down? In cold weather.

Sent from my Galaxy using Tapatalk

slagmaker · March 06, 2016, 09:34:42 PM

Jim when I am in my canoe in cold weather I wear wool and or wool blends under some frog toggs. It does the trick for me

FinsnFur · March 06, 2016, 09:50:55 PM

What about your feet? You can keep your feet dry in a canoe if you have to. I dont think your gonna in a kayak the whole trip.

slagmaker · March 06, 2016, 10:41:22 PM

Well as you pointed out a canoe is diffrent than a kayak but I just were good quality waterproof boots. Either a lace up or some slip on muck boots

Okanagan · March 07, 2016, 12:12:59 AM

My fishing conditions are quite a bit different so take anything I say lightly for your situation. I have high top wet suit boots that I wear quite a bit in warm to cool conditions and when wearing them just step into the water. Our water is always cold. Feet stay warm. None of the wet suit boots I've tried, low top or high, have stiff enough soles to handle really rough rocks when wading. If you keep upper body warm your lower legs can handle getting wet. I've tried Teva shoes and don't like them because sand and gravel get into the shoe.

If I was into surf zones or significant white water it would be a wetsuit, and a shorty wetsuit might be a good idea for both the warmth and flotation in spring or Fall weather. I may yet get one if I start fishing salmon in salt water more. Most of my river fishing I travel in the yak and fish from shore much more than from the boat, so wear breathable chest waders with cinched waist belt and keep my life jacket on all of the time, even when wading and fishing.

centerfire_223 · March 07, 2016, 04:41:53 AM

Jim here is my opinion on that particular boat. Make sure you get one with a comfortable seat, without that you won't like it. A raised seat is even better, not so much strain on your body, sitting flat down all day. I would hit Craig's list and buy a used one with a good seat over a new one without. Like I said, just my opinion.

As far as clothes, normally around here when I start out at daylight it's only 20-30 degrees. So I just wear a pair of jeans then throw my Frog Togg rain pants over it. The only reason for the rain pants is my paddle is a little bit to short and water drips down on my legs. Normally I wear I just wear hiking boots, though if you have a pair of rubber boots that does make it easier to get in and out without getting your feet wet. My kayak is stable enough I just walk to the front and get in and out on the bank, so I don't have to worry about wet feet.

I will list a few boats that I would look at, now some of them are a little more expensive than others but none really outrageous.

FeelFree Lure (really stable, plenty of open floor room)... new $1200
Jackson Cuda ( great kayak, stable, not much floor room) New $1400
Native (Another great kayak, not a lot of floor room) New $1400-2500 according on what you get
Acend (you can find these on Craigslist pretty cheap and they have a good seat)... great seat, cheap plenty of floor room...BassPro New $699 to 799
Hobie (great kayak but expensive)... $1500 to 3500

Go ahead and bite the bullet and get one. It will take your fishing to another level of fun and enjoyable. It's really nice to get off of the bank. I have two gas powered boats sitting in the shed and they never get took out. I always joke with my friends about being able to fuel up my kayak with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

FinsnFur · March 07, 2016, 06:41:20 AM

Interesting stuff! Thanks. I guess most of my fishing will be warm weather FISHING also, so a pair of boating shoes or even barefoot would be no big deal. I was just wondering how you kept your feet dry and warm in this cold weather, Ronnie.
I'm sure I'll be stepping into the water to get in and out of anything I decide to buy especially considering all the examples you listed up there are way out of my budget lol.
I've been doing some reading and watching videos on reviews of the different boats and stuff and trying to figure out how they decide what paddle to buy. So you're concept on yours being too short and dripping water in the boat was pretty informative. I can see that happening.

Sent from my Galaxy using Tapatalk

centerfire_223 · March 07, 2016, 10:05:14 AM

Your paddle is determined by your height and the width of the boat. Right now my boat is around 36 inches at the widest point and I am 6 feet tall. I use a 230cm paddle but a 240-250cm paddle would be better.

Normally in the summer I fish in flip flops but now it's just a pair of hunting boots. Since they don't get wet it's no big deal.

Those were new prices I gave you on the kayak I listed. Keep your eye on Craigslist, I found mine for $275 and it has the good elevated seat. I have seen several down here for around $300. One thing is your getting a WAY better or more comfortable kayak. Just takes a little patience waiting on the right deal.

Okanagan · March 07, 2016, 10:14:32 AM

A little water dripping in the boat is a given, even if you have an ideal paddle and drip rings. You can eliminate most of it and cheerfully live with what's left or get an ulcer fighting it.

In my SINK I have a spray skirt in place all of the time so take waves over the boat, drips etc. without a drop getting into the cockpit. A skookum bungee edge keeps the spray skirt tight to the cockpit rim and a draw string cinches it to my waist under a rain jacket if I'm wearing one. I often wear a thin rain shell to keep my arms and upper bod dry from normal spray, waves and drips. With the spray skirt inside the bottom edge of the short rain jacket, water runs outside rather than in. I love to paddle in a driving rain with the surface churned while I am dry and warm in a hooded rain jacket with lower bod protected by the spray skirt. In summer I often wear thin nylon pants and shirts that protect me from sunburn and dry quickly if they get wet. Avoid cotton underwear. It takes forever to dry...

It is significantly more difficult to fish out of a closed cockpit however compared to an open sit on top.

One more bit of free advice:

whatever boat you get, in warm, still, safe water practice at least once turning it over or falling off and get the boat upright and back in it yourself. When leading groups in kayaks or canoes, the first day we ALWAYS had everyone turn over their boat in water deeper than their heads, and they had to get back in their boat with water out of it, unaided by anyone or anything outside. On cold hypothermic days, I'd build a big bonfire before hand on a nearby shore.

Okanagan · March 07, 2016, 10:20:40 AM

Quote from: centerfire_223 on March 07, 2016, 10:05:14 AM

Normally in the summer I fish in flip flops but now it's just a pair of hunting boots. Since they don't get wet it's no big deal.

My all time favorite summer wade-fishing boots were an old pair of nearly worn out crepe soled upland hunting boots. They protected my feet and ankles in rocky swift places and had enough sole to walk on big sharp rocks.