Trending
In May of 2006, I headed to Erie, Pennsylvania, for a few days of fishing. The main event on that trip was a walleye charter on Lake Erie, which was a grand success.
The next day I met a friend to fish together at Presque Isle State Park. He lived in Erie County and had been coaxing me to try fishing from a kayak with him for a couple of years. Back then, I had no faith that a kayak could be a practical fishing craft and resisted his invitations. But knowing I would have plenty of time on this trip, he refused to take no for an answer, so I relented.
My friend brought one of his extra kayaks for me, and we met at the park. After a quick lesson on boarding and paddling the boat, we headed across Presque Isle Bay in search of some bass and panfish. The fishing was great, and my reservations about kayak fishing were quickly quashed. As we paddled back to our takeout spot, my friend asked how I liked my kayak experience. I replied, "If you want to sell this kayak, I'll write you a check for it right here in the parking lot."
Although he wasn't interested in selling his boat, I did indeed buy my own kayak the next morning before leaving Erie, a move that has altered my strategy to fishing many places ever since.
Once I got over my initial bias, of course, I discovered kayak fishing has many advantages. Kayaks are relatively inexpensive, even compared to a small conventional fishing boat. A kayak is light and portable, making it possible to launch and access waters that would be difficult otherwise.
Kayaks will easily float in just a few inches of water and can easily navigate dense weed beds to get to fish other boats cannot. Kayaks are also super quiet and stealthy, allowing an angler to move around at close range without scaring away the fish.
After I became an almost immediate kayak fishing fan, I converted lots of other folks to kayak fishing. And friends and fellow anglers continue to ask me for advice on buying their first fishing kayak. Keep in mind, however, that my advice regarding kayaks comes from the perspective of a hardcore fisherman who uses a kayak as a personal fishing craft. For someone looking to go for a boat ride rather than fishing, seeking advice from a hardcore paddler or kayak enthusiast might be more on point.
There are two basic types of kayaks: sit-inside and sit-on-top. I have one of each. Sit-inside boats are the traditional style of kayak. As the name implies, the rider sits inside a cockpit surrounded by the hull of the boat.
Sit-on-top kayaks are flatter and mostly open, and, of course, the rider sits on top. Both types come in different lengths. For fishing, something in the range of 9¢ to 12 feet is optimal. Because I mostly fish the river, I prefer a shorter boat, 9¢ or 10 feet, for handling and maneuverability in the current, but several friends and fishing companions seem equally happy with their 12-footers. Sit-inside kayaks weigh considerably less than sit-on-top kayaks of comparable lengths. My 10-foot sit-on-top boat weighs 67 pounds.
Overall room and storage are other considerations. In general, sit-on-top kayaks offer more room than sit-inside kayaks, but this will vary from boat to boat and how you rig your own craft. Personally, I am a gearhead and like to have several rods and reels and lots of tackle most of the time.
In my little sit-inside kayak, I can easily take four rods and reels, a medium-sized tackle bag with plenty of lures, life jacket, anchor and a small soft-side cooler. And I can get all that gear and seven or eight rods and reels in the sit-on-top boat.
A few accessories are necessary to complete your fishing package for any size or type of kayak. A good life jacket is required to be on board at all times and must be worn if you are on the water from November 1 until May 1.
A comfortable seat is another requisite item, and some of the seats in cheaper boats can be just awful. Fortunately, there are plenty of aftermarket seats in case the one you buy hurts your back or bottom. Most "fishing" kayaks will have at least two flush-mounted rod holders installed. These are worthwhile options if you plan to take more than one rod and reel on your fishing outings.
My most important piece of gear for river fishing is a good anchor. I'm not out there to take my tackle for a boat ride, so I don't make a cast unless I am anchored and targeting a specific area. Floating downriver and casting randomly is tactically bankrupt most of the time and virtually guarantees you will pass by many, if not most, productive spots. Most so-called kayak anchors I've seen are much too light to hold the boat in even moderate river currents. Get one at least 8 to 10 pounds, set up, and catch some fish.