All fishermen, once they determine they’re going to get a kayak and set it up for fishing, need to select a model. Usually the fisherman has never been in a kayak or has paddled little. Often they have a misconception of kayaks based upon what they’ve read, seen, heard or experienced. It’s important to understand that not all kayaks are created equal. So what makes a kayak good for fishing? Kayak fishermen value stability, storage, maneuverability, the ability to accessorize, etc. However there are many factors to consider. You need to answer some questions to better narrow down the kayak models that are most appropriate for you. There are some important things to take into consideration when narrowing down your choices. Unlike a decade ago there is a plethora of models that fish well. It can almost be overwhelming. So let’s look at some important things you should consider.
Your Build – The first factor to consider is you. What are your height, weight, inseam measurement and general condition? Other then weight all of these are things that will never change. If you’re big, there are certain kayaks that you need to look at. If you’re a small person getting a kayak that’s big and has a 600-pound capacity probably isn’t your best choice. Some kayaks suit different body types better than others. Some have a generous seat area while others are narrow. Sometimes one particular consideration becomes the most important in making a decision. One example would be if you have long legs then the amount of room in the cockpit of the kayak will be the most important feature for you.
Your Vehicle – What vehicle are you going to use to transport your kayak? You’re going to need to get the kayak from where you store it to the water unless you live on the water and intend on it being your primary fishing environment. Even so you’ll eventually want to expand your horizons and fish somewhere else. If you’re using the bed of a pickup truck a heavier kayak isn’t a problem. Some people opt to get a trailer, which is even easier. With any other method you’re probably going to have to load it onto the roof. So you’re going to need to put in up there. If you have a large SUV you have to be conscious of the weight. This is especially important if you’re not a big strong person.
Storing the Kayak – Where is the kayak going to be stored? Sometimes you have a limited amount of space in which to store the kayak. So this will be a determining factor as well. If you’ve only got room to keep a 12-footer it doesn’t make any sense to purchase one that’s 14 feet.
Places Where the Kayak Will Be Used – Is the kayak strictly going to be used in freshwater, if so where? Small-protected waters like lakes, ponds, small rivers and creeks or large, open bodies of water? Do you plan on using it in saltwater? Do you plan on fishing in the ocean and launching through the surf? How are you planning on getting the kayak to the water? Can you simply drive it to the water and launch or do you plan on going into more remote areas where you can’t use a vehicle for the final leg? All these factors are important when choosing a kayak.
Fishing Methods – What fishing methods do you like to use? Do you only use one type? Do you use artificials, bait or both? Do you use a variety of methods? If you’re going to use bait, do you want to use live baitfishes that require a live well system? If you do you’ll need a model that can accommodate both the space the bait tank needs and be able to displace the weight. Do you plan on anchoring and chumming? Do you fly fish? Do you want to stand and sight fish? The type of gear you plan on taking along and the way you plan on fishing can be very important as well as what you plan on attaching to the kayak.
Keeping Fish or Catch & Release – Are you strictly a catch and release fisherman, do you like to take the occasional meal home or are you regularly taking fish home? If you’re going to keep fish then where are you going to store them while you continue to fish.
Stability: When kayakers discuss stability they talk about 2 types, initial and secondary. Initial stability is the side-to-side wobble that you feel when you sit in a kayak. Secondary stability is when the kayak is nearing its point of flipping and how much forgiveness (the amount of warning the kayak gives you) it has before you flip. Initial stability is more important to beginners and secondary is much more important to seasoned kayakers. It makes sense. The beginner hasn’t developed a sense of balance yet. It’s a lot like learning how to ride a bicycle. When you start anything new you think about it. Once you’re become accustomed to balancing it’s done unconsciously. Shorter wider kayaks tend to be more stable, but there is a trade off and that brings us to our next characteristic.
Speed: Generally, the longer and narrower a kayak the faster it is. There is a trade off with our next characteristic. If a kayak is long it’s not going to turn as easily as a shorter kayak. If the majority of your fishing is close to shore or in small, protected areas, than sacrificing maneuverability for speed isn’t the way to go. However if you’re fishing a big reservoir, bay, sound or offshore the ability to cover distance may be very important. Speed is more then how fast a kayak can travel. It’s a function of efficiency over the water. If you’re covering distance you want all the efficiency you can get.
Maneuverability is a feature that is hard to do without if you need it. If you’re going to fish in small, tight places you need to be able to position the kayak so you can fish. Some kayaks do this extremely well. Getting back into a small creek or pond and fishing often requires this ability. Shorter kayaks do this better simply because they’re small. There are many places where a long kayak would be impossible to use. Maneuverability is relative to. The need of it isn’t restricted to small creeks and small waters. In many saltwater environments we often find the need to maneuver too. Fishing close to jetties and breakwaters, areas where there’s a lot of rock, strong currents, estuaries, mangroves, etc. Here the addition of a rudder is like adding power steering to a vehicle and can help a longer kayak function shorter when needed.
Accessory Friendly: We, as fishermen, take a recreational kayak and make it a fishing vessel. We do this by adding accessories. Some fishermen just take a rod and a few flies or lures along and others like to take lots of gear. At the very least adding a rod holder greatly increases the fishability of a kayak. Some kayaks accept accessories better than others. It’s the addition of accessories that can often dramatically improve the fishing.
Weight Capacity: Manufacturers list the carrying capacity of their kayaks. Unfortunately you can’t always use the figure that’s stated. One model I used regularly had a listed weight capacity of 400#s, however I’m less than 200 pounds and in this particular model with a normal amount of gear, water trapped in the foot wells regularly washes over the center hatch! Even though the kayak has a rating of double my body weight it is far from realistic. The true capacity of the kayak is easily a third less. Some models are accurate and some aren’t. If you weigh less then 200 pounds then it really isn’t something to consider, conversely the more you’re over 200 the more cognizant you need to be of capacity.
Storage: Depending upon how you fish this can be important. There are different types of storage to consider when talking about kayaks. There’s initial, which is the storage that you can easily reach while seated and fishing from the kayak and then there’s secondary. Secondary is the storage that can’t be easily accessed. It either requires some thought and movement on your part or a buddy to access. Both depend upon the design of the kayak and the way in which you outfit it to some extent.
Storing Carts: In some places one needs to use a cart to transport the kayak from where it’s parked to the water it sometimes isn’t practical to return the kayak to the vehicle. Unfortunately there are too many places where one’s personal property isn’t respected. Sometimes where you park and where the kayak will be launched can be quite a distance from each other. The best cart for sandy beaches is the big tire cart from Roleez. The wheels are huge and are difficult to store. If you don’t have the ability to take the cart with you then you need to walk back to the vehicle to return the cart. The kayak is often out of sight. At some beaches this could amount to 5-10 minutes that you’ll be away from your kayak. This is much too much time to leave it unattended and there’s a good a chance that items will be missing when you return to the kayak.
Storing Fishing Rods and Gear: When fishing the ocean and launching or returning through the surf it’s a good idea to store whatever you can inside the hull of the kayak. It’s the best place to leave this gear just in case things don’t go as planned. This way your gear is protected. Not all kayaks allow one to get in and out of hatches while on the water. Also some designs have items that prevent proper loading of rods even though the hatch opening is accessible and there’s sufficient room inside the hull. If you’re going to be spending much time in the surf zone then this is going to be important to you. There are fishermen who combine kayak fishing with camping. Camping requires considerably more gear and it’s nice to be able to take it along with you. Its better to have too much storage then too little, after all you don’t have to use it all but you can’t create what isn’t there.
Color – I have found the color of the kayak is unimportant to the fish. So choose a color based upon what you like or where you plan on fishing. Most anglers who fish wide-open areas, especially saltwater, tend to favor brightly colored kayaks. This makes sense, as a bright kayak is easier to see. Conversely many fishermen who fish freshwater or secluded areas want a stealthy colored kayak. You can add a safety flag to make any kayak much more visible but you can’t make a brightly colored kayak disappear.
Lastly, don’t be an experiment. By this I mean, don’t purchase a model for fishing that nobody else uses. There’s more then enough information available via the internet, articles, qualified businesses that specialize in kayak fishing, etc. to make an informed choice. If you choose a model that has a fishing pedigree, by this I mean one that’s used by lots of fishermen in your area. Then there isn’t any reason to end up with a model that’s unsuitable for your needs. So consider all the factors that may be important and get into this exciting sport. Your only regret will probably be how long you didn’t fish from a kayak.
Obviously this is a introduction and some of the important aspects one should consider when initially selecting a kayak. There are many more but space doesn’t allow for it there. In my book, Kayak Fishing, I have an entire chapter devoted to making a choice. Whatever you do don’t be paralyzed by indecision. Get out on the water and catch some fish.