Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Looking at Kayaks.

Looking to get a cheap, good quality, Made in USA starter kayak. Would prob only use a couple times a year so don't want to spent too much. Looking at this one at walmart.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=d7_eOCX3nZ0
It comes with the paddle free.
Was going to buy an Old Town at Bass Pro at twice the price. You have to buy paddle seperate at over $50. It will be used primarily for fishing on small creek and rivers near my town.The Big Piney and Little Piney primarily. I think John Monroe knows a thing or two about them. I've only ever used on a lake. The creeks and rivers around my area rarely get over class 2 with the rare class 3. Thanks.

John Wann there are some things I would consider. Good back support is one I consider important for me since I have a herniated disc but with even with a good back it's tiring with out much back support.

How tipsy is the kayak. Some fishing kayakers add sponsons for fishing for stability.
I have built some sponsons and I have bought one that I used for sailing but can be shortened as in the picture below. There is no way I could stand up in this kayak without
the sponsons.

Folbot sponsons,




How are you going to transport the kayak. In the back of a pickup, a trailer, on the roof of a car (that can be cheap using foam or run into the hundreds of dollars), or a blow up that fits in your trunk. My son has a blow up that I was impressed with on day river trip last spring. I think it was a foreign make he bought for maybe $250 new, and a good quality blower that plugs into a cigarette lighter. It also had a blow up back support that he said worked pretty good. And the kayak was stable and took a rough beating on that trip.

I would go online and qoogle fishing kayak personal reviews, building do it yourself sponsors for kayak fishing, etc. I know this is online if you can find it.

John, I found I don't like fishing from a kayak mainly for 2 reasons - you sit low which makes it a little more difficult to see fish cruising near the surface, and you can't swivel your body around very easily. When I used to own a kayak I would bring a peice of 1x6 to lay over the top to sit on so I could sit higher and see better and I could twist around if I wanted to cast somewhere behind me.

I'd rather fish out of my canoe, even though I'm sacrificing some of the advantages of a kayak, like manuverability. I also like a canoe on longer floats 'cause you can easily carry larger coolers - you know, for the sodas.

That does look like a neat kayak though.

I will be hauling in back of truck or on top of Escape. The Little Piney which I mainly fish for SMB and RBT isn't very easy with canoe. I have a 16 foot aluminum one. Too many obstructions and logs completely cross creek. The fishing holes are sometimes far apart but when you find a good one get ready. The canoe does not work as well solo for me either. I would prob float up to holes and get out and fish from bank where possible. I'll keep the canoe for party floats. Thanks guys. I found one of these used on local Craigslist. Says it was bought this January and they have to sell quick. Baby on the way. Asking $400. Should i offer $350 and see what they say? It comes with paddle and anchor. They look pretty slick. The one for sale is red and black though.
http://youtu.be/TpRPYeYjong

John,

I would check Craigslist for these. We bought two off there a couple years ago, with paddles for well under half of the new price. If I weren't in FL selling my parents place I would tell you the brand. I do remember seeing them new at BassPro shops. Thanks.

Bryan

I'm buying the Old Town Vapor angler tomorrow morning. Getting it a little over half price with paddle. I did not care for the color. I wanted the olive one but for $350 savings I'll deal with it. Thanks for the advice everybody. It's seems to get great reviews.

John Wann I like the Old Town Vapor after seeing the video. It has many features that are important. The foot braces along with the back rest makes paddling much easier. In the video the guy didn't like where the drain plug was positioned. If you find that to be true also you can easily drill a hole in the back and stick a simple boat drain plug in the hole that will tighten up and seal the hole until needed. You can buy rod holders and insert them in the kayak if you need them. Usually once you get used to a kayak it becomes more stable as you body adjust to any instability. But you can always add sponsons if needed for comfort. I had a 17 foot canoe and I have a 17 foot kayak and a 11 1'2 foot kayak and the small one is what I really like and use all the time. I swear it can go up creeks in 1 inch of water and can turn on a dime. I can get into small streams that no one else can and I see wild life and fish that is hard for normal boats to get to. Some of the most interesting stream I've paddled are from reservoirs into the streams that feed them. You will have fun.

Thanks John. I got a 2 hour drive in a few minutes. I'm sure it will be in the pond ASAP after arriving home. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Feels good to me.