Any thoughts on this yak?

[Fishcreek]

[url=http://www.atkenco.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=1127:f9647]http://www.atkenco.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=1127[/url:f9647]


It is a sit on top yak. I fish small streams and ponds and find a conoe a pain by myself. I am in Florida so the sit on top will not be a problem as far as weather is concerned.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Fishcreek (edited 13 March 2005).]

[Diane]

Fantastic boat. Well constructed. Can be had in the already rigged for fishing model. It will fit a widebody person. It tracks well. Hatches are like on my Pungo and are excellent. I'd buy it if I had your location and needs.

[Jim Hatch]

Hi Fishcreek,

No doubt the WS Tarpon 120 Angler will
do the job. It is a good quality yak. But
it was NOT designed as a "small stream and
pond" kayak which you state is your intended
usuage. There are a host of kayaks that
were designed for these smaller waters and
some of them are half the price and somewhat
lighter. The Tarpon is a great open waters
boat for paddling coastal waters and open
bays. Depending on your body weight and
anticipated gear requirements, you may find
a boat as small as 8 foot and 20 pounds
lighter will fill the bill. It can be a big
deal when it comes to transport and ease of
handling. Obviously you can use the larger
kayak in smaller waters, but it may be a bit
more cumbersome and difficult to handle in
the tighter areas. Kayaks in my opinion are
a great way to get on the water and well
suited for a lot of fishing conditions.
Just that the better you match the craft to
the intended usuage, I think the better
satisfied you'll be over the long haul.
Good luck and welcome to the sport of
"Yak Fishing". Warm regards, Jim

[BigCliff]

I'll put forth another opinion which varies from Jim's.

I think if you are looking for a boat that is small enough to be manuverable on smaller creeks but also will track well on open water, the 12' Tarpon is a good bet. I used to own a 8.5' sit on top and found it mostly miserable. It tracked horribly and wasn't very stable either.

I know if I were living in Florida I would spend at least half of my fishing time on salty water. A longer boat will perform much better there than would a short boat. Sit-on-tops between 14' and 16' are ideal for the bays and flats, so I'm not suggesting you get a bay yak and use it in the creeks. I think you'll just be happier with the ability that a longer boat gives you to get somewhere more quickly and with less frustration.

[Jim Hatch]

Hey Bigcliff,

I couldn't agree more with your opinion
of the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120. It's
a fine kayak for the salt water.

Fishcreek said he wanted a boat for
small streams and ponds. That's what I based my reply on. The Tarpon 120 is not
a pond boat and on small meandering streams
the tracking ability of the Tarpon will work against him. Yes, you
can do it, but you will have to work harder
to do so. Get a smaller boat with a
bit more rocker and it will be easier
to maneuver in the tight stuff. There are
any number of smaller kayaks that work well
and are not a pain to paddle. I have been
favorably impressed with the smaller Waldens
in that respect. Just for the sake of a
comparison, The Walden Voyager at 10 foot is
a reasonably good paddling kayak. It costs
about 40 percent of the price of the
Tarpon 120 and weighs just a bit over half
as much. Thats a lot of difference and for
many of us well worth consideration. Warm
regards, Jim

[No-tye-much]

The only issue I see is the flush mount spinning rod holders. See if they will sub flush mount Scotty's instead. The T-120 works for me.

------------------
The thrill is not in the kill. It's in the deception.

I fish the same types of waters....small ponds and lakes, and backbays here in NJ and use the Tarpon 100 which is the 10fter. It is perfect for my needs of a small boat that will fit in the bed of my Ford ranger, but is stable enough for the streams, lakes, and backbays I frequent. I have seen the Tarpon 120 up close and I would love to try that boat out in the ocean. WS tarpon kayaks are absolutely awesome and i doubt you would be disappointed.

Lou

[Fishcreek]

Thank you, and all opinions greatly appreciated.

I guess I should clearify "small".Obviously what one person considers small is not what another considers small. The main river I will be using it on (A beautiful spring fed system) varies from 35-80 feet wide. Small ponds for me are 40-150 acres in size.

[Jim Hatch]

Hey Fishcreek,

You definitly grow your waters big
down there. You picked a quality kayak
as everyone agrees. If you have a local
dealer, see if you can set up a session
with the Tarpon 120 as well as a Tarpon
100 like Loudogs. It's rated at 325 pounds
so you aren't likly to run out of beer.*G*
But it is 10 pounds lighter and will save
you the price of a nice new gill outfit.
You can read as many opinions as you like
but yours is the one that counts. Good
luck and happy paddling. Warm regards, Jim

[BigCliff]

I had totally forgotten that WS makes a 10' Tarpon, that one would definitely be a more manuverable option. However, after seeing the size of water you'll be using it on, I don't think the 12' will be too much boat to turn.

I found another option for you though. Perception is a very highly regarded Kayak mfg and they have one out which is pretty similar to The Tarpon 12 but goes for $580.
[url=http://www.kayaker.com/new/products/boat.asp?type=sit-on-top&ID=122:7a929]http://www.kayaker.com/new/products/boat.asp?type=sit-on-top&ID=122[/url:7a929]

I actually think Perception boats are made better than WS (after having sold them both) even though they are not as popular with the fishing crowd.

Here's a slightly longer one that's got a hatch and a Rudder for almost the same price as the Tarpon 12. [url=http://www.kayaker.com/new/products/boat.asp?type=sit-on-top&ID=123:7a929]http://www.kayaker.com/new/products/boat.asp?type=sit-on-top&ID=123[/url:7a929]

If I could transport it, I'd get the 11.5 for myself.