Save some money and you can adapt you yak or canoe with the outriggers. I have a set on my hobie quest fisherman and the are very stable.
http://www.canoegear.com/catalog/pro...4&cat=0&page=1
Philip
Spring creek
Save some money and you can adapt you yak or canoe with the outriggers. I have a set on my hobie quest fisherman and the are very stable.
http://www.canoegear.com/catalog/pro...4&cat=0&page=1
Philip
Excuse my spelling and grammar, I hooked Mondays and Fridays to either fish or hunt.
Hi guys,
Being an avid paddler for over 32 years and being in the business for 16 of those years, I'd always opt for a proper sit-inside kayak, like the Tribal (Tribalance). BTW, I currently own 42 kayaks, all decked traditional models, and one gorgeous wood strip canoe.
The 'expandable' kayak looks like something that would break rather easily. Plus, I question to stability of that set-up vs the time-tested outrigger set-up.
Wide flatter boats are more stable, but slower. You need to determine your priorities and choose a boat that best suits the type of water you'll be paddling. If the types of water you plan on paddling vary, I'd go with a stronger traditional decked kayak as they are faster than most commercial sit-on-tops and a lot more efficient. Sit-on-tops are not safer. Learn how to paddle and self-rescue a real kayak and you'll be glad you made that choice... or, go for a canoe.
Plus, it doesn't take long to feel comfortable fly fishing from a seated position.
That's my humble opinion anyway.
Originally Posted by khao-sok
Hi guys,
Being an avid paddler for over 32 years and being in the business for 16 of those years, I'd always opt for a proper sit-inside kayak, like the Tribal (Tribalance). BTW, I currently own 42 kayaks, all decked traditional models, and one gorgeous wood strip canoe.
The 'expandable' kayak looks like something that would break rather easily. Plus, I question to stability of that set-up vs the time-tested outrigger set-up.
Wide flatter boats are more stable, but slower. You need to determine your priorities and choose a boat that best suits the type of water you'll be paddling. If the types of water you plan on paddling vary, I'd go with a stronger traditional decked kayak as they are faster than most commercial sit-on-tops and a lot more efficient. Sit-on-tops are not safer. Learn how to paddle and self-rescue a real kayak and you'll be glad you made that choice... or, go for a canoe.
Plus, it doesn't take long to feel comfortable fly fishing from a seated position.
That's my humble opinion anyway.
Opinions are like ...
I would never opt for a traditional sit-inside kayak for my waters. Not practical. Sit-on-tops are the way to go.
While I do not own a Freedom Hawk, I can tell you that they are well-made and there's little chance of it falling apart or breaking.
You can certainly add outriggers or opt for something like a Freedom Hawk.
I agree that prospective kayakers should paddle different models and determine what's best for them.
Casting from the seated position isn't a problem and all and that's not the reason for standing up. We stand up to "sight-fish," which can be rather difficult (impossible?) while sitting down.
Steve
OK, let me rephrase my statement then: sit-inside kayaks are more efficient and therefore faster. Your 'return on investment' is higher, meaning, you go further quicker with the same amount of output in energy.
Hull speed is a product of beam to length ratio and even though there are fast sit-on-tops (wave skis), the sit-on-tops boats sold for fishing are sluggish and if you need to cover a lot of territory (big reservoir, sea) you'd be better off in a more efficient kayak. That's practical.
Sit-on-tops are not more stable necessarily. That's a common myth perpetrated by folks who probably haven't paddled a variety of sit-inside kayaks. Basically, you sit lower in the water in a sit-inside kayak, thus increasing your stability. You sit-higher off the water in a sit-on-top kayak and in order to make them stable, they tend to made them wider. That slows the boat down (beam to length ratio).
A 'real' kayak with outriggers is stable enough to stand up in in order to sight-fish and the benefit of having a more efficient kayak are obvious. And, if you bought the kayak with outriggers and, say, wanted to cruised down a river stopping to fish from sandbars or shoals, you'd get there quicker and easier in a real kayak than you would in a sluggish sit-on-top.
My suggestion is not to discount the benefits of traditional decked boats without trying them first. A lot of people/companies are pushing sit-on-top boats over real boat for fishing, but their logic isn't solid when it comes to hull science, stability and usability.
A lot of people/companies are pushing sit-on-top boats over real boat for fishing, but their logic isn't solid when it comes to hull science, stability and usability.
And vice versa it certainly seems.
Steve
See:
Native Ultimate
Good fishing technique trumps all.....wish I had it.
When I was shopping last winter I went to Columbus got to look at the Freedom Hawks at MRO and then went downtown to where a new outfitter shop is and to look at the Natives Ultimate 12. I already had a WS Pamlico fishing yak for quite a few years since its introduction. I like the Hawk but then I realized that this thing will not hold up after a lot of use and then it looked like it will succumb to failure issues. Maybe I might be wrong but I just don't want the hassle and the weight is little to much to. I do like to be able to stand up and cast which is nice but then again I can get out and fish. So it came down to functionability of each craft and I had made my mind up on the Ultimate. It been a great ride this year on it with no regrets. It all boils down down on what you are comfortable with.
Inflatable Sponsons on kayak
Several years ago I bought a pair of inflatable sponsons to go on my 17' canoe so I could fly cast while standing. Now I use them on my Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160i to do the same. Using a $20 rechargeable pump I bought at REI I can go from speedy paddling to stand-up fishing in under 10 minutes.
The really cool thing about the inflatables is that I can use them while floating through the rocky shoals of the Hooch near Atlanta and not worry about breaking anything.
Paddling with the sponsons inflated is a little slower, but still faster than a canoe.
Not sure where you can buy them, but I'm sure somebody still makes them.
An artile in Sept 08 "Fly Fish America" featured them in an article about Everglades National Park. The guide put a number (5-6)of anglers and these yaks in a Carolina Skiff, took them to fishing area, and let em loose. Said they were really good. Really liked that you could stand and cast with ease.
The guide uses Heritage Redfish kayaks and not Freedom Hawks. I've fished with him before. He's Charless Wright of Chokoloskee.
BTW, if you get the chance to fish with Chuck, do so. You'll get to fish water you'd never be able to reach via kayak.
Steve
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