whats everyone using as there kayak choice???
and im lookin in to buying one what would you suggest for me (if its different from the one you own)
i will only be doing lake and pond fishing with it if it helps
thanx in advance guys!!! 8)
Hobie Outback - is there another kind?
I mostly use a canoe these days for my freshwater fishing. However, I do have and use an Old Town Loon 138 kayak to fish out of once in a while. I also have used a number of sit-on-tops- Ocean Kayaks, Wilderness Systems and Heritage. I prefer the sit inside as I can extend my fishing season from the boat as the weather and water get colder. There are plenty of advantages to a sit inside. One disadvantage is access to gear and limited space for gear storage. That’s why I use a canoe.
If I were buying a kayak for fishing I’d be looking at a rec kayak with a large cockpit. Easy entry and exit, easier access to gear. Something along the lines of the Loon or Perceptions Acadia, Heritage Featherlights, Necky Manta.
Seeing as you are mostly fishing lakes and ponds have you considered a solo canoe? They are lighter to carry than a kayak and will get you into some backwater ponds you have to hike into. They can be used with a kayak paddle and and will give you easy access to your gear and you won’t be limited to what you can bring.
Wenonah, Bell and Old Town all make solo canoes that cost about the same as a rec kayak. Wenonah, Bell and Hornbeck all make super light kevlar solos that cost a bit more, but are a dream to paddle.
Good luck in your search.
Me - Ocean Kayak Drifter
My wife - Perception Swing
Just got a Native Watercraft Ultimate - sort of across between a kayak and canoe. Very stable and very comfortable seat. Bought it for small lakes and ponds.
TxEngr
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120
Wilderness Systems Pungo Duralite 120
jed
WS T-120 and T140.
There are a LOT of nice kayaks out there. Of course, test them before buying if you have that chance.
I have a Ocean Kayak Prowler 15. I cover a lot of distance when I’m fishing so the longer kayak suites my style better (plus I’m a big guy). For lakes and ponds, I would go with a smaller kayak, something in the 12 foot range.
IMHO, SOT’s are much better suited to fishing. In cold weather, just put on a pair of waders. SOT’s allow much easier access to your stuff and are much easier to mount and dismount for wading.
Chris:
I also have a Loon 138. It is a bit of a dog to paddle but this is of relatively little concern if you are going to do more fishing than paddling. It does have a relatively large cockpit. That both gives you a little more space to work in and is essential if you are over 6’ and your knees don’t bend backwards. I concur with “kayak angler” that a solo canoe has some real advantages as a fishing platform and use mine a lot more than the kayak - but then a kayak is a lot better paddling platform (particularly in the wind). There are a lot of good kayaks out there and it may be hard to make a wrong decision.
David
Mark me down as another big Hobie Outback fan. Without a doubt, it is the best personal flishing craft I’ve ever used, especially for the type of fishing you’ll be doing. If you get a chance, try out a couple of the models that have been recommended first, but don’t buy anything until you fish from a Hobie Outback.
Jim Smith
I use a 9’6" Caspia made by Perception
Bill
Hobie Outback s where I’ve done the vast majority of my kayak fishing (99% or more).
9’ Wilderness Systems Victory Bravo. Reasonably fast, stable and tracks wonderfully. My next kayak will be a sea kayak.
Semper Fly!
I have an old 12’ Perception Aqua Terra.
They haven’t been made for quite a while but the hull design is similar to todays Carolina
Low, fairly sleek and fast. It’s a fun 'yak to use.
My kayak is a little heavier than others I’ve tried, but the more solid feel makes me feel more secure
I use my kayak primarily in salt water where it will handle high seas or travel longer distances, prefering to use my canoe when fishing fresh water
In the canoe I can kick back and relax or stand to fish. In the kayak you’re sitting…only
I fish from a 9’ otter (Old town) that has a large cockpit and it small enough to hang in the back wall of the garage. For the size of the kayak is a bit heavy but I can still manage it. I can put and take from the top of the subaru by my self and I’m not the tallest nor the strongest one! 
I chose small size and durability over lightness and capacity. Just my 2 cents
Malevo
I have three kayaks an old town otter, an old town loon 120 and a perception sundance 120. I ususlly fish from the sundance since it has a huge cockpit which allows easy entry and exit. I usually paddle from hole to hole and then get out and wade fish. The otter is good for small streams since it is the most manuverable. The loon 120 is good for larger lakes as it has a small cockpit and a spray skirt.
both myself and wsife have Old Town Dirigo 10’6" and then suit us well for fishing from .
Tom
Flyandtie,
Recommend you consider the advice of all the respondents here (who have each forgotten more about kayaking than I know). But before actually buying a kayak, consider this:
Ask around at your nearest canoe/kayak shops to see if any of those shops have a “Demo Day”. These events are invaluable to potential buyers. The shop (or company reps) bring out their various kayak models to a local lake or river, and let people paddle the boats around for a while. This gives you an opportunity to experience some “butt in boat” time, which helps you weed out kayaks that don’t fit you or don’t serve your particular needs (as you envision those needs).
Perhaps an even better idea is to start hanging out in your local canoe/kayak shop. Just strike up conversations with people who come in. Experienced self-propelled boaters are typically a friendly bunch. Chances are good you will meet somebody (maybe a number of somebodys) who will be agreeable to including you on an upcoming trip, and letting you borrow one of their kayaks so that you can paddle it on a trip with them. This would let you test-paddle a kayak under actual trip conditions.
Don’t shy away from buying a used kayak, if a reasonable-sounding offer comes your way. I own three canoes, each pre-owned. Like with canoes, there is a highly active market for selling and buying used kayaks. New is good. Used-but-in-good-shape is good, too.
Joe
“Better small than not at all.”
Hobie outback owner here as well…If I HAD…To use/Buy another it’d be the Native waters Ultimate…For it’s stability and comfy seating…want to get a couple for my kids someday…and another Outback for the wife too…
Also have a Hobie Floatcat 75 Poontoon …and if your not looking to do an awful lot of cruiseing around or long runs to get to where you want to fish…They are well worth a look at as well…as they place you higher off the water for sight fishing…These are not the blowup barbies you may be thinking of…but rather the poontoons are molded of the same material they make their Kayak’s out of…