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Ok I'll be the heretic and advise against a yak in favor of a shoreline moored aluminum boat. You say, "I'm more interested in the fishing and not so much the traditional kayak aspect" so get a small motorized boat instead (even a trolling motor counts). Lots of guys leave 12'-14' aluminum at the local reservoir and just bring the batteries and trolling motor in the trunk. You have to move the boat twice a year, out in Dec, back in March/April. Sport a friend with a pickup a case of beer for helping you move 2x / yr, and make sure to put him on some nice bass during those glorious days of early June.
I know you guys love your yaks, and that is cool. I did the canoe route instead, both paddle and motorized, solo and tandem. Over the years I owned a Wenonah Solo Plus (royalex), Wenonah Bluegill (kevlar) x2 one for liberty and one upper Potomac/ wssc. Esquif Heron (royalex camo, three seats - sweet!!), Wenonah 17' Encounter Kevlar (a seaworthy - 19" bow - 17' canoe that only weighs 48lbs), Wenonah 14'6 Vagabond (for my learning son, but I used it on RG and Sleepy Creek - too much oilcanning in floor, too small). I am handy with a paddle.
After all that, what do I fish the most ... my 12' tin boat. It is much more efficient to fish, for example, retrieving snags reeling in line while motoring to snag - even in high wind, trolling covering lots water effortlessly, not overheating paddling on during hot weather, more seaworthy (12-deep v), faster launch/retrieve from trailer than car-topping, hands free motoring allows rigging rods running between spots, comfy swivel, padded seat, huge storage, completely dry (deep v), 120lb boat and 100 lb trailer easily maneuvered into garage, cheap too, $750 boat like new Craigslist, $900 brand new trailer including tax,tags, title. I got a 2006 Yammy 2-stroke 8hp of Craigs for $900 a few months ago, that should move it close to 20mph. That is a lot of bang per buck.
Who doesn't love a pre-dawn paddle for some Summer topwater Largemouth? Canoeguy does for sure. but day in, day out, the small motorized boat wins out if catching fish is actually your top priority.
I know you guys love your yaks, and that is cool. I did the canoe route instead, both paddle and motorized, solo and tandem. Over the years I owned a Wenonah Solo Plus (royalex), Wenonah Bluegill (kevlar) x2 one for liberty and one upper Potomac/ wssc. Esquif Heron (royalex camo, three seats - sweet!!), Wenonah 17' Encounter Kevlar (a seaworthy - 19" bow - 17' canoe that only weighs 48lbs), Wenonah 14'6 Vagabond (for my learning son, but I used it on RG and Sleepy Creek - too much oilcanning in floor, too small). I am handy with a paddle.
After all that, what do I fish the most ... my 12' tin boat. It is much more efficient to fish, for example, retrieving snags reeling in line while motoring to snag - even in high wind, trolling covering lots water effortlessly, not overheating paddling on during hot weather, more seaworthy (12-deep v), faster launch/retrieve from trailer than car-topping, hands free motoring allows rigging rods running between spots, comfy swivel, padded seat, huge storage, completely dry (deep v), 120lb boat and 100 lb trailer easily maneuvered into garage, cheap too, $750 boat like new Craigslist, $900 brand new trailer including tax,tags, title. I got a 2006 Yammy 2-stroke 8hp of Craigs for $900 a few months ago, that should move it close to 20mph. That is a lot of bang per buck.
Who doesn't love a pre-dawn paddle for some Summer topwater Largemouth? Canoeguy does for sure. but day in, day out, the small motorized boat wins out if catching fish is actually your top priority.
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