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There’s a thread underway on this forum from a person seeking advice on entering the hobby. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last. It’s good we’re here to help prospective kayak anglers with our individual experiences. Rather than hijack that thread, I thought I would start another that touches upon that subject and offers my thoughts for those seeking information and those who respond.
My guess is that most of the experienced kayak anglers who post their advice on Snaggedline were accomplished anglers before they ever sat in a kayak. They likely learned to fish by wading rivers and streams, casting from banks or the surf, or they fished from a motor boat. Maybe they excelled in each of those techniques.
I believe that means that a particular kayak is not going to make anyone a better angler. Fishing skills honed by long experience will. I view my two kayaks as extensions of my waders, allowing me to visit spots I could not reach on foot. They enable me to reach areas unnavigable by larger boats. Or they let me go off-shore, within reason, of course. They provide a comfortable seat for 3 to 4 hour trips in fresh or tidal waters and sufficient space for only the gear I need on those trips. That’s all I ask.
My kayaks are merely tools and imperfect tools at that, both limited by many tradeoffs. There is no ideal boat to meet every conceivable water type and every fishing style.
But there are many boats that will suffice to meet most anglers’ basic needs because: 1, makers produce a lot boats in the middle of the “tradeoff road” designed to meet a majority of kayak anglers’ needs; 2, those anglers will adapt to their kayaks’ individual characteristics in order to do what they love and that’s to go fishing. In other words, with rare exceptions, they’ll make their boats work, minor flaws and all.
Those contemplating the hobby can paralyze themselves by over-analyzing the marketing minutiae for each kayak brand. Also, they can read countless personal testimonials from those with sincere brand loyalties. Those recommendations are fine but they may conflict causing more confusion.
Or, more profitably, someone new to the hobby can research these important inescapable facts about kayaks that ultimately apply to every kayak angler: A comparison of SOT vs. SINK; the relationship of length to speed, tracking, and capacity; the need (or not) for a rudder, and how hull shape dictates primary and secondary stability. When prospective kayak anglers understand those issues, they’ll be in a better position to choose among many good fishing kayaks. Then they can factor in affordability, the kinds of waters they’re most likely to visit and transportability. Once they do all that they can satisfy the basic itch they were trying to scratch and that’s to go fishing.
So, yes, provide your individual brand recommendations but remember that we’re all captive nature’s rules about buoyancy, stability, speed (which is really ease of propulsion in our case), etc. Make sure folks realize that no manner of rigging or post market additions can compensate for the inherent aquatic qualities molded into each hull as it comes out of the factory.
Lastly, and to emphasize a point DonV has recently made on this forum, I often say that I wish I knew about kayak fishing 10 years ago. When I finally saw its possibilities, thanks to the urging of a good friend, I didn’t hesitate to make a purchase. I grew as a kayak angler in that boat adjusting to its nuances, not battling them. Some things I thought were critical prior to purchase turned out to not be so. And some things about it that I didn’t anticipate became important. So, I believe Don is right when he advises “paulg” to get a serviceable boat and simply get out on the water. It won’t be the perfect boat because no matter how hard we research there will always be a new kayak with another attractive feature. Most important is that our kayak provides a safe, comfortable and functional fishing platform. After that, the fun is up to us.
My guess is that most of the experienced kayak anglers who post their advice on Snaggedline were accomplished anglers before they ever sat in a kayak. They likely learned to fish by wading rivers and streams, casting from banks or the surf, or they fished from a motor boat. Maybe they excelled in each of those techniques.
I believe that means that a particular kayak is not going to make anyone a better angler. Fishing skills honed by long experience will. I view my two kayaks as extensions of my waders, allowing me to visit spots I could not reach on foot. They enable me to reach areas unnavigable by larger boats. Or they let me go off-shore, within reason, of course. They provide a comfortable seat for 3 to 4 hour trips in fresh or tidal waters and sufficient space for only the gear I need on those trips. That’s all I ask.
My kayaks are merely tools and imperfect tools at that, both limited by many tradeoffs. There is no ideal boat to meet every conceivable water type and every fishing style.
But there are many boats that will suffice to meet most anglers’ basic needs because: 1, makers produce a lot boats in the middle of the “tradeoff road” designed to meet a majority of kayak anglers’ needs; 2, those anglers will adapt to their kayaks’ individual characteristics in order to do what they love and that’s to go fishing. In other words, with rare exceptions, they’ll make their boats work, minor flaws and all.
Those contemplating the hobby can paralyze themselves by over-analyzing the marketing minutiae for each kayak brand. Also, they can read countless personal testimonials from those with sincere brand loyalties. Those recommendations are fine but they may conflict causing more confusion.
Or, more profitably, someone new to the hobby can research these important inescapable facts about kayaks that ultimately apply to every kayak angler: A comparison of SOT vs. SINK; the relationship of length to speed, tracking, and capacity; the need (or not) for a rudder, and how hull shape dictates primary and secondary stability. When prospective kayak anglers understand those issues, they’ll be in a better position to choose among many good fishing kayaks. Then they can factor in affordability, the kinds of waters they’re most likely to visit and transportability. Once they do all that they can satisfy the basic itch they were trying to scratch and that’s to go fishing.
So, yes, provide your individual brand recommendations but remember that we’re all captive nature’s rules about buoyancy, stability, speed (which is really ease of propulsion in our case), etc. Make sure folks realize that no manner of rigging or post market additions can compensate for the inherent aquatic qualities molded into each hull as it comes out of the factory.
Lastly, and to emphasize a point DonV has recently made on this forum, I often say that I wish I knew about kayak fishing 10 years ago. When I finally saw its possibilities, thanks to the urging of a good friend, I didn’t hesitate to make a purchase. I grew as a kayak angler in that boat adjusting to its nuances, not battling them. Some things I thought were critical prior to purchase turned out to not be so. And some things about it that I didn’t anticipate became important. So, I believe Don is right when he advises “paulg” to get a serviceable boat and simply get out on the water. It won’t be the perfect boat because no matter how hard we research there will always be a new kayak with another attractive feature. Most important is that our kayak provides a safe, comfortable and functional fishing platform. After that, the fun is up to us.
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