New to the site/Advice request

[Choupique_Steve]

Good day to everyone!
I've been lurking around the board for a little bit and thought I'd make a post to say "hi" and run some questions past y'all. It seems like y'all have a really nice community here.
I greatly enjoy fishing, and it is by far my favorite manner in which to spend time. My fishing has been really confined lately due to not having a boat of any sort (which seems to be the key to accessing much of the fishing around here), and I haven't had a whole lot of success in finding a whole lot of places to fish from the shore in the Calvert County area that don't involve crammed fishing on a pier or the Base Lake at Andrews before/after work (though I've pulled some nice bass from there). Kayak fishing seems a pretty reasonable alternative, though my kayak fishing has been limited to the bayous and swamps of Louisiana, and I'm sure I have a lot to learn about fishing in Maryland. I've looked through a lot of reviews and a fair amount of input offered to fellow anglers here, and have found information of great value. I'm currently deployed to a lovely desert locale, and will be for the remainder of the summer and fall, but will be looking into getting a yak when I return and pick back up with the fishing in the spring.
That being said, I have a few questions for y'all that I would greatly appreciate some input on:
I'd like to be able to fish in the bay on one extreme and perhaps even be able to fish some Upper Potomac waters for smallmouth. Is that fairly reasonable to be able to do in the same yak, or do many have separate boats for those environments.
Also, how much of a factor does length play into such matters as stability and maneuverability? Is there a vast difference in a 10' and 12' yak?
From the reviews I've read online, and from what I've read from some of the members here, it sounds like the Pescador isn't a bad boat for something in the $500 price range or so. Does anyone have any strong feelings for or against this yak and would it potentially work for the fishing I mentioned before?
I look forward to your replies and when I return, I hope to be able to get some good reports up for everyone and maybe run into y'all on the water.

Tight lines!

Steve

[FishAholic929]

A lot goes into your selection of a kayak. First and foremost being budget. Once you've determined a budget get out and demo as much as you can. My opinion, if you want to fish the bay I would highly suggest a SOT instead of a SINK. You mentioned $500 so I'm gonna point you towards this article it should help out a lot. Don't rule out used yaks on CL or the forums either. http://www.yakangler.com/how-to-paddling/item/1215-5-fishing-kayaks-under-$500

[On the fly]

Welcome! A 12' SOT would be a better choice, especially for the bay. Start with the article listed above and come back with any questions.

Be safe!

[ronaultmtd]

Cheap sot's are out there- A lot of the big Box stores have them running around $400 brand new- they are bright, shiny and look a lot like the high quality name brand kayaks we use- Kinda like a brand new shiny Yugo vs. a Rolls Royce...my advice is look on Craig's List and kayak forums for a good used kayak from a member upgrading from a paddle yak to a Hobie...

[Snakehead Hunter]

Each person reference is different. So, you really need to demo all the yak that you can get. I think you need a yak that is around 12', so you can turn quickly in rapid water but still fast enough to fish the bay. There is a Pompano from West marine that is on sale for $400 (2007 Tarpon)

If you're on a tight budget then do what I do. Demo all the yak you can, and know which one you want. Look on Craigslist and be patience, especially summer is about to end and people are ready to get rid of their yak. There should be some decent deal in the coming months.

Khanh

PS: Snaggedlined members are very nice and some of them wouldn't mind let them try out their yak if you ask. You are certainly welcome to try out my Trident 13 if you're in Woodbridge area.

[DanMarino]

I agree that a used sit on top kayak is the way to go. You really can't go wrong with any sit on top made by Wilderness Systems, Native Watercraft, or Jackson Kayaks. I have 11 foot long kayaks and use them on the Upper Potomac for smallmouth bass, my local reservoirs, and in the Tidal Potomac creeks going after largemouths and snakeheads. I'm not experienced at fishing out in the bay, but I think you would want something that is 12-14 feet long.

I'm keeping my eye out for a used Hobie Revolution 11 or the small sized Native Mariner. Both of those have pedal powered propulsion systems.

[Mark]

Steve,

Thank you for your service to our country as a member of the Air Force and welcome to Snaggedline.

I only started kayak fishing this summer and at first I was leery of an SOT. I’m glad I have one now because I feel safe in it when the waters get choppy in the Bay. Of course, my seat gets wet sometimes but that’s a small price to pay for the added floatation properties of an SOT.

As a general rule of thumb longer boats carry more weight, run straighter and are faster than shorter boats. Give yourself a good margin in the weight capacity ratings of the boat. Consider the weight of the equipment you will carry. You will probably take more “stuff” than you initially think.

You also have to make a decision concerning the actual weight of the kayak itself. How much can you comfortably lift to transport it? The weight of the boat was a big factor in my purchase decision.

I believe one boat will service the two types of water you mentioned. However, I’ve never fished the upper Potomac in a kayak but I have been to many of the areas on that river and Susquehanna suitable for wading. I’ve also done float trips with guides on those rivers in rubber rafts and jet propelled Jon boats. Rocks and shallow water are unavoidable so you are definitely going to get some scratches and dings in your hull on river trips. You will also hit things in the Bay but my guess is that you’ll meet more immovable objects in the river. However the great thing about a kayak is that you can cover so much more river water in a day than you can on foot. You’ll enjoy that if you can tolerate the scratches to your kayak that come with it.

If you’ve done well fishing in Louisiana you’ll do well in the Bay or the Potomac. Fish everywhere chase lures and they’re no exception here. Perhaps you can give us some hints about the redfish that are becoming more prevalent in the Bay.

Again, welcome to Snaggedline.

[HOUSE]

Steve, while I'm not from your area, I might have some helpful insight to your selection based out of my experience down here in Ohio. I fish small tributaries mostly (10-20ft wide), big lakes, and also the Ohio River in the winter in some pretty fast moving current. I was looking for a kayak with maneuverability and storage and I have owned/fished out of a few different kayaks in that $500 price range: My last two were the 12ft Ascend FS12 and the 10ft Wilderness Systems Tarpon 100 for the last 2 years. The shorter Tarpon 100 has been my favorite for fishing in fast moving water since it turns on a dime, has a center storage hatch, comfortable chair, and more...but it doesn't track as well as the 12footers...so I have more issues when I fish on large lakes or when I want to troll. I prefer the Tarpon in the smaller waters and out on the Ohio River where I mostly vertical jig lures. My friend has a 12ft Malibu Stealth which has ridiculous amounts of storage and excels in lakes and calm water, but it is heavy and slow. It is an amazing kayak for lake fishing but he's not nearly as mobile on the river and small streams.

I bought my Ascend from Bass Pro during one of their 15% off promotional events and my Tarpon 100 from a local vendor for about $550. I've also seen the Tarpon for sale online through Hook1 for about that same price shipped. I looked heavily at the Jackson Coosa but went with the Tarpon due to it's shorter length and lighter weight.

I've been in a few sit-in kayaks before like the Ascend FS10 and 12, but I wasn't a fan. They had very comfortable chairs and a lower center of gravity, but I hated having to sponge out the sloppy water that slowly accumulated in the hull.

Hope that out of state perspective helped some, happy shopping

[mweber02]

If you need a little assistance staying patient looking or a kayak I would highly recommend utilizing google maps to find small ponds to fish from foot. With a little research and sometimes a friendly knock on someone's door you can get some really nice fish that haven't been pressured. My biggest LM have been caught out of private farm ponds that no one thinks to fish. Use a combination of the street map and the satellite view. If they have been around long enough, they will stand out much easier as blue areas on the street map. Sometimes they are difficult to see on the satellite views.

[Choupique_Steve]

Y'all have given me plenty to think about, and I appreciate the advice! Everyone's perspective and info has given me a great place to start. I have a couple of months before I'll be back home, so it'll give me some time to process everything. I'll certainly be around!

Thanks,

Steve