So I'm in my mid-30's now and with a 2 year old son and another on the way, with working an hour from home, my time for recreation and exercise are severly limited. I'm thinking about getting a sit-on-top kayak to fish from and use in backwater areas to duck hunt and hopefully get some exercise in the process. I have a 14' poly canoe that I have seldem used since I bought it. It's far too difficult to paddle solo for any distance and is heavy and awkward to transport. My plans are to sell it or trade it for a kayak.

So far I've researched a few 12' sit-ons and for the money I am considering the following: Ascend FS12T from Basspro, Field and Stream Eagle Talon from Dicks, Heritage Angler 12 from Academey and the Emotion Mojo from Academy. I'd like something that is stable but doesn't paddle like a barge. Ideally I would be able to find a used kayak that is already outfitted, but for now Craigslist isn't turning up much in my $600 budget.

Anyone have any advice for a beginner just getting started?

So what is the legal possession limit and length of kayaks?

If I was to do it again, I'd save my pennies and get a used old town predator sit on top. An awesome platform to fish and hunt from. I bought a perception sit in, and it's great, but not exactly what I need. Luckily my brother has a predator that I "borrowed" indefinitely.

I'm thinking along the same lines, except I will probably ante up for a pedal model, like the Hobie Mirage (more $) as you can move the boat and keep your hands free.

You can get small fishing pontoons fairly cheap, and some have decent features. Some could even accept a small trolling motor, if desired. Fly fisherman seem to do pretty well with inflatables, but if you fish with lures & treble hooks, sooner or later a fish shakes its head at the boat, and punctures the boat with the hooks. I knew of one guy who had his boat sunk by a striped bass

You don't say where you are, geographically. Nor do you mention exactly where you'll be using it - whitewater, slow moving water, small lakes, big lakes, ocean... So who knows if you'll be best served by a 12' boat. Though if the answer is "all of the above", then a 12' boat wouldn't be too bad.

I will say that all those brands are second tier when it comes to popularity amongst kayak anglers, with the possible exception of the Heritage.

No way you can find a used Jackson/Ocean Kayak/Wilderness Systems/Native/Hobie? Have you tried looking at kayak fishing forums based out of your area? I know there are forums for the Northwest/NorCal/SoCal/Texas/Florida area. And that's just off the top of my head.

Scott

I'd avoid sitting-on-top if stability any sort of issue. Especially if white-water is a potential.

I understand they are ill suited for trolling for great whites.

Sit on tops are plenty stable. I can stand to cast - or pee - in my Hobie Pro Angler 14" as well as troll hands free.



The Pro Angler may be beyond your weight limit (120 pounds empty) and/or budget ($3,000) but there are plenty of paddle kayaks designed for fishing in your price range.

Kayak Angler online magazine LINK has a kayak buyer's guide every spring, and you can view that issue at the link.

Lifetime Products are made right here in Utah and they offer a dozen or so fishing kayaks, and some are on sale right now - with free shipping! LINK TWO

Finally, the suggestion of a pontoon is equally good if you fish smaller waters.

http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/community/

My wife has this in a 10' version, I'm debating the 12 footer

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/kayaks/tarpon/tarpon-120

Locally around $700. They have basically the same Kayak at
Academy for $529, but I cannot find it on their website. Probably going to be discontinued, but still in local stores.

The Academy kayak is made from the same mold as the older version of the Wilderness Kayak, but with a cheaper seat and a few other minor differences. I'm leaning hard toward the one at Academy. The better seat isn't worth $170 to me.

If you can live with a 10' version the Wilderness sells for about $600.

It would be good if you could wait a little while and save some more money. A paddle kayak is nice but a peddle kayak is awesome. Hobies are great especially if you float shallow rivers cause you can fold the fins on the bottom flat up against the hull. Native peddle drives have a prop, so in shallow water you have to pull it up by hand but it has reverse, just peddle backwards hobies do not. If you can't wait one of the ones you mentioned would be fine but if you get hooked on fishing and hunting this way you will end up selling it and getting a top shelf boat.

I love hunting out of a kayak, its easy to hide one and you can get where the ducks want to be.

On busy waterways a lot of guys report they catch more fish out of a yak, than a normal fishing boat, as fish have learned to avoid such boats.

Peddle, petal, pedal. Not the same.

Here is the one I want. I have a 10' Dirigio but I want the fishing 12'. kwg

http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/kayaks/dirigo_angler_family/

For your price range, you could always put outrigger pontoon stabilizers on your canoe.

I have a 20 ft Grumman and with those on, it's very easy to paddle alone. And I can stand in it with no problems.

Later as money allows, you can add a trolling motor and such.

Just a suggestion. Sorry I have no useful info on kayaks

Set in Kayaks catch less wind and make it easier to paddle across open water than a canoe. A longer kayak is easier to row across wind swept lakes and open water because it keeps you going straighter and requires fewer directional correction inputs. But you want one small enough to get back into the hidden coves and tight spaces. I'm not a fan of set on top kayaks. But, that's just me. kwg

I have the Eagle Talon from Dicks. Love fishing out of it, but it needs a better seat, so add that to the cost. It's a well thought out yak and gives me all the stability I need, but I don't stand up to cast. It ghosts over weeds and into back waters and tracks well. I carry a little telescoping paddle as a backup, but it also allows me to one hand paddle to make little corrections in my position when I reach an area I'm going to fish. It's light enough I can slip it up into my pickup bed and tie it down in a minute or two. A little paddling has it moving well against a wind. Since it's a sit on top you can change positions easily. One of my favorite is to sit sideways with my feet in the water on hot days, letting the wind push me along. Sit in yaks are great for stability and waves, but a poor compromise for fishing.

Pedal then, not peddle. I don't pay attention and I never proof read. Thanks, a guy can never feel dumb enuff. grin

Thanks for the input guys. Keeping the canoe is really not an option. It's heavy as hell (90#) and sucks to paddle solo other than to steer it with the current. Pedeal yaks aren't in the budget. If I spend $3,000 on a boat it's going to be powered by gasoline

Dan, thanks for the info on the Eagle Talon. I'm wondering if the Ascend FS12T may be a better option? It already has a good seat but the specs show it's pretty heavy and I've heard you can't put a milk crate behind the seat. So many boats to chose from in that size and price range. I would love to find a nice used Malibu, Native, Wilderness, etc with some add-ons in my price range but that may not be feasible.

i use an ocean kayak frenzy, to paddle shark baits out through the surf.

Moving this back up....sold my canoe so now I'm really in the market. Is there a best time of year to buy a used kayak? I've searched craigslist but can't find much in the way of sit-on kayaks for under $500. I did find one of the F&S Eagle Talon 12 with paddle, anchor, upgraded seat and small net that the guy said he'd take $450. Seems like a fair deal but I don't know what $450 will buy in a used yak.

A little less than a year ago I rented a Perception Tribe 9.5 (sit on top) for a weekend. When I returned it, I bought it. Price was extra good because the rental season was over, they'd have to store it until the following spring.
Earlier, I'd rented a recreational sit-inside, and I'd done some whitewater kayaking years ago.

I've been flyfishing on it perhaps 30 days since then, still love it.
50 pounds, fits on the car (foam blocks, ropes).
Haven't had a moment's impression that I might flip.
I've fought a few nasty winds, bow splash drenching me with each wave. That ain't fun, but I got back to home base each time.

I tied a pair of tennis balls on either side at the bow so I can lay my rod down without it sliding off. I glued on small, dense foam, pieces, cupped, at thigh distance, to cradle my paddle while I'm fishing. I made a retractable-dog-leash/tow chain drag anchor. And I glued on a ripple-foam patch to hold my used flies.
I can't think of anything else I need to customize.
(Carabiners and dog clips are my friends.)

$500 total; if that.
Me happy.

Check this guys videos out, he catches a bunch of king salmon and halibut from his up here. He uses a Hobie Outback Mirage Drive kayak. Pretty cool vids. The boat is way above your price range but you might pick up some ideas about setting them up.

https://www.youtube.com/user/guidesak

Old town fishing kayaks are stable and heavy (that's a point to consider in transporting roof top or to/from put in). I had the predator double with a single seat for bay and lake fishing. Wide kayak, tracked well, but heavy.

Settled on the Dick's brand old town single fishing kayak. It has places to install rod holders on both sides, a single anchor pulley system you need to rig front and back (it does make a difference to anchor bow or stern on based on the wind and tide when your out. It doesn't track as well as some based on the fixed seat and weight balance in the hull.



The ocean kayaks are great, expensive.

You really need to sit in a couple. Both the kayak and sit on top. The sit on top is too high off the water for my preference.

Go to your local academy and look at these

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/old...55?N=670787849&Ntt=kayak&Ntk=All

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/perception-sport-pescador-12-sit-on-kayak/pid-981956?color=Red%2fYellow&N=670787849&Ntt=kayak&Ntk=All

(for some reason I can't get the link to work on the sit in model, but it is on Academy's website)

The sit on top is made from the same mold as this.

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/kayaks/tarpon/tarpon-120

The seat and a few minor details are different.

I really like the sit on top better. They are amazingly stable in rougher water.

Since your last post I ended up buying the Wilderness Tarpon 120 which is very close to the Pescador which sells new for $529. I considered the Old Town for $499, but after actually using sit in vs sit on I really like sit on better.

I think I may get the F&S Eagle Talon 12 used from a guy on craigslist. It's only been used 4 times according to him and he's throwing in a paddle, 10# anchor and he's upgraded the seat. $450 is what I can get it for. I don't think I will find anything significantly cheaper. Thanks for all the input and I'll post some pics up after I get it.

Get that Eagle Talon. I don't have one, but when I saw those at Dick's a while back i decided it was a pretty complete and well-thought-out fishing package for the price (which was a lot more than $450, right?). Maybe not for paddling out to the oil rigs, but for what you're talking about doing - about perfect. Don't discount the handy size and weight, either. You're more likely to use it if it's not a pain in the butt to load/unload. Just buy it and go fishin, man. If the kayak thing suits you, you may end up upgrading soon. Or you may just use that one til you wear it out.

I predict you'll love it. One of the major benefits of kayak angling is the silence; you can literally bump fish before they know you're there. Glide up to cover, drop a lure straight in and...THUMP!

The first surplus item in that list is the 10# anchor. Unless you are fishing white water, that's quite excessive. They make a little 1.5# folding anchor that's just about perfect for kayaks in still to slow water. Look up what an anchor trolley is and add one. It allows you to position the anchor tie-point anywhere from bow to stern, and that in turn allows you to hold the kayak in almost pointed in almost any direction.

Yeah the 10# anchor is excessive so I'll probably look into putting some heavy chain in a bike tube. That particular kayak sells for $550 then add tax plus a paddle and upgraded seat and it seems like a fair deal.

I love to fish inshore and can't wait to try and hook into a nice drum or trout. I'll probably use it duck hunting some too. At least if I decide it's not for me I should be able to get most of my money back out of it.

I was in your predicament only 2 months ago......Bought a 10'-4" sit-in kayak from Dick's. My pal, who is a rafting guide and drift-boat fishing guide told me that it wasn't stable enough, and that what I wanted was an inflatable kayak. I tried one and it was a pain in the butt to paddle straight. Next I considered a pontoon boat. A good quality one is made by Buck's bags out of Boise, Idaho. Capable of class 3 rapids, and cost $900.00 complete with oars.
I answered an add in the local Craigslist for the exact model that I was looking for (the Southfork model) and found one advertised for $450.00.It had been used a total of 2 times in lakes, and came with a BUNCH of extras. The next day I answered another add for the same boat, but a little more used, for $200.00! I bought both of them, and now my wife and I each have a pontoon boat.
These are really user-friendly as a fishing craft, and when you row them like a drift-boat, they go straight. We intend to use them to float the lower Clackamas River, which has a few barely class 1 rapids.

Paddleswap.com is a geographically based classifieds search engine that's helped me find a few canoes and kayaks cheap. Deals can pop up anytime, but I've always found the best deals in fall and winter

It really depends on what makes you comfortable. I like SOT vs. Sit in. It just give me more room. Make sure there are skupper holes. this allows the water to escape from the boat as you paddle. I have fished bays, rivers, lakes and the gulf.

I have owned half a dozen kayaks over the last 6-7 swapping and trading owning both the SoT and the SinK. I find the SinK kayaks generally narrower to length and more efficient to paddly. The SoT are easier to manage fishing equipment from.

I enjoy float tripping and camping so have had 14' craft for gear. Right now I have one sit inside, two solo canoe and a tandem canoe.

If you have an Academy neat the Pescador is from the old Wilderness Systems Redfish molds and the Heritage is a good craft with both in your price range.

Like JMR40, I have had a Tarpon 120 for 3-4 years now. I originally wanted the 10' but they didn't have it in stock and I am impatient.

I have fished some rivers, but mostly small lakes (300-500 acres). I put a fish finder, rod holders, etc on it. Been using a drift sock lately and what a game changer.

I think the hardest part for me at first was trying to cast sitting down with your legs out. I also use much shorter rods now in the kayak, I find it easier to land fish.

Don't skimp on a paddle either. They can get pricey, but IMO worth it if you are going out all day or any kind of distance.

Heritage used to call the Angler a Redfish. I had one for a few years. Good fishing platform on flat water. Decent in Class I. In Class II, which they rated it for, it would put you in the water. Great initial stability; zero secondary stability. If your gonna fish flat water it's a real good choice. If you're gonna fish moving water you might want to look at the Native Watercraft boats.

We'll I picked up the used Field and Stream Eagle Talon 12 today. It needs handles on the bow and stern but otherwise it's in great shape and has an upgraded seat which was the main complaint I'd seen and read. $450 with the seat, Carlisle day tripper paddle, anchor and folding net seemed like a fair deal.



Mini Me couldn't wait to "help"

The maiden voyage wasn't a success in that I caught a bunch of fish (none to be exact) but I stayed upright and dry so that's a plus. I took it out Saturday for a late evening off the Pamlico River to target some trout/drum/flounder. The wind was blowing about 10-15 and had a slight chop, even in the creeks. Hindsight but I should have went to a more protected creek for my maiden voyage. It's a lot of work trying to keep the yak turned right with the wind and fish at the same time. I totally see now why guys love the Hobie's and other propel drive boats...much easier to fish. It's definetly going to take some practice but once I get it down I think it's going to be fun.

For anyone interested in the Eagle Talon kayak, the one real complaint I have so far since mine already has the upgraded seat, is that the rod holder is too far forward. I'm going to have to do something about that in the future. Other than that it seems to be fairly stable, tracks pretty well and paddles easily. It seems to be a good beginner yak.

the best thing about kayaks, if your hungry, you can always run over a kayaker and circle back around and pick up the granola bars as they float to the surface......

Or, you might circle back and get a belly full of 220 hard cast...