Helpful Stuff

We get a lot of questions about kayaks and kayak fishing.  We've summarized the most frequented topics here-

What kind of kayak should I buy?   This is a loaded question and you won't find your answer on the message boards.
Bottom line is it's a personal preference decision and you need to go out and get acquainted with some kayaks.  So many factors to consider, such as your budget, where you will be fishing and how you will be fishing.  Are you fishing surf/rough conditions, marsh, small lakes, all of the above?  Will you flyfish?  Is standing a "must".  Are you paddling long distances or short?  Will you take long distance paddle-only trips?  Are you a flyfisherman?  Are you light or heavy build?  Do you only river or float fish?  All of these factors play into the right kayak for you.  The best thing you can do is get in kayaks and go paddling and/or fishing before your first purchase. 

Who rents kayaks?  Pack and Paddle, Lafayette, LA.

Where can I go to test some kayaks?  Join a club, such as LKFC.  There are many members who either have spare kayaks or may loan you one for a day.  Find your local stores and clubs and ask about demo days.  Demo's allow you to test many kayaks, ask questions and learn about all the different brands and varieties.  Bring your fishing rod and see what its like to cast out of them. If you can, take a guided trip or a 1 on 1 kayak fishing instructional course.  Join a club and network with club members to fish out of their kayaks.  Ask your retailers if you can arrange for a 1 on 1 demo with some kayaks.  Some retails can accomodate.  The more you try the better you will get acquainted with them and closer you'll get to a decision. 

Do I want Sit Inside or Sit Ontop? Right now your basic yaks are Sit-on-top (SOT) or Sit-Inside (SINK).   I'm going to leave out SINK for this discussion as I am uneducated on this topic
1) SOT- Are usually self bailing by their  little holes through the hull that allow water to pass through.  "Why?" you ask.  And "won't I get wet?"  We'll you're going to get wet in a kayak.  The holes, or scuppers, allow water to flow in and out of the yak.  You want this in the event water comes in, it can easily drain. They sell scupper plugs too if you choose to close them.
2) Hybrid-  This is a cross between a canoe and a kayak.  These have tunnel hulls which make them VERY stable.  If you like to stand and/or flyfish, this could be your boat.  These have no scuppers so you have to remove water yourself, which is where a car sponge or hand pump comes in handy.
3) Peddle Kayaks-  The foot powered boats out there are excellent choices.  You can cover a lot of water to get to working birds.  Depends on your leg strenth vs upper body.  Most who own them will tell you they go much further with much less effort.  Drifting is much more efficient as you free up your arms to fish.  
4) SINK- Sorry, can't really discuss this kayak intelligently other than we have member who fish out of them and like them.

What is a good size kayak to purchase?  10-14' in length are the most common sizes you will see.  Your slowest boat will be the shortest boat therefore the 10' will paddle slower than the 14'.  Generally longer=faster and heavier.  The shorter the boat the easier it is to maneuver and turn around.  So a 10' would be ideal for river floating or heavily wooded spaces because it's easier to handle and make adjustments.  The 10' is also ideal for a childs first yak.  For fishing all areas such as lakes, bays and marshes, your best bet is proving to be a 12 or 14'.  Most folks go with the 12' as they handle well, gets you going where you need to go fast enough and offer sufficient storage. Most 14's will give much more storage and speed and they are ideal for larger, heavier individuals.  All of them transport easily on vehicles with the 14' being harder to lift.  The 10 and 12' are going to be lighter and easier to handle by yourself.  Inflatables and collapsible kayaks generally aren't recommended for fishing in this area with shallow oyster beds and other jagged things to get caught on.

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