[Blaze]

Which fishing kayak is the best one for me?

Are you confused about which kayak to buy? All of us have gone through this initial confusion.

There are basically 2 types of kayaks. They are Sit On Tops (SOT) and Sit In Kayaks (SIK). Each type has models that fish well and ones that don't. Before we discuss the merits and differences of each type let's first discuss kayaks for fishing in general. What makes a kayak a good fishing kayak? There are many factors to consider.


The first factor to consider is YOU. What is your height, weight, leg length, and general condition? If you're a big man, there are certain kayaks that you need to look at. If you're a small person getting a kayak that's big and has a 600-pound capacity probably isn't your best choice. Some kayaks suit different body types better than others. All these factors are important.
What vehicle are you going to use to transport your kayak? If you're using the bed of a pickup truck a heavier kayak isn't a problem. If you have a large SUV you have to be conscious of the weight. How will you load and unload your kayak? Can you load in a heavy wind?
Where do you plan on using the kayak? Is it strictly going to be used in fresh water, on lakes, ponds, or large impoundments? Do you plan on using it in saltwater? Do you plan on fishing in the ocean and launching through the surf?
How are you planning on getting the kayak to the water? Can you simply drive it to the water or do you plan on going into areas where you can't use your vehicle to get your kayak to the water? Will you need a kayak cart?
What fishing methods do you like to use? Do you use artificial baits, real bait, or both? Do you use a variety of methods? If you're going to use bait, do you want to use live bait or dead bait? Do you fly fish? The type of gear and the way you fish are going to determine which kayaks are going to better suit your needs.
What type of fisherman are you? Are you strictly a catch and release fisherman, do you like to take the occasional meal home or are you regularly taking fish home?

Now let’s discuss the SOT and SIK kayaks. We'll simply discuss both types and furnish some information so you can decide on which is the better choice for you.

Sit In Kayaks (SIK): These are the traditional type of kayaks. They are similar to canoes in that you sit in the kayak. They offer more initial protection from the elements however they are more exposed in rougher conditions and can fill with water. In bad conditions they're usually used with a skirt. A skirt is a covering that goes around you and the opening in the kayak that prevents water from entering. When a skirt is used you don't have access to the items that are in the kayak.

Sit On Top (SOT): These are the new type of kayak. They're basically modified surfboards and you sit on them rather than inside. They have what are known as scupper holes, which allow water to drain from the kayak compartment. So when water washes over the kayak it briefly floods the cockpit and then drains.

Both types of kayaks allow you to fish and obviously within each type there are models that do this better than others. Many kayaks today are made of plastic. Let's discuss important fishermen needs and how each type of kayak addresses them.

Most people who decide to get a kayak for fishing have never or rarely been in a kayak. They are fishermen that recognized that a kayak would expand their fishing range. This article is based upon this premise and is discussed from this perspective.

Stability: Fishermen do things in a kayak that most people don't do. They fish. Having a stable platform is very important, especially to the person who is new to the sport and kayaks. There are two types of stability initial and secondary.

Initial stability is the side-to-side wobble that you feel when you sit in a kayak.
Secondary stability is when the kayak is nearing its point of flipping and how much forgiveness it has before you flip.


Many recreational kayaks that are used for fishing have great initial stability but have a very abrupt secondary. When they reach their secondary limit you're literally dumped. Conversely there are kayaks that wobble like mad but are very forgiving when they come to the dump point. Since you sit on or near the floor of a SIK they tend to be more stable. In SOTs you sit on the kayak and since it has a double hull you sit higher. This higher sitting position obviously makes a SOT less stable. If you have 2 kayaks that are the same length and width the SIK will usually be more stable. So SOT designers tend to make their kayaks wider to compensate for this.

Initial stability is more important to beginners and secondary stability is more important to seasoned kayakers. The beginner hasn't developed a sense of balance yet. It's a lot like learning how to ride a bicycle. Once you're become accustomed to balancing it’s done unconsciously. After a while it becomes second nature and you don't think about it. Shorter wider kayaks tend to be more stable, but slower as a rule.

Speed: Generally, the longer and narrower a kayak the faster it is. SIKs are usually faster however there are also fast SOTs. Speed is only important if you need it. If the majority of your fishing is close to shore or in small, protected areas, than sacrificing maneuverability for speed isn't the way to go. However if you're fishing a big reservoir, bay, or ocean the ability to cover distance is often very important. A SIK will usually be faster because it is narrower for the same length because of its lower seat position. There are many fast SIKs and some SOTs. The faster SOT kayaks, used for fishing, are known as touring kayaks.

Maneuverability: If you're going to fish in small, tight places you need to be able to maneuver. Some kayaks do this extremely well. Getting back into a small creek or pond and fishing often requires this ability. Both kayak types have models that do this well. Generally the shorter the kayak the better but design does matter.

Kayak Weight: This can be extremely important for many reasons..

Transportation: You need to be able to transport your kayak. Many of us who are fishermen drive SUVs or trucks with caps. So you're going to have to be able to get the kayak on the vehicle then off the vehicle and into the water.

Fishing Logistics: I fish all kinds of environments from large bays and the Gulf but I often fish some very small waters too. A small shallow river or pond is best fished with a small, light kayak because you will need to be able to carry or drag the kayak around, over or through places. A lighter kayak will make this easier. Just getting to the water in some places presents challenges where weight could be important.

Accessory Friendly: Fishermen, take a recreational kayak and make it a fishing vessel. We do this by adding accessories. Some fishermen just take a rod and a few flies or lures along and others like to take lots of gear. Some kayaks accept accessories better than others. It's the addition of accessories that can often dramatically improve the fishing. Lots of flat surfaces are nice for mounting things. On some kayaks it’s simple and you have many choices of where you can mount accessories. Some kayaks require much more thought and limit what you can and can't attach.

Storage: Depending upon how you fish this can be important. You don't need much but a lot depends upon you and where you plan on going and what you plan on taking with you. If you like to use both spin and fly gear then you need to take accessories for both. Some items are universal and some aren't. If you're fishing where you won't be venturing far, you don't need much since you can always go back. Conversely you may be out all day and have a major commitment in travel in getting to the fishing. This will require you to carry more gear. It’s better to have too much storage then too little storage.

Let's talk about different places and ways of fishing both types of kayaks and see the practical uses of each type.

Flats Fishing: One of the best things about a kayak is the access to shallow flats that it provides. There are lots of these types of environments on the Gulf coast. Some flats are shallow. So you're fishing a flat and you'd like to get out and wade fish. There are a few reasons why you may wish to do this.
You've been sitting for a while in the kayak and it’s nice to get out to walk and stretch.
There's a breeze or wind and if you have to control the kayak with your paddle it makes it more difficult to fishing with your hands semi occupied.
By standing you can see better and sometimes this is an advantage.


So you've decided to get out of the kayak. If the water depth is only a foot or so this doesn't present a challenge in either type of kayak. Now let’s see how things change in a couple feet of water with an incoming tide. There's a good chance when you decide to get back into the kayak it could be 3 feet deep. In a SOT you sit on rather than in the kayak so getting in and out is actually getting on and off. It's easy to do. Conversely in a SIK it isn't so simple and your chances of capsizing the kayak are much greater. It's also much more difficult to do. Now imagine that you're wearing waders.

Surf Launches: When you fish the open ocean you often need to launch through the surf to get there. When a wave comes over the bow of a SOT the cockpit briefly fills with water and then it drains. You then get beyond the breakers, go to your fishing destination. Should a wave knock you off of your kayak you're just off. Knee braces can attach you to the kayak and can make a difference in larger surf. Conversely a SIK needs a skirt to go through even moderate surf. Otherwise it will fill with water and it doesn't have the ability to drain. So you go through the surf and you misjudge and a wave flips you. If you’re on a SOT, you simply fall off and go retrieve the kayak. In a SIK you are in the kayak and should you flip none of the consequences are good. In the very least you have a kayak full of water and in the worst scenario you're upside down and still in the yak with your gear bouncing around in the surf . When a SIK flips the popular idea is to do an Eskimo roll. That's OK if you're in calm water's with a narrow kayak but a SIK that is used for fishing is often wider and doesn't roll well in the surf or in shallow water.

Shallow Rivers: A kayak will take you into so many environments that are difficult if not impossible to reach via any other means. Sometimes you can paddle and at times you need to drag the kayak up, around or through objects. It’s much easier to get off of a kayak rather than out of one if you're doing it a lot. The more you find yourself leaving the kayak the more you will appreciate a SOT.

Keeping Fish: If you like to take fish home than you need a place to keep your catch. If its smaller fish this isn't a big deal but if the fish are big it is. In a SIK it's either in the cockpit or on a stringer. A stringer is OK in freshwater areas where you don't need to travel very far. A stringer full of fish provides drag and isn't good if you need to cover distance. In some places it can attract predators. In the south you have to be concerned with alligators and in the salt its sharks. A tank well is the best place to keep fish. Sot’s come with and without a tank well (the depression in the back of some SOTs). You can either place a cooler in the tank well or strap it on behind the seat. Many SOTs come with tank wells so if you regularly bring home dinner a SOT could be a better choice.

Now that we discussed some basic ideas it is up for you to decide which kayak you want. You need to decide what you think the best is for you THEN call some of the local dealers in your area and see what types of kayaks they have; then go out and paddle the different kayaks and see how they handle for you. Some stores have a pool or water close to the store where you can go and demo the kayaks.

Now that you have found the perfect kayak for you; you will need to figure out how to rig your kayak to best fit your needs. ALL OF US HAVE OUR OWN OPNION ON WHAT IS THE BEST KAYAK AND WAY TO RIG IT. I recommend that you know what you want before letting anyone rig your kayak for you because there is no way they know what is perfect for you. You will not know till you have fished a while and you will continue to change the longer you fish.

There are pictures of rigged fishing kayaks and good articles on rigging and other ways to improve your yak and your fishing experience on our site.

We have a great group of people that will help you. Your question has probably been asked before so use the search feature and read, then asks your questions. Remember we all made that first post. Never be a fraid to post on this board. FROM THE WELCOME TO THE TKF BOARD

JimD