Fishing in Kayaks

[nsgnomad]

Some of you fisho's out there are probably using a kayak to get out on the water when you fish. I am interested ih hearing what you have to say about kayaks as a fishing platform. I have been disappointed in how inaccesable most of the banks of rivers are here in SE Qld especially if you are trying to cast or fly fish. So I am now thinking of getting some type of boat. As I tow a caravan, it will need to travel on the roof of my D1 and the idea of a kayak came up.

Your thoughts please, and particularly your experiences and types/makes of kayaks you could recommend.

Thanks
Roger

[Landy Smurf]

i have done abit of fishing in one the good bits athat you can get as close to something as yoy want and that you can turn easyily in a circle the bad bits they are slow wind(dont get me started) and they can get fiddlee with the paddle and fishing rods what i normalll do is have a hand reel hanging out the back and a rod for when i get to where i want to fish you can get little plastic boats which are good light and stronger enough but then you will need a engine but it would only need to be a small one you could put it on the back of your caravan.but anyway back to the kayaks the ones we have are about$600 the good ones that are set up for fishing are anywhere from $1200-3000 and at that price i would sooner have a small boat

[austastar]

A kayak that is fast in the water is inherently unstable compared with the average kayak that is designed for 'mucking about in boats'.
So you will need one that is stable and it will be slow.
You could fit an out rigger and a small out board motor to get a bit of speed.
cheers

[EchiDna]

I'm not one to recommend someone away from this place, but still you should check this site out as well :

AUSTRALIAN KAYAK FISHING FORUM • Index page (http://www.akff.net/forum/index.php)

[KEV0044]

Absolutely love Kayak Fishing :D
For freshwater fisho's that like to get into tricky spots that are hard to cast to from the bank they are a real bonus .
Freshwater rivers and streams that are overgrown with bankside vegetation is where the really shine as a freshwater fishing tool .
Also - a kayak will get you into spots far upstream from the no - go private property signs compared to just bank fishing with no legal access .
I've done a lot of research and owned a few kayaks - but I can highly recommend the Wavedance brand of Kayaks for quality , price , design and they are very user friendly for even a novice kayak adventurer .
They are also designed and made in Australia for Australian conditions .
Mine is a 'Wavedance Kingfisher' which is 4.1 metres long .
It tracks straight and fast for a wide body SOT (sit on top) kayak and is very stable in all conditions .
Hope this helps ,
Cheer's ,
Kev .

[GS-ADI]

is it still posible to buy that kit that turns Kayaks into Kats?

[austastar]

I have seen one online some where, but it was just of passing interest, and I didn't bookmark it.
I think it was sail and outboard compatible, but the brain's a bit hazy on that now.

[jake]

G'day Everyone,

I fish rivers and use a Stearns inflatable Kayak, Been doing this for about eight years. I usually walk up stream and have my kayak dragging behind me on a strap. This is a good system for wading and allows me to use the kayak for deep spots. The best benifit is when it is time to return, I paddle downstream and back to the camp site in quicker time with much more ease.
My kayak has been excellent, quite old now but never had a puncture and it only waighs about 10kg.
Use this a lot in areas such a the upper Goulbern, Wonnangatta type rivers. You can certainly get to some very isolated spots.

Jake

[KEV0044]

G'day Everyone,
Use this a lot in areas such a the upper Goulbern, Wonnangatta type rivers. You can certainly get to some very isolated spots.
Jake
Wonnangatta River :)
Interesting Jake .
Never even spotted a fish there and not through lack of trying :D
More details please :)

[jake]

G'day Kev,

Have caught some nice fish in the wonnangatta, although some occasions depending on temp have seen little, it's quite an interesting river and can be tricky depending on flow. I usually fish well before the valley. :) It's all part of the adventure.

[KEV0044]

Thank's Jake .
I've only been down on that river in the middle of Summer when its been stinking hot .
That may explain the lack of fish spotted in the river .
Think I'll have to give it a go in the cooler months when the river is a bit cooler and deeper from the snow melt .
Cheers .

[jake]

Good luck, I think this year the fishing will be brilliant once the tracks are open again.

[johnb44]

i have been using a yak for a while now and its opened up a whole new world of fishing as its stealty you can fis very skinny water and traverse very shallow water
i mainly catch bass out of mine but chase esturay species and barra as well and over summer ill have a few trips chasing pelagics in the salt
make sure you get somthing that is stable as speed isnt that important as someone else suggested have a look akkf [austrailian kayak fishing forum ] lots of great info there re yaks

[Lost Landy]

Iam not to keen on kayaks but love going out for a fish in a canoe, about to start building a 15 foot canoe with plywood using the stich & glue method.

[KEV0044]

Thats a - - 'big job' - - - Building your own Canoe ;)
Post up some pics of the process please - - when you get it started .

[nsgnomad]

Ditto to what Kev0044 says. looking forward to the pics and reports on your progress. :)

[Matman]

Im onto my second Yak,the first was great for the creeks and dams,but since i live near the ocean ive gone to one of these Fishing and Angling Kayaks, Sit-on-top Kayaks, Malibu X-Factor (http://www.malibukayaks.com/kayak_xFactor.asp)
They might be a bit slow but its very stable,im 6'4" and i can stand up in it.As of monday im heading up to Lady Musgrave island and taking my Yak out with me,hopefully get amongst some Coral trout and a few pelagics.