Hunting/Fishing with a Kayak

[Loneaggie]

I was just wondering if we had any green screeners who have had much experience with waterfowl hunting or fishing from a kayak. I've found quite a bit of information around the web. The idea really appeals to me, as I always enjoyed kayaking itself back in high school. I've considered getting a multi-role yak to use for recreation, exercise, hunting access, duck hunting, and fishing from. Any advice or recommendations?

My initial research points to the Malibu XFactors as being the best, but $1200+ for a kayak is a little out of budget right now. Pelican's sporting kayak has a rep for being a wet ride, but is very affordable. Just thought I'd see if there were any opinions here.

[CaptJack]

It's the only way I like to duck hunt !!
This is my everything kayak - fishing, hunting and I've run the Texas Water Safari in it twice.
The kayak is a WildernessSystems Pamlico - in Kevlar with a camo gel coat (they don't make it any more) When I ordered it it came with two seats, but I took the rear seat out when I first got it. It's been my "stationwagon" on the water for 10 years

[Loneaggie]

Capt. Jack, do you have any recommendations for something that would be good for entry level but say in the $500 range?

[lbbf]

I would stay away from pelican. Wilderness, Ocean, and Malibu all make very good kayaks that can be used for what you are looking at. They are kind of like bows. Paddle everyone that you can and see which you like the best. Some have very good initial stability but once you feel like you are going to go over it is too late. Other feel very woobly(sp) at first but you can lean a long way before you actually go over. I have a couple of 2 scupper Perception Prisms that I love to fish from but can't imagine shooting a shotgun from one. I also have a Wilderness System Tarpon 13 tandom that I would be very cofortable shooting from.

[tgil]

go over to texaskayakfishing.com you'll find everything you want to know as well as some good deals in their classifieds. There is a retailer in Dallas that will let you test drive just about anything they sell. It'll take me a bit to remember who it is, but it's on Sundays at White Rock Lake.

[CaptJack]

Loneaggie - you just missed A DEAL !!
A good buddy just sold his plastic Pamlico 145 (plastic version of my boat) for $500 used about 3 weeks ago

A good place to shop for used kayaks is on the kayak classified board on > Texas Kayak Fisherman & on Craigslist - my buddy sold his plastic Pamlico on the Houston Craigslist

[Sr_Egor]

I'm sure someone over at TKF could answer your questions. You may find a few in your price range you like too.


^^^Yeah what they said!!!^^^

[H-D]

A buddy of mine has his for sale.....

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=133865

a heck of a deal considering its condition and everything it has on it.

[Loneaggie]

Good tips. Thanks everyone. I don't want one I can necessarily shoot out of for ducks, just use it to get where I'm going and retrieve ducks. Any opinions on sit-in vs sit on top?

[CaptJack]

Loneaggie - I thought the same thing - bicycle on the water to get to where I wanted to hunt - WRONG !!!!

One day I was running late - hunting the north end of LkConroe (StubblefieldLk area) - I put in at the bridge and paddled down to the stump field at the top of the lake - it was already shootin' time - I threw out the dekes and just floated around in the dekes - I limited out in 20 minutes just sitting in the yak

Since then I made a Clint Eastwood poncho - Ghillie poncho that covers my legs and the open part of the yak and I wear a head/face net - Ghillie head piece - I just float out in the dekes and slide my BPS out when the birds set to the dekes

[Loneaggie]

Wow sounds convenient. Do you even bother with waders?

[stickman]

I hunt/fish out of my cobra s.o.t kayak. Its nice to have when you don't want to mess with loading up a boat with dekes and tons of extra equiptment.

[cosmiccowboy]

CaptJack is word on TKF too. He's Mr. Canoe/Kayak. I've got a couple of Wilderness System Rides that I have fished out of a lot but never hunted out of...

[Loneaggie]

Yeah I think I'd be comfortable with less primary stability and more secondary. I'm thinking sit in right now. Still doing lots of reading.

[CaptJack]

Wow sounds convenient. Do you even bother with waders?

We Are DUCK HUNTING !!!
of course we wear waders
flyweight - stocking foot with high top boots
sometimes you do have to get out of the boat