Kayak Length Question

[TexasBob]

I am looking at an Ocean Kayak Frenzy or Scrambler XT. Frenzy is 9' and Scrambler XT is 12'. I like the Frenzy for ease of storing and hauling, but I like having more room in the Scrambler. Will be primarily used for fishing lakes and creeks. Plan to do a little saltwater fishing at some point. I know it is only 3 foot extra to deal with, but on the other hand I would only lose 3 foot and have the ease. I would like to hear all opinions. Thanks.

[SneakyPhil]

If you are going to be fishing creeks the Frenzy would be the way to go. Longer yaks tend to cut through the water better so if you are going to cover a lot of water the 12' would be the way to go.

[SneakyPhil]

Try:

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com

[splitfinger]

I just bought a new 12' Perception from Gander Mtn. and love it. It glides effortless in the water and is pretty stable. I plan on fishing Rayburn with it and float down the Angelina River below Rayburn also. Gander had them on sale just before Christmas and I picked this one up for $429.00 (Reg. $729.00). By the time I bought a paddle, seat insert and cartop kit, I still saved a lot.

Best of luck with yours.

Doug Key

[oldguy]

I have a Heritage Redfish 14,and two 12s.If your going to the bay no less than 12 no more than 14.The new Manta ray is really nice.Check out MOC kayaks in Austin they have a large inventory and will let you take one out and try it.

[Atfulldraw]

a 12' will track much better, which means an easier paddle out and back for you.

I will trade the stability of a longer yak every day for any advantage you may get with a shorter one.

and a 12' isn't a big yak to carry around, just forget about the 9' one and get used to it

[BoneDigger]

Go with the 12' version. I won't buy a kayak less than 10ft, and usually no less than 11ft.

Anything less than 10ft will have serious issuers with nose walking.

Todd

[Bank Stalker]

I had a 9 ft. frenzy. Ok for play ,, but doesnt track as straight as a 12 footer. Also I paddled with some guys at Armand Bayou, they had 14 footers,, I worked myself to death trying to keep up , when they were leisuring paddling.
When in the water 12 ft doesnt seem big at all

[glen]

If you are gonna put it in the bay go with a longer kayak. I have a Cobra FnD and cant think of anything, other than playing in the surf, that someone with a small yak has over me.

[TexasBob]

Thanks everyone. That is what I thought from my research, I just wanted to make sure.

[Loneaggie]

Try:

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com

x2

Great site, has a ton of good information. A great group of guys also, kinda like TBH on the water

I'd go with the 12'. I'm in the market also and have narrowed it down to a Native Ultimate or a Tarpon in 12'. Shorter doesn't have the payload or the range I'd like to have.

[Deuce16]

Good Luck!

[Ron Meloni]

I started with a 9' Frenzy and sold it within the year. Moved then to a 12' Wilderness Systems Tarpon and loved it, but sold it for a longer Heritage Fisherman Pro 14' (FAST boat) because I was needing to cover more water, faster. Great boat as well, but needed something even longer. Now I have a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160 (16') and LOVE IT. All I do is fish the flats and areas around Port Aransas (Shamrock Cove) and all points between there and the lighthouse. So, if anyone's interested, I have a 14' Heritage going up for sale soon.

Ron

[Night Wing]

Of the two choices, the 12 footer is the better choice.

[AtTheWall]

I use an Ocean Kayak Frenzy for the surf zone....it's primary design...surfing waves. The keel is deep with a chine that runs fore-aft deeply, only drawing roughly 7 inches of water. The bow is designed to bust up and over waves as the waves crest and break bow on, extremely raked bow design, very much like a Vee bottomed boat. The yaks hull design carries this "banana shape" all the way out past the stern, allowing this particular yak the ability to bust up and float over waves up to 4-5ft. This hull design is the primary reason why I still use it, since I surf fish for sharks, I needed a yak that not only punches out through the surf zone extremely well.... but a yak that tracks and surfs steep waves without yawing completely sideways (most of your rounded hull yaks will do this everytime), as you surf back in. As you ride the waves in, you learn to lean hard on your paddles for direction, carving the lower section of the face on a solid track, with the hull's hydrodynamics biting in and holding the wave face...touching the paddle down only when you need to - to maintain bearing and direction zipping along the wave face.

In the Guadalupe river, it's smaller size allows me to pivot quickly, through whitewater sections....using the flow of the river to maintain momentum. This kayak is made for moving water and here's where it shines.

Slack water, small ponds and small lakes, it's not that big a deal to fish from since most of your fishing is going to be slow and deliberate...silence is key. For long paddles, a longer yak in the 12-14ft length is a better application for all day outings. Even then, I can hit the Laguna Madre and cover a lot of water quickly with my Frenzy.....using the wind to set a downwind float....dropping my anchor when I'm on fish.

I typically take my tackle along in a back pack. This gets strapped to the stern when I'm fishing. For portages into the Guadalupe River, I can put my tackle and anchor into the back pack, stick that on my back, Frenzy under one arm and two rods in the off hand and simply pack in long distances. I never need to make two trips...one for the yak and another for my gear. That's the beauty of the Frenzy.

I'm shopping around for a 14' yak for big water and extended trips along the Laguna now. Having a couple of yaks, one for big water and a moving water version (Frenzy) provides many options depending on where you plan to use it.