What Got You Started Kayaking ?

  Younggun asked the question in the Introduce Yourself thread,but I figured there might be some good stories about how we got started in a kayak.So what have you got for getting on the water in a kayak ?
   I got my start/interest kayaking in 1972 in Yosemite National Park.I was fishing on the Merced River off the bank .I looked upriver and saw a party of whitewater kayaks coming down toward me.I asked a couple of them to come over so I could check out their boats and they were happy to take a break.The fact that I bribed them over with a few beers probably didn't hurt.We sat and BS'ed for a while over a beer and one of the guys asked me if I'd like to try out his kayak.Well,that was easy to answer.So I jumped in and was totally amazed how smoothly and quietly they manuvered,down stream and up stream too.That was enough for me.......when I got home to the Bay area I went to the local sporting good store and bought one.I can't remember the brand (old timer's setting in ?) but I spent countless hours and days on lakes,out in the delta,and many of the rivers in the Seirra Nevada range.And for some reason I have never felt right when I'm near water unless I have a fishing pole in my hand.Go figure...
   It is hard for me to remember any time in my adult life that I have not had a boat of some kind--powered by motors,paddles,oars,or now by peddles.That will continue as long as I have any choice in the matter.And a fishing pole will be in my hand as well.
  From 1989 until 2003 I was building fiberglass kayaks and mini-drift boats as a part time gig.When anyone would come to look at one I'd ask if they had any expirence on the sticks.If they did or didn't ,I'd offer to take them out on the water and take one for a test run.That would get me out of the shop and get them to show me whether they knew  what they were doing or not.More often it was a 1st time out.Which made for some interesting and funny and sometimes scary trips.I can laugh at such times now--but there were a few times when the pucker power got pretty stiff.
   So that is a little of my kayaking history.Anyone else care to sound off ?

I just started about a year ago. Similar to what Demonick said in the other thread, I thought I invented kayak fishing in 2011 but then found out it had already been done. I mainly wanted a way to fish for fall Chinook without having to own a boat. Now there are worlds of fishing opening up that I had never thought of. It's a real education just seeing what everyone else reports on here every day.

It's the wife's fault! 

We were on Hagg Lake one evening in our power boat sitting on anchor letting the kids play in the water around the boat.  A group of kayakers paddled by and the wife mentioned that it looks like fun. 

Got home, and started searching the web on the various kinds of kayaks out there.  Wound up finding this site by accident and started asking questions.  Believe it or not, I was considering the Ocean Kayak Peek-A-Boo for our first kayak.  Was quickly steered away from that model.

I grew up bank fishing in the south.  We would occasionally go on a lake with a friend in their boat.  I loved it, but my dad was (&'still is) a tightwad, which equaled no form of watercraft at all. So, when I went off to college, I bought a sink ($250 pelican). I put in 2 rod holders and some extra bungees, and the rest is history.

I was (& still am) pretty successful at filling the freezer while kayak fishing.  So the ol man took note, and actually started yak fishing about 2 years ago.  He still buys the cheapest gear out there, but at least he gets out.  Gotta love it.  He's coming up in a few weeks, I hope he hooks a big but that takes him for a ride.

Most everywhere I fished as a kid around Baker City, you could fish without a boat (or with a small inflatable or aluminum). 
Got a little older (and a little more cha-ching in my pocket) and picked up my first PB to fish the Snake and also Philips Res.

Sold that one when I went into the military, bought a 20 footer years later...great fishing boat...nothing but a money pit though.  Ended up giving it away (just to be rid of it) before moving to Coos Bay.

Been fishing from foot the last couple-three years...
Bought an el-cheapo Yak (SINK) to see if I even wanted to get into it...figured the kids could have fun with it if I didn't like it...

FISH ON!!...man, I was hooked IMMEDIATELY!!!
First day...first hour...hooked a 15 1/2" rainbow at Empire lake...

Ditched PBs because of headaches and expense...got into kayaks because cheaper???
Definitely alot more fun!