Hello from Central Oregon/Bend

My wife finally talked me into getting a kayak. She has been kayaking for years while i have been doing the boat thing. Decided its time to start something new. Will be looking for advice on which fishing kayak to purchase to fish for a variety of species. I just purchased a used old town 111 to start, but will be looking to upgrade. looking forward to learning a whole new sport.
Thanks
RP

Welcome!  Another new yakker from Bend. . awesome!   I head to Bend a couple times a year to see family and am thinking about retiring there when I'm done with the USAF.  Interested to see what kind of fishing you Bend folks get into.

I think you would be impressed with the variety of fishing here in central oregon. Most of the lakes close in the winter, so looking forward to kayaking starting in the spring.

Thanks for serving
RP

Welcome RP, but I'm not sure that I qualify as a greeter as I also joined recently.
Anyway I'm another Central Oregon yakker living in Bend. My wife and I have Wilderness Pungo 120s which we have converted to fishing yaks. Just came down from a long trip to Alaska - fantastic fishing - salmon, halibut, cod etc.!!

My wife and I lived on a remote fish hatchery in SE alaska for 5 years in the 90's, where she did  most of her sea kayaking. The day we were leaving to move back to oregon, a brown bear destroyed her sea kayak so now she has a 15' old town loon. After fishing in alaska, it can ruin you for fishing down here. Do you fish the coastal rivers for salmon?

Thanks
RP

Welcome to Central Oregon. I spend 50% of my weekends there now. My wife and I will retire there in a couple of years. There are so many places to go that it can get confusing.

Fishing in Alaska can be a spoiler for other places. Think of it as a challenge. You have gone from a target rich environment to one slightly less so. There are some of us who can coax a salmon out of a barrel. Others, like me, not so much. Coming home with a limit of your target is a little more sweet down here in the lower 48.

You will like CO.

Wobbler

Tumalo Creek there in Bend has a lot of good fishing kayak options, and you can demo them on the water right behind the shop. Pretty good situation there. I'd reckon something in the 12-13' range could suit you for a lot of the fishing waters in the area--really depends on what type of fishing you're looking to do.

Thanks, I was in their a couple days ago and bought a stihlquest fisherman life vest, and looked at what was available. The Hobie catches your eye for sure. They will be rx about 65 more boats this winter. Also watching craigslist. Looking for something I can fish the coast with.

Welcome to Central Oregon. I spend 50% of my weekends there now.Wobbler

If your in central Oregon a lot now, where are the fishing invites?

Here is my phone #

503-804-9173

Welcome to Central Oregon. I spend 50% of my weekends there now.Wobbler

If your in central Oregon a lot now, where are the fishing invites?

Aren't you over in Baker? The road between Baker and Redmond is an epic drive.

I am heading over to LaGrande for Elk season and few fishing dates. I'll send you a PM.

 Welcome to the forum. I live in Prineville and just got my first kayak in October from Tumalo Creek, when they had there fall sale. I took it to Prineville res and Ochoco res almost every weekend, until the weather got to bad. I was hooked my first time out. I am going to do a lot of camping at Prineville res with it as soon as it warms up. Might try to get a few people to join me some time.

Trident 13 seems  to be a popular kayak. Tumalo wont get any more kayaks until spring. They do have a old town predator which I really like. I am also looking forward to doing a lot of kayaking starting in the spring. Snowing today.

Come Spring there are numerous lakes on the Cascade lakes Hwy. Many with trophy size trout. Here in Klamath Falls we have Klamath Lake with very big trout 10 to 20 lbs. Diamond lake has a derby in June that is fun to participate. The largest trout caught in Diamond Lake was a 15 lb. lunker. But had to put the hobies away until spring unless we go to the coast.

Lived in K falls in the 70's, fished a lot when rocky point resort was just reopening. Awesome fishing. Used to launch a small boat at Petrie park and fish the wood river when those big rainbows would come out of klamath lake. Still gives me the shivers!