What type of kayak?

If you were going to buy some kayaks just for fishing, for use by people at a lodge with very cold water, what make & model would you get and how would you rig it out?

Depends ...   

With cold water, I don't worry about the kayak as much as how the paddler dresses.  But that's a whole other topic some of which was covered in this topic here.

Getting back to the fishing kayaks.  Do you expect your clientèle to be more or less experienced?

I'll tell you what others outfitters are using.  Liquid Adventures in Seward uses Prowler 15's.  Ketchikan Kayak Fishing uses Cobra Fish N Dives and Ocean Kayak Prowler 13's.  On our adventure out of Valdez in July, there are 4 of us and we'll be using Prowler 13's.  Pacific Mountain Guides in Valdez uses Wilderness Systems Rides, although mostly in estuary and rivers.  WaterWolfQCI (posts here) just bought some Ocean Kayak Big Game's.

The Cobra Fish N Dives and the Ocean Kayak Big Game fall it the category of kayaks that work well for all experience levels and are much more forgiving for the newbies.  Malibu XFactors fall into this categoy too, with all being ultra stable.  XFactor has a bit more speed over the others, and probably fits the next category as well.

Prowler 13's fall into the middle category and I'll include Cobra Mauraders here too.  A bit more speed, still very stable, but not as stable as the first set.

Prowler 15's and Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160's, I'd put in the higher end.  Lot's of speed, a bit less stability.  Put a newbie in these and they'd have to get used to them a bit.  I try not to put a complete newbie in my Prowler 15, which is my personal kayak of choice, as I'd worry about them too much.  I stick 'em in my Big Game.  I'm not saying that an inexperienced person couldn't handle these boats, but they are less forgiving IMO.

I'm sure I'm not covering a whole bunch of other boats, so if you have another one in mind, let me know and I'll give you my impressions.  I've tried to test paddle as many as I can.  I do have less experience with the Hobie peddle kayaks, but a lot of people like them too, and they have a range of boats across these categories as well.

-Allen