Advice needed on a multi-purpose kayak/hybrid

Hi,

I would like to fly fish from a kayak or a hybrid, and need the following from that watercraft:
-   Tandem
-   For fly fishing
-   To be used on:
                   - Puget Sound (close to the shore)
                   - Lakes
                   - Easy rivers
-   Self-bailing for salt

I have never fished from a boat or kayak so I feel that I need to have a hybrid where I can sit a bit inside and thus feel safer.  (I could be wrong in my thinking, so please correct me). 

For now, I am looking at the Native Magic 14.5 Tandem which is self-bailing as well.  However any other recommendations or at least some feedback on the Magic will be really appreciated.

Thanks
Irfan

I don't have any info on the native, but you can fly fish from most any SOT (sit on top) kayak. It's fairly easy to cast from the seated position once you done it a couple times. There are a large number of us here myself included that fly fish from various models. As for self bailing, anything with scupper holes will fit the bill. Is the tandem for another adult, or a child? I ask this because there are quite a few boats on the market such as my Cobra Fish 'n' Dive, or any of the Malibu boats with the "Gator Hatch" on the front, as well as a few others that have a place for a child to sit without have to paddle a tandem alone.

Hope this was at least remotely helpful.

Yes, your reply is usefull since now I have other oprions to look at. 

The tandem is basically for my 12-year old son so we could fish the lakes, but once in a while an adult will use it as well--my wife or a fishing buddy.

I'm not exactly sure what  you mean by "hybrid", but definitely don't go with a SINK (sit in kayak).  It might sound like a 'safer' or 'more secure' ride, but it's quite the opposite.  Sit on Tops are generally more stable.  They are wider.  They also self-bail, and a SINK will not.  I like my kayak, but after seeing several of the Malibu sit on tops, I have to say that I'm VERY impressed with their stability.  They are extremely wide.  This makes them a little awkward to tie down to standard J-style roof racks, but SUPER stable.

Wilderness Systems makes a tandem Tarpon boat, which is still stable, but not as stable as a Malibu... BUT, it's faster/easier to paddle over distance.

Hobie has a tandem pedal drive boat out as well.  Pedals free up your hands for fishing.

Irfan, I think you are on the right track for what your described usage will be. That Magic 14.5 would work out fine. It looks to be big enough for tandem use, but not too big for going solo. However, I'm sure that there might be other similar craft that would also fit your needs. I'm not sure of what those might be, but if I think of something, I'll get back here and suggest it. So don't give up the search yet. You may end up with the Magic, or something else.

I used to anchor and cast with my left-handed buddy in my 13' Sportspal canoe. I'd position the canoe with two anchors so that the starboard side was facing the direction we were casting. With my friend sitting in the bow casting with his left, and myself in the stern seat, casting with my right, both of us could cast at the same time.

I'm sure that two people could fly fish from a tandem SOT at the same time, if one was  southpaw and the other a right-hander.  Trolling flies is easy enuff with two.
Unless you're anchored, usually the person in front is the one who can cast, while the rear paddler holds the boat in position. You could change up easily enough by heading into the shallows. Most of the fly fishing I do in the sound and Canal, etc. (when I get the chance to get up that way and fish!) is for Searun Cutts, and they are often feeding in close to the beach.

Anyhow, that's my $.02

I read somewhere a while back that tandem kayak for fishing is the fastest route to divorce.  Think about that for a bit...

I would think long and hard about your fishing partner's casting prowess before I invested in a tandem over two smaller solo SOT's.  One, or both, of you are going to end up with some curious looking earrings sooner or later.  If you both sit side-saddle while casting it might make it a little less harrowing.  I stick to bringing my family in my canoe when they want to join me on the water; there is much more room between the fore and aft seats than in any tandem kayak (except for the rediculously large OK 3 seater).

Yes, your reply is usefull since now I have other oprions to look at. 

The tandem is basically for my 12-year old son so we could fish the lakes, but once in a while an adult will use it as well--my wife or a fishing buddy.

My 12 y/o's paddle their own butts around.  My 7 y/o is almost too big to fit comfortably in my F-n-D with me.  I'd second yarjammer's advice and suggest two kayaks rather than one big one.  They're eaiser to load and unload, allow you to fish solo and give you some room to breathe when tensions rise.

-Spot-

Lee: Native calls some of their watercrafts "Hybrid" because they are a cross between a canoe and a kayak.  BTW, I like your pedal drive idea and am now looking at Hobie's Mirage kayaks.

Rest: Two kayaks instead of having one is a good idea, and I'll consider it.

Thank you all for your input and help!
Irfan

Hi,

I would like to fly fish from a kayak or a hybrid, and need the following from that watercraft:
-   Tandem
-   For fly fishing
-   To be used on:
                   - Puget Sound (close to the shore)
                   - Lakes
                   - Easy rivers
-   Self-bailing for salt

I have never fished from a boat or kayak so I feel that I need to have a hybrid where I can sit a bit inside and thus feel safer.  (I could be wrong in my thinking, so please correct me). 

For now, I am looking at the Native Magic 14.5 Tandem which is self-bailing as well.  However any other recommendations or at least some feedback on the Magic will be really appreciated.

Thanks
Irfan

I had a Nucanoe for a while. Not self bailing, but won't sink when full of water. Very stable but also very heavy.