Hello From Central Oregon

My wife and I are just getting into kayaking with emphasis on fishing as well as enjoying the scenery and exercise. We live east of the Cascades in the Bend area where there are mountain lakes, rivers and reservoirs to visit and fish!

Given the type of waters we will be visiting and easy going paddling style with frequent stops (getting in and out of the water), we decided a 12 foot sit-on-top kayak would be a good match. Not having easy access to various types of boats to test paddle, I spent several weeks doing research and narrowed the list down to 3 kayaks. Heritage RedFish 12, Native Manta-Ray 12, and the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120.

We decided on a pair of Heritage RedFish 12’s (non-angler version so we can rig ourselves). I had a heck of a time getting a straight answer from our local Heritage dealer who seemed to have no real interest in taking care of a sit-on-top customer. Luckily I found a dealer in Texas that has been more than helpful and actually knows and uses the product line.

I have really enjoyed reading this forum as it relates to the North West and the conditions here. I am awed by the size of the fish you folks are pulling out of the Pacific coastal waters. I’m afraid that any fish I pull out of the water here would barely be considered bait by some of you, but fun and challenging nonetheless!

Thanks for the good reading and helpful tips! 

Welcome aboard.  I live about forty miles north of Bend.  If you want a scenic paddle with lots of fish, head to the John Day River.  The Spray to Service Creek stretch has good accessibility.

Thank-You Yakitup,

You must be close to the Lake Billy Chinook area. I have never fished it but have driven around some of its shores. We have visited the John Day area on our way through to Idaho to visit relatives and friends. Now we will be able to take kayak and fishing excursions along the way! Thanks for the tip on the yak accessable areas.

I mainly lure and flyfish, but will be sticking to the lures until I'm more comfortable with the new boat. My wife likes to fish (when the fishing is good), but really enjoys being on the water!

Welcome Landlocked!!!

Would love to see a review from you on the RedFish 12's here at NWKA.  We don't see these yaks around here much (at all yet!!!).

-Allen

Thanks PolePole,

It would be my pleasure though the review would be from a novice point of view. I didn't see a product review category, so I guess it would belong in the "kayaks and kayak rigging" section... We should have the kayaks before the end of October. Now we have to start shopping for a pair of good PFD's.

-Bill-