Trying to get started

Been lurking for a couple months now and learning a bunch.  This certainly seems like a great group of people to help feed my addiction inspire my fishing.

Obviously, registering for this forum, I want to get into kayak fishing.  Reasons are mainly that I can't afford a PB right now, and I like the idea of being able to be stealthy and able to get into areas that wade fishing and PB's don't allow for.  I’ve been frustrated with the lack of access to good fishing holes due to private property restricting bank access to rivers.  And lakes can be fished so much more effectively from a boat than shore that haven’t really even bothered that much with them.

While I would LOVE a Hobie with Mirage drive, sadly, my budget would be almost eaten up with just that yak, even used, leaving little to nothing for fish finders, paddles, PFD's, new(er) rods/reels, dry top/suit, etc.

I'd like some recommendations on getting set up.  What I already have are fly-fishing waders, and 5, 6, and 8wt rods/reels.  What I'll need is a kayak (duh!), a dry top to go with the waders or a dry suit, PFD, some other than fly fishing gear, and probably a bunch of things I'm not thinking of right now.  I figure I can cobble together $1500-2000.  I have a pistol I'm selling (.40 Ruger semi-auto - PM for details if interested) plus I'm cutting down some trees on my property for firewood for the rest of the funds (none is dry right now but PM for details if interested).

Some recommendations on items I can put on my Christmas list (under $200) would be especially appreciated.  My wife and MIL are bugging me for ideas, and my folks probably will be soon too.

I'd like to start out hitting the lakes up here in Skagit/Snohomish/Whatcom counties, and then when I'm comfortable in the yak try the rivers like the Skagit, and ultimately when my skills allow I want to be able to fish the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan De Fuca (maybe even the ocean off Neah Bay/La Push/Westport).  I would sooooo love to be able to land a halibut from a yak  .

I've heard of folks (including some stories on here) hunting from their yak, and that is certainly very intriguing too.  Mostly I'd want to get into good spots for deer and elk.  But once I'm set up I'd also love to try to waterfowl hunting if someone would be game to show me the ropes.

Thanks. 

Welcome to the cure!

True

Welcome from Vancouver. No real advice as it sounds like you're on the right track and have already found the best forum. As for raising money toward your adventure, what does your mother-in-law look like? 

Do you have a roof rack for transporting your yak?  How about a radio? I might be able to help you figure out the duck hunting thing - as soon as I figure it out.  If I were you I'd be looking to trade that Ruger for a Benelli pump!

Do you have a roof rack for transporting your yak?  How about a radio? I might be able to help you figure out the duck hunting thing - as soon as I figure it out.  If I were you I'd be looking to trade that Ruger for a Benelli pump!

I have a Ram Mega Cab.  Only a 6' bed, but it shouldn't be too hard to figure out a good way to secure the yak in the bed.

I have a Beretta AL-391 20ga.  A touch light for ducks, or so I've been told, but workable.

A radio is a good item to add to the list.  What are most guys/gals around here using?  All I have is a Garmin Rino 120, which is great when deer hunting out by Winthrop, but probably isn't a suitable to kayak fishing.

Welcome! Can't do any better than this spot.

Hey, there's a Hobie Revo on CL. It's been there over a month. If you really want a Hobie... I'd start out with the boat you want. They are asking $1650. I'd offer em $1350-1400. Tell em that's all you have. Really, they'd take it.

If I were to do it again, I go with that very boat! I have a WS Tarpon 120 and like it a lot. My experience is very limited but I peddled a Hobie ADV around and what can I say... to be hands-free

Xmas ideas- VHF radio (SH HX851), boots (Kokatat Nomad), rod mounts, good high back PFD, good knife to go with good PFD (CRKT Neckolas), gloves, light for kayak, little beacon for PFD in case you are separated from your boat, flag, net, dry bags, on and on and on...

Just so you know this is not the cure,  we will only make you kayak fishing addiction worse. 
 Nu2kayaks has some good ideas.  You may also want to consider a dry top, fish finder, paddle, an descent trolling set up, and and anchor system. 

I bought this "dry top" from Cabelas it's on sale: Guidewear X300 Goretex Jacket.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Guidewear-X300-GORE-TEX174-Jacket-150-Tall/1158400.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3DGuide%2Bwear%26x%3D0%26y%3D0%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=Guide+wear&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

Hey, Sedro is part of my long time stomping grounds.  Is the Iron Skillet still open across from the old smoke shop / mini mart and just west of the train tracks? I'm tempted to drop a few names and see how small that town really is 

Sounds like Pass Lake may be right up your alley (fly fishing C&R only) and I have never seen a kayak on that water (though I don't drive by there nearly as often as I used to.) You'd make the guys in the float tubes and car toppers jealous with the speed you can move by comparison.  A little weighted line and a green or brown wooley booger have done wonders on that lake.  CnR still, I believe, but some really nice trout are had on that water.  There are a smattering of lakes all over, I'm sure you are aware, so you are in a great place to get started.  I've always wanted to run the Skagit from the confluence of the Sauk all the way to La Conner, though I'm not sure I would shoot the hole in the wall at the mouth of the north fork, just to skip going around Goat Island.  It might be possible in one really long day, though river flow cfm would be a major component.  It would be fun to camp a night somewhere on the southern bank and take it easy.  Lots of places to camp that aren't accessible from shore, depending on river level and time of year. It would also be nice to bring gear to fish the nine mile hole, though an anchor setup would be mandatory.

I bought this "dry top" from Cabelas it's on sale: Guidewear X300 Goretex Jacket.

    Would be a great jacket to have along once you are done fishing; after you have changed out your immersion gear.   

Only been in S-W for about a year and a half.  But I do know the Iron Skillet is still there.  Never gone into it though.  Been meaning to.  Been going to the church right on 20 just west of the ARCO so I know a few folks in town, but not a ton.  Let me know when you'll out this way.  Between work and 3 kids (including a new born) time is short, but it would be cool to meet and yak (pun intended  ) for a while.

Any specific recommendations as to gear (other than the VHF radio and boots Nu2yaks posted)?  For a PFD I saw the Stohlquist Fisherman PFD on Amazon.  Any good?  Are there better values in PFD's for this kind of use?  I know Kokatat gets lots of love on here, so I'll check out their dry tops.  Any other brands worth looking at?

Also, I've been fly-fishing only for long enough now that I have no idea what to look for when it comes to conventional/spinning reels and compatible rods.  But I'd like to get set up for those conditions that fly-fishing isn't practible or desirable.  Probably start with something for trolling the lakes (would be good if it could also handle eventual salt water duties).

While I'd love to pick up that Hobie Revo on CL right now, cash is short for a boat like that.  Once I sell that pistol and some firewood (or maybe if the Christmas bonus at work is good this year) I'll have some extra cash on hand.  But the firewood won't be ready to sell until spring/summer and the pistol is only $350.  And SWMBO might have other ideas for the bonus (e.g. Christmas presents for the kids - hard to argue there).  Depends on how we can pencil whip the budget in the mean time.

Welcome and yes, it's the cure as well as the madness.

While I would LOVE a Hobie with Mirage drive, sadly, my budget would be almost eaten up with just that yak, even used, leaving little to nothing for ......

Your boat is supposed to eat your budget (especially the Hobies) The up-side of that is you don't really need much else. About the only other things you need are a pfd and a paddle. Most Hobies come with an adequate paddle that you don't use much anyway (that's what the drive is for)   You are in cold water, so a breathable drytop is pretty much a necessity as well. For immersion, I like neoprene waders over breathables because they will still keep you warm even if they are over-topped.

 Beyond that, you have what you need to be a real live kayak fisherman. Don't get hung up on accessories which really are just that; non-necessities. Don't worry, they will accumulate in very short order, but don't wait till you have the "perfect rig" to go fishin or you'll take too long, spend too much, and/or worst of all, end up with a porcupine boat.

I kinda hate endorsing one brand, but the dang Hobie mirage has pretty much got a lock on it. Hands-free is pretty much a no-brainer in terms of fishing. You might want to look for an Outback and add turbo fins (see that, accessories are creeping in already )  It's stable enuf to stand in and has an acre of useable real estate on the deck. It does not paddle worth a durn, but that does not matter because its a pedal boat. Another nice thing about the Outback is it's one of Hobie's oldest models and you should be able to find a used one without too much effort. New, it comes with a decent seat as well as the paddle (actually it should come with it used as well come to think of it)

Bottom line is you probably will drop a chunk to get the boat, but then your are pretty much ready to fish. After that, the rest is butter.  Mmmmmmmm, the madness. 

Oh, and don't forget; most advice (including mine) is worth what you just paid for it.  Try stuff out if you can. If you can't, don't get too hung up on name brands, but it is worth checking out what ever you find on the internet for bad reviews. But again, caveat lector.

Welcome Sumpnz.  I'll second what "The Don" FishesFromTupperware wrote.  I'd rather have my Hobie and nothing else (still don't have a fishfinder after doing this a few years.) 

welcome Sumpnz -

although I've lived here in the Portlandia area for many years, I hail from the Skagit Valley area, having lived several years each in Oak Harbor, Mt Vernon, and Bellingham, and my parents and brothers still do. I love it up there!

I spent all my dough on a new Hobie, too, and don't regret it at all. If you can wait, I know this last summer on this forum several deals on Hobies were listed, (and I could have bought a dozen used paddler yaks for the price of my new, non-deal, Hobie). So far, I haven't spent a dime extra dime on gear and still have caught some fish. I already had a PFD and some fishing gear. Of course, I will have to invest more to do some saltwater fishing, but it will come.

The one thing I have learned over the years though, is that money spent on quality is never wasted, and getting what you want is worth waiting a little longer for. (Not to say Hobie has the only quality yak out there - it just was the best for me.)

I have a Ram Mega Cab.  Only a 6' bed, but it shouldn't be too hard to figure out a good way to secure the yak in the bed.

Another thread on this site on a bed extender rack. 

I have a Beretta AL-391 20ga.  A touch light for ducks, or so I've been told, but workable.

Bull.  A couple years back went goose pit hunting with a buddy and we only had upland 20ga over/unders.  We out shot the hotshots with their $5000 Italian semi-autos.  They stopped ribbing us after the first couple of volleys.  It's about shot placement.

I have a Ram Mega Cab.  Only a 6' bed, but it shouldn't be too hard to figure out a good way to secure the yak in the bed.

Another thread on this site on a bed extender rack. 

I have a Beretta AL-391 20ga.  A touch light for ducks, or so I've been told, but workable.

Bull.  A couple years back went goose pit hunting with a buddy and we only had upland 20ga over/unders.  We out shot the hotshots with their $5000 Italian semi-autos.  They stopped ribbing us after the first couple of volleys.  It's about shot placement.

I did read the Extend-A-Truck thread a few days ago.  Figured that looked like a pretty slick way to transport a yak in my truck.

I spent all my dough on a new Hobie, too, and don't regret it at all. If you can wait, I know this last summer on this forum several deals on Hobies were listed, (and I could have bought a dozen used paddler yaks for the price of my new, non-deal, Hobie). So far, I haven't spent a dime extra dime on gear and still have caught some fish. I already had a PFD and some fishing gear. Of course, I will have to invest more to do some saltwater fishing, but it will come.

Not that I have much choice in waiting as I won't have the cash until spring/summer anyway, but that sounds like a good way of thinking.