Saving up for a new Kayak.. could use some professional advice :)

Good day everyone,

I would like to preface my post by firstly that I am new to the forum and new to kayak fishing. I recently purchased a set of kayaks for my wife and I to use in our local lakes and some calmer rivers. A friend purchased the kayaks new last summer and they sat collecting dust so he sold them to me for less than half what he paid. How could I say no? What I realized through this purchase is just how incredibly addicting kayaking could be.

I have lived in the Northwest for over 13 years. I've fished my entire life. I am quite used to being on the water as I own a boat and have owned many boats throughout the years. However, nothing really compares to kayaking. The time has come for me to start making some serious decisions about my kayak fishing future and I am looking to possibly upgrade (in the next year or so) from my current kayak.

I currently own a Future Beach Trophy 126 sit-in Fishing Kayak. Again, the price was too good to pass up ($175 VERY lightly used). After fishing from a kayak, I'm hooked. I'm already thinking down the road to my next purchase and what I want to invest in. What I'm looking for is some advice from some of you seasoned kayak fisherman on what brand, length, and style of kayak would best suite my needs.

I know we have some fantastic kayak shops in the area and I will definately be soliciting them for advice, however I still feel the experience on this forum is just as vaulable as he advice I can get from the kayak shops.

I know I want a sit on top. I mostly fish local lakes and rivers and would like to eventually work my way into the Columbia off a kayak (as I definately won't be taking my Trophy 126 onto the Columbia). I fish everything from trout to Sturgeon and everything in between. I haven't thought as far ahead as if I want to explore fishing salt, however if I do I want a kayak that will handle no problem.

From my preliminary research, I REALLY like what Hobie has to offer, however I know that there are quite a few other brands out there. Does anyone have any wisdom to impart? I'd love to hear what you guys have to say...

Thank you in advance. 
Paul

The Hobie Outback seems to be the most popular and versatile fishing yak (even though I've never been in one). It's pricey but the Mirage Drive wins most folks over. Demo a few different yaks and you'll see first hand what features you like. I can bring the Coosa to BG Lake Saturday morning for you to test out.

Take your time and demo as many boats as possible.  The more boats you try the better chance you are going to get the boat that fits you best.  I also recommend going to the Kayak Fishing 101 clinic  at the Next Adventure Paddle Sport Center this Wednesday.  It will give you an overview of kayak fishing in the area and you will get to meet a bunch of us, all while eating pizza and drinking beer.

First question do you want to Pedal or Paddle? Then test drive a bunch!

Demo Demo Demo!!!!

The right boat will find you if you demo enough!!

And definitely go to the Kayak fishing 101 clinic Wednesday night at Next Adventure!!!

The right boat for you may not be the right boat for the next guy so be honest with yourself about the kind of fishing you will be doing the most and in what kind of water.

Derek

+ 1...DEMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO a bunch and you'll know when you hit it. Then again, it's like reels. A different  reel or yak for different situations.
Good luck and may the force be with you.

Dittos on the DEMO. I've had about 5 kayks in 20 years and like my Coosa the best. Go to a demo day and take them all for a test drive. Wait about 3 weeks and talk to friends that have the one you're thinking about.

Hooper

First question do you want to Pedal or Paddle? Then test drive a bunch!

Is there one where you could comfortably choose to do both?

Redneck. Look at one of the Hobies. Outback, Revo, Adventure. They do pedal much easier than paddle and that's the preferred method.

About the only boat that can 'pedal'
and paddle is the hobie adventure ... you pretty much do one or the other not both

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the spellcheck FG.

The revo 11 and 13 paddle pretty well to. 

The revo 11 and 13 paddle pretty well to.

Oh come on! The Outback is like a Navy destroyer. Only the strongest of hearts can paddle it up stream, across stream and down stream.  Honestly, it can be done. I'm an old guy. (Which would probably have "my wife" email Ihop, because he would wax the floor with me. All that exercise scares me!) and can do the lower Sandy without the drive. 

SH

Would the Adventure make a good fishing kayak?  It's 16' long and only 27 inches wide. 

About the only boat that can 'pedal'
and paddle is the hobie adventure ... you pretty much do one or the other not both

Not the case.  Revos definitely paddle a LOT more efficiently than a Coosa.


RR:  I owned a Tsunami 140 Sit in Kayak for a while, started fishing, and upgraded to a Tarpon 160.  It gets the job done, but now I have a Hobie Revo, and I'm going to be really straight forward about this:

There is absolutely no comparison.  You cannot beat the ability to hold position in current, wind, and waves and STILL have your hands free to fish. 

A few weeks back some of us went out to the inner jetty at Ocean Shores.  It was really windy and very hard to stay near the jetty.  JPCrowley was in his Tarpon 120 and spent probably 80% of his time paddling.  I spent 80% of my time fishing, and I was towing my fiance at the same time.  Additionally, every time I snagged the rocks, I simply paddled past my snag and pulled it free, as opposed to paddling past it and having to put my rod in a rod holder and having excess line all over the place when I got past the snag.

There are some really cool features on other kayaks that I would like to see on Hobie kayaks, but the mirage drive is just insanely good for fishing.

Would the Adventure make a good fishing kayak?  It's 16' long and only 27 inches wide. 

There are several people on the boards that fish from an Adventure.  It's a little faster than a Revo, but a little less stable.  You'd need to demo to see what you prefer more.