“When I get too old and beat up ( hopefully not fat) maybe one day I will.”
**Hey, hey, hey. Now you’re gettin’ pers’nal. I resemble that remark.
I used to scoff at folks who had to motorize a toon or tube too. Even after I passed the half century age mark and the two hunnerd and plenty weight mark. But whattayaknow. I began to notice a slowdown in my energy and stamina. Taking longer to get there and back and longer to recover after each trip.
I’ve got you by twenty years. I’ll pass the 3 score and 10 mark this month. My wife and I both agree that we would never give up our electric motors on our float tubes now. We would have to give up float tubing as we know it.
The main thing I have always liked about tubing is the freedom, lighter weight, easier hauling and launching…and the hands-free fishing…even in the wind…by using fin power.
I have owned boats and toons. Never a yak. Doubt I have the flexibility now to properly launch and fish from one. I admire the speed with which they can glide across the water but I have also witnessed what happens when yakkers try to fish in even a mild breeze. No way to maintain position without constantly working the paddles.
There are applications for all craft in which one is a better choice than another. It always boils down to what kind of fishing you prefer and how you prefer to get there and back.
**
Amen to that, TD. NONE of the options we have is perfect, but one will be more advantageous to each of us than the others - at least most of the time. At other times, something else might be better, and ain’t it great that we can have that other choice sitting in the garage if we choose to?
There are times when I surely dread pulling my 150-pound kayak up a long launch ramp to the truck. Heart attack, here I come! But I manage.
You really should consider making a wheeled contrivance to improve the mechanical advantage of moving that heavy beast around. I have made several “tube carts” using the frame and/or wheels from a good sturdy golf cart. If you fab it right it will strap down on top of your yak while you fish and then be ready to get you back to your vehicle when you finish without a special trip.
Above is a link to a pictorial post I put up on the tubing board showing how I made a “Chopper Cart” for my tube by cutting down a golf cart. I am thinking that something like that for the middle or rear of your yak would make life a lot easier. The big consideration is finding a golf cart sturdy enough to handle whatever weight you put on it. Maybe Tiger Woods has an extra he used for smuggling girls onto the course.
**
RR’s kayak has a plug in cart. Compared to the other kayak carts, this one is a breeze to work with. Not always easy with 150 or more pounds, but fairly easy. It just plugs into the bottom of the kayak through the scupper holes and then there is a way of keeping it there with a metal plug. It always stays attached and the wheels are huge so they go over anything including sand. It also stays in the kayak if you want.
**Very nice. ****[#0000FF][b]Those really do look like super wheels. **Now if they only came with a strong young lad to haul it for you it would be great. Maybe even a team of scantily clad yak girls. Hobie has a great lineup but they still need to add that refinement.
I used to have an Ocean Kayak Trident 13 and it was an AWESOME fishing kayak, it was too expensive for my meager budget and I returned it, I miss it still.
I have fished out of the sit on top and sit inside kayaks and for fishing I will never go away from the sit on top style. The sit inside are smoother, lighter and faster but if your primary goal is fishing then the sit on top are the way to go.
I did the research on the Field and Stream Fish Eagle 12 and ended up buying one. I believe the Eagle Run is the sit inside kayak and the Fish Eagle is the sit on top kayak. The Fish Eagle isn’t exactly my Ocean Kayak Trident but it has been a great kayak so far. It is a bit heavier than some other kayaks but it is still fast enough in the water for anywhere I will go and it is pretty stable. I like it because I can adjust my position when my back is hurting and I can sit sideways on it and hang my feet in the water. I have had some of the really hot days on the water and I can jump in the water to cool down and still get back in my kayak in the middle of the lake, can’t do that with a sit inside yak.
I went fishing with a friend today, me in my Fish Eagle sit on top and him in his new sit inside kayak. His did great but for fishing mine is much better equipped. I fished two poles, one fly rod and one spinning, and caught a ton of fish. I tried fly fishing out of a sit inside kayak and it was tough. On my sit on top I fly fish out of it and am high enough up to make casting possible.
I added another rod holder, it already comes with one, and I mounted my fish finder on it. I have a great anchor set up and for any type of bait fishing an anchor is a must. I have a cooler that fits perfect in the back compartment and it can hold a ton of gear. Having used several kayaks before buying this one I can say it is a great deal. The price is decent and it works really well. It’s definitely not a Hobie or an Ocean Kayak but on a budget it’s great. I can even fit my smaller kids on the kayak with me and they love it. The biggest complaint I have is that I had to buy it at Dick’s. I haven’t shopped there much before and will shop there even less from now on. The customer service, especially from the managers, was horrible. The floor salesman tried to help me out but the managers wouldn’t do much to alleviate problems. They tried to sell me a kayak that was all scratched up and damaged and didn’t want to reduce the price, they didn’t even want to give me the sale price, it wasn’t on sale at the time, until I bugged them long enough and then they only reduced it a little bit. Won’t be back there unless I can’t find stuff somewhere else.
Anyway, after my long ranting post, I really like my Fish Eagle kayak and would buy it again. There are other good kayaks out there so look around and find one that fits you. The Fish Eagle fit me because it was equipped for fishing. Good luck in your search, if you have any questions feel free to ask. I will try to keep an eye on posts but often miss stuff. Enjoy the ride!!
I have included a picture of my kayak the way I had it set up today.
I’m not scoffing at anybody who uses a motor. Just feel lucky that I don’t have to use one yet. That could end tomorrow. I’d certainly use a motor rather than stay off the water.
I’m not scoffing at anybody who uses a motor. Just feel lucky that** I don’t have to use one** yet. That could end tomorrow. I’d certainly use a motor rather than stay off the water.
Again, you do realize we don’t “need” to[:)] Just like you don’t “need” a lighter fly rod.[;)]
These are some killer Yaks gentlemen. Keep em’ comin’
Hey, I’m getting old. How do you know I don’t need a lighter rod and reel to go with it?
Next you’re going to tell me I didn’t need that bamboo rod either[;)]. You of all people should know better.
The seat and the angle of the knees when pedaling on the PA is what makes it supreme in my opinion. I am itching to buy one, hopefully within the next couple of years if I get to move coastward.
