How many of you guys own a fishing kayak? Do you use it as much as you hoped?

Since I’m looking for a new hunting home, I’m contemplating selling all my hunting stuff that’s a b!tch to move around (SxS, Blind, feeders and container) and just getting a nice fishing kayak. I’m not that big on deer, but do really enjoy my thermal hog hunting which I can do an occasional day hunt for $200 a day let’s say. I did enjoy fishing, lots of places to go around here, just don’t know if that’s going to lose its shine too. I love me some fried Bream And Sacalait and haven’t had any in years since I hunt on the free time.

Charlie

Before I was dumb and divorced and lost most everything I owned, we kayak fished with hobie kayaks all the time. Loved It. Used to take them to Florida and fish offshore. If you do It, get a Hobie or other foot drive type. Keeps your hands free for fishing.

Owning a kayak opens up a lot of fishing opportunities, I love bream fishing too. And crappie .

I switch to Kayak fishing 12 years ago. Got tired if paying for boat storage, so I sold the bass boat. Started out with a paddle yak, it has made me a better fisherman. I spend more time targeting areas and it typically pays off. Last year I purchased a Hobie outback wish I would have moved to a pedal yak sooner. I duck hunted out of my Paddle yak occasionally, the Hobie probably won't hunt out of. If you purchasing new I suggest going to Mariner sales off I35 Between royal and walnut hill. Kayaking / kayak-fishing hasn't lost its appeal for me, two weeks ago I spent the day going up denton creek above Grapevine.

Second Mariner sails. I’ve purchased probably 10 yaks from them.

Long ago I fished more than I hunted and have paddled a canoe since I was 5. I have canoes including that original, pirogues, and kayaks and have fished all over out of them. Rivers in a few states, Everglades trails, and more. I am even a Texas Water Safari Finisher. Over several years I started hunting much more than I fished and of course hunt with the kayaks. In retirement I have started fishing more again trying to have a seasonal balance. I spread my boats between home and two hunting leases and starting to take advantage of the lease as a base camp outside of hunting season to fish some of the waters near them. Some of us should meet up this spring to paddle up one of the DFW/North Texas creeks for the sandbass/hybrid spawn.

I’d have to borrow a family members kayak but I would be in for that.

It’s ok, I prefer a little 16’ transport baby cat w/90 hp

Well if you decide to sell it dirt cheap, I'd love to facilitate your decision to focus solely on fishing.

I had a 12’ wilderness kayak. I loved it. I could stand up in it and fish…was pretty awesome. After a few years of that fishing rivers by myself got old and I sold my kayaks and got a boat. Loved the boat but it became obvious I either had time to fish and not hunt or hunt and not fish and sad to say fishing lost. I’ve been fishing maybe 8-10 times at most in the past 6 years….and truthfully I don’t miss it.

Not saying I would want to, but it’s possible I could never fish again and it wouldn’t bother me much. I would be a real sour apple if I had to stop hunting. About the only fishing I care to do is river/stream fishing….I’m not big in bass fishing lakes anymore or even fishing the coast.

For hunting i used my canoe...
For fishing use my kayak's ..

At some point, I could not handle family, work, sports, golf, fishing, hunting and playing dominoes. Golf was the first to go. Next I cut down the fishing from 15-20 times annually to maybe three. Don't feel like I have missed a lick.

Charlie sounds like you're dealing with a lot of what other THF folks have; declining supply for available/affordable hunting properties with very, very high hunter demand, especially inside of 3 hours of DFW. Having grown up in Corpus Christi, I was fortunate back then to have fished Baffin and Intercoastal channel nearly every Sat./Sun. out of general hunting season. During general season we were hunting every weekend. Did that routine for 15-20 years straight; Dad always had quality, South Texas leases which were family style and at only $3/4 an acre at the time and knew the hot spots in Baffin Bay too. Most of those same ranches now charge what he paid then in total, per gun now without the exclusive family hunting rights. I guess it's simply the sign of times now, especially in our great state of TX. Actually has been and what motivated me to purchase a small piece of property to hunt in Young county, 14 years ago. As an added benefit that property has now doubled or tripled in appreciable value.
Honestly not having fished for 25+ years has not affected me personally as much as I surmised or thought it may. Being without hunting seems a more frightening prospect to me. Whatever you determine, good luck to you sir!

I’ve been wanting to do that exact thing. The crappie run up that creek I bet . Where do you put in ? Trophy Club ?

Yes, launched out of Trophy club park. It was my first run up Denton creek, primarily a scouting trip. Went just past 377 bridge took 2.5h going up fishing lay-downs along the way, and 1.5h back to the ramp just peddling the hobie racing the sunset.

Actually, I have a couple of lease options. It’s much cheaper to buy individual hog hunts vs lease and cheaper still than doing a guided fishing trip for a day. I enjoy fishing, I don’t get to do it enough. I enjoy thermal hog hunting and can do it, more than I actually do with a lease.

Just not sure which trigger to pull, but “yakitty yak” seems to be playing louder.

Charlie

Noticed a couple of guys fishing from kayaks on Lake Naconiche (fairly new lake here in deep east texas).

We were in a traditional Bass Boat. They could get in among the standing, flooded timber better than we could. We could cast to pretty much the same spots but they were able to make better presentations (nearly straight down) and were able to get the fish out without break offs better . Other than that I did not see the advantage.

They didn't look particularly comfortable, would be limited to fair weather days, would need to 'pick' their spots to fish more carefully (we could run from one end of the lake to the other in minutes). Space to take along tackle was at a premium for them.

I can see a kayak having a purpose if you are targeting a specific fish species at a specific site, but it would never replace a Bass Boat for me.

The advantage is space, time, less headache over owning a boat, some people enjoy the recreation of kayaking, and it’s actually refreshing to have less tackles with you although I could carry all the tackle I could ever need on my kayaks.

Oh and budget.

The advantages to kayaks are had on small water like rivers and creeks…places you cannot put. Regular boat.

Aside from that, they offer almost nothing when compared to a boat with an outboard motor

I've had big fishing boats and have sold them all. Too many a$$hole$ on the lakes. Great thing about kayaks is where you can take them. Get on the rivers and streams that have a lot less pressure and no jet skis or wake boats. Fighting a big fish in a kayak is a blast, and a challenge. Forces you to pair down all the equipment and get back to basics. I fly fish a lot now and do it out of a Diablo Amigo. Easy to stand in if you want to. Very stable. I fish from the boat about half the time and use it to get to wading spots the other half.

I sold my bass boat in 2014 and bought my first fishing kayak in 2016. Ended up liking it enough that I bought a used Hobie PA14. Ended up getting the wife her own Hobie Outback. I add my vote to go check Mariner Sales in Dallas. They will get you in the right kayak for your needs.

Definitely opens up more fishing opportunities but you’re also limited at the same time. I prefer a boat to scoot around the lake but kayak is fun as hell if that’s not an option