Kayak fishing....

**Tree Doc** · 07-19-2005, 05:14 PM

Maybe OT for the Campfire but couldn't figure where it would fit in the fishing arena.

I'm shopping Kayaks right now to rig for ocean fishing. It's amazing what's being done on these new 'yaks. The equipment is great and with the Halibut spawn coming in close it'll put us in right up close to areas we can't access in the offshore boat.

Anybody else jumping on this rediscovered method of fishing? Any pointers or experience to offer?

**codypernice11** · 07-19-2005, 06:39 PM

Im taking one out tom to try some fishing with, i borrowed it from a friend. Ill let you know how it went tom. and hopefully ill have some pics also.

**jackrabbit** · 07-19-2005, 06:47 PM

I'm using an sit on top Ocean Kayak Scrambler XT for freshwater lake fishing here in the Central Valley. It's great to just toss it in the back of the pickup and not pay any launch fees at the lake, and just launch from anywhere on shore. I have it rigged with a couple pole holders and a depthfinder that runs on AA batteries. I made some simple anchors with 3# iron dumbells. I also made a simple wheeled rig for it out of PVC pipe, copper pipe axle, and pneumatic tires. It's great. I wear a wetsuit in cold weather/water because it is a wet ride.

**jej** · 07-19-2005, 07:05 PM

I have one. Have not done a lot of fishingout of it yet - Mostly paddling around lakes. A good place to read about them is yakfishing.com/board/

One JHO member is an expert. Quietman. Go find his website. Neat stuff.

**Speckmisser** · 07-19-2005, 07:50 PM

TreeDoc,

Shoot BigDog an email about this. I'm not sure if he's around this weekend, but he's the one who turned me onto 'yak fishing. Click here for the article I wrote after last year's trip to Baja.

I fished out of a Scrambler in Baja, but Dave had a better boat. I can't remember what he owns here, but he has a couple that he seems to really enjoy (when his shoulder is better).

There is nothing as cool as hooking up in blue water with a hot fish.

**Tree Doc** · 07-19-2005, 09:24 PM

I'll check out the article....thanks! I've pretty much nailed which boat I'm going to buy. My local dealer is going to have a free demo day on the 30th up here in Avila Beach. I'm pretty much leaning to the new for 2005 Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 but will compare it to the Prowler 15 before I make a final decision.

Tons of info on the 'Net and it's great! Since I'm in a virtual "Kayak Fishing Mecca" I figured it' s time to get on it! This is gonna be a blast!

**BigDog** · 07-19-2005, 09:27 PM

You mean something like this? Three pole holders. Fish finder. Bait tank (still in production) Storage inside. Paddle holders. Loops all over the place for attaching things.

That kind of rig?

This an Ocean Kayak Prowler. One of the newest models. 14.5 ft long and a very fast, stable ride.

This was in the northern part of the San Francisco Bay but I use it down in San Diego, Malibu, and on lakes. The resort in Baja that I go to every year has a full range on kayaks and they reserve me a Prowler for the week I am there. I take most of the gear you see in the pic.

Nothing like hooking into a big fish when you are on a kayak. To date, my biggest has been a 6.5 hammer head year before last that I cut the line on and a 5 foot sword fish last year that cut the line himself. I have also hooked into big ones that I never saw.

Great fun if you want to get into another gear oriented sport.

**Tree Doc** · 07-19-2005, 10:33 PM

That's just about the ticket there, BigDog! Looks like your floatin' the Prowler 15. Like I said, I'm probably gonna end up with the newer 13 which is 13' 6" but has just a bit more interior room. All the bells and whistles too...fishfinder, flush mount rod holders, live bait tank, gps, compass, and more....

It's amazing how these things are rigged out. I'm hoping to get out and bag some of those Halibut in all these beautiful coves here in my backyard.

**BigDog** · 07-20-2005, 10:05 AM

Tree Doc....

**Tree Doc** · 07-20-2005, 02:44 PM

Got it! Thanks again, BigDog. I have been all over the 'Net on this one and that site you reommended has already been bookmarked and heavily perused! I'm going to order that DVD on Kayak Fishing also.

I'll probably get this thing purchased and outfitted just in time for DFG to close our Rockfish season but I really hope to poke some nice legal sized Flatty's. I've been out almost every weekend since the season opened just raking in limits on the big Vermillion, Coppers, Olives, and assorted other Rockfish including some real nice Ling's out in 125 to 200' of water on the offshore boat. I have no shortage of good fish in the freezer but we're eating it up like crazy and the Halibut are sparse of course.

**BigDog** · 07-21-2005, 08:00 AM

Man, I wish my shoulder was healed up, I throw the yak on the truck and come down to help you with those rockfish. Bummer.

**BigDog** · 07-22-2005, 10:27 AM

Tree Doc, I just noticed that Spike is advertising a couple Tarpons for sale. One is pretty well rigged already. I paddled a Tarpon when trying to decide what to buy. It is a good yak. I just got a better deal on my Prowler.

**Tree Doc** · 07-22-2005, 10:49 AM

Tanks BD! If it were close I'd consider the 140 as I want to stay in that 13-14' range. My buddy up north has a 160 and he likes it but insists a 14 is the best in his opinion, he's looking for a 140 or maybe the Prowler 13 for a second 'yak.

On the 30th I'm all over Central Coast Kayak's Demo Day and I'm going to paddle the Prowler 15 and the new 13 and will likely make a purchase of one or the other then and start the outfitting!

**T F Coyote** · 07-23-2005, 10:22 PM

I just bought a Feelfree Gemini (tandem) on eBay. It is really meant to be a family kayak for leisurly paddles and for some solo surfing.

However, I plan on doing some solo fishing as well. I work in Laguna Beach and usually get off at 4:00 pm, so I'll try to squeeze in some after work fishing trips while we still have daylight savings time.

I also plan on rigging it with a small anchor so I can use it for a snorkelling/diving platform once lobster season rolls back around.

If anyone is interested in a JHO kayak get together, let me know.

**T F Coyote** · 07-23-2005, 10:28 PM

I was also wondering if I could rig up some camoflauge and use it for waterfowl. At least one lake I know of--Lake Perris--is open to duck hunting only if you have a boat.

**BigDog** · 07-24-2005, 12:30 AM

T F, it looks like you could easily lie down in the feelfree. It would be pretty simple to hang some camo on it. It looks like it is pretty wide and therefore stable. So, you could probably sit up and shoot from it without going swimming. Just remember, put a leash of everything. EVERYTHING. Cause sooner or later you are going to flip it and you can't put the leashes on after something has gone to the bottom. I have seen poles, fish finders, clothes, tackle boxes, etc. go BYE BYE because they were not tied down.

**Speckmisser** · 07-25-2005, 12:33 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

I have seen poles, fish finders, clothes, tackle boxes, etc. go BYE BYE because they were not tied down.[/b]

Yeah, me too.

**BigDog** · 07-25-2005, 07:37 PM

yea, thats right, you had a certain friend feed your rig to the fishes. Forgot about that one.

**sdbowyer** · 07-31-2005, 05:27 PM

Here's my setup. I have a BEAST of a kayak called the Ocean Kayak Ambush. The purists may not even call it a kayak. It's got the motor mount and I love it except for the weight:

**Tree Doc** · 07-31-2005, 07:41 PM

Cool sled, sd!

That sort of reminds me of the Cobra Fish & Dive model that I'm trying to go see. Someone has a fully rigged unit for sale in my locale but I can't get a hold of them yet and I'm squirmin' to go see it and maybe buy it! It's a heavy sled but super stable and I wouldn't mind that one bit.

I'm getting anxious to get one and get to fishing before they close our Rockfish Season up here. Did a demo on a couple Ocean Kayak Prowlers yesterday and now just waiting to here from this other guy before I dive in!

**sdbowyer** · 08-01-2005, 06:28 AM

Tree Doc,

It's extremely stable. I can but up to 800 lbs. of gear on it! That will come in handy if I ever take a big game animal off one of the spoil islands around here.

**easymoney** · 08-01-2005, 08:20 AM

treedoc,
Have you tried CC Kayaks? They are on the frontage road along 101. They have periodic sales of rentals and other gear. Also there is a guy in the photoad that is advertising some ocean kayaks for sale.
There are some very cool sites to visit: baytubers.com , allkayakfishing.com , fishingkayaks.net , fkwarehouse.com

**Tree Doc** · 08-01-2005, 10:42 AM

Yeah easy, I was at CCK's Demo Day on Saturday up here at Avila Beach. They had all the kayaks they sell there for demo. They only do the Ocean Kayaks and the Necky. Necky has nothing I am interested in and the OK does the Prowler 13 and 15 which are real nice units. If I have to buy new it will likely be a Prowler 13 from them but I'd really like to save some dough on the first one and buy used if I can.

All I see in Photo Ad online is a Neck 'sit inside' type. Am I missing something in the magazine?

**SIMPLEARKANSAN** · 08-01-2005, 07:09 PM

This would be a cheaper method. You could take it anywhere a Kayak could go. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you the plans. I've got it copyrighted and they could be yours for the low,low price of $199.95.

**easymoney** · 08-02-2005, 10:57 AM

Oh well, the ad is probably out of date... I saw some at Copelands in SLO at the beginning of the summer. Ocean makes some nice "fishing" modles. Check out those websites I posted and they have them pretty tricked out for ocean fishing. I own several sit inside models for hunting and fishing, but have looked into buying a used siton. They are very hard to find locally...
Good luck, the fishing should be very good this summer for halibut.

**Tree Doc** · 08-02-2005, 02:52 PM

Nice yacht you have there, Simple!

I saw that on one of the kayak web sites. What did you name it....The Nimitz?

easymoney, it appears that I am the new owner of a Cobra Fish & Dive. Found one on "Craigslist" and after not being able to contact the owner for a few days I finally made a connection late yesterday. It's like new with rod holders, Humminbird depth finder, compass, seat, paddle, launch wheels, pretty much ready to go for $650. The boat alone would have cost me $963 plus tax if I bought from my local dive shop dealer. I pick it up tomorrow down in Carpinteria. Good thing I had a business meeting scheduled with my buddy down south or that would have been a trek.

In my research I have found that the Cobra is somewhat of a Slug as far as speed goes but at 12'6"L x 36"W and a 600 pound capacity I don't think a more stable platform exists short of a boat dock. It ought to be a good starter for me. Now I have to go buy some personal gear like a wet suit, booties, spray jacket and I'll be stylin' I have the live bait well built and ready to go already so I just might be hustlin' some Flattybuts in Shell Beach come Saturday or Sunday!

**BigDog** · 08-03-2005, 06:58 AM

Congrats Tree Doc!

You surely got a good deal at that price with all of the gear already on board.

They are a little heavy and not as agile but they are really hard to flip. And you have tons of deck/storage space. Welcome to the kayak fishing world.

I am sure you will enjoy it. I am getting really agitated waiting for our Baja trip on the 13th. Went out and bought a bunch of tackle yesterday.

**easymoney** · 08-03-2005, 01:56 PM

treedoc,
Sounds like you got a good deal on a fishin' machine...

**Tree Doc** · 08-03-2005, 06:20 PM

Wow...did I ever!!

I made the connection with the yak owner this afternoon down in Carpinteria. When I saw it I immediately knew it was a big score! This thing is trick and hardly used with a shiney smooth bottom. I wonder how it was ever launched. Everything that came with it was in brand new condition, the fish finder, the rod holders and the special crossbar set up to mount the holders and finder, the seat, the paddle. It even came with a sea (drift) anchor! I'm totally stoked, I couldn't get the money out of my top pocket fast enough.

Now, off to the kayak store so I can buy my wetsuit, booties, etc. I'm dieing to get thing into the water!

**easymoney** · 08-04-2005, 07:49 AM

treedoc,
Very nice rig...
I have seen some crate setups online to hold gear and rods that you attach behind your seat. Some even have GPS and fishfinder holders. How cadillac...

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