Okay, so you have been fishing for a while, be it from the shore or boat and something about the whole idea of doing it from a kayak appeals to you. It could be that you have seen someone else on the water and thought “that looks like great fun”, or you got fed up with being pushed off your favourite bass mark as the tide floods the rocks your perched on just as the fish are starting to feed, or you find that you have to get your boat out of the bay as the tide drops before your stuck, again typically as the fish start to feed. Have you decided to look into kayak angling but are completely dumbfounded by the choice and range out there?
In this article I hope to have a look at some of the features you might want to consider when selecting a kayak (commonly abbreviated simply to yak by those in the know) that suits your needs.
One of the first things you need to think about it what type of kayak do you need? There are 2 general body types of kayaks and all models can be slotted into one of these categories. They are Sit On Top (SOT) Kayaks and Sit in Kayaks (SINKs).
A SINK is what everyone easily identifies as a kayak, generally made of plastic with a cockpit design that means that everything below the kayaker’s waist will be enclosed in the kayak. These are generally sealed by a skirt that seals the yakker into the yak. These yaks are generally extremely manoeuvrable and fast but suffer from a lack of stability and deck storage space.
These are some SINK touring kayaks, as you can see the yakker is limited to his seating position and has very limited access to the area under the deck.
SOTs look for all intents and purposes like a built up surfboard. These kayaks do not have the traditional cockpit design, instead having an open deck layout where the yakker literally sits on top. These yaks are generally flatter bottomed and wider than the SINKs and therefore benefit from greatly increased stability but sacrifice speed and manoeuvrability for this stability. Most designs of SOTs also benefit increased storage capacity, having a tank well at the rear and a dry hatch in the front. Most kayak anglers favour the much increased stability that a SOT offers and are willing to trade the speed and manoeuvrability. The image below shows you a couple of SOTs rigged for yakking. The furthest off yak is an Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 while the nearer one is an Ocean Kayak Prowler Big Game.
Another benefit of the open deck, non flooding design (any water that swamps the deck gets drained away through the scupper holes) of the SOT offers yakker an easier self rescue as there is no need for the yakker to be experienced at Eskimo roles.
So now that we have explained the differences between a SINK and a SOT, I hope that you have favoured the SOT design, but what are you looking for in your yak? What differentiates the various SOTs on the market?
One of the first things that you may need to factor into your make and model decision is your size. All yaks have a max weight allowance, you need to consider that not only will it be your weight that you need to factor but also the weight of your tackle, rods, reels, electronics etc. Some models, like the Ocean Kayak Big Game are designed to handle alot more weight, having a maximun weight capacity of 600lbs versus the more traditional 400-450 lbs, but there is a downside; the Big Game weighs in at almost 70lbs, as opposed to around 50lbs for the Prowler 13, remember that your going to have to be able to lift this over your head to get it onto your roof.
All models of kayaks have different dimensions and each of these offer benefits in one area but you have to trade off somewhere else. Average lengths of fishing kayaks are around 13 foot. Longer kayaks have the advantage of improved “tracking” i.e. that they stay on course easier but you lose some manoeuvrability as a consequence. The average width of a yak is in the region of 28 inches / 71 cms but wider ones are available. Wider kayaks are more stable but as a result you lose a lot of your speed and the physical effort to propel the yak is increased to the increased water profile. Many anglers favour a yak like the Ocean Kayak Prowler 13, which has achieved a good blend of length and width to give a stable yet fast kayak which at 13 foot allows for good tracking yet retains its manoeuvrability.
Other kayak manufacturers make comparable yaks such as the Perception Freedom Angler
and the Wilderness Tarpon 120 and 140.
A major consideration that may affect your decision of yak is the layout of the deck space. Whilst this may seem quite trivial to some, it could be too late by the time that you realise that the deck space on your kayak is wrong for what you want. No matter what yak you get you will inevitably decide that you want to add a few additional features to your deck, be it a fishfinder, a gps, an anchor trolley or additional rod holders. For this it really is a case of getting into the various types of kayaks available and seeing which one suits your personal preferences and body. Some of the features on kayaks that I find to be particularly good are the large open deck space on the Prowler 13. The “Rod Pod” on the Ocean Kayak Trident models. The flush mount rod holder between your legs on the Perception Freedom Angler, however the deck space is otherwise poorly laid out. The amply storage facilities around the deck of the Wilderness Systems Tarpon models, but again these suffer from a narrower cockpit and therefore reduced deck space.
Whilst I have picked a few of the more popular models on the market to give you an idea of what to look for in a yak, there are countless other makes and models out there on the market. Whatever model you choose, make sure that you get one that suits you. My advice is to try out a few different models, all be it attend a meet on the site and try out a few of the other members kayaks, or go to an open day in some of the shops. But whatever you do, be sure to get involved in this fast growing, highly addictive method of fishing and hopefully you will land that monster fish before long!
