When choosing your fishing kayak, there are many factors to take into consideration. Before you choose your kayak we have to decide what type of place and where you are going for fishing choosing a fishing kayak depends on your place type and you paddling length and. You should identify what fish species you will target, mainly 10-12 foot kayak is standard.
Fishing kayak for forest and mangrove areas:
If you are paddling in backcountry shallow water areas you might prefer to blend into your surroundings with a more earth tone color such as khaki or Green.Green and khaki color is also good for forest and mangrove areas, and you should choose long kayak for mangrove or forest areas because you need to less visible on that areas. You can choose camo fishing kayak advantage of the camo kayak is that in addition to fishing, they can be used for bird hunting. If you hunt ducks or geese, the camo kayak is a perfect fit for your arsenal. They allow you to effectively hunt as you do not have to alter them in any way because of perfectly blending with cattails and bulrushes. The only negative that I have found with camp kayaks is that they are very difficult to see when there is a chop on the water or on cloudy days. In these conditions, which are sometimes the best time to be out fishing, it can get dangerous if other boats have difficulty seeing you.
Kayak depending on your sitting position:
Another decision that you will have to make is the choice of a (sit on top) kayak or a (sit inside) kayak. The major difference in the two is very simple. In a sit inside you actually do sit inside the cockpit of the kayak with your legs under the deck of the kayak. In a sit on top kayak you would sit on top in a cockpit that is molded into the kayak with your legs and body exposed.
A sit inside kayak designed for fishing is shorter and wider making it more stable and maneuverable than a touring kayak designed for traveling long distance. In a sit inside kayak, your seat is low thus making your center of gravity lower and making you feel very stable. A sit inside kayak can be fitted with a spray skirt to keep the water out and keep you dry and warm. Many models are designed with larger cockpits openings to give you ample room to move, enter or exit. If the hull fills with water, you would have to pump or bail it out. If you are near shore you could turn the kayak over on shore and dump the water out.
A sit on top kayak has a self-bailing cockpit with scupper drain holes designed to drain water, so if you take on water it drains out of the scupper holes. This is a huge attribute if you are launching through the surf or paddling in rough water. Another nice benefit of the self- bailing feature is the fact that rainwater does not accumulate. Sit on top kayaks are very easy to get in and out of and move around in. They allow easy access to your gear or tackle while afloat and you can sit with your legs hanging over the side and in some models even stand up and pole them with a push pole.
When choosing a kayak for fishing, remember that one of the biggest advantages of fishing from a kayak is stealth and being able to blend in with your surroundings. To be accepted by fish, birds and other wildlife as non-obtrusive, it is important to have a kayak that is quiet with no hull slap or anything that looks, feels or sounds unnatural. After a day on the water, try to leave things as you found them – hopefully undisturbed.
Kayak for river:
Small or medium kayak is good for city river fishing because you don’t have to paddle so much far on that area .And you must select brighter color like yellow for that area brighter color of kayak is visible from far.Occasionally river courses can get quite narrow and,depending on the terrain the river flows through,can have a number to tight twist and turns.This can make certain models of touring and sea kayak unsuitable for river kayaking,as their 12 to 14 foot length makes them far more likely to be caught up on obstacles.For most river kaykaing you should choose a kayak with a lenght of between 8 and 10 feet.
More about long Kayak:
If you are planning to fish on large bodies of still water, then a long, fast, and a slim sit-in kayak with a low degree of rocker and a lower degree of initial stability would do the trick. The main reason for this is because fishing in large bodies of water requires speed. If you are planning to fish on bays, inlets, estuaries, sounds, creeks, and flats, choosing a slim and long kayak that consists of a moderate degree of the rocker can help you accomplish this task.
More about short Kayak:
Still water fishing can comprise any body of water from a small pond to a huge lake. Smaller bodies of water require short, lightweight kayaks that contain a moderate degree of rocker and a high degree of initial stability. Both sit-on-tops and recreational kayaks would fit perfectly for this task.If you are going for moving water fishing this type of fishing can take place anywhere the water is flowing like a river with rapids. As there are certain types of fishing kayaks designed for this purpose, one universal constant should be observed when making a choice. You need to keep in mind that when fishing in this territory, the current will be propelling your canoe. Therefore, you need a wide, short, sit-in kayak for this task. The kayak should have soft chines, with a high degree of rocker and a high degree of secondary stability.
Length vs width:
Length and width play a crucial role in the speed and maneuverability of the kayak. Kayaks with long hulls are fast than those with a short kayak hulls with the same width. This is because the long kayaks have a longer waterline. Long kayaks, however, are less maneuverable compared to short kayak hulls.
Narrow kayaks are fast than wide kayaks but have a less initial stability compared to the wide kayaks. Narrow kayaks, however, have a greater secondary stability than their wide kayaks counterparts.
Kayaks with a great initial stability are the best on flat waters but are highly unstable in rough waters. Consequently, kayaks with a great secondary stability are more stable on rough seas but are not the best on flat waters.