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I need something to get me out in deeper water, I have only fished once from a boat, and have always done it from shore. Now that im starting to fish heavily, not having a way to get deeper has been driving me crazy. So im doing something about it but not sure what to do. I need it to be light weight and able to be strapped onto a car. I like the idea of a kayak but not sure how easy it would be, and a tube looks harder to maneuver. I am looking for opinions on what would be easy and enjoyable. I plan on spending a good amount of time in it, and also will mainly be using it for pineview,willard, and mantua if that makes any difference. I am looking at a 150 to 300 dollar range, cheaper the better. But if its out of the price range and definatly worth it, ill do it.
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There are ups and downs for tubes, toons, and yaks. I prefer Yaks for fishing. I have used all three and I like being able to go distance relatively easier compared to tubes and toons. But I never put a motor on my craft.
I have a Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler. I got it for $300 on KSL. And the paddle from another site.
Good luck finding what you are looking for.
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I too have used all three. I of course, prefer Pontoon. Easier to pack, & store and pretty sure lighter.
But, I don't worry about distance although can do it. Pretty much catch fish in the general area I launch.
Piece of cake to put a motor on as well.
However, you need hip waders.
I think they are maneuverable enough, plus the fin power on calm days you want hands free subtle movement.
Not down on Kayaks, I have looked at many with rivers in mind. But pontoons can be way loaded down. You can launch at Renegade and row or motor over to the narrows packing a tent and food for several days.
Just my choice.
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I have had pontoon, float tube, and kayak. The kayak is the fastest, pontoon the most comfortable, and the tube the slowest and most work to use, but is the lightest and easiest to pack around. So you have to decide which factor is most important.
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I have used both tubes and toons. I prefer the toon but there are times when I will use a tube. Many different styles of tubes and toons as well. Shop around and look at all the different styles. Find one that suits your type of fishing as well.
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I have used all three and a boat also. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is wind. A kayak will take you where you want to go quickly, but it is hard to fish from in the wind unless you plan on anchoring. The wind will push you around and then you have to paddle to get back into position. For bigger bucks the Hobie yaks have a peddle drive and so you don't have to use your hands to paddle. Kayaks in my opinion are usually heavier and also harder to transport.
A pontoon with a choice of motor, oars, or fins has good ability to maneuver in a wind or to troll. The frameless are more money, but they pack in a car. Framed ones can also be taken apart and packed.
A tube is a bit harder physically to get where you want to go on fin power alone. But it is easy to hike it in and then launch close to where you want to fish. A big wind can also be very hard to kick against in one. But a tube is very maneuverable, relatively inexpensive, light, and compact for packing.
There are some real tradeoffs that are personal preference.
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So I was right where you are last year shopping for a personal craft.
I went with a larger tube and put an electric motor on it.
[inline "Powered Tube.JPG"]
The motor solves a lot of the movement and "range" issues with just kicking. And I've had it out in white caps on Deer Creek (close to shore just in case) and it's performed great.
I went with the tube because it offered me the greatest flexibility "out of the gate" to discover what kind of fishing I like to do most on my "short trips" (I have a boat for Long trips). It was also cheap and easy to transport in my little Subaru Legacy.
I think I paid $100 for the Tube (in the box but on KSL), $70 for the used motor, $20 for the motor mount PVC and pole holders (not shown), and $50 for a battery. Oh yeah and $40 to the state to register it. I found some waders and fins for $90.
I've since added a fish finder and other goodies because it is a blast to fish with.
With the motorized tube I've fished all over Deer Creek launching from the marinas. Or I can backpack it to a remote lake and still get out into the fish.
The biggest downside to the Tube, IMHO, is being in the water. To me that gets uncomfortable after 2-3 hours.... which for me is the limit of the time I'd use the tube anyway.
As I consider longer personal fishing trips, I'm leaning heavily toward a motorized pontoon but I have to say those pedal kayaks look like the funnest way to fish period.
Unfortunately they are as much or more than a nice, used fishing boat.
As has been said, the "right" choice depends very much on what types of fishing you intend to do.
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I have had several tubes, and a couple of Kayaks, and a few boats.
As far a small device to get out to deep water the one that has worked the best for me is a little cheap [$100 ] 8' kayak.
It is very light and easy to handle in and out of the water. Gets from point A to point B
way way faster than a tube, even one with a motor on it.
What is really cool about it is you can pull it right behind you, and make your way through thick brush and tulies to get into those brushed up little bodies of water that
never get fished.
It is IMO more stealthy than a tube.
Never take a kayak out fishing with out an anchor. I use a 2# sinker with a couple of 4" screws sticking out, tied to some 1/4" cord.
You don't need to spend a ton of money to catch fish, as a matter of fact I have found that less stuff can be better in so many ways.
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Great input from all already for you to consider.
From the garage, to the car, to the water, on the water, and back a kayak would be simplest and the easiest. I think you get into a routine with whatever you use but I think the kayak wins out hands down especially with the amount of money you want to start with. Can't go wrong with an Ocean Kayak in that price range if you can find one.
Just get something to get you going out on the water if nothing else at this point. Don't worry to much about what you get now anyways, you will be upgrading soon after.
Spending in that price range will also allow you to sell it in that price range also but nothing wrong with growing a quiver. You will figure out what is missing or what you exactly want as you go along.
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[quote lucabrasi]Great input from all already for you to consider.
From the garage, to the car, to the water, on the water, and back a kayak would be simplest and the easiest. I think you get into a routine with whatever you use but I think the kayak wins out hands down especially with the amount of money you want to start with. Can't go wrong with an Ocean Kayak in that price range if you can find one.
Just get something to get you going out on the water if nothing else at this point. Don't worry to much about what you get now anyways, you will be upgrading soon after.
Spending in that price range will also allow you to sell it in that price range also but nothing wrong with growing a quiver. You will figure out what is missing or what you exactly want as you go along.[/quote]
I have to agree with you totally on the "PRICE" stand point. A kayak will be a good cheap investment. If money was not an issue, however, that is where I will differ.
Nothing beats fin power IMHO and going backwards[  ] But I am talking the frameless pontoons. The best of all worlds where I can float an 8' pontoon that weighs 14 lbs and Oars.
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All good comments so far.
I've also had all three (I see a pattern here) and think you should also consider a canoe in your considerations.
I love my Kayaks (yes, more than one) liked my pontoon and my tube was great when I had nothing else. Why a canoe then?
Comfort and capacity.
A kayak can get hard on the back after several hours, the legs can get cramped and getting in and out while so low to the ground can sometimes be a bit frustrating.
A canoe, with it's openness allows you to have more body movement and this prevents cramping. A canoe allows you to fish with a friend if you want to. A canoe means that your beverage does not have to be between your legs and you can bring a much bigger tackle box and cooler. They also allow use of a motor with little to no modification.
Drawbacks are that they weigh more and on land can be harder to handle. A simple wheeled dolly can take care of that, but you need to come up with a good way to get them on and off the car and to your storage spot at home.
Keep your eyes open on KSL and you should have no problem finding one in your price range.
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The biggest downside of the Kayak/Canoe fishing I've done is moving requires hands that then cannot be used to fish.
If you're going someplace to stop and fish, fine.... but if you plan to search a rocky bank for bass, it's a non-starter.
This, however, is probably my next personal fishing craft (I am a big fan of backward too... especially when fly fishing):
[url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuSMEgwhn4w"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuSMEgwhn4w[/url]
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Now that is slick, but the peddling looks like work. I would be up for trying one of those.
Kicking is just second nature and I don't realize I am even doing it.
I did see several kayakers tip over this year....how easy is it to do this in one? I know the one I tried I was a little nervous about it.
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The Natives are about as stable, durable, and comfortable as they come. The seat is amazing. They have been doing it right for years. About as heavy as you will find too tho. You can peddle backwards but the Hobies blow right on past in forward and both will not be found anywhere close to the price range desired
The peddles are great and I do love my Hobies, they are fishing machines, but I don't think a paddle limits you quite as much as some say. I do like to paddle tho. Peddles are great for trolling and staying in an area but both can be done with a paddle. Backwards too of course. The peddles do make it nice to hoof it off the lake when the clouds start rolling in.
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Yeah, pedal Kayaks are definitely not priced as "entry level" personal fishing craft. [cool]
But just so the starter of the thread knows what he's in for, I started wanting to spend just what he did and now look at what I'm shopping for a year later. [shocked]
I personally would sacrifice top end speed for the ability to hold position and backwater with the pedals for fly/bass fishing every day of the week.
Those Hobies do haul on the water though.
Many Kayaks are built to be unstable and "rollable". These types are meant to be stable enough to stand and cast ... and handle white-cap sized waves.
I've talked to a number of owners of pedal Kayaks and they say going all day even at high trolling speeds isn't a problem.
Many of them didn't exactly look like Lance Armstrong either.
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You learn to set up your drifts to get the maximum time over the area you want to fish without paddling, it comes with experience. A double paddle helps, as does setting the canoe up to be rowed from the middle instead of paddled.
My canoe really came into it's own when I mounted an electric motor right where the front seat was. I set the battery under the seat and the weight leveled the canoe out as well as providing power for a depth sounder.
I used one of those handle extentions with the swivels and could control the motor from the back seat with ease and total control. It was like a paddling partner that never got tired, never talked and didn't drink or eat.
Perfect in every way.
When I wanted to haul back to the ramp, I just set it on straight forward full and kicked back and tillered.
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Yeah, I have to agree tossing an electric motor on a Kayak/Canoe may be the best of everything.
While I'm saving my pennies for a pedal, I may rig my motor on a stable sit-on-top Kayak.
The 5LB lithium pack I use is an ideal weight saver for a little motorized Kayak.
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Thanks for all the information and help! I love your setup Masterdaad, as I plan to have a small motor and fishfinder. The only thing that worries me is the comfort, as I usually go for 6 or more hours. I would love a canoe, but would a car be enough to move it around? Im now more focused on a tube or pontoon from what I have heard, how easy is it to transport a pontoon? Is it easy to control a motor from both and im kinda unsure how you would set up the fish finder on either one, and where it would be to read it. The pontoon is looking a little better to me, but the drawbacks for me are transporting, and being pushed by the wind more.
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Do lots of looking around. One place I suggest that you start at is the Float Tube forum on here. Lots of great ideas for all kinds of setups.
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/gforu...ategory=66
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After writing that last message I went and read everything over again. Im pretty sure Iwant to go with a pontoon. comfort is the main key, along with roomy. It sounds fairly simple and easy to fish out of. If anyone has a suggestion on what kind of pantoon I should get, I would appreciate it! Otherwise ill keep my eye on ksl for something that will fit my need. Also I know this is kinda getting away from it and asking alot but whats a good cheap motor or fish finder to go with it? I dont know anything about either one, and honestly would like a good and reliable fish finder!
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