I,m thinking about buying a used kayak for bass fishing on the river.I,ve recently started doing this and I have to say ,it,s addicting.I have a 16' canoe that I,m using now and I will paddle it about 2 to 3 miles upstream and fish my way back.My success has been terrific catching a minimum of twenty bass both spotted and largemouth.I don,t mind the paddling because it is great exercise but it really cuts into my fishing time and I can only go so far to make it back in time.Is a kayak going to be much faster?I,m looking a a 15' ocean kayak but I,m not sure if this is what I really need.I,m concerned with the size.Is it to big or should I look into something smaller.I need enough room to keep some fish alive in a cooler and have storage for tackle and extra clothes drink cooler etc.I would like to throw it in the back of my truck and carry it that way without buying a trailer.Any advice would be appreciated

All I do is Kayak Fishing and owning a Jackson Coosa has been the excellent choice for river fishing. It's compact, you can stand it in, has tons or storage and it's perfect for rivers due to the size of the yak.
I have no trouble paddling upstream at all and comes with stocked rod holders. It's the whole package for a great price! PM me if you ever have anymore questions.

I don't have a brand to suggest, just make sure you get one that's made for fishing. I fish from a general use one, and I had to make some modifications to it.

Come by Fun-n-Sun and check out the all new Feel Free Lure. We have them in 10 and 11.5. They have the seat that raises and has the width to stand up and fish with no problem. For more info call 817-280-0303

Check out the kayak section of these forums, lots of good help in there.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/forums/27/1/Kayak_Fishing

Ive done quite a bit of kayak fishing and love it. If you have the extra coin, the hobie pro angler is the Cadillac of kayak fishing. I will say that if the river is shallow it could cause some issues though because of the mirage drive. The mirage drive will cut your run up river or down river in half. It is the perfect set up for fishing, but will be heavy. If it is too much or the river is shallow, less than 2 foot in places that you are going, then I would suggest the Jackson coosa mentioned above. Another great kayak that is very versatile. If you want extreme stability for standing up the adios paddle sports kayaks are very nice, but with such a wide berth they will wear out your arms paddling long distances. Just my 2 cents. All have the raised seats which are really nice. Also, I haven't tried the ascend at bass pro, but it looks nice. Check out the kayak forum and ask them, they are a wealth of knowledge.

Texaskayakfisherman.com and austinkayakfishing.com are two sites with a lot of good info on kayaks for bass fishing. Lots of them will get the job done for you, but one thing to think about is how they track -- with current pushing you constantly, some kayaks will be a lot better than others. Do you want to be able to stand up in them? Some are really stable but stability means a wider yak and a slower paddle. If you're looking for a fast paddling yak, you will probably want a narrow one which means standing up won't be easily achieved.

Also, 15' might be a little too big for most river fishing. A 12' model would be really good for most of those river situations and day trips.

A "pedal" type kayak like a hobie might not be the most ideal choice -- parts break from time to time, the "wings" stick out from the bottom of the yak and pick up a lot of grass, debris, etx.... and those yaks are not inexpensive.

You can find tons of great deals on used yaks on craigslist and those forums mentioned above. Good luck finding an awesome yak!

Hobie Pro Anger 14 if you got the cash.

Started fishing rivers and ponds from a yak this summer, it is very relaxing and enjoyable! My observation so far after trips down the buffalo in Ark. and the Devils in South Texas is a peddle boat for ponds and deeper small waters, I have a Hobie outback, and a cheaper but quality craigslist SOT boat(usually under $500) like a pescador no longer than 12ft. but no shorter than 10ft.(need room to haul gear especially for overnighters)for the rivers with shallow rapids. Going to paddle/fish the San Marcos on Saturday with our church youth group if I can find any water between the inner tubes.

Best bang for the buck? Pescador 120 for $500 at Acadamy. Exact same mold(same factory) as Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 which retailed for $800. Great all around fishing yak for lakes, ponds and streams. If you plan on being one of those that loads 200lbs of gear on your yak and paddles out of sight in the ocean...spend a bunch more for a way bigger boat but this is a great all around fishing boat.

Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Angler. The adjustable seat seems like a great feature, because it elevates your body for better casting. I just dont seem to cast very good when my bum in at water level.

Wilderness Systems Ride 135

Just a suggestion. Best for you to try out several kayaks until you find the one you like.
Check with the local kayak dealers and see if they have a "try before you buy" day.

Check out Texas Kayak Fisherman site. Lots of info there as well as the TFF Kayak Fishing Sub-Forum

I bought a Perception Sport Pescador 12 about 6 months ago and have had more fun in that thing than I ever could have imagined. Great boat - perfect mix of speed and stability, comfortable, doesn't fill up with water...and an excellent price. Definitely recommended.

A lot of these are good recommendations. You might also check out Mariner Sails in Dallas on I-35 between Walnut Hill and Royal. They have lots of yaks and related gear.

I bought the Wilderness Ride 135 from them several years ago. And also got the 10 foot version for my wife.

Good luck,

Jim

Iconn4 does a lot of fishing in a kayak and posts regularly here. I asked him some questions and he steered me toward a Native Watercraft FX 15 Tandem. I really wanted one that me and my wife could go in together and also could be converted to just me alone if I decided to fish in kayak tournaments or just go alone. This one looks to be exactly what we are looking for.