https://houston.craigslist.org/boa/6112411491.html

Hey guys! I normally hang out in the bass fishing section but I wanted to ask for some opinions on bass fishing out of a kayak. I have a boat currently but the drive from downtown Houston to conroe is to far while in college and working. I am considering a kayak because I can get to Sheldon Lake which is small lake and close to town.
1) Do you think this a good deal on this Kayak?
2) Is kayak fishing pretty hard say standing up or just fishing from one period?

thanks guys

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Kayak fishing is about the angler, you have to decide what you want to do and set a budget to achieve that. Every type of fishing has pros and cons the kayak is not for everybody but it puts you up close and personal with the fish. You can't pick up and run to a new spot and have to learn to fish more thoroughly. When I started kayak fishing I had two boats and a large truck, now between the wife and I we have 4 kayaks and 2 roof racks the boats are gone and I drive a subaru to save gas.

Go to a kayak demo and paddle some so you can decide if you want to try fishing out of one before you commit the money. Do some research on the fishing kayaks and see which brands/models have the features you want. Find a kayak group from your area, most kayakers haven't met a stranger yet and will most likely offer to take you out in one of their boats so you can start getting a feel for what you want.

Everyone will tell you to paddle as many as you can before you pull the trigger on buying one so you have a better chance of finding the best boat for you.

Good Luck!

As mentioned kayak fishing isn't for everyone, but more and more folks have caught the bug.
Fishing in the wind can be a challenge moreso than out of a boat, but you can learn to manage it with anchor trolleys and now they have the mini power poles, and some kayaks fish better in the wind than some others.
Kayaks are compared to buying a pair of shoes....You just have to find the right one that fits your budget and fishing style.
Nothing wrong with buying used and there are many good deals out there because a lot of people upgrade often and you get the benefit.
But first do your homework on what to look for and that means just like shoes, you have to consider your height and weight and how much gear you want to carry, and possibly try several out. Also a stand up kayak is going to be wider and maybe not as fast as a narrower kayak so you have to find that sweet spot that fits your needs.
Demo, demo, demo is always the name of the game when trying to educate yourself.
I got into kayaking about ten years ago, and even back then, you didn't have the choices you have now and it can be overwhelming.

Take a guided half day trip with a guide that provides the yak, get with a buddy who has an extra yak or just rent one and fish from it. If you like it then do the demo days and start looking for a yak that fits you. As far as guides, Shane Davies on the Brazos and Slowride at Aransas come to mind. May be some closer to you. Good luck with it, yak fishing is a hoot.

If you aren't looking to risk a lot of money to get one then check out Ascend kayaks from Bass Pro Shops. They're good starter yaks for sure.

Also, I bet there are some Austin Kayak Demo Days coming up in your area. Check them out!

Ad still up. Looks like a great deal

Reading your post, I'm assuming you've never fished out of a kayak before.

I'll tell you what I tell everyone else in your position:

Rent First, kayak fishing is not for everyone.

In case you don't heed my advice:

Yes, it's a fair deal. If it was $500 or $550, it's a good deal.

You get all the kayak essentials (Paddle, Anchor, PFD), plus extras.

I have that same model (but older version) for my son.
Very stable to stand-in (but standing in a kayak takes practice and confidence).

That's kind of heavy for kayak, almost 100 lbs and not that great of a weight capacity, but it's not a bad deal with the gear included. Check the serial number, the last two digits should be the year it was made, that might give you some bargaining room. If you buy it and don't like it, just sell it. If you buy it and like kayak fishing, you can sell it and upgrade to a nicer kayak.

How are you going to haul the yak? If Tallgrass05's weight figure is accurate, that is a real heavy kayak to lift up off the ground after a day of paddling and place on top of a car's roof rack. You can find a lot of 12 foot yaks in the 65-75 pound range.

The Bass Pro web site says the Ascend 128T is approximately 96 lbs with a weight capacity of 350 lbs, so the useful load it can safely handle is probably about 240 lbs. Not a very good weight:capacity ratio, but not a bad price for a starter to see if he likes it.

Check these out www.onefrogtwo.com Great fish catching machines with numerous advantages over others.

There are a lot of light weight kayaks. Viking 440 is 55lbs, viking profish 400 is 53 lbs, viking gt is also about 50 lbs. These kayaks range from just over 15 ft to just under 12 ft. All great kayaks.