howdy, like the title says , I am looking for something to fish out of but also do duty as a platform for photography using a rather large expensive lens; therefore stability & dryness are the major concerns, it will be lakes (Caddo mostly) and protected water and speed is not a big concern, BUT I am 62 with a bad shoulder and this itself will keep the distance down , prices have presently taken pedal drives out of the picture, so mostly I just dont want to flip (I might mention that with my shoulder swimming is not happening & 5k worth of gear needs to stay in the boat. Anyone who has similar uses I would love to hear your opinions and stories, thanks in advance...btw I am presently considering a Native ULtimate and OLd Town Dirigo so any experience with those and their stability would be really nice. Thanks Again

Reading this I cant help but think a single seater canoe would be a good possible option. You can pick a side to paddle on or get a trolling motor. Canoes might be safer as far as dropping things. Most everything will land inside the canoe.

You're on the right track Bass Bug. I've been on the fishing and paddling side of things and am getting more serious about the photography side with addition of a longer range lens I recently bought for a Fuji X Pro 2. Having room to safely store your camera equipment out of the elements and accessibility to it being the most important in my mind. With tunnel hull, the Native Kayaks Ultimate is very stable platform. As Christian pointed out, the higher gunnels of a canoe, or that of the hybrid kayak, Ultimate, will definitely put your mind more at ease for losing stuff overboard. On stalking birds or animals from a paddle craft, plastic is definitely the quietest material when you hit or scrape off of shallow rocks or stumps. All the storage area in front of you, in the Ultimate, is ideal, especially if you have canvas covers made to fit it. I looked on their website and didn't see any but they were available years ago. If not, you can have them custom made.

https://nativewatercraft.com/product/ultimate-12/

https://used-kayaks.com/native-wate...e-12-bow-skirt-extremely-hard-find-94804

http://www.carolinawildphoto.com/tegriscover.htm

You might look at Eddyline Caribbean 12 or 14. I had a 14 and loved it