Hello,

I was thinking of getting a kayak because I am unable to afford a boat and really enjoy fishing. I seen some really nice kayaks and some okay ones. My main question is to ask you guys about those sit-on-top kayaks with a cooler/tackle box behind you. Is it hard to reach for stuff behind you in the cooler/tackle box? Also I do not know how to swim. I know I will be using a life jacket but is there anything else I can use for safety? Have any one of you fell off you kayak while fishing or paddling? Thanks in advance for the help!

Lots of experience and advice here:

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/

henny

I can tell you from first hand experience that it can be a bit difficult to reach behind you if you have any kind of shoulder trouble. I just keep everything leashed to the boat in some way so that if I lose my grip I haven't lost all my stuff over the side. Anyway most sit on tops are stable enough for some movement to help turn around. You will just have to see how much you yourself can move and still feel safe. As for not being able to swim just keep a life jacket on at all times. Many of us on here have small children 1-5 yrs old; that we take out all the time on our kayaks. And as for falling off. The first thing I did when I got my boat was to get a friend and have him watch me while I practiced deep water entries.



Kyle

I WOULD TAKE SWIMMING LESSONS FIRST. sit on tops are great. getcha one with rod holders and they have a hatch to put your lures etc in.

I use a sit-on-top and I can reach around and grab any gear. But...... I also bought the most stable rig. A Cobra-Fish-n-Dive. If you can't swim stay in 2ft. of water. I catch great fish in 2ft. of water.

I fish out of a ocean kayak 13 prowler and I can turn around and reach about 2/3 of the tank well (area in back), while still seated normal. I take my right hand and grab the carry handle that is on the left side of the kayak while I grab tackle, jacket, etc with my left hand. Grabbing the handle keeps me more stable than just turning around.

In warm weather you also swing your legs out to the side and sit sideways and grab stuff, The kayak is not as stable when sitting like that but it works.

When you launch the kayak, go ahead and put what you really need in front of you or in the pockets of the life jacket that you should be wearing (pliers, cutters,camera, small tackle box with most commonly used lures in it). This will minimize the number of times you need to turn around and get stuff.

Also, the wider the yak is the more stable it will be when you turn around to get stuff. Cobra makes some very wide and stable yaks, I would have bought one for that reason if I hadn't found a great deal on the OK Prowler.

Now thats intresting. I was going with the OKP 13 until I found a deal for my Cobra FND. I still wonder till this day if I made the right choice. My deal was $200.00 cheaper on the price. I do have more room and hold alot more gear.

Redfish Riviera had the opportunity to meet Jimbo Meador who is a well known kayak angler that was with Orvis and now is the manufacturer of Heritage Kayaks and Native Watercraft Kayaks. Redfish Riviera is also interested in investing in some fishing kayaks and have just learned some techniques and recommendations at the Mobile Fishing Association Kayak Tournament a couple of weeks ago. Several anglers told us that the sit-on-tops are less stable and for beginners they were not recommended, of course it all depends on the width of the kayak too. The new Native Watercraft Kayaks are awesome and could be compared to the Cadillac of fishing kayaks, the older model that was also designed by Jimbo Meador can be found at the Heritage Kayak site and is the Redfish 14. These sites below are all very informative and you should check them out before making your decision. Hope this insight helps and don't forget to check out or site for all of your redfishing needs. Good Luck and tight lines!

www.heritagekayaks.com
www.nativewatercraft.com
www.mbkfa.com
www.redfishriviera.com

Go withe the Cobra Fish N Dive.

Mine is very stable & a dry ride.

Try a bunch and see which ones are better for reaching around behind you.

I second getting swimming lessons. Whether you are in a kayak, fishing from a river bank or a 50' cruiser, you should know how to swim and feel comfortable in the water.

I have a Cobra Navigator XF (SOT). I have 3 rod holders in front and another 5 behind the seat and on occasion I have filled them all. I have a seat pack and depending on the situation I use a small lunch bag, a large soft side cooler or a small hard side cooler behind the seat also. The rear area of my Navigator is covered with a motorcycle cargo net, so I can stow gear back there and not worry about loosing it if I do turtle. I have come close a couple of times but I have never turtled my Navigator. I reach behind the seat fairly easy by merely sitting side saddle, which is one of the advantages of a SOT. I fish rivers mostly so for more difficult access like the front hatch or extreme aft I just land and get whatever I need. I carry some equipment in my shirt and wader pockets and PFD (which I wear if I am the kayak) and some in the "O" hatch in front of my lap. As time has gone by I have figured out what I need where. This of courses changes with every trip.