On this kayak deal, I think I want one that I can sit inside of, instead on on top of.

Am I wrong on this ... I am going to use it to fish ponds and creeks.

You arent right or wrong. its a matter of getting what works best for your needs. Again, back to the tradeoffs thing. A SINK of equal length is lighter then a SOT. Less easy access space for gear then a SOT. much more comfortable in cold conditions then a SOT. Should you turtle, a SINK requires more time to recover since you have to bail out that water once you are back upright. It it were me, I would want one if I was having to haul it by hand to the launch and wasn't going to be carrying more then one rod and not much other gear.
For mostly ponds and creeks a small SINK would serve you well.
It WILL get hot in the summer down in that plastic.

10 feet is perfect for creeks and ponds. You will find it wanting if you ever wanted to take it out and paddle any distance on area lakes or down at the coast.

"Tracking" would be a better term. When you paddle a kayak, you are pulling on one side then the other. This causes the kayak to track a little to the left then a little to the right even with the best of paddling technique. It's a question of leverage. Now on a long touring sea kayak like a 17 footer you wouldnt notice it. On a short ten footer you will be tracking like a snake and each stroke will waste a fair amount of energy recovering from the last stroke. On small lakes and streams, that wouldn't be a big deal but a long trip over open water can be exhausting with all that wasted energy. Add in a quartering wind and it would take all the fun out of paddling. Now some shorter kayaks can mitigate the problem a bit by sharpening the V or adding a skeg or chines but they can't erradicate it. That's just the nature of hull design. You can also help by using a high paddling stroke vs a low one. This keeps the blade closer to the hull as it passes throught the water.

I'm not saying you can't enjoy a shorter kayak on the flats around port aransas or cruise around ray Roberts. Just saying you might enjoy something longer if you end up doing that. Tradeoffs tradeoffs tradeoffs. I could take my 14 down clear creek north of Denton but it would be a hassle any time I wanted to turn around. There is no perfect kayak for every situation or they would have designed it by now. Some folks who really get unto paddling end up with several kayaks for different situations. Just like a fisherman will have more then one rod and reel or a hunter with multiple guns. The pleasure comes from having the best performing tool for the job at hand.

While I agree with Spiney that SINK vs SOT is really a trade study depending on what you intend to do with the kayak, I can say that of the dozen or so yak anglers I fish with, all of them have SOT kayaks. Coincidence?

The only advantage I see is casting, but I can cast just fine so I don't see the advantage.

I would think you would get more wet using a SOT kayak.

Is that not true?

Yes, you will get more wet on a SOT. But in summer this isn't a factor, and in the winter time, you wear waders. The advantages of SOT: easier to get in and out (for wade or bank fishing); you can fish from diferent positions more easily; more space to stow equipment; not as hot in summer.

9 of 10 angling yakkers have SOTs. There's probably a good reason for that.

All that said, it sounds like you want a SINK. So just get one.

Can't dangle your feet in a sink

im in northwest houston near memorial city mall. whats a good kayak shop near me?

Southwest Paddlesports is located in The Woodlands. There's also FTU, Austin Canoe & Kayak and Creative Feather.

I don't know why people keep bringing up Pelican kayaks. Try just about anything else and you will wonder why they are still in business.

I fish rivers and lakes and would not consider any kayak under 11'6", especially for trolling, my favorite kind of fishing.

I have done it and have seen people do it but I don't understand why any fisherman would prefer a SINK over a SOT. Another thing you can't do in a SINK, put fish in the cooler behind you!

You get wet and your stuff is inside the yak.

Sit on top and get wet and stand the chance of losing a $200 rod and reel with one screwup.

That sounds like a good argument to me.

I fish all day even in wind and the only thing that gets wet is my feet when I climb into the kayak and when I side saddle to put a fish in the cooler. Now if someone were in a dinky overloaded SOT wet might be a problem. And having my stuff inside the kayak is a good thing.

Why is that different with a SINK? Lose an untethered rod overboard it is gone either way. My son flipped my Navigator last summer. Nothing was lost because it was either inside or tethered.

Turn a SINK over and everything is wet, and good luck getting a SINK right side up and the water out, assuming you don't drown in the process. I'll take the SOT on every item you mention, thankyou.