One man pontoon vs kayak

Debating on whether to get a small kayak or a one man pontoon. Planning to use it crappie fishing mainly. Brushpiles and timber. Can’t figure out which one would be better. Suggestions?

Thank you!

You will get many opinions on this, and there are pro's and con's for either one.
I would go to a kayak dealer and most will give you a chance to demo, or you could rent one and find out what would fit your style of fishing better.
I can't speak for the pontoon, but I would choose the kayak personally.
Not all kayaks fit everyone the same, so demo is the key to find the right one for you.

Jimbo's right. It'll boil down to personal preference. I like both, but prefer my kayak.

Pontoon Pros: I like the storage better on a pontoon (more accessible imo). I think they are more comfortable because you can dangle your feet in a natural position and easily stand up and fish in shallow water. Easier entry/exit. Oar locks are great. Cons: They catch a lot of wind. Set-up is a pita.

Kayak Pros: Faster. Lower profile. Easier to cover long distances. Better in wind. A hard shell will last longer. Cons: Takes up a lot more space to transport, unless you do an inflatable.

Is it wrong to want both?

you may want to visit with these folks over in Rowlett

Kayak Instruction Inc

I agree with everything stated above. In addition, your budget and mode of transportation come into play.

In my opinion, Kayaks are better than a pontoon. To me, pontoons seem like a lot more work to get to the water and then a lot more work on the water. Saying this, I have never owned one so take this with a grain of salt.

If you have a truck and large budget... you might put something like a Twin Troller into the mix. It's not a paddler, it operates with two in-hull electric motors. On paper, the Twin Troller looks like a great little one-man boat. Some of the guys and gals in the "Pond Boats and Float Tubes" forum might be able to give you some feedback on it.

Thanks for the insight! I want a kayak but unless I want to unload a grand for one with a propulsion system. , I would have to paddle or anchor to stay over a brushpile. This is my only issue with a kayak

Both. Each one has its advantages

In my experience owning both at different times, the extra surface area of the pontoon above the water tends to do a lot worse in wind, and kayaks are a lot lower profile.

This is pretty important to me, although pontoons definitely have more stability, but this is something you can find in the right kayak as well.

Even with a propulsion system there are times where you'd have to anchor regardless what you're in (kayak, pontoon, jon boat, etc.). A pontoon would be the most challenging to keep positioned IMO unless there is no wind.

In Texas wind, kayak wins hands down.

Pontoon with spot lock trolling motor wins hands down.

I have and do own several great crappie fishing options.

I am really happy with my hobie 360. It is great for holding position wether on a brushpile or bridge column. It adds the advantage of far more positional control in a cross wind than simple spot-lock.

I can get carried away and fish as long as I like without worrying about range of the batteries.

A spot-lock works great on a one-man pontoon, ( or an OldTown kayak with it built in ) but spot lock is dependant on GPS which dissapears under the low bridge that I fish most and up many creeks in the spring.

The pontoon is great for access to your junk and not worrying quite as much about weight or mass of what you load for the day.

The pontoon has less wind sail area in a cross wind.

The kayak has you lower to the water which is easy to lip your fish and harder to work a long rod gracefully.

Any electronics will work with either fine. I have a bunch on my Hobie.

Best of luck, Phill

Yep, what everyone mentioned about wind would be my biggest concern. Lots of places to fish out of the wind but often requires some paddling into the brunt of it to get out of it, coming and going. A kayak will allow you to fish days a pontoon won't.

I like a kayak better. Its a lot easier to get around with on the water. A pontoon might be fine in a small pond, but I would not want one in a large body of water or anywhere with moving water.