Thinking about getting a kayak

[sloopy]

I have been reading some other posts about starter yaks and still have not decided on what I will get whenever I decide to pull the trigger. I do have one question, what do yall do about gators in the marsh?

[theoldcaster]

We try our best to leave them there!

Kidding aside gators do not live in most of the marsh and are very seldom a problem!

[Maverick1876]

I have been reading some other posts about starter yaks and still have not decided on what I will get whenever I decide to pull the trigger. I do have one question, what do yall do about gators in the marsh?

Stay away from them. Stay in the middle of the waterway. Try to plot a course where you wont suddenly come up on (startle ) them. Stay out of very narrow sloughs / ditches. See my post on the sharks thread 2day and a link on how to deal with them and other large predators when in a yak.

[snake doctor]

I think the hunting pressure teaches most alligators to avoid people. I see them about 2/3 trips, but they are usually heading away as soon as they spot me. The main dangers are 1) surprising/cornering a large gator in a narrow spot with no way for it to leave 2) coming upon gators with active nests and 3) gators that have learned not to fear people because they have learned to eat the marshmallows and other stuff people feed them. Watch where you are going, listen carefully, and you will not have a problem. Snakes spook me more than the gators do.

[Musicdoc]

Don't be scaaaarrred. :)

[Yak-a-Lou]

Been doing this for nearly a decade now. Only had one big gator scare me as I rounded a curve and he launched himself from an elevated bank. I think I scared him as bad as he scared me. He swam off some distance and watched as I continued on my way. No big deal after my heart rate settled down. Smaller ones, 3-5' are dumb and curious. They'll sometimes follow a cork back toward the boat. If they get close enough (rare) whack them in the nose with the edge of a paddle blade and they'll leave you alone.

IMHO, the most common saltwater area to encounter gators is Venice. Don't recall seeing any around Leeville and Grand Isle.

In freshwater areas you may encounter snakes or wasps that are on low lying limbs hanging over the water near shore. Stay out from under low lying limbs.

Statistically, the most dangerous critter you'll encounter is the mosquito. Seriously.

[Cobia 1]

Don't forget about the gnats!!!!!

[Redhead]

So wait, you want to try to fish from a gator before you buy a kayak???

Ha! ...j/k

[4x4fishin]

I ran into a huge one in a tight ditch this past weekend while trying to get to a pond. He was sitting in the middle of the ditch facing me. I slowly backed away. I'm not afraid of them, but i'm also not going to corner or challenge one. As for your choices eveyone will tell you to demo, demo, demo. Having some sort of Pedal system sure helps in the wind. I have the native propel system and it's awesome in the wind, but useless in shallow water. In shallow areas that I like to fish the propel is kinda like an outboard I use it to get there.

[Redhead]

But seriously, if you want to try out some yaks, come on down to Bayou St. John on Sunday from 10am-3pm and Massey's will be holding a demo.

It'll be in conjunction with the Earth Day celebration organized by the Bucket Brigade and there will be live music, food and booze.

http://nolaearthdayfest.wordpress.com/

[elementfiftyfour]

This sunday?

Are you going to have an Outback and a Revo on demo? If so save me a spot.

[tugowar]

...what do yall do about gators in the marsh?
I saw one this morning and did what I always try and do: I gave her a wide berth.
It's her lagoon and I was just a guest.

Never let an encounter become routine. Appreciate and enjoy the moment. You and that gator may be the only non crustacean/piscean beings around for a mile or so. That's one of the benefits of kayaking our marshes, actually.
You'll see and hear so much more. You can become one more inhabitant rather than a boisterous intruder.

[KingfisherB]

But seriously, if you want to try out some yaks, come on down to Bayou St. John on Sunday from 10am-3pm and Massey's will be holding a demo.

It'll be in conjunction with the Earth Day celebration organized by the Bucket Brigade and there will be live music, food and booze.

http://nolaearthdayfest.wordpress.com/

Will they have the Diablo Adios? If so I might try to make it....heck, It looks like a good time either way.
-Brian

[sloopy]

But seriously, if you want to try out some yaks, come on down to Bayou St. John on Sunday from 10am-3pm and Massey's will be holding a demo.

It'll be in conjunction with the Earth Day celebration organized by the Bucket Brigade and there will be live music, food and booze.

http://nolaearthdayfest.wordpress.com/

I just might have to head out there depending on how i feel after saturday night,best friends wedding.

[swamppro]

The most gators I have seen at once is Manchac and spillway. Another spot I see them regularly is Magnolia. Not many big ones but they are there. When going into the ponds at dark keep an eye out and you will see them slip below. I have paddled right up to them and messed with them. Dont be alarmed as they just go on their way

[chackadaux]

This guy hit it right on the head for me. I have been thinking about Kayaking for a few weeks now, and I was wondering the samething. What about Gators? My in-laws have a camp on Bayou Decade and we go there often. Well behind the camps there is very shallow fishing marsh full of Reds & Sheepheads and lots of gators. My mother-in-law fishes in there with her pirogue and catches alot. Thats one spot I would like to fish with a Kayak in.
Heres my questions for ya'll Kayakers: How hard is it to flip one over? How hard is it to get back in when u do flip over? Does the bicycle peddle one work good?
U see I just sold my boat this year because of to many problems with the boat. I want to buy another one but not for another 2 to 3 years. I was looking into Kayaking as a way to get out, and fish, and exersie too. I have paddled a 12' canno in bayou lafourche, paddled a pirogue in the marsh, How more unstable/stable is a kayak???? I here yall talking about how yall take them out in to the gulf and big lakes like it is a big Boat. I am intersted in trying this out but was not looking into paying $600 and up for one. But What i am hereing is that the elcheapos might not be the ones u would like to fist learn in. I have been looking online for used one to see if their a desent price one. What about the one a acadmey for $350?

[chackadaux]

Got another question, Where do ya'll put the fish ya'll catch?

[snake doctor]

Got another question, Where do ya'll put the fish ya'll catch?

Several options. Some guys use the insulated "fish bags," some carry ice chests (if their yak has enough weight and space capacity), some use stringers and hang the fish off the side. A few yaks have hatches that can be modified for internal storage of fish.

As summer comes people tend to go for the insulated bags and ice chests. Advantages over stringers include less drag as you paddle/pedal and it avoids the occasional shark bite - usually to the nicest fish on the stringer you are towing.

[chackadaux]

So mount a small cooler on the back or front got u. I think hanging a stringer would attrack gators also

[4x4fishin]

This guy hit it right on the head for me. I have been thinking about Kayaking for a few weeks now, and I was wondering the samething. What about Gators? My in-laws have a camp on Bayou Decade and we go there often. Well behind the camps there is very shallow fishing marsh full of Reds & Sheepheads and lots of gators. My mother-in-law fishes in there with her pirogue and catches alot. Thats one spot I would like to fish with a Kayak in.
Heres my questions for ya'll Kayakers: How hard is it to flip one over? How hard is it to get back in when u do flip over? Does the bicycle peddle one work good?
U see I just sold my boat this year because of to many problems with the boat. I want to buy another one but not for another 2 to 3 years. I was looking into Kayaking as a way to get out, and fish, and exersie too. I have paddled a 12' canno in bayou lafourche, paddled a pirogue in the marsh, How more unstable/stable is a kayak???? I here yall talking about how yall take them out in to the gulf and big lakes like it is a big Boat. I am intersted in trying this out but was not looking into paying $600 and up for one. But What i am hereing is that the elcheapos might not be the ones u would like to fist learn in. I have been looking online for used one to see if their a desent price one. What about the one a acadmey for $350?


It's easier to fall out of most SOT (sit on tops) than it is to flip. I have the bicycle pedal type (Native Propel is the brand name). They work great to get to where your going, but not very well in the shallow water and are not as quick and easy to take in and out as the Hobie Mirage drive. The big question for me was SOT vs SINK vs Hybrid. My first was a pedal drivin SOT, my next will be a SOT no drive. My experience is limited, but I think what really matters the most is where you are going to use it, and can you have more than one.

Good luck, It sure is nice not having to worry about all of the maintence on a fishing boat, trailer, and outboard.

[tugowar]

...Heres my questions for ya'll Kayakers: How hard is it to flip one over? How hard is it to get back in when u do flip over?
Two main reasons for flipping:
(1) Putting your head outside the gunwale
(2) Leaning to one side with weight in that side's hand.
As your body weight goes in one direction, the yak will try and compensate by going in the opposite direction.
It's a pendulum thing.

Many people think kayaks are tippy because of the whitewater videos they see. The only whitewater around here is from inconsiderate stinkpot wakes. Kayaks are inherently more stable than canoes; you are sitting at the waterline. As such, your center of gravity is lower. I have never felt unsteady in a yak. And, as stated above, you're more likely to fall out than flip. And both of those are less likely than in a canoe or pirogue.
Keep your head within the gunwales and you'll be fine.
Getting back in is a matter of technique and physical conditon. You'll likely just pull it to the bank, recover your gear, then keep on fishing.


Got another question, Where do ya'll put the fish ya'll catch?
I rarely keep fish as I'm more of a catch and release guy, but club members put me on this little honey:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=173588&searchTerm=california%20coolers
Picked one up for $8.88 at Sam's. I've also seen them at K-Mart and Sears.
I use it for tourneys and ice it with a few frozen water bottles.
Keep it simple.

As for the cost of yaks: Kayaks are one product still priced where you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap yak, it's cheap for a reason.
If cost is your deciding factor, decide what you want then check often for a used one on Craig's list. Or here!

Make one of the sponsor's demo days. Seriously.
Or at the very least show up at one of the club's next gatherings. I would be happy to let you take mine for a spin. I'm sure others would as well.
But probably not until weigh-in...sunrise has us focused on fishin'. :lol:

[chackadaux]

Thankyou Tugowar for the feed back! I will look into it more. What I was thinking is if I would buy on I would buy a 2nd hand good one and use it to see if I like it and if I would stay with it. If I get into it fully I will then buy me a new one and give that one to my 12year son. I am sure he will want one if I get into it.

[bmac]

I think that's a good idea. I went that route and bought three paddle yaks (2 used and one brand new) over 6 months and just recently bought a Hobie outback. I'm definitely glad I went paddle first because now I can really appreciate the Hobie and I have no hesitation about pulling out the paddle when it gets too shallow. I believe Pack and Paddle in Lafayette has the same Pescador Sport that Academy is selling for the same price ($499 I think). You can call P&P during the week and they will let you demo any kayaks the following weekend for free.

[chackadaux]

bmac your hobie, when u get into shallow water u can pull up the fins? I was wondering how it works when u come in to land. or if u want to go through some shallow water.

[chackadaux]

I need to go and check out some of them kayak places to see whats out there.

[elementfiftyfour]

The Hobie fins are up against the bottom of the hull in the rest position. They only flap down when you push on the pedals.

[chackadaux]

I figured it out after i thought about it for awhile, thanks anyway. How fast can u travel with the fins? Does it ware u out?

[yak-aholic]

One of the things I learned quickly when demoing the Hobies was that you can't start pedaling like you're trying to run a race. That will quickly wear you out. The best way I can explain it is to pedal (or peddle) like you're walking. You will do much better with slow, steady movements and be able to go much farther. If I remember correctly some where around 2.5 mph is a pretty normal speed. Some may be able to go faster.

[revredfish]

Having spent a few hours in the Manta Ray today - I would say you are not going to stand and fish in that boat. Some probably can but only a few. It has a good bit of wiggle to it. That aside, it was winday and I was able to get around without killing myself. One other knock is that it puts out a pretty good amount of bow spray way more than my PBG but that may be a function of it being a big fat piggy and the Manta Ray being a needle.