Yakless Newbie

[bblanch]

Hey everyone. Found this site about a month ago while researching kayaks and Louisiana kayaking and have been stalking it since. I notice a few of you from Thibodaux, well I'm right up Bayou Lafourche in Napoleonville.

Never owned a kayak. Never fished from a kayak. Haven't fished period in years. Spent lots of time on Lake Verret with my dad as a kid but my adult fishing has consisted of surf fishing in Grand Isle and fresh water fishing off various piers around Lake Verret.

Having said all that... I love being out on the water paddling. Taking in the calmness and scenery. I have done BTNEP's Paddle Bayou Lafourche twice. This summer my son and I did a kayaking day tour around the marshes of Hilton Head Island while there on vacation. I'll find a rental shop with a place to paddle while on family vacations. Always borrowing dads pirogue to paddle around Bayou Lafourche or various canals in the woods behind his house.

I plan on owning my own yak by the Spring. I've been doing lots of research online and window shopping at outfitters and I'm still very much undecided. I envision my usage being 50% recreational/camping, 50% fishing for starters. My dad has a camp on Grand Isle so I intend to use it down there but I think the majority of that 50% fishing will be some of the local freshwater spots for now. It's what I'm more familiar with. Of course that may change as I spend more time down in the saltwater marshes. So I'm not sure if it's best to get a pure rec. kayak and rig it for fishing or vice versa. I know Native & Wilderness make some nice boats that accommodate both, but I'm seen some real nice crafts from other makers.

A little bit about me... I'm built like a washing machine. 5'8", 250 lbs. So while I need the capacity, I don't necessarily need the leg room. My 15 year old daughter is way too cool to be kayaking with her dad, but I'd like have the option of bringing along either my 9 yr. old son or 4 yr. old daughter.

I would appreciate any suggestions or recommendations you may have based on the criteria I've listed. I plan on attending Massey's next demo day and also heading over to Pack & Paddle to pick their brains and demo some boats. My intention is to buy used if the right kayak comes up. Unless I can get a deal on a demo at an outfitter.

Thanks.

[Red Slayer]

Welcome to the Addiction! I for one have about the same build and for my money I have the Malibu Stealth 12. I find it very stable for a person our size and would be good to bring a smaller one along on the "gator hatch" I like having the live well option on mine and has plenty of storage. As long as you use dry bags it would be great to do an overnight river trip in also. I live in Arkansas and have paddled small lakes, the Spring River, done Lake Ponch, Grand Isle and the marshes. I have found it to be very reliable and they are always making improvements. I would also look at the Native Propel. It is a good peddle/paddle craft. There is also the higher dollar option of the Hobies. I am sure there are Kool-aid drinkers on here that would love to have you in their camp. One other thing to consider would be a trailer to haul gear and kayaks on. A common one around the club is the Harbor Freight 4X8 with 12 inch wheels. That way you can build a custom trailer to suit your needs.

I hope you find what you are looking for. Also if you have not yet paid for a membership to the club it is well worth it as it opens up the maps and fishing reports to you.

[snake doctor]

You can search this site for previous threads on discussions about "best kayak" for the jobs you have in mind. Austin Kayak also has a "buyers guide" where you can plug in the features that are most important to you and it will help with selection. Many of us like Hobie kayaks with the Mirage Drives for pedaling instead of paddling. They leave your hands free for fishing, and are great for making it home in a strong headwind. The Outfitter is one of their two person yaks that might be worth a look. If you want even more person/weight capacity for carrying campers and gear, the NuCanoe Frontier that is being released in January looks really nice to me. If I didn't love the Hobie pedal system so much for fishing I would probably get a Frontier.

[Branch_Office]

Welcome....you have found a good place to answer you questions about yaks and places to fish. Since it has not been said yet I will say it....demo, demo, demo! You will be well served to try out as many kayaks as you can before buying one. Several of our sponsors will do demos and have demo days as well as we do some as well. Just about any of our members will be glad to let you try one of ours after we come in from Fishinf or even have extras and let you tag along and try out as well.

I would recommend looking at some in advance as suggested online like width, weight and capacity and price. You can then narrow it down some on models you might want to try.

Also, if you can make it happen, attend our upcoming club meeting at Bass Pro on Dec 8th 7PM. You can meet a lot odd members and we will talk about next year.

OBTW.....Welcome!! :welcome:

[Musicdoc]

Welcome BBlanch. My guess, the "blanch" is for Blanchard. I married a gal from Napoleonville and I'm sure if you don't know her, your parents know her parents (Buddy and Shine Vitale). Anyway, welcome to the addiction. All I can add to the above mentioned suggestions is to be sure to get a Sit-on-top, but you probably already know that. We'll have to get together to do some freshwater fishing around Napoleonville. I've been flirting with the idea of doing some sacalait fishing around Bayou Corne. As for the kiddies, I think it's better to buy separate yaks for the kids (well, not for the 4-year old). If they like kayaking, they will want their own anyway. You can usually find a used Pelican castaway for around $400 or so.

[MakinPewJr.]

Welcome to the addiction BBlanch! I just bought my first yak yesterday, took it out today, and I am now addicted! I live just to the south on you in Bourg. Craigslist is a good place to look for used kayaks, and these usually have other features that the former owners bought and added to them. These guys are a lot smarter than I, and they are absolutely great people. Hope to fish with ya sometime soon!!

[bblanch]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Kevin, Blanchard is correct and of course I know Mr. Buddy! Everyone does! I actually grew up just up Hwy 308 from their house.

[Hobie1Kenobie]

PM sent.

[pistol]

bblanch I also have a malibu and I have fished in flat calm water up to 5 ft seas and not once did I ever feel like I was in trouble. I have been in the buras canal taking 2-3ft chop broadside. most of those days started off with calm seas and the wind picked up over the course of the day. it is a good feeling knowing that I can make it home. very stable and easy to paddle. my boat can hold up to 550 pounds. go to the malibu website and do some reading and check out the team malibu site as well. seal sports is now a sponsor they have a member discount do some research and give them a call. check with blake at massey's for native

[revredfish]

Just back from vacation send me a pm sometime

[OneDudeWolfPack]

Welcome, another Blanchard on here... :buttrock:

If you can make it down to Plaquemines, I can let you try fishing out of a Hobie outback or a WS Commander 120. PM me if interested.


-Louie

[Cobia 1]

Yeah, another Blanchard! Although not related maybe we can overthrow the Walker Clan!

[yak-aholic]

I'll have to second what Musicdoc said about having a second yak for the kids. My boys are 9, 5, and almost 2. The 9 year old has a Pelican Cast-away 116 that he handles like a champ on calm days without current. If it looks like it'll be windy, I will usually just let him ride with me on the bow of the Magic. I haven't let the 5 yr old paddle on his own yet, but he loves to do it when in the yak with me. That being said, I feel like 8 was a good age to start letting Louis paddle his own yak. That may change with William and by the time Hayden is 5 he may be paddling his own. Who knows, it really just depends on the kid.

[yak-aholic]

bblanch, Welcome to BCKFC. You'll find this to be some of the most helpful bunch of guys and gals you'll ever fish with.

Bruce, you're gonna have to work pretty hard at that. Not only do we have Dad, Sherman, and myself; Sherman and I are bringing up some pretty good fisher-people.

[bblanch]

Kevin mentioned it and I can see from all of your signatures & posts that pretty much all of you have a SOT.

As I mentioned in my initial post, I'm still very much undecided. Since 1/2 of my kayaking will be recreational/camping use I was interested in trying some recreational Sit in kayaks as well the SOT. On a weekend camping trip I'd like to stay as dry as possible. On the flip side, getting swamped scares the hell out of me. With the way the weather kicks up on Lake Verret here and the way some of those bass & ski boats operate, I guess it's inevitable.

I'm starting to think that ultimately my best solution may be 2 kayaks!

[Yak-a-Lou]

First... :welcome:

Keep this in mind as you enter the arena... stability is usually over-rated by beginners. Don't lean your head beyond the gunwale and you should be fine.

Only clumsy people go swimming by accident. :lol:

We started out boy off at the age of nine and made the mistake of getting him a 10' sit-inside. It almost ruined him. It tracked like a drunken, cross-eyed snake and his short little body left him banging the gunwales with every stroke of the paddle. The difference in strength require to efficiently propel a 12' kayak vs. a 10' kayak is very negligible BUT the tracking ability of a decent 12' kayak vs. any 10' kayak is notable.

Go get em!

[OneDudeWolfPack]

Having two different types isn't a bad idea. You can always bring a guest and depending on their paddling skills they can use the one they are comfortable with. I will agree with Yak-A-Lou, I went for stability on my first yak (Commander 120) and now I hardly use it.

Thinking you need a tall glass of Hobie Kool-aid. :hide:

[pistol]

I'm starting to think that ultimately my best solution may be 2 kayaks!

there is a member seibler that is selling 2 brand new malibu pro 2 tandem kayaks for 600 each. you will stay dry, you can fish by yourself or with two people and you wont be worried about lake verret or some dude swamping you. and you can easily fit yourself and another 250 in camping gear.