kayak suggestions water fowl

[Reloader000]

Alright guys here I go again I'm pulling the plug on finally getting a kayak for water fowl . I don't need the most expensive one or the cheapest something that tracks decent , good amount of space for decoys and gear , on the lighter side . Never shopped around for one if I missed any key point please comment and any suggestions on what to get would be appreciated .

Note : ill mostly be hunting on rivers possibly out on the bay as well .

 

[beemanjohn]

I use a Native Watercraft Ultimate and love it. But, they are not cheap. I would think that about any fishing kayak would work. Most big box stores have their own brand that are cheaper than the name brand ones. They are not as good as the big name ones, but they work OK.

 

[Rocky Mt High]

Pay attention to kayak construction. The cheap ones are two piece- a hull and an attached deck. Good ones are one piece roto molded.
Or, get smart and get a canoe.

 

[Tesoro]

^^ Get a canoe!!

 

[TRSR8]

Make sure first off you get a sit on top…fishing model. 9’-10’ size is fine for rivers and transport.
Get one of the wide beam ones that allow you to hang your legs over the side for shooting options.
If you go all out you can even get one that mounts a Minkota electric motor.

 

[Reloader000]

Make sure first off you get a sit on top…fishing model. 9’-10’ size is fine for rivers and transport.
Get one of the wide beam ones that allow you to hang your legs over the side for shooting options.
If you go all out you can even get one that mounts a Minkota electric motor.

thanks for the insight !

 

[Reloader000]

Pay attention to kayak construction. The cheap ones are two piece- a hull and an attached deck. Good ones are one piece roto molded.
Or, get smart and get a canoe.

thanks

 

[Reloader000]

^^ Get a canoe!!

ill take a look at some .

 

[Reloader000]

I use a Native Watercraft Ultimate and love it. But, they are not cheap. I would think that about any fishing kayak would work. Most big box stores have their own brand that are cheaper than the name brand ones. They are not as good as the big name ones, but they work OK.

thanks

 

[Reloader000]

Make sure first off you get a sit on top…fishing model. 9’-10’ size is fine for rivers and transport.
Get one of the wide beam ones that allow you to hang your legs over the side for shooting options.
If you go all out you can even get one that mounts a Minkota electric motor.

Make sure first off you get a sit on top…fishing model. 9’-10’ size is fine for rivers and transport.
Get one of the wide beam ones that allow you to hang your legs over the side for shooting options.
If you go all out you can even get one that mounts a Minkota electric motor.

Make sure first off you get a sit on top…fishing model. 9’-10’ size is fine for rivers and transport.
Get one of the wide beam ones that allow you to hang your legs over the side for shooting options.
If you go all out you can even get one that mounts a Minkota electric motor.

Thanks . I'm leaning towards a 10ft one

 

[Reloader000]

I use a Native Watercraft Ultimate and love it. But, they are not cheap. I would think that about any fishing kayak would work. Most big box stores have their own brand that are cheaper than the name brand ones. They are not as good as the big name ones, but they work OK.

thanks

 

[RubiconJoey]

I happen to work in the kayak industry (design engineer for YakAttack). I would second most of what was said above.

A sit on top will make life easier. The wider you go, the better the stability will be. Longer will gain you deck space, tracking and speed. Most good sit on tops will be in the 12' to 14' range. Most river boats are shorter (~10') and have hulls shaped so that they can maneuver through current and rapids better (easier to turn). If you're on relatively tame rivers (class III and below), I would stick to the longer boats. They are still capable of handling a river and will be much better suited for duck hunting.

Another thing to consider is paddle vs pedal. If you're going long distances, pedal drives are the ticket. However, they are more expensive, heavier and aren't great in shallow waters. If you go with a paddle kayak, get the best paddle you can afford. When going long distances, a lightweight paddle will make a big difference. Don't be scared of carbon and fiberglass blades. The may seem fragile, but rest assured they are tough as heck. I've snapped a paddle shaft in half (after much abuse) and the the blade was still like new, with exception of some cosmetic scratches from pushing into rocks. An aluminum shaft, plastic blade paddle will get you by if you want to save money, but it's going to require more effort on your part to get to your destination. Aluminum shafts also have a tendency to get hot in the sun which exacerbate the tendency for blisters on your hand between your index finger and thumb. Your hands will eventually adapt to it but, it sucks in the mean time. Gloves can also help, but I personally haven't found a glove I like for paddling.

My choice would be a NuCanoe Frontier 12. It's one of the widest boats on the market, making it one of the most stable platforms to hunt out of. It has wide open deck which makes hauling decoys and other gear easy. The wide open deck and pivoting seat also makes maneuverability easier if you plan on actually shooting out of it and not just using it to get to a location where you'll be hunting. It's also one of the easiest boats to motorize if you choose to. It's one the few boats that have an actual transom like a john boat. In addition it has gear track going almost the entire length of boat. This allows for mounting accessories like gun mounts, gear tie downs, etc really easy and flexible. Meaning you can put them where you want without having to put extra holes in your kayak or buying mounts/gear track for them. NuCanoe even offers a layout blind for them.

 

[alf]

My choice would be a NuCanoe Frontier 12. It's one of the widest boats on the market, making it one of the most stable platforms to hunt out of. It has wide open deck which makes hauling decoys and other gear easy. The wide open deck and pivoting seat also makes maneuverability easier if you plan on actually shooting out of it and not just using it to get to a location where you'll be hunting. It's also one of the easiest boats to motorize if you choose to. It's one the few boats that have an actual transom like a john boat. In addition it has gear track going almost the entire length of boat. This allows for mounting accessories like gun mounts, gear tie downs, etc really easy and flexible. Meaning you can put them where you want without having to put extra holes in your kayak or buying mounts/gear track for them. NuCanoe even offers a layout blind for them.

Good call, I was going to recommend the same.

Another thought is on how much you want to lift, and/or how you're going to transport it.

I went with the NuCanoe Frontier 10' due to weight & hauling it in the back of my truck with 6 1/2" box.

Not a duck hunter, but use mine for small lake fishing.

 

[sneakboxer]

As a canoe and sneak boat hunter with a fair bit of river experience have a plan to go swimming, it will happen... I know space and weight are at a premium but a PFD and a small anchor (able to free fall) are life savers. Without one you float upside down (drown) and without the other the current or wind will take your craft (drown). The ability to make a fire on your person and a dry bag can be pretty handy too. Lastly, always size up the tides, wind, and weather. Not going out may be your best choice.

I dearly miss canoe hunting the islands in the Columbia river. Stay safe and shoot them with their feet down in your face!

 

[Bojo]

I have 2 friends that both hunt out of NuCanoe’s one a 10 the other a 12.

Both have nothing but praise for them.
Able to stand and paddle /fish out of as well as the dog is able to climb in and out with ease.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I had a Perception Pescador Angler 10, then upgraded to a Old Town 119 canoe, then got a 1236 jon boat with multiple motor options (MK tiller-troller, Stumpjumper longtail, 6hp Tohatsu outboard). Then I went crazy and bought a Alweld1652/Go-Devil Surface drive mud motor (still have all of them). The moral of the story is once you get bit by the bug, you'll end up upgrading in a few years anyway.

 

[Adam0321/0306]

I had the Wilderness Systems ATAK 140. Very stable but heavy as heck. About 120-130lbs with the seat. Very comfortable seat though. I used it for fishing and once for bow hunting. Although it had a lot of storage, it really only made sense for what it was designed for, bass fishing. I would look at the ASCEND 10t or 12t.

 

[Oso]

From my experience saltwater kayak fishing along the gulf coast, if there is current or strong wind then you definitely want a rudder on the rear. The rudder can be used to offset the current and wind while you are floating or paddling.