first kayak

[GBob01]

Looking to buy my first kayak for fishing on my pond and out in the local bayou and marsh.
Wanting some input on what would be a preferable size, 10 vs 14 ft or other. Sit in or on top. Is one brand anymore stable than the others or which brand to avoid

[aviator]

Joining the Cajun Navy? Pogo will be most knowledgeable on this but I'd say get one that's bigger than the gators there.

[Johnny]

We have the following boats. Here's what I like and don't like about them:

12' sit-on-top kayak: Self enclosed and never takes on water. Sturdy. Can be stored right side up or tied alongside a dock for months and never take on a srop of water. Uncomfortable seating position. Very heavy.
12' sit-in kayak: Light weight, comfortable seating position. Open hull design.
8' sit-on-top kayak: Clearly just a child's toy. Big enough for an adult but very hard to control. Light weight and easy to transport.
14' canoe: Good balance between kayak and canoe. Easy 1-person use.
16' Coleman canoe: Pretty big for one person, but entirely doable.

My personal favorites are canoes, even for navigating small, swift rivers. I like the extra space, the opportunity to stand occasionally and enjoy the challenge of a using a canoe paddle rather than a kayak one. Canoes are more comfortable over long periods of time in the water and you can move around in them a little more. If you're sold on a kayak, I prefer the sit-in style, although a sit-on kayak might be perfect if you want to leave it sitting in the pond all year round. The longer the hull, the easier it will be steer and track. 12' is a good length. I wouldn't go any shorter than that, but longer is OK.

Buying advice: If you buy new, the big box stores always blow them out cheap at the end of the year. The last thing they want to do is carry big-ass boats over the winter. There are always lots of deals on the used market. For your first boat, I wouldn't get some top-of-the-line designer brand. Just get something reasonable and see if you like it.

Storing advice: Our pile of boats is ugly. We cover them all with tarps to avoid sunlight, which is bad for plastic. Keep them out of the sun and they'll last a long time.

[GBob01]

Joining the Cajun Navy? Pogo will be most knowledgeable on this but I'd say get one that's bigger than the gators there.

Bigger than our gators, might as well buy a 14' mud boat

[Stoned_Oli]

Perception kayaks are awesome, we have a couple of old 9.5' boats that we love, sit ins.
For sit on tops we have an Old Town Typhoon and a Jackson Riviera, both nice and stable and easy to get back into in deep water.
I've been looking at the new Perceptions around 10', but I still love my old boat.
We do mostly rivers though, but Perception does make some nice sit on tops for fishing as well.

[aviator]

Bigger than our gators, might as well buy a 14' mud boat

I'd play it safe my friend.

[Pogo]

Perception and Wilderness systems are the two brands I recommend. The length depends whether you will be navagating tight winding waters in the far North or in the ocean. Or somewhere in between.

sit in or on top is a personal choice. Most fishermen sit on top.

[GBob01]

Thanks. I've been looking at 10-12 foot, but leaning more towards 10 being as it will be able to turn around easier in tight marsh areas. Been looking at a couple Perception models, as they are set up more to my liking.

[GARANDNUT]

I have a 16 ft lake/ocean wilderness systems with a rudder in new condition I will sell. Its fast and fun to paddle. You can fish out of it but not as good for that as a sit on top.

[GBob01]

I have a 16 ft lake/ocean wilderness systems with a rudder in new condition I will sell. Its fast and fun to paddle. You can fish out of it but not as good for that as a sit on top.

Thanks but I'm afraid 16' may be too hard ( long)to turn around if I get caught in some of the tighter marsh channels

[500grains]

Short kayaks keep pivoting side to side and waste your energy. Longer ones run straight.

Sit-in kayaks are for serious kayakers who want to cover distance. Look at Sea Kayaks for the best designs. Sit on top kayaks are for just fucking around at the local lake.

https://www.borealdesign.com/products/baffin-p3-kayak

[GBob01]

Short kayaks keep pivoting side to side and waste your energy. Longer ones run straight.

Sit-in kayaks are for serious kayakers who want to cover distance. Look at Sea Kayaks for the best designs. Sit on top kayaks are for just fucking around at the local lake.

https://www.borealdesign.com/products/baffin-p3-kayak

Unfortunately that style doesn't fit my needs too well. I'll only be going a short ways into the bayou and marsh area. Anything over 10' may be too hard to turn around at the end of a cut. Also the sit-in design isn't conductive to the fishing and crabbing use i am looking for.

[Stoned_Oli]

These are supposed to be pretty decent. I have a couple of friends with them and they like them.

https://www.basspro.com/p/ascend-12t-sit-on-top-kayak-fishing-package

[GBob01]

These are supposed to be pretty decent. I have a couple of friends with them and they like them.

https://www.basspro.com/p/ascend-12t...ishing-package

Definitely the style I'm looking for. Been trying to find one for a good, if not great price. End of summer sales should be hitting shortly, placess will be starting there hunting season marketing.
Too damned hot down here to enjoy it right now anyways. Even looking at used ones right now. Won't be long, the right one will hit.