Best Kayak For Fishing Reviews 2020 & Buyer Guide

Kayak fishing has become more and more popular in recent years, and for good reason. Using the best kayak for fishing can be a fun change from casting from the shore or shallow water, and depending on the area you're fishing in, they can be quite useful at accessing caves, areas with cover that you would like to target, or any other nooks and crannies in the area.

In many situations, having a boat is the most ideal, but kayaks offer their own unique advantages that can really appeal to anglers. Some of the most practical advantages when compared with powerboats ​include lower cost, ease of use, no fuel, and portability. From a very general perspective, you could consider kayaks as a bridge between casting from the shore and ripping around on a powerboat.

While kayaks are cheaper than powerboats, they are still quite expensive in an absolute sense. Therefore, it's always a good idea to learn as much as you can about them before making a final decision. In this article, https://flannelfishermen.com will provide some important factors to consider when choosing a good fishing kayak for your needs, and given we're big on value, we will also provide our top picks for kayaks at various price points.

5 Best Kayak for Fishing Reviews

What to Look in a Best Kayak for Fishing

Understanding your own personal preferences is the biggest help when trying to figure out the best fishing kayak for you. If this is your first kayak and you're not sure about your preferences, no worries, much of this will be based on your experience and any fishing plans you might have, which can help narrow the choices for you.

Sit-In-Kayak (SIK) versus Sit-On-Top (SOT) Kayaks

There are two main types of fishing kayaks: Sit-On-Top (SOT) and Sit-In-Kayak (SIK). There are a few differences between them whichh we will outline below:

SOT Fishing Kayaks

SOT kayaks are the most common type for fishing. They have an elevated seat/cockpit that sits on top of the kayak, which will allow for better leverage and viewing of the surroundings and easy access to any gear that you have brought along. It's easier to move around in an SOT kayak, but since you are perched higher up, this will make the kayak less stable overall. Therefore, the trade-off here is that SOT kayaks are often wider to help stabilize the craft, which can make them a little slower compared with SIK kayaks.

SIK Kayaks

SIK kayaks are the standard kayak that paddlers use. These are typically faster and more narrow kayaks, so they can cover a given amount of water a lot more quickly. In terms of fishing, SIK usually offer more storage overall, but you will be a little more constricted, so it can be more difficult to access gear. Additionally, lots of inflatable fishing kayaks are of the SIK variety. This doesn't mean it isn't possible to design an inflatable SOT kayak, but if you want to keep costs down, limiting materials and structures that can facilitate a SOT design is sometimes ideal for the manufacturers, as well as the customers.

Overall, we tend to prefer SOT kayaks due to the easy access to less constriction, easier access to gear, and a higher vantage point. While SOT kayaks can be made very stable, this usually cuts down on the speed, but that's not the main priority for us.

Fishing Kayak Length and Width

Fishing kayaks come in a variety of sizes. The man things that will be affected by length and width of the kayak are speed, stability, and maneuverability. There are other aspects of the kayak that will affect these as well, but length and width play a big role and are quite easy to understand.

Longer and more narrow kayaks tend to be faster. These can cut through the water with less resistance, allowing you to cover more area in a shorter amount of time. However, you may find yourself getting tired more quickly from keeping everything stable, and if you aren't overly experienced in kayaking, the risk of tipping may not be worth it.

On the other hand, wider kayaks will be a lot more stable, but there is more resistance against the kayak, so it will move slower as well. If you prefer the comfort and peace of mind of a stable kayak, or you're fishing a small body of water that you don't need to be constantly ripping around, then this isn't a problem. But if you're out with buddies who have faster kayaks and you tend to fish on big lakes, then you might want to consider a more narrow kayak.

Lastly, most fishing kayaks will be maneuverable enough that you can get them where they need to be and in the correct orientation. However, it's still worth considering the nooks and crannies of your local waters, even if it is a minor point. If you know the body of water that you will be mostly fishing on, think about any specific areas that you know you will want to try and fish. If you need to weave throughout rocks, through small channels, or around aggressive cover, then you might want a smaller overall kayak, but this should be considered a very minor point relative to other things.

Check out this great tutorial about choosing a fishing kayak, with an emphasis on length and width:

Storage

Ample storage capacity and convenience of access is essential in a good fishing kayak. Most fishing kayaks will have good enough storage for the essentials, but having a wider selection of tackle, line, rods, tools, as well as come more comfort items like food, drinks, a phone, a camera, etc, can all make a big difference in how much enjoyment you get out of the day.

When deciding what type of storage arrangement is best for you, we like to adopt the general-to-specific mindset, where we gradually narrow our options based on our loose plans. For example:

- Are you a minimalist and like to pack light? Do you have a small selection of tackle? Do you know that you will only be out on the water for a few hours at a time? If yes to any of these, you may not need abundant storage or quick access if it's out of the budget.

- If you answered no to those questions, then it sounds like storage is a priority. At his point, you can begin refining the questions you are asking to yourself. If you have lots of gear, do want to bring a lot of it? Are you only fishing for one species, or multiple? If only one species, what are the essential lures and other tackle to have on hand?

Lastly, when reading the specs of a fishing kayak, try and look for storage compartments with specific purposes. Sometimes companies will design compartments or wells that offer more convenient storage. For example, you may see a shallow but wide storage area with a couple bungee boards crossing over top. These are often great for utility trays, so you have a large tackle box with many utility trays, you can potentially have a pres-assigned "kayak tray" that you can very easily add or remove tot he kayak.

Other storage compartments my be waterproof for more sensitive items, some may be designed as live wells for keeping your catch, and some even have extra features wells that are compatible with certain fish finder transducers.

This isn't to say that you are required to use all of the storage for what they market it for, but usually there's some thought behind it that will benefit anglers. Simply keeping in mind how different storage compartments could be used will already be a big help in your decision.

Fishing Kayak Seats

This is an often overlooked feature for a first time fishing kayak buyer. Usually companies will say the seat they provide is comfortable and adjustable, but a picture is worth 1000 words. Take a look at the kayak and see how high the back rest goes. If it's a low cut, it will provide some support, but maybe not enough to keep you comfortable for more than a couple hours. Others will be more robust with a higher-back design, which is much more preferred if possible. As you may have guessed, better seats typically come on better kayaks.

If you find a kayak that fits your needs, but you aren't sure about the seat, we would recommend contacting the seller to see if the seat can be upgraded or modified. Many angler will go ahead with a seat that isn't great for them, but then add their own padding or support to it. Obviously this isn't ideal if you're already spending a lot on a kayak, but sometimes it's necessary if you want to balance quality and comfort with cost.

Transportation and Storage

The size, weight, and design of your kayak will affect how you get it to and from your local fishing hole, as well as how you store it at home (or wherever else). Don't forget to look at the weight, as well as little features like carrying handles. You will also want to make sure that your storage area can fit the kayak, so be conservative when estimating how much space it will take up.

With material science becoming more applicable in everyday life, fabrics and other materials for water crafts are becoming stronger and lighter every year. While an inflatable fishing kayak may not appeal to everyone, it's always worth a consideration, and inflatable fishing kayaks provide a clear advantage in terms of storage, as they can be deflated and moved into a smaller spot. They can also be transported to the water a little easier, but you will have to bring along a pump as well, or disregard that and pump it up at home before you take off.

Bells and Whistles

Finally, if you have narrowed your choices down to a few different fishing kayaks, take a look for any bonus items or advanced specs. Some fishing kayaks will come with a paddle, some won't, but they should say either way. Most fishing kayaks will come with rod holders, but they can vary quite a bit in number.

One of the advanced specs that we really like to see is a well or other area that is capable of mounting a fish finder transducer. Some have these specific to certain brands of fish finders, which can be extra convenient if you have that brand. Given how popular fishing kayaks are becoming, we wouldn't be surprised to see fish finder compatibility eventually becoming standard on lots of kayaks.

Summary

At the end of the day, as long as you put some hard thought into your decision and consider multiple factors, chances are that you'll have a great experience with your new fishing kayak. The Best kayak for Fishing provides a more intimate approach to fishing, a more accessible approach, and a cheaper approach. Give it a go, and hopefully it will be extremely worthwhile!