2023 Kayak Thread

[58thecat]

Thought that since we have many members who just luv their Yaks and can’t wait to get out to have a one stop go to thread.
Share your Yak set ups, makes, models and of course the adventures that we all enjoy with our Yaks.


My current set up!


Wife added a Hummingbird 5 to her yak this year which will be a game changer.


And of course just adventure yaking which is good for the soul!


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[58thecat]

We are currently running Pelican yaks,
Catch 110 and Strike 120x angler.
Mine is on year three of use, get out two to three times a week on it for full day 8hrs plus, no issues to date. The other is on year two and is used once a week again full days on the water.
Lots and I mean lots of fish caught in them and many miles paddled soooo looking forward to this season.
If you have any tips or tricks please share, always modifying and adjusting things, not sure if it is a sickness or bad habit!

[Smoky buck]

I am presently Kayakless for two more weeks

Order has been delayed and I sold our other kayaks

[thumper]

I'm pimping out my new inflatable Hobie iTrek9'Ultra-light' - waiting for the ice to melt. It's basically a 30 lb SUP, with Hobies famous Mirage pedal drive, and a lawn-chair. It's my 5th Hobie over the past 25 years!
Bixpy electric prop motors offer a kit that drops in and suspends their motor down through the Mirage Drive well. It has a wrist remote for speed on/off/reverse, so you can still use the rudder control. When you run out of juice, pull it out, slip in your Mirage drive unit, and pedal home. Sounds like fun - if we ever get out of this winter,....

[pikeman06]

I think there's a kayak Facebook thing for up to the minute play by play, here is a picture of me in my kayak kinda stuff. Thanks tho. Kinda like lake trout, ya seen one kayak, ya seen em all.

[Bushleague]

We're more canoe people, but in the something of the same vein.

034-1 by , on Flickr

territories039 by , on Flickr

DSCF1535 by , on Flickr

DSCF1583 by Cal bablitz, on Flickr

DSCF1036 by , on Flickr

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by pikeman06

I think there's a kayak Facebook thing for up to the minute play by play, here is a picture of me in my kayak kinda stuff. Thanks tho. Kinda like lake trout, ya seen one kayak, ya seen em all.

Same as any other fishing boats they are the same yet very different. Being fastest growing form of fishing the options and various different kayaks is pretty extensive

There is a reason prices vary from a few hundred dollars to almost 10k

Just like anything else some have a passion for it well others just don’t understand it

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by pikeman06

I think there's a kayak Facebook thing for up to the minute play by play, here is a picture of me in my kayak kinda stuff. Thanks tho. Kinda like lake trout, ya seen one kayak, ya seen em all.

Ya but my yak is special just like me…

Here is a yak laker for ya!


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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by thumper

I'm pimping out my new inflatable Hobie iTrek9'Ultra-light' - waiting for the ice to melt. It's basically a 30 lb SUP, with Hobies famous Mirage pedal drive, and a lawn-chair. It's my 5th Hobie over the past 25 years!
Bixpy electric prop motors offer a kit that drops in and suspends their motor down through the Mirage Drive well. It has a wrist remote for speed on/off/reverse, so you can still use the rudder control. When you run out of juice, pull it out, slip in your Mirage drive unit, and pedal home. Sounds like fun - if we ever get out of this winter,....

Wow eh, game changer for a full day on the water.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

I am presently Kayakless for two more weeks

Order has been delayed and I sold our other kayaks

You gotta post up some pics, ya got two beauty yaks coming

[58thecat]

Well just got back from the start of Kayak season for me.
French bay was the destination and it did not disappoint.
At about the two hour mark I said once I hit 30 I will stop counting.
Three hours later and many more caught it was like a feeding frency and the Len Thompson no13 dimple series did not disappoint.
Fast retrieve in 2 fow and the yak got towed all over the place.
Largest was 34 inches.
What a great start to the season!


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[HuyFishin]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Well just got back from the start of Kayak season for me.
French bay was the destination and it did not disappoint.
At about the two hour mark I said once I hit 30 I will stop counting.
Three hours later and many more caught it was like a feeding frency and the Len Thompson no13 dimple series did not disappoint.
Fast retrieve in 2 fow and the yak got towed all over the place.
Largest was 34 inches.
What a great start to the season!


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Well done!! I really need to get up there. photos are making me super jealous

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by HuyFishin

Well done!! I really need to get up there. photos are making me super jealous

Great time is from opener for about a month or so then the back bays etc choke out with weeds and the pike/walleye head to the big water.


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[58thecat]

Even I had to eat!!!



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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Even I had to eat!!!



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Clear water pike where you can see the strike has to be one of my favorites. Watching a big pike come in full speed without hesitation and smash your lure wakes up a guy in a hurry

Our new kayaks are sitting on a new trailer ready to go I am just waiting for evacuation to be lifted now

May have to invade your local lakes to beat the smoke this summer

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Clear water pike where you can see the strike has to be one of my favorites. Watching a big pike come in full speed without hesitation and smash your lure wakes up a guy in a hurry

Our new kayaks are sitting on a new trailer ready to go I am just waiting for evacuation to be lifted now

May have to invade your local lakes to beat the smoke this summer

Must be so hard having everything ready to go and waiting for these dam fires to stop, we need rain big time province wide.
Not just rain but a week long soaking then let our summer begin!
Look forward to seeing pics of your set up etc.


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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Must be so hard having everything ready to go and waiting for these dam fires to stop, we need rain big time province wide.
Not just rain but a week long soaking then let our summer begin!
Look forward to seeing pics of your set up etc.


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It is what it is nothing I can do about it

Will likely just give me the excuse to explore some new waters this year

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Clear water pike where you can see the strike has to be one of my favorites. Watching a big pike come in full speed without hesitation and smash your lure wakes up a guy in a hurry

Our new kayaks are sitting on a new trailer ready to go I am just waiting for evacuation to be lifted now

May have to invade your local lakes to beat the smoke this summer

I've found that pike in clear water can be pretty prone to following. Last night I made it out, water was super clear, pike were following real bad... Had a real giant with a big scar on his back follow in a couple times, but they knew darn well that hook wasnt getting away and figured they had all the time in the world to make up their mind. Eventually I downsized to a #3 Mepps and just started burning it in real fast, then they started committing better.

Never did get that big one, but did manage to get one around 38" and a couple slightly smaller.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I've found that pike in clear water can be pretty prone to following. Last night I made it out, water was super clear, pike were following real bad... Had a real giant with a big scar on his back follow in a couple times, but they knew darn well that hook wasnt getting away and figured they had all the time in the world to make up their mind. Eventually I downsized to a #3 Mepps and just started burning it in real fast, then they started committing better.

Never did get that big one, but did manage to get one around 38" and a couple slightly smaller.

As long as I can remember I have always preferred clear water even for really finicky species. I know a lot of guys prefer some stain or find clear water tougher but not me

Fast erratic retrieves with short pauses are often a good choice

Nothing wrong with a 38”

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I've found that pike in clear water can be pretty prone to following. Last night I made it out, water was super clear, pike were following real bad... Had a real giant with a big scar on his back follow in a couple times, but they knew darn well that hook wasnt getting away and figured they had all the time in the world to make up their mind. Eventually I downsized to a #3 Mepps and just started burning it in real fast, then they started committing better.

Never did get that big one, but did manage to get one around 38" and a couple slightly smaller.

I was lucky cuz yesterday and fishing in two feet of water give or take half a foot I would drift right over them or by them.
Started off with bigger presentations and they bolted but the Len Thompson no13 and the colours was the ticket as they committed big time.
There was a fella in the same bay as me in his kayak so about two hours I paddled over to find him only catching a few so I showed him the lure I was using and he managed a spoon close in colour and size.
In a short time he caught 24 and was so happy. I could hear him hooting and laughing getting towed around! I also told him to not go deep as they are laying in the shallow water post spawn.
Great times.


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[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I was lucky cuz yesterday and fishing in two feet of water give or take half a foot I would drift right over them or by them.
Started off with bigger presentations and they bolted but the Len Thompson no13 and the colours was the ticket as they committed big time.
There was a fella in the same bay as me in his kayak so about two hours I paddled over to find him only catching a few so I showed him the lure I was using and he managed a spoon close in colour and size.
In a short time he caught 24 and was so happy. I could hear him hooting and laughing getting towed around! I also told him to not go deep as they are laying in the shallow water post spawn.
Great times.


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Yeah, those are about the same conditions I'm fishing, shallow reef systems so that the depth vary's from about 4' troughs with bars rising to less than 1' in a very erratic fashion. That shallow, with a snaggy rock bottom, you are somewhat limited as to how much you can vary your retrieve. IMO, in that situation finding a lure with the right action and color to make the fish commit is pretty important, as you pointed out. IMO a little stain can make pike commit a bit better, but in many of the waters I fish its a very fine line.

This year I've been getting good results with a surf fishing plug, the Yo-Zurri Hydro Minnow. It casts a mile, and only dives about 1-2', being a saltwater plug its almost neutrally buoyant in fresh water. I typically dont like suspending plugs because there's no way to get them to run at any depth other than what they were designed to do, which is usually too deep. The Hydro Minnow doesnt dive deep enough to get into any trouble though, and I can work it basically any way the fish want over these shallow reefs. This afternoon I was picking up a fish on almost every cast for about 2 hours on that hook. The fish were hitting other lures too, but being able to react to a missed strike or a follower in whatever manner I liked was for sure a big advantage.

[58thecat]

Great home built carts.
Like the idea of larger wheels just to cover all types of terrain.


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[Smoky buck]

New kayaks are home just need to get them set up for use

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

New kayaks are home just need to get them set up for use

Sounds like you're going to have a fun weekend, Smoky!

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Sounds like you're going to have a fun weekend, Smoky!

I have some catch up on things that got neglected do to evacuation first but might be able to sneak in a day on the water before going back to work

[58thecat]

I will put some back for you Smokey!

A wee bit breezy but 5 casts and 3 pike so far.

Gonna be a good day in the yak out on the water.


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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

I will put some back for you Smokey!

A wee bit breezy but 5 casts and 3 pike so far.

Gonna be a good day in the yak out on the water.


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It’s OK I will let you thin out the little guys before I get on the water

[Smoky buck]

Well did a basic test of fit and function of things to star. Still need to deal with electronics

Here is a basic shop pic. Yes I need to clean up and organize my shop lol




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[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Well did a basic test of fit and function of things to star. Still need to deal with electronics

Here is a basic shop pic. Yes I need to clean up and organize my shop lol




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Those are nice looking yaks!
Like the way you got a yak specific trailer.


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[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Those are nice looking yaks!
Like the way you got a yak specific trailer.


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I still need to test them out but these kayaks should be more stable than my old ones and even more capable in rougher conditions. They will be nice for wiring as there is grommets so you can run through the haul without drilling. There is also a protective panel underneath to protect and mount a transducer. It can be raised and lowered but if you hit something by accident the transducer plate will push into the haul protecting from damage. Lots of mounting options and storage but I will be adding a crate too. The chair has multi height positioning and lumbar support so it should be more comfortable on long days too. It’s pretty common for us to do 12hr plus days out fishing so I am looking forward to this

Mine is the true camo and it may just see some duck hunting too

The Hobie outback definitely comes with some perks

The trailer is a new addition too. I was using a bed extender and stacking our old kayaks but my wife found it tough if she was sore from work. These are a little heavier than our old ones so she wanted a trailer. It will also be nice for out of province trips when we are packing extra gear. I will still use the bed extender when I go solo close to home though because it is still nice and simple

I will get them out till next weekend but looking forward to it