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All purpose Erir kayak?

4K views 30 replies 20 participants last post by  fishing pole 
#1 ·
Looking to purchase a kayak for Lake Erie. Won't be heading out too far. I know nothing about kayaks! Any recommendations?
 
#9 ·
Ditto on what everyone said. I'm not trying to talk you out of kayaking Erie but maybe rent one or borrow someone's first and try it. It's not as easy or romantic as it may appear. Don't get me wrong it's fun as hell, but you have to be aware of everything at all times cuz there's always something going on. I have a sit on top and a sit inside kayak and live down by Summit Racing. If you ever want to meet up someplace you're welcome to try both of them and I will show you why you need to spend a little more to get a decent kayak. If you're dead set on running out and getting one, buy used your money should go further. Enjoy your day! your money should go further enjoy your day
 
#12 ·
Any more brand or size recommendations?

FOR FISHING? or just riding around???
lol,,,,, in my opinion,,,, WATCH about 50 of these videos first,,, & scrape-up a whole bunch more $$$$$$, Then try to decide! ;>)
I'VE been thinking about buying a Fat-Boy sot fishing kayak,,, FOR YEARS!
Haven't bit-the-bullet yet, cause I just can't decide!
So someday, if need be, I'll just put riggers on my trusty 'ol Sportspal.? (it has a motor!)
MAN, I'd love to have a fishing SOT, for INSIDE of the Erie walls.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Fishing+Kayak+for+Erie
 
#13 ·
I'm not interested in a Kayak...heck, I probably couldn't get in and out of the thing. Less knowing paddling it.
I was only suggesting to the O.P. Erie isn't the best place to start out with a Kayak.
 
#18 ·
Vibe is a good yak, I saw one on Ladue. Very similar to a ocean kayak trident. Make sure you get a framed seat tho. It’ll save your back. Plus the new style of seats have a raised position vs plain fabric. Either way, sot with the self bailing scuppers are a must. The water leeches out not allowing water to flow up. These insure a dryer ride. Especially in cold water and no wet butt.
 
#19 ·
The Old Town Predator mx is stable, great seat, no wet butt, and handles big water well. I have the Ocean Kayak BIg Game2 and it’s the same hull with the same element seat (which is amazing) of the predator with different scupper placements because of the console. I know they are not cheap but if your looking to take it on big water, cheap isn’t really an option. Keep saving or try to find one preowned.
 
#21 ·
I only have a couple years experience on kayaks (more years on canoe and small boats), but in the end it will be your decision regarding folks advise / suggestion. With that said, I researched for over a year before I bought my kayak. Stability was my main factor before anything else. I ended getting a 2014 Jackson Big Tuna (14.1L × 36inW / capacity load of 600lbs+). I have taken this to many lakes including Alum on very windy days (not optimal for padding against the wind). This kayak has handled like a champ, one instance while getting back to my launch the winds were 15 to 20mph plus waves sending my yak crashing into them. The weather had changed in an instant and even the weatherman changed his forecast at last minute. My suggestion is take your time searching for the right one if your intention is Lake Erie, plus have several plans in case things go south. I was invited a couple times to Erie on kayaks, but declined as Erie can be a beast sometimes (when I go to Erie in a boat I always recall reasons not to go in a kayak). Be safe and take your time, the water/fish will always be there. Goodluck.
 
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#24 ·
Your best bet is to Demo as many kayaks as you can.There are plenty of great shops around Ohio that will allow you to test out the boats before you buy. Backpackers shop on the west side of Cleveland as well as Clintonville Outtfitters come to mind. As far as starting on Erie, I tend to agree with some of the others that it isn't a great place to take your first yak. Small problems or weather on other bodies of water can because huge problems on Erie. Not to mention boat traffic. If you are dead set on beginning on Erie i'd recommend taking a buddy.
 
#25 ·
Your best bet is to Demo as many kayaks as you can.There are plenty of great shops around Ohio that will allow you to test out the boats before you buy. Backpackers shop on the west side of Cleveland as well as Clintonville Outtfitters come to mind. As far as starting on Erie, I tend to agree with some of the others that it isn't a great place to take your first yak. Small problems or weather on other bodies of water can because huge problems on Erie. Not to mention boat traffic. If you are dead set on beginning on Erie i'd recommend taking a buddy.
Riverrunner recommends a Jackson!
 
#26 ·
I bought two intro kayaks before I finally bought my first Jackson. It took two to get me to realize I should have spent the money on a better fishing yak the first time.

My big water yak is the 'Cuda 14.4. I take it out on Caesars Creek, Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic. It handles rough water really well.

Do your research, there are a lot of good suggestions on this thread. I would encourage you to get a SOT, nothing shorter than 12' and look for an established manufacturer like Jackson, Wilderness Systems, Old Towne and the like.

A smaller yak will be OK IF you plan to stay very close to shore or in coves.
 
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#27 · (Edited)
For the money kayaks sell for now, I bought an inflatable Kaboat, used outboard, fish finder and rod holders for under $1000. Its extremely stable and fishes two guys comfortably. No more paddling and it holds 800lbs. We can stand and fish too or sit anywhere on the pontoons. Its made of the same material as white water rafts and river rescue boats. Is stores in a closet or under a bed and fits in your car trunk. Selling my yak and car rack paid for the whole outfit including the outboard. Just imagine driving home from work and its a beautiful day and the lake is flat. Your gear is with you and you pull up to a beach or jet ski launch anywhere on the lake and launch for free to motor out and nab a quick limit. A 14ft Kaboat with a 5hp pushes me solo at 17mph and two guys at 12mph on plane sipping gas. You can easily set it up to troll for walleye or stand and cast for smallies. It has oars that come with it so if you want to paddle or stay in the zone the oars are always an option stored out of the way attached to the sides. I love this set up. No b.s....its a badass lil run and gun budget multi functional fully adaptable rig for fishing any body of water from the ocean, big lakes to small rivers and remote locations. It only drafts like 2'' of water with two guys, motor and gear. Weighs less than 80lbs in its case and is super easy to assemble and move around when inflated. You can even buy Trolly wheels that bolt on the transom and flip up or down to wheel the complete rig to the launching point. I can be unloaded and in the water in 15mins. i timed it. Youll get a system down after a few times and a c cell battery air pump does most of the inflating as you unload your gear. Check out the youtube vids of the kaboats doing extradinary things and the potential for endless modifications. Its stable enough to stand up on a lil casting deck up front too. Just my two cents about getting the most bang for your buck in a portable easy to care for and operate all purpose rig as an alternative to Kayaks. Oh, these have a one way rear drain plug that self drains the water in the boat. I filled the boat with some water and it drained out on its own when on plane. The water stayed under the drop stick air deck so our feet never got wet. I used a water hose to rinse the sand and mud off at home before storage. You can also sleep in the kaboat comfortably like being on a air matress along the bank or in the lake. I set up a tarp in an Aframe configuration tying off on the boat Drings on one side then using two sticks as poles with guylines on the other. Sit on the pontoon as a sheltered cooking area, then lower the tarp to protect you from wind and rain while you crawl inside to sleep. Try that with a kayak...lol
 
#30 ·
Nope, I just really like the concept of it and highlight it’s strong points. I wont bring it up anymore.
Don't let someone dictate that to you. Maybe it was just limitations of the written word.
Either way, I'm looking forward to hearing some reports on that boat. In fact after you commented yesterday, I watched about 20 minutes of videos of Kaboats with jet motors rolling up little tiny creeks.
All I can think is that thing would be AWESOME on the Susquehanna River.
Please, post some reports.
 
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