Austin Kayak - Fishing Kayak

Over the last few years, kayak fishing has really exploded in popularity. There’s nothing quite like sitting on a serene lake, fishing in the water while surrounded by nature. On a boat, it still feels like you’re drifting on a man-made device. On a fishing kayak, you’ll feel like you blend into nature. It’s a much more relaxing way to enjoy fishing.

Why Kayak Fishing?

Kayak fishing has really taken off for a few reasons. First, it’s affordable. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a boat, you can go fishing for just a couple thousand dollars. They’re also much more durable than boats. For less money, you’ll have fishing vehicle that lasts longer. Your maintenance costs are also lower.

It’s much easier to work with a kayak than a boat. You can just load it up on your car and store it in your garage, instead of having to dock your boat somewhere. Finally, it’s just plain more fun.

What to Look for in a Good Fishing Kayak

Here are a few key factors to look for in your kayak.

First you have the speed. Certain kinds of fish like to dart around stones and other object. If you want to position your boat to catch those fish, you need to be able to do it quickly.

Another key factor is tracking. A kayak with good tracking won’t tilt back and forth too much when you apply forward motion. When you’re fishing, having good tracking is essential so your line doesn’t bob up and down and scare away the fish.

Stability is also important. Stability is how still the kayak can stay when you’re casting your lines. A good fishing kayak should have strong stability while you’re sitting. A small portion of fishing kayaks can even let you stand up.

The Two Different Kinds of Fishing Kayaks

There are primarily two kinds of fishing kayaks for sale.

First, you have Sit In Kayaks or SIK for short. This is the most common type of kayak. There’s a cockpit in the middle of the kayak. You sit in the cockpit and use your knees to grip the walls, which helps boost stability. The walls of the cockpit help prevent water from getting in. The downside to SIKs is that if you do flip over, it can be challenging to get back into the cockpit. The cockpit can also prevent some range of motion.

The second kind of kayak is the Sit On Top Kayak or SOTs for short. These kayaks are designed without a cockpit. You can just sit on top of the kayak. With this kind of design, you get improved mobility because you can move around the top of the kayak to position yourself however you want. You also don’t have

to worry about water building up in the cockpit, as the water simply drains itself off from the surface of the kayak. It’s much easier to get back on should the kayak flip.

Whatever style you choose, going kayak fishing is going to be an adventure. Strap on, suit up and good hunting!