Richard,

Since no one bit on this one, I'll give you my 2 cents worth.

Stay away from those inflatable/inflatable-with-hard-shell ones. Since you're expecting to camp with the thing, the inflatables are just too risky--nothing like a smoking ember or a nice rock to kill one of those.

Stay with an open bow--getting in and out (swimming, beaching, entering, safety) are all much better with sit-on-top models.

If you're camping WITH one by simply putting in and paddling around for a day while fishing, storage isn't really a top priority. If you plan on camping OUT of one on an extended trip, from camp site to camp site in some multiple-day long trip, cargo space is important.

If you're alone while putting in, get one that has an inexpensive way to strap a wheel harness to pull it along--most can use a generic one but some kayaks have some weird bottom that makes this more difficult and expensive for some reason. Most can easily add a rod holder/rod straps like on your floattube--but I would, of course, say this is a mandatory addition.

I watched a guy at Pinecrest today propel around by kicking some sort of pedal that was hooked up to a water-wheel like contraption. Frees the hands for fishing. A looked on enviously, as I was on my father-in-laws kayak, which is built for surf riding on the coast--no way to propel other than paddle. I like this kick-propulsion idea and the idea of a rudder since we get that anabolic wind here in the Sierras--getting pitched sideways as a boat wake hits you in a kayak is a little unnerving, especially when the paddle's under your fiscalpolicy and your rod is all you have to hang onto!

The longer the boat, the better the tracking, generally speaking. But some makes are notorious for poor tracking from one model to the next, so ask around. Also, some kayaks are made to really fly through the water. These tend to be typically more stable the faster you go. Some kayaks are made to be more stable while motionless. For fishing, scooting around the fastest is not the priority; stability while rigging up/casting is.

Also, where you sit in relation to water level, just like a floattube, is something to keep in mind. You sit higher in some makes, lower in others. The one I used at Pinecrest today was too low and wobbly to make it a good fly fishing one. It's made to torpedo through surf. It has its purpose, and fishing isn't one of them.

Matt

Matt, thanks for the advice; good stuff. I have some fly-fishing friends who've been using the Hobie pedal-powered kayaks on the Stan near Knights Ferry, and sing high praises to 'em, especially when traveling against the current. I'm still trying to decide if I want to fish much from such a beast, or instead focus on touring (what I'd really like to do at some point is circumnavigate Tahoe, and I suspect a sit-atop craft might be a real pain for such an adventure). The kayaks that've caught my eye are those long, sleek, hard-hulled, low-slung sit-inside craft that look like they'd glide through the water with minimal effort. But your comment regarding the wake of boats has me concerned, esp given how popular Tahoe is with the water-skiing set.

By the way, how's the MF Stan doing these days? I haven't fished it since '98, when I discovered the floods of '97 had pretty much destroyed all my favorite holes and holding water. But there's a small chance I might be able to swing down to Long Barn in mid August for my Mom's birthday, and if I do, it'd be nice to see how the thing's recovering.

Ok,

got my father in law here, and asked him why he bought the sit atop ones and not the closed-cockpit ones. Here's what he said:

1) easier in and out (ok, not earth shattering)
2) with a sit atop one, just flip it over if you capsize and climb back on. with one like you're thinking about, you have to do that fancy roll thing. He swears this is true--no way of easily detaching from the cockpit. I don't know: seems like we'd be hearing about deaths by ocean kayak. But given the length of most cruisers, doing that roll would seem very difficult? Maybe not.
3) beaching the craft is concern with the closed cockpits. I didn't press him for this one--he feel asleep on the couch while I've been typing. So there ya go. Wish I could help you out more but I've only gone out maybe five or six times to fish in one.

As for turning with the boat waves. Here's the picture, you're cruising along, see some structure, think hey, I'll cast over that submerged rock/stump. Feed the line through, make a few fasle casts, getting the line out there...whizz, beautiful cast. Suddenly you're turning around, can't see the line, it's over your shoulder because you're sitting on a ten-foot air foil. You're moving quite happily along with the wind, away from the stump, but you want the line to sink a little more before you start your retrieve but it doesn't matter, you've already trolled the line up to the surface and your woolybugger is making a nice V wake on the surface. You're going way too fast for any fish to hit but with one hand on the rod, paddling is really not effective. Then, whoa, yeah that was a big house boat that went by.

Yeah, that was my Pinecrest experience. Still caught three fish, nothing really nice to write home about, though.

As for my MF of the Stani. I'll write more but got to put the two-year old boy to sleep and finish loading up the car--gotta get back to Grass Valley tomorrow before his afternoon nap.

Matt

PS. Joe, (SocalFF), you interested in still doing this Mammoth outing socal's talking about at that other crazy forum?

Hello Gentlemen,

I have been chompin' at the bit to purchase a kayak for destinations such as Donnell. Hope that I am not blowing someone's spot. I understand that many reservoirs have restrictions or difficult access for boats yet a kayak ported or rolled in can be legal and efficient.

Places like Donnell with crazy shore terrain, browns, and a nice feeder stream (The Stan in this case) seem to me like great places for kayak adventures. In fact, what I have in mind is primarily to use the kayak to access spots and to be beached. In other words, I actually am not sure if I visualize myself fishing from it as much as using it to get to spots.

Anyone have any experiences to share?

B.