The cons:
• Back pains
• Fish difficult to see sitting
• Get wet
The first con of kayak fishing is the inevitable back pain that comes from sitting for hours on end. This does not mean that the seats in the kayaks are uncomfortable because they are usually very comfortable. Back pain comes from sitting too long. Sitting at a desk all day has the same effect. Standing up from time to time or getting out of the kayak to stretch can alleviate this con.
The low elevation of the yak angler is another con when it comes to spotting fish. The higher the angler’s elevation, the more he will be able to see. A yak’s close-to-water posture makes it difficult to see fish. Many of the newer sit-on-top style yaks are stable enough to allow them to stand upright, which solves the lift problem.
Yak anglers can expect to get wet. Kayak fishing is a wet style of fishing. Fish will splash and the scuppers will allow water to flow in and out of the kayak. That’s how it is.
Now let’s take a look at the advantages of yak fishing.
The professionals:
• Low cost barrier to entry
• Stealthy
• Cast/fish anywhere
• Anyone can do it
• Low maintenance
Kayaks are relatively cheap compared to other fishing boats. A decent, not-so-fancy kayak set up for fishing will generally cost less than a thousand dollars. There are kayaks with pedals and all the bells and whistles that can cost close to three thousand dollars, but a basic fishing kayak should cost less than a thousand dollars.
The ability to be stealthy is a definite plus for this style of fishing. A trolling motor is not as quiet as everyone thinks. Fish can hear very well and are often startled by the hum of a trolling motor. Kayaks don’t have that problem and can sneak up on the fish.
The ability to cast and fish from anywhere is a huge plus. This angler likes to find areas that are not pressured by other anglers. The key is to fish where the fish are and not the fishermen. Fishing kayaks are perfect for this.
Anyone without physical disabilities can fish from a kayak. The physical requirements are the ability to sit and row at the same time. This is rated on a difficulty scale with walking while chewing gum. Very little athletic ability is needed for kayak fishing.
The kayaks are very low maintenance. Once an angler sets up his kayak just the way he likes it, most of the work is done. There are very few things that can go wrong with a solidly built fishing kayak.
Bottom line, kayak fishing is an inexpensive, fun, and easy way to get out there and catch a ton of fish. So go out and do it.
