It’s a wonderful life. You glide across and through waters that are, hopefully, calm. The parks and regions around you open up, giving you a means of exploring their beauty in a manner that is at times thrilling and at others deeply meditative.
Kayaking is worth the time and expense of getting into and it aligns well with other hobbies you may already have, such as fishing and wilderness exploration. Today we’re focusing on points to consider when evaluating fishing kayaks under $1k. Even during current times, kayaking is a personal and suitable pastime to consider – and it’s one of the most exciting and unique ways to enjoy the passion of fishing that we all share.
Let’s get to it and go over a few points you’ll want to consider before you take out that cheap fishing kayaks guide.
Your main points
Before we go over the finer details you’ll want to have covered, let’s begin with the main areas you’ll be dwelling on when it comes to the kind of fishing kayak you want.
Intended kayaking areas: The kind of waters you plan to fish in and their accessibility matter. Do you plan to fish in coastal areas? Man-made or natural lakes? What is it going to be like getting your kayak to that area and out of the water once you’re done? Answering this first helps narrow down your subsequent options.
Inside or on top: Kayaks come in either sit-in or sit-on styles. The former allows you greater protection and in many cases comfort, whereas the second tends towards more flexibility and mobility. This consideration may come down to the kinds of fish you intend to go for and the gear you’ll need to carry and use to catch them.
Weight and size: Once you know the kind of areas you’ll be kayaking in and the fish you’re likely to go for, it’s time to think about your carrying capacity. Whether inside or on top of a vehicle, you’ll need to start with the maximum available space you have to potentially carry both gear and kayak. From there, you can start thinking about size. Remember that a larger kayak means more materials, which are a predominant factor in the final price.
Sit-in vs sit-on-top: More points to consider
Generally speaking, most kayakers purchase a sit-on-top model for recreational use in calmer waters. They are ideal choices for warm coastal areas and usually lack in larger storage compartments for gear, making them less useful for longer trips that involve overnight camping and stays.
A benefit of sit-on-top models is that they’re easier to enter and exit. They’re also more comfortable to use. Some models, but not all, o this kind of kayak will have rod holders or the ability to add them to the model, which may increase the cost of your final purchase.
Sit-in kayaks tend to be fast, capable and usually incorporate some kind of covered cargo compartment. If you’re tending towards this option for more serious fishing trips, remember that you may need to have either a spray skirt or a bilge pump added for if you get swamped. You’ll also need to be familiar with performing a ‘wet exit’, as sit-in kayaks are often narrower than sit-on-top models.
Lastly, it’s important to test out sit-in kayak models. This is because the performance depends to a large extent on how the dimensions of your body fit against the interior of the kayak itself. Having snug and comfortable points of contact with your feet, knees and butt will help you to have a more natural, fluid and energy-efficient control of the kayak, which is particularly important if you are traversing or fishing in rougher waters.
Happy fishing!
Fortunately, you’ll find that your further research will show you a series of further categories for fishing kayaks, such as touring sit-in models and speciality options like folding and inflatable options. The perfect model is out there for you and can realistically be found for under a thousand Dollars, so get looking and best of luck from the Wildlife Chase team in finding the one for you!
