I was thinking about getting a kayak for fishing Mc Allister creek and the mouth of the Nisqually. I was wondering if anyone else uses them? I went down to Skookum bay outfitters in Olympia and there are a hell of alot to choose from. The one thing I was worried about was capsizing and not being able to get back on in the sound. The guy recommended a top riding one. I know some guys use pontoon boats, but after that thread about sharks and my feet being in the water forget it! The coleman toprides are about 350 at GI Joes but some are almost 800 bucks, whats the difference as long as it floats?

I have a lot of experience fishing from a yak in the Atlantic. When I used to live in boston I had a Perception Acadia decked out for fishing & trolling with rod holders, gps, etc. It is a great way to fish and a lot of fun with anything over 20 lbs on your line. I used the kayak mainly for Striped Bass & Bluefish. Sometimes for sight fishing on the flats off cape cod and sometimes 3-4 miles out in the open ocean. You can safely take a kayak in much rougher water than a small boat, including breaking surf. Kayak fishing is becoming a big thing on the east coast and in California. There several websites devoted to the subject & several mfg now produce fishing-specific boats. I sold the kayak last year to my 65 year old father who is now addicted to yak fishing & owns three kayaks.

As for capsizing, yes it will happen. Main pro of a sit-on-top is that when it flips you just get back on and paddle to shore. No sweat. I had a buddy well offshore when he missed a hit on the surface, jerked the plug out of the water, ducked when it came flying at his head, and went swimming in 40 degree water well out of swimming distance from shore. He was in a sit on top so we flipped it over & he climbed back in, no problem. That said, I definitely don't recommend sit-on-tops for fishing anywhere but california, florida or somewhere like that. You'll freeze. Your legs will get soaked, you are constantly sitting in water that collects in the seating area and the wind blows on your wet legs making it very unpleasant. I can't emphasize this enough: if you buy a sit-on-top you will definitely regret it. Ignore the guys at the shop.

A normal kayak is the only way to go. Always carry a pump, paddle float, and sponge and you will be fine. Practice self rescue in a warm pond a few times and you will see how easy it is. You don't have to know how to eskimo roll. Every year a few people, often fishermen, get in trouble off the cape because the don't carry these things. If you have the paddle float and pump, you'll be back in the boat in less than a minute and paddling away in less than 5. I have done it several times and it really is easy even in cold water.

As for a kayak model, I was happy with the Acadia but the favorite among guys fishing off the cape is the Wilderness Systems Pungo. They make an angler version of this. They're cheap, indestructible. roomy, and very stable. This is probably the model I would go for if I was in the market again. I would also consider rigging a small downrigger on the yak out here. Any recreational boat will work. What you don't want is a long, thin, touring boat or a whitewater boat. The oerfect kayaks are the entry-level models that are wide & stable, but not too wide to be clumsy paddling. With the currents int he sound you will need to be able to paddle at a decent pace.

Here is a link to one of the east coast kayak fishing forums I used to follow.

http://reel-time.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=5007278d491a98a3dfb42d5f732b9b97&forumid=34

Here's another site mainly watched by warm-water fishermen.

http://www.kayakfishing.com/

Long post. Brings back some great memories. Good luck. Email me if you have any questions. Again, sit-on-tops are not good for cold water fishing!

Sideoff

I believe that last summer field & stream ran articles on kayak fishing for the june and july issues. Additionally you can pick up some books on kayak selection. Can't remember an titles off the top of my head, but I know there are a few books out there specifically regarding how to select your kayak.

I couldn't give you any specific recommendations for what type to select for the McAllister Creek area due to the fact that you are in an estuary with tidal influence. NO kayak is capsize proof. However, if you are concerned about safety then a sit on top is your best bet because you can easily remount after taking a dunk in the salt. Also, wearing neoprene waders will float you but i don't think it'll save you from the sharks. If you do not plan to travel very far in the area, a polyethylene hull will due the job for the cheapest price. Overall you want something that will be seaworthy for those days when the glass surface turns into swells and you get caught unawares.

You should check out Olympic Outfitters, they have an "SUV" kayak for sale, it's the Hobie Mirage Outback. Rod holders are built into the hull so you can tote up to 4 rods, two fore, two aft. Should be enough room to hold a good sized nook beneath your feet.

Another idea is to go to Boston Harbor and check out the kayaks there.

Thank you so much for the feedback! I really do appreciate it. I will go check out the outfitters downtown this afternoon and swing out to boston harbour.

SD,

I have been using my kayak to fish in and around Whidbey for a couple of years now - it is a lot of fun and I would encourage you to pursue it.

If you are at all interested in using your kayak for anything other than fishing, I would take your time on the purchase and try a few models out.

I really like my kayak and would recommend you taking a look at EasyRider Canoe and Kayak Co. This company has been around since 1970, and are made in Seattle. The owners, Peter and Barbara, are very nice people and they only sell factory direct. These boats are hand made and high quality.

I had mine prepped for a rod holder. This makes trolling very easy and you don't have to worry about losing your rod/reel.

I later plan to add the factory outrigger to my kayak and then add a small downrigger. I have used the outrigger before and it makes these boats nearly impossible to flip.

If you go to EasyRider (15666 W Valley Hwy - Seattle) check out their "Eskimo" line.

Easyrider also can be found at easyriderkayaks.com

Good luck and be careful. It is a safe way to fish, but as you may know, the currents in the sound can be wicked.

JD

Drove all over hell and back looking at kayaks. Went to skookumbay and saw alot of nice ones, but I guess I wasn't dressed nice enough to get much help(True Washingtonians dress well below income level!) Then to Boston Harbor(they only sell one brand) Then to G.I Joes in Lakewood for my first time. My oh my is that a nice store. They have rows and rows of fishing stuff which distracted me from my goal. Then to REI, only two there. I was more impressed by the great building than the lack of stuff inside. Then to sportco(of course) where I found a Pelican Apex2 tandem top rider with alot of room in the front for my wife or a fish cooler(not especialy in that order) Took it out this afternoon on McAllister creek and had a blast. Its big and slow, but stable with alot of room. The fish checker guy said no one has had any luck yet.

One of the kayaks my dad bought for fishing is a tandem. It is made by Loon. The kayak works well and can be paddled by one person. It is very stable, I can even stand up in it for sight fishing. However, it is MUCH slower than the Acadia and it tracks poorly in even a slight breeze. It acts more like a wind-vane which can get really annoying. It wants to ride broadside to the wind & waves and it takes a lot of effort to hold it on any other path. Something to think about. Another thing to consider is that with the added width & weight, paddling against the currents in the sound might be harder. Still, having the extra space is nice... Most of the aboce problems will go away with 2 paddlers. But I would not want to fish out of it with 2 people.

i have seen people fishing out of kayaks at bouy 10.

Glad to see more kayak fishers out there!

I commonly fish out of my kayak, a Pamlico by Wilderness Systems. This boat has the large cockpit with two seats that adjust for one or two paddlers. The large open cockpit is great for fishing on flat water as it is easy to store gear, fish, etc. However, it also means that the boat can swamp easily in rough seas. Although it has a skirt, I have never used it. I highly recommend this boat if you are interested in flat water fishing. Tracks and fishes incredibly well with one or two folks. A little more design appeared to go into this boat than the Loons and other similar style boats. If you are really braving the sound regardless of the weather, I would look at more of a traditional touring boat.

Whatever way you go, I would also recommend some essential accessories such as rod holder mounted on your deck, paddle clips to clip your paddle in when fishing, and also a paddle leash should you drop it while fishing (or toss it to grab your rod while trolling).

Good luck. Let me know if you have more questions.

-JF