Any kayakers?

riverfever

riverfever

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Woodland Park, Colorado
I think I'm finally done fixing up my house and it will go on the market Monday. I have to stay in town until the end of July and then the wife and I will move out to CO. I was thinking about getting a kayak and goofing around on some of the local rivers/lakes. I realize that whatever I get will probably not be able to run down any of the white water in CO. I could probably explore some of the reservoirs with it and fish from it in calmer waters or larger rivers. Can anyone tell me what to look for? It'd be sweet to be around $250ish. Is that a joke? I looked at one from Old Town at a local sporting goods store (Old Town Otter). Any advice? TIA.

-Chris
 
I do mostly white water but can offer some advice. There are many boats available to choose from. The Otter you mentioned is about the least expensive (I didn't say cheap!) recreation kayak you will find. Go for it and have a good time. I am a member of the Greater Baltimore Canoe Club (baltimorecanoeclub.org) and we have many new members that start out in Otters, Swiftys etc...
I can't recall seeing a frown on their face!
 
Yeah...you KNOW that with my fear of all water that's salty, I wouldn't be caught dead in a kayak or raft or a friggin' tanker in the ocean on a Chamber of Commerce day. This vessel will only see very calm rivers (that's all we have around here) and some small lakes and ponds. I'm also afraid of lightning so I can say for certain, if there is even a remote chance of a storm rolling in, I am not gonna be in a boat, canoe, whatever. I was supposed to fish this evening for catfish of all things from a Johnboat but skies are gettin' gray and my Spidey senses tell me I'm better of running to the store and grabbing a 6 of something from Bells Brewery and watching that tool Roland Martin catch fish I can only dream of.

OK...I've let 2 cats out of the bag. There is only one other thing I truly fear. Damn, dirty spiders. They get no mercy from my boot.

I know...I'm hardly a man.
 
Id make sure you know what your really gonna do with it. I have 2 Aquterra prisims, 14' long sit on top type. great for general use in a lake or smooth ocean. Ok to fish from. I made the mistake of trying to surf with one once in small waves. Im no expert but it didnt work well we`ll say. Find a quiet lake somewhere and have at it. As a life long gear head it will give you a different view and perspective of things.
pretty cool.
 
I paddle a dagger blackwater. It is a recreational with a drop down rudder board. Turns on a dime with it up, goes straight with it down. Stay with something cheap because if you get hooked on it you will want to advance to a whitewater or touring kayak. MAKE SURE YOU SIT IN IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT. Try sitting in some, even if you are not interested in them, just so you have a reference of what you like or dislike. The cockpits can be completely different. Some are roomy with high back seats that feel like a recliner, and some are more tight with lower seats to allow more movement. Generally a wider boat is more stable and a longer boat is faster. A recreational kayak is a good general use boat. If you are thinking about moving on to whitewater, choose a shorter one that will let you manuver better. If touring is more your thing, go for a longer boat that will be easier to paddle.
 
With $250 you should be able to get a good used kayak, a sit-on-top one that you would probably like for fishing and lakes. Depending on where you live, you can find barely used kayaks since a lot of people have stuff they don't use. Check papers, classifieds, craigslist, ebay. I do take exception to youre fear of salt water though. I much salt water and like to get way out from the shoreline plus bieng in the water the salt is good for the skin and no pond scum or cows pooing nearby. Plus with the wave action, so much more exciting for most any activity, bigger fish (usually), etc.
 
No...I totally agree Baja. I wish I wasn't such a woos about it all. Much better odds at hooking/landing a bigger fish minus the poo. I'm going to go check some out in person this weekend. I haven't sat in any of them yet so I'm eager to see exactly how comfy they are. I'll let you know what I come up with. Thanks guys.
 
 
Wow...awesome pictures db. Do you mostly kayak or canoe or both? I'm floating/fishing the Black on Monday. Do you know of any local sources for a good used kayak that I would be able to fish from on some of the lakes and rivers (near St. Louis)?
 
I like my kayaks like I like my Jeeps.

I own four touring kayaks. In one I can carry enough gear and beer to float and camp for two days and still handle classs 3 rapids. If I take a team of four we can do class 4's and camp, eat steak, and drink beer 'till dawn.:sunshine:
 
riverfever said:
Wow...awesome pictures db. Do you mostly kayak or canoe or both? I'm floating/fishing the Black on Monday. Do you know of any local sources for a good used kayak that I would be able to fish from on some of the lakes and rivers (near St. Louis)?
Click to expand...

I use a canoe, but I never go without my dog and my gf. We don't do any white water, mostly rivers like the Black. I'll keep my eyes open for a used kayak, but most of the boats I've seen for sale lately are the white water type that wouldn't be good to fish from.
 
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