Good fishing tandem kayak

[otmastiff]

I did some searching here but wanted to see if there are any new opinions. I am getting rid of my paddleboard and moving to a kayak so I can take the kid out more easily. Interested in opinions on good stable tandems?

[TurbineBlade]

Do you like sitting in puddles?

I absolutely despise kayaks and fly fishing from them...and I have experience doing it from several types (sit in, on top), and currently own two (on top). 

The canoe is more comfortable, holds more things in the middle, works for 2 people easily, and I find it easier to stand and strip line into them.  I personally think kayaks are overrated and more of a modern fad than a practical fishing vessel.  

Gene

[D. Walker]

I just got a sit on top kayak, and now I am in the world of kayak fly fishing, (I may try my hand at crabbing). I wanted something to get me on the water so I can target snakeheads bass etc...

 

as I have been viewing kayak fishing forums the one thing that stuck out in my mind when talking about tandem kayaks are "its like walking 2 dogs at once, it can be done but its a pain in the ass"  that may be referring to 2 adults in a kayak though.

Some guys on those forums get a large 1 person kayak [like a Jackson big tuna etc] and rig a seat for their child on it then when their child is old enough they get them their own kayak.

 

I grew up fishing out of a canoe with my dad [we still fish out of the same canoe] and enjoyed it, just being out on the water is awesome.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 10:31:24 AM UTC-4, otmastiff wrote:

[TurbineBlade]

I probably need to switch to decaf - but still!  I do prefer canoes over kayaks.

That said, I'd rather have a kayak (or a large piece of dock foam) to at least get to where some fish are vs. nothing.  I just think people write off canoes as "old stuff" when they're actually quite useful and (ironically) lighter than kayaks of a similar length. 

If I fished a lot of SW I might prefer the SOT kayak for obvious reasons.   

Gene

[Rob Snowhite]

I agree with canoe. My legs go numb in a yak and I'm not a fan of the angle of view from being that close to the water. I ended up selling my yak as it was collecting too much dust. Though I do now have birds nesting in my canoe on top of my car. 

Sent from my iPhone

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[TurbineBlade]

Phoebe?  Bobbing tail?

Wrens?  

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 1:09:43 PM UTC-4, Rob Snowhite wrote:

I agree with canoe. My legs go numb in a yak and I'm not a fan of the angle of view from being that close to the water. I ended up selling my yak as it was collecting too much dust. Though I do now have birds nesting in my canoe on top of my car. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 29, 2015, at 12:44 PM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:

I probably need to switch to decaf - but still!  I do prefer canoes over kayaks.

That said, I'd rather have a kayak (or a large piece of dock foam) to at least get to where some fish are vs. nothing.  I just think people write off canoes as "old stuff" when they're actually quite useful and (ironically) lighter than kayaks of a similar length. 

If I fished a lot of SW I might prefer the SOT kayak for obvious reasons.   

Gene

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 11:30:41 AM UTC-4, D. Walker wrote:

I just got a sit on top kayak, and now I am in the world of kayak fly fishing, (I may try my hand at crabbing). I wanted something to get me on the water so I can target snakeheads bass etc...

 

as I have been viewing kayak fishing forums the one thing that stuck out in my mind when talking about tandem kayaks are "its like walking 2 dogs at once, it can be done but its a pain in the ass"  that may be referring to 2 adults in a kayak though.

Some guys on those forums get a large 1 person kayak [like a Jackson big tuna etc] and rig a seat for their child on it then when their child is old enough they get them their own kayak.

 

I grew up fishing out of a canoe with my dad [we still fish out of the same canoe] and enjoyed it, just being out on the water is awesome.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 10:31:24 AM UTC-4, otmastiff wrote:

I did some searching here but wanted to see if there are any new opinions. I am getting rid of my paddleboard and moving to a kayak so I can take the kid out more easily. Interested in opinions on good stable tandems?

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[Bryan Lanier]

For two people its a canoe, hands down. 

For just me, I like my yak. Easier to maneuver and less resistance than a canoe not to mention the center of gravity is better. I have a sit-in which works but a sit-on might be better. 

I might play around with retractable pontoons so I can stand up. I've seen some setups that were fairly elegant and some that were pretty monstrous.

Bryan 

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[Derek Douglas]

I like canoes, but I really believe that kayaks are more versatile. A few of the middle end fishing kayaks have seat configurations where you can go double or solo. For the average person, handling a kayak single handed is going to be easier. New kayaks are also extremely durable, the majority being rotomolded, and easy to recover if you flip. New fishing yak models from Jackson and Wilderness Systems are also employing new hull shapes which make standing MUCH easier (the new WS ATAK having a standing seat as well). Less windage on a kayak. Most new models have rod mounts/tracks/go pro mounts built in. Some also have seats with lumbar support and high/low seating positions. I sit as high off the water on my Cuda with the seat in the up position as you do in a canoe, and I can easily stand up.
Honestly, yeah. You're not going to have a great time fishing out of a normal sit in. A fishing specific sit on top from Jackson, WS, or Hobie have many features that make customizing your setup and enjoying your time fishing on the water much easier.

[Nick F - Gaucho Fly]

check out the nucanoe frontier 12. Good all around compromise between a canoe and kayak, and great for fly fishing solo or even tandem. I like mine a lot,  and my only complaint is weight….

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 10:31:24 AM UTC-4, otmastiff wrote:

[D. Walker]

Weight is a good issue to bring up. a larger kayak could have weight issues. And a child is not going to be able to help (I know I was zero help when I was a child to my dad with our canoe)

a kayak cart might be a good accessory to buy to move you and your gear to and from the water from the car.

[Brad]

I've got a 15' Wenonah Angler, a very light royalex canoe. It weighs right around 50 pounds. Try finding a tandem yak that light. Loading, unloading and portaging are a breeze for one person. I haven't met a single person kayak that could be moved by one person without dragging it. Most weigh pretty close to double what my canoe wieghs. It has run many fishy stretches of the Potomac.

No keel, but if you know how to paddle it tracks fine on flat water. Beamy. Perfect moving water fishing boat. Runs class III like a champ. Also try that in a fishing kayak.

If you know what you are doing with a paddle, turn the boat around and sit in the front seat facing "backwards" and it single hands just fine. If you don't know what you are doing with a paddle, do the same thing but use a kayak paddle (but get a slightly longer one)

IMHO the only use for a sit on top kayak is the ocean. Don't own one but use one to fish out of for about a week a year in Mexico. Yes my legs go to sleep after about 2 hours. Yes your ass stays wet. No you can't bring that 18 pack of Tecate. And I won't even bother with a fly rod. You sit at least a foot higher in a canoe.

YMMV

Brad

[namfos]

I've hear kayak tandems referred to as "divorce boats." As for me, I'm presently boatless but will likely be purchasing a kayak before Independence Day rolls around. I hope Turbine Blade will keep continue to speak to me afterwards. ;-) 

Mark

[TurbineBlade]

Oh, for sure.  I post obnoxious/cynical stuff on here all the time but I think most folks would find me fairly easy-going and helpful in person.  

It's kind of like short fly rods -- I don't care for them too much, but if it was all I could get I'd make it work because fishing is better than not fishing.  

Some people consider tandem bicycles "divorce machines" but others say going on separate bikes is actually more likely to lead to divorce....particuarly when one rider is much stronger than the other and the "marriage ride" ride turns into a "see you at the end of the day" ride ;).  

You see -- there are never any rules for anything.  The world is half-baked and everyone is just kind of walking around out there thinking about sofa units and stuff ;).  

Gene

[Bryan Lanier]

Gene,

Actually thinking about a sectional sofa with beer holders to watch the Nats games. Rod holder optional!

Bryan

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[TurbineBlade]

Oh -- I hear they make a Nationals couch that holds beer, Prozac, Visine and tissues actually.  You'll need them pretty much every game after the 5th inning, lol.  (Note: Beth and I are from the St. Louis area).  It comes with one of those 4-game deals and 2 free hotdogs.   

BTW -- you heard it here first.  WSH will bulldoze the nyr in 5 games, starting tonight in msg.  

Gene

On Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 10:01:49 AM UTC-4, Bryan wrote:

Gene,

Actually thinking about a sectional sofa with beer holders to watch the Nats games. Rod holder optional!

Bryan

On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 9:49 AM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:

Oh, for sure.  I post obnoxious/cynical stuff on here all the time but I think most folks would find me fairly easy-going and helpful in person.  

It's kind of like short fly rods -- I don't care for them too much, but if it was all I could get I'd make it work because fishing is better than not fishing.  

Some people consider tandem bicycles "divorce machines" but others say going on separate bikes is actually more likely to lead to divorce....particuarly when one rider is much stronger than the other and the "marriage ride" ride turns into a "see you at the end of the day" ride ;).  

You see -- there are never any rules for anything.  The world is half-baked and everyone is just kind of walking around out there thinking about sofa units and stuff ;).  

Gene

On Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 9:11:07 AM UTC-4, namfos wrote:

I've hear kayak tandems referred to as "divorce boats." As for me, I'm presently boatless but will likely be purchasing a kayak before Independence Day rolls around. I hope Turbine Blade will keep continue to speak to me afterwards. ;-) 

Mark

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[Richard Farino]

I live in a house divided.

Rangers in 6.

R

Richard Farino

Urban Angler VA | 108 N. Washington Street  2nd Floor | Alexandria, VA 22314 

(703) 527-2524 | fax: (703) 527-3313 | ric...@urbanangler.com    

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[Greg Feder]

Mark --

 

You've been around long enough that you know there's very little you could do to keep Gene from speaking!

 

Cheers,

 

-- Greg  

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From: namfos <mark....@gmail.com>
To: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 9:11 AM
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Good fishing tandem kayak

I've hear kayak tandems referred to as "divorce boats." As for me, I'm presently boatless but will likely be purchasing a kayak before Independence Day rolls around. I hope Turbine Blade will keep continue to speak to me afterwards. ;-) 

Mark

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[TurbineBlade]

Ohhh, wanna make a ...........No!  I'm in control of my self and my choices.  No one need gamble to enjoy a game.  

These hands are hot!  I'm the tumbling dice!  Okay -- Beth says I need to take breaks when I get the urge to gamble, even when I know I'll win.  I'm sweatin'  ;)  

Gene

[namfos]

"The world is half-baked..."

LOL!

[namfos]

Greg:

I've told Gene previously: he should blog. ("The Turbine Blade") He turns out nice phrases and he has the right amount of self-deprecation and cycnicism/skpeticism about fellow anglers, experts and other full-of-shit types to be just about perpetually entertaining to read.

But that's just one guys opinion.

Mark

[D. Walker]

I would read the blog!

[TurbineBlade]

I'll be here all week -- tip your servers ;).  

This forum actually has quite a few folks who write the English language well.  Many are far better at it than I am, that's for sure.  I'm just trying to make everyone's day a little more surreal.  

Carry on with the tandem kayak stuff!  Well, I think it may have turned into a kayak v. canoe thread now, but I don't think there are many punishments for fishing threads going off-track. 

BTW -- I really, really want to post a link to a commercial site.  When something like that is printed in black letters, the temptation is overwhelming.  I may have to sneak one into some random, banal thread just so Dan chokes on a couple of multi-grain cheerios one morning ;).  

Gene 

[Derek Douglas]

As with most else in life, the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle. Don't know why anyone would want to watch a Nats game this year though. 😄

[Carl Z.]

OK, 

So does anyone use a canoe for fly-fishing solo?

I think I made the mistake of buying a canoe, thinking it would be more practical. Well actually it was 50% off and I couldn't resist.

But my #1 son likes canoeing, but  canoes with his friends (and their canoe) and #2 son calls it "the death machine" after it's maiden voyage on the South Fork of the Doah in low water (he didn't like all the times we had to lift the canoe over the rocks.

Are there tricks to fishing solo in a canoe, Do I have to add a different seat that is closer to the middle, or add a weight (cooler) to the front of the boat?  As it stands, the front of the boat sticks up like a sail and in a modest wind, the canoe just acts like a weather vane.

On Fri, May 1, 2015 at 5:18 PM, Derek Douglas <derek.j....@gmail.com> wrote:

As with most else in life, the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle. Don't know why anyone would want to watch a Nats game this year though. 😄

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[Brad]

You turn the boat around backwards and sit in the front seat using it as the rear paddling position. It works better on some boats than others and is hateful if you have a boat with those silly contoured seats. Or kneel with your thighs against the center yoke.

If you can j-stroke, you can single hand without moving the paddle from one side of the boat to the other. If you cannot, buy a longish kayak paddle and use it instead.

Brad

[namfos]

Yeah, Gene, posting a commercial link, that'll derail this faster than you can say "Doesn't Dan look a lot like Jayson Werth but without a Porsche?" ;-)

Mark

[Brendan]

I'm with the canoe folks... 

You want to get something at least 15' for two people, tho w/ gear and fly fishing it helps to go longer. you're just going to pay a steep price to avoid the 85lb lunker that ends up wasting away behind the shed because it's such a pain in the ass to deal with....  also remember when buying a boat, that just because you can handle x Lbs in the store or when loading up to go, the boat can feel twice as heavy when coming off the water after a long day. 

Carl -  I have a 12ft solo canoe i use for fly fishing. have had some scares in open water with storms and motorboat wakes, but otherwise i love it.  depends what size canoe you're using and what kind of water you're on. 

I have a 18 or 19 ft grumman that's now been passed down three generations and occasionally take it out solo when i'm looking to do sight casting and stand up... tho loading up that thing solo is the reason the roof of my truck is covered in dents. 

in terms of tips -- anything but short distances in calm water, move up to at least a 1/3-2/3 split. i usually sit on a cooler and just drop down to a kneel for rapids/wakes.  kayak paddles are really helpful, 210cm+ for use in canoes, especially when you're doing a paddle up and float back or covering any kind of distance. 

brad, jealous of that wenonah... amazing boat.  for those looking - if you have the cash for a royalex or kevlar setup - they're incredible. wenonah, mad river, old town and a bunch of others make great lightweight two person boats. 

[Derek Douglas]

Just legitimately curious...how many of you canoe guys have actually used a higher end fishing specific kayak?

[Boiledpeanut]

Look at a 13' Gheenoe. I'm well into my second year with mine and am finally satisfied. I can sand on the seats and cast. Fished a kayak, square stern canoe, then, out of frustration, built a wooden micro skiff from scratch. Then I saw a Gheenoe for the first time and I was done. I got a 400.00 trailer from Harbor Freight to drag it around with and I spend more time on the water than I ever did with any other craft that I have owned. Google pictures of "13' Gheenoe" and you'll get it. I think fishing kayaks will go the way of roller blades and windsurfers.

[Boiledpeanut]

[Brad]

Brendan is right, the heavier it is, the less you will use it. Lightness is expensive but well worth it. My Wenonah is 15 foot. Handles 2 people and enough gear for short overnights.

I have paddled many purpose built fishing kayaks. They have their place. For me that place is the ocean or any big water.
Where I fish in Mexico we fish an island about 2 miles off the beach. Wouldn't dream of using a canoe there. But for comfort and ease of use, it is a canoe hands down. Particularly for moving water. If most of your fishing will be on the upper Potomac running an occasional class II rapid, you need a canoe. Sit on tops simply cannot maneuver as well as a canoe in moving water.

[Joe Mathews]

Aire makes some high-quality inflatable canoes and tandem kayaks, rated for Class III (and sometimes higher) whitewater.  Their design is a thick PVC shell, with an inner urethane air bladder. 

I recently bought a used Aire Traveler and I'm in the process of building a rowing frame for it.  Similar to the attached.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 10:31:24 AM UTC-4, otmastiff wrote:

[Cameron Abbott]

Take a look at the Jackson Big Tuna. I have one of these and it is awesome. You can be in tandem or single mode. The boat is easy to paddle and stable enough to stand and fish if you want. I typically stand when i fish. It is a sit on top and can have the chairs in low or high setting. I promise you will not be sitting in a puddle. its a little heavy for a kayak, 90 lbs, but i handle it myself and much lighter than a canoe. I have the yak attack version and is a fishing machine! it is all dependent on what you want. Front royal kayak and canoe has jacksons and are right on the river so you can demo them. i would suggest doing that to see what it is you want. www.jacksonkayak.com. Let me know if you have any questions.

Cameron

[Brad]

No way is a tandem kayak lighter than anything but the heaviest canoes. My canoe weighs half that and carries more payload. I've owned heavier boats and for me I just don't use them enough because around a 100 pounds is no fun to move around.

It all boils down to what you want to do and how you want to fish. I'd take a canoe over a sit on top in moving water any day. And most days on even big lakes. Ocean will always be for sit on tops, until I buy a center console that is...

[TurbineBlade]

+1.  I've toyed with some of the top-end fishing kayaks and even in the short lengths they're heavy as hell compared to even the 3-layer poly canoes of the same length.  

We have a used, old as dirt, 1987 "stillwater" 16' fiberglass canoe that works quite well for pond/lake/slow water fishing.  It is heavier than I prefer to move at about 75 pounds, but not so bad that I can't manage...and I love it on the water.  Actually, I had to install a new (double-bolted) center yoke and I *chose* to add a second thwart near the stern, so that is probably an extra few pounds.  I figure it was worth it and the wood was rotted out anyway.  

When it craps out we'll probably pick up an old royalex boat in the same general geometry and that would probably weight 50-60 something pounds and be superb ;).  I might even go kevlar which can be even lighter, as we don't really like fast moving water and rapids as it is.  

Gene