How to Choose a Fishing Kayak

With so many choices available, it may be hard to decide which kayak is best for you. Here, we offer tips and advice to help you make the best decision.

As a starting point, there is no perfect kayak. The features that are important to one user may be quite different from those of another user. Fortunately there are lots of options out there these days for different budgets and different circumstances. As you start to shop for a fishing kayak, consider how you are likely to use the kayak and how often you will use it.

Where Should You Buy Your Kayak?

For most buyers, cost is a very important factor in which kayak they buy. Some big box and sporting goods stores offer brand new entry-level kayaks at a very modest price. These allow users to get started in kayak fishing without major expenditures and learn whether kayak fishing is a hobby they want to continue pursuing. Independent kayak shops sell a broad range of more advanced kayaks and can offer more advice and assistance in choosing the right model.

Some buyers prefer to purchase used kayaks that are already set up with accessories to make fishing easier. Used kayaks are often available through various classified ads and online services like Craigslist.

Please consider the following CBKA Tournament sponsors when purchasing your kayak:

What Features Should Be Considered When Shopping?

There are many decision criteria that go into buying a kayak. Each buyer puts his/her own weights on the different criteria in determining which features are highly important and which are less critical. In this section, we describe those decision criteria.

Four criteria in particular should be given strong consideration:

What style of kayak and propulsion do you want?
Although you can enjoy kayak fishing from canoes, sit-inside kayaks, and SUPs, most people who actively pursue kayak fishing end up in sit-on-top kayaks. Within the sit-on-top kayak world, you can find many models that use paddles for propulsion, a few more expensive models that use pedal-drive units for propulsion, and several models or after-market attachments that allow use of electric motors. A previous section of this guide describes the pros and cons of the different boat and propulsion styles. But knowing what you want and the range of prices those feature will cost can help you get started.
How do you plan to use the kayak?
Do you plan to fish primarily in free flowing rivers, in quiet ponds or lakes, or in open tidal areas subject to high winds and waves? Knowledge of how you plan to use the kayak can help to rule out some models while keeping other models in consideration.
How do you plan to transport and store the kayak?
Many kayakers transport their boats on top of their vehicles using standard vehicle roof racks, fancy cradle attachments to roof racks, or foam cushions. Other kayakers have vehicles large enough to push their kayaks in the back with part of the kayak sticking out (SUVs, minivans, pickups). Other users prefer to buy a trailer to avoid lifting to a rooftop position.

Storage of kayaks at your home is an important consideration too. Those with garages or walk-out basement space are fortunate in having the option to store kayaks indoors. Some users store kayaks directly on the floor, while others construct racks or pulley systems to store kayaks in other parts of the garage or basement. Those users without indoor storage may look for outdoor storage racks or spots on the ground.
Longer kayaks offer more weight-carrying capacity and often are faster than shorter kayaks. But they tend to weigh more and take up more space for storage. Regardless of which model you choose, you should identify how you will transport and store your kayak before you buy it.

How comfortable is the seating position in the kayak?
This criterion is often overlooked when buying, but it can be extremely important in how much you use your kayak and how long you are able to remain out on a single trip. Seating ranges from molded plastic wells in the kayak with minimal seat cushioning and low back rests to fancy padded or raised seats. Subtle differences in the shape, position, and cushioning of the seats can make a great difference in the time to "butt fatigue".

Another seating concern is how dry you stay under normal conditions. Some seating areas tend to collect drippage off of paddles or waves that slosh over the side. Other seats are elevated to minimize wet bottoms. Location of scupper holes and how effective they are in removing water that gets inside the seating area are worth considering.
At a minimum, try sitting in kayaks on the ground to see how comfortable they are initially. Even better, work with a dealer that offers on-water demos or rentals so you can check out different boats before buying.

In addition to these “big four” criteria, buyers should consider many other factors too.

How heavy are you? This includes your own body weight as well as the weight of the gear you plan to carry. Large individuals will have fewer models that can safely support their weight.
How important is having a new shiny kayak vs. a used one? For the same price you can buy a used kayak with more features, but you lose the aura of having something brand new.
Do you want to spend your full budget on the kayak itself or do you want to reserve some of your budget to add accessories?
Consider width and stability in relation to the places where you are likely to use the kayak. Generally, stability is discussed in terms of primary and secondary. Primary stability is easiest to describe as the initial feeling of the boat - does it feel tippy if you rock side to side? How about when you are paddling? Typically a wider boat or one with a pontoon styled hull will have higher primary stability than a narrower boat. Secondary stability is easiest to describe as how easy it is to capsize/flip a kayak. It is not uncommon for a kayak to feel "tippy" but to actually be more worthy of rough seas than a wider more stable feeling kayak. Nobody wants to capsize – but if you fish in rough water, you will face conditions that can put you off balance. It is important to know how your hull reacts to normal wave action and unusually large waves or wakes that may catch you by surprise. If you plan to stand while fishing from the kayak, you need to choose a model that gives enough stability to allow standing.
What hull shape best suits your needs? How does the kayak move in the water – does it track straight or does it move from side-to-side on each paddle stroke? Features of hull shape like rocker, chines, or bow entry angle help with tracking and chop. You may find that having a rudder helps you to navigate in a straight line. On the flip side, if you use your kayak in moving water or want to work close-in to shorelines, having a boat that pivots easily is more desirable. Another related consideration is the speed through the water (wider and shorter kayaks tend to be slower).
How much storage space is available? Kayaks have various types of built-in storage spaces, from open wells to closed hatches or molded in compartments or drink holders. It is important to decide how much gear and the types and shapes of gear you will want to carry with you. Some models come with gear tracks that allow users to add other accessories on devices that fit into the tracks. Gear tracks can be purchased as after-market accessories and added to kayaks that do not have them as standard features.
Where do you put your feet? In a pedal-drive kayak, the user’s feet are actively engaged in pushing pedals. But for paddle kayaks, the user needs to put his/her feet somewhere. There can be a surprisingly different comfort level depending on the type and shape of foot rests. Lower-cost kayaks often have a series of notches molded in the floor. The user rests their heels in whichever notch is most comfortable. Other kayaks offer small rectangular pegs that adjust fore and aft for foot support. Even more comfortable are larger adjustable supports that are angled upright.
How much time will be need to attach or remove your accessories on each trip? If you are able to mount a fishfinder and rod holders in a way that does not require separate installation on every trip, you will save several minutes at the start and end of each trip.

After you have considered as many of these criteria as possible, you may know exactly which model you want. Or you may have several models that remain in consideration. At that point you shop for the model that gives you the most value for your investment. Have fun studying and shopping!