Stealth Rider

The kayak is a quiet and efficient vessel for stalking fish. I have had trout and bass rise to take something off the surface within a few feet of my kayak. It also allows you to get into shallow waters and places that are inaccessible to other craft. These are the kind of places that usually hold the fish you are seeking. Once you get into kayakfishing you will likely acquire more than one "yak" if you are serious about your yakfishing.


A 16' sit-on-top is a good choice on big lakes. It is able to handle the rougher conditions you may encounter and is also capable of moving you along quickly. In addition it is able to carry a lot of gear should you wish to camp as you fish.


The 12 foot sit-on-top is a good choice for use on moving water. it is long enough to track well yet short enough to negotiate quick turns on a winding river.


The other choice for me is a kayak that I can stand in. The ability to stand allows you to stretch your legs and gives you a good vantage point for sight fishing and casting and fishing with a flyrod.


I still have the original sit in kayak that I started with but compared to the modern sit-on-top kayaks it is uncomfortable to fish from and it hasn't moved much since I got my Wilderness Tarpon 120 kayak. My canoe has hardly seen the light of day since I discovered the much more efficient kayak. I would still enjoy "canoe-tripping" with a buddy but I haven't given up on trying to figure out how to portage my kayak. The portaging and carrying factors are the weakness of the kayak.

Stand Up Yak

 

Here's a friend demonstrating the stability of his Commander. 120.

BACKWOODS BASS

The new Wilderness Commander 120 is earning it's keep. It allowed me to get through an almost impossible back lake access. Often negotiating a tough access can pay off in handsome dividends. Check out this handsome brute! Had these big bucketmouths breaking my tippet so I had to switch to my baitcaster. Caught a lot of these fish which made the extra effort to get in with our kayaks very worthwhile.

Beadchain Bugger Scores at Dusk

After fishing the local reservoir in the afternoon from my yak where one lone crappie avoided the "skunk", I decided to drop in at the trout club on the way home. I was fishing the evening rise from shore with my intermediate fly line. On my last cast before calling it a day this magnificent speckled trout was hooked on a wooly bugger with big beadchain eyes. The beauty of it is that the club does not stock brook trout they raise and stock only rainbow trout. This speckle is a wild fish that has been in the system for a while. They must be naturally reproducing in there or they somehow get in from one of the creeks flowing in or out. Water is getting warm quickly. Time to get out for some river smallmouth.

MY NEW STAND UP YAK

After enjoying a fishing session with my grandaughter in my old canoe I started to save for the Wilderness Commander 120. This kayak with it's "captain's perch" would enable me to paddle her around while she fishes. With the sliding seat and the Captain's chair the yak effectively becomes a tandem for grandfather and his fishing buddy. I was extremely fortunate and was able to purchase this "angler version" for less than half price at a year end close out back in November. Now this cold ice and snow needs to go away. I'm really anxious to get this yak on the water. 


On my way home from the dealer. I was able to test it out on a nearby lake. It paddles and tracks really well for having a pontoon style hull. I didn't notice it being any slower than my 12 foot Tarpon. I checked out standing capability and it works. This is going to be my "flyfishing machine".