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What boat should you use? KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLEBOARDS

KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLEBOARDS 

what boat should you use? I cannot answer that. People often ask me exactly that question. Why not ask me who you should marry? Things to consider when looking for a vessel include your physical size, your fishing style, where you intend to use the vessel, whether you'd prefer to paddle or pedal, how well it paddles, whether you enjoy fishing alone, its cost, its weight, how you intend to cany it, its storage capacity, how comfortable it is, the aesthetics of its use and more. Everyone has different needs.

 My fishing style when paddle fishing includes a lot of wading. I want a sit-on-top (SOT) kayak because I can easily get off of and on to the kayak. One of my kayaks is an Ocean Kayak Drifter (no longer made) purchased in 2003. Designs have improved a lot since then. I still like that old boat for two reasons, though. First, my boats are carried atop my car. That one weighs fifty-five pounds, and I can lift it. Second, the boat is fairly vided. While searching for fish, I can stand up, allowing me a better view of the fishing area. Or, if it's an area where getting out of the boat is unlikely (deep water, soft mud bottom, etc.), this boat allows me to stand up and stretch. This boat does not work well for camping. It lacks sufficient storage. I use a different boat for camping and am fortunate to have several different boats that I use for different purposes. 
What about pedal kayaks? These boats have two main advantages for the serious angler. The muscles in your thighs are the largest muscle groups in your body. Pedal kayaks make use of these large muscles, which do nothing if you paddle. If you use your legs for propulsion, it frees your hands for casting. Paddling and casting don't compete •with each other. Nick Lytle (navarrekayakfishing.com) has tried them all and thinks, at the time of this writing (spring 2019), that the Old Town Predator is the best one currently on the market.
Pedal boats are expensive (around $3,000 at the time of this writing) and heavy. Most are trailered or carried in the beds of pickup trucks. The drives don't work in shallow water, are subject to damage and are line catchers for fly anglers. Once again, only you can decide if one of these boats is right for you.
What about sit-inside kayaks? Compared to a SOT, they are hard to get out of and into, so they don't fit my fishing style. This is strictly subjective, but I feel just slightly claustrophobic inside one. Most sit-inside kayaks paddle a lot more easily than SOTS, though. If touring is high on your list of reasons to get a paddleboat, you should certainly consider a sit-inside. And, finally, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), the type of paddle vessel I am least qualified to discuss, as I have used one only once. It was quite a windy day, and I tried to fly-fish. It was impossible, though, because the SUP moved so fast. I was like a sail on top of that thing. People who have brought them on my charters have had the same thing happen to them. 
When the wind isn't blowing, the SUP works wonderfully. But it's windy a lot in Florida. For me, SUPs don't seem practical enough. You, dear reader, are not me. You should get the boat that best serves the majority of your needs. Any vessel you consider purchasing should get an extensive water test, preferably in snotty weather. If you can live with it in bad weather, you will love it the rest of the time. Only after this test should you part with your money. Borrow one, rent one, hire a guide—whatever you have to do to test it, do it. You can spend over $3,000 on a paddleboat these days; that's a lot of money to pay for an error. Make sure you like it before you buy! 

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