FLOAT TUBE VS KAYAK

i have been doing a lot of bay fishing on my tube lately and it seems like a kayak would be so much more efficient, i would be able to cover wayyyyy more water on a kayak and be able to fish the whole bay instead of just 1/4 of it! i have never fished off a kayak, but i am considering it!!!! what are the pros and cons of a kayak ?

Not being able to truly hold your spot. Of course it is not easy in a tube but seem to be harder in a yak. Just my 2 cents.

I tried a kayak in the harbor once and did not like it at all. Trying to hold the rod and the paddle at the same time was a pain in the butt. Once I hooked up, the kayak became a pinball machine since I was too busy fighting the fish. If you really want to go with a kayak I think something with pedals would be ideal since it frees up your hands.

I have thought about getting a kayak as well but after doing much research the only way I would get one is if it was a Hobbie peddle drive but at that cost I'll spend another G and get a CC.
If your only fishing bays and lakes float tubes are the way to go. You can get into tighter spots than a kayak can and even when fishing from a kayak your still not fishing the whole bay.
Plus you have to think about storage and transferring it to and from the water

you can't fish and paddle at the same time in a kayak, while fighting a fish you are at mercy of wind & tide. Its true you can cover way more water in a yak but there are always trade offs.

I love using my pontoon on the harbor, best of both worlds.

oh and even with a pedal yak you can't go backwards, can't keep bass away from structure once hooked.

I posed this same question on my other board...but I'm in the exact opposite situation.

I have a Hobie Kayak and love fishing off it, but if I'm planning on just fishing the bays, I don't want the hassle of putting it on top of the car, strapping it down, etc. I just want to be able to just pack up the car quickly and get going in a few minutes.

It takes me about 10-20 minutes to get everything, put the kayak on the car, strap it down securely, etc.

I am hoping a Tube will allow me to get out quicker and spend more time fishing when i only have 1 or 2 hours. Kayak would be too much of a hassle for me to fish for only 1 or 2 hours.

Whatever do decide...if you do get a Kayak, get the Hobie...it's well worth it. You can find used ones for about $1200-$1300.

WOW, thanks for all the info guys, i have been looking at the HOBIE but they are super pricey!!! and as far as transporting it, im not really worried about that, i have a truck with a full ladder rack that would fit 3 kayaks on top no problem! i have also considered putting a trolling motor on my float tube, but if i am gonna do that i might as well get a boat!! lol.

@bowbah it still takes a while to inflate the tube, set up all ur gear ,put on your waders, fins etc. then paddle out to wherever ur spot is! its hard to fish for only 2 hrs!! lol

420_tuber wrote:@bowbah it still takes a while to inflate the tube, set up all ur gear ,put on your waders, fins etc. then paddle out to wherever ur spot is! its hard to fish for only 2 hrs!! lol

Didn't really think about the inflating part...I was just gonna use my battery operated pump from my air mattress

As for the kayak...putting on the waders, gear setup, etc...all about the same time...I guess it's just a matter of putting the kayak on top of the car or your ladder rack and securing it, etc.

If you do go with the kayak...I highly recommend getting the Hobie. I think OEX sunset beach has hobies and malibu for rent.

I have both a tube and a Hobie and love both of them. Seems like it takes about the same time for loading and getting on the water. Except my yak i can get places faster and out to the kelp beds which i can't on my tube.

Hey guys,
I have tried the kayak bit a few times and have spoken about it here as well. I have no love for the kayak as a fishing platform. But if you are interested check out Native Watercraft, they have by far the coolest pedal driven fishing yaks. Built by fisherman for fisherman from the ground up. Unlike virtually ALL the rest of the fishing kayaks.

bodfish

Oh ,... PS you can pedal the Native Yaks in reverse, with a rudder control steerage!!!

very cool! bodfish

Don't own a Yak yet. Float tubing lakes and Bays is the way to go. The tube will get you into those tight spots and you can hold a spot when the fish seem to be short biting. and you want to keep getting that cast into the same spot. Its also easier to go in and retrieve your jig if you ever snag. Once I get a yak its gonna be for outside the jetty wall. hitting them kelp beds for sure.

Ya being able to fish slower in the bay can be a good thing. You will be forst to take your time and really concentrat on the areas you can fish. Plus it might force you to plan out your fishing trip better so you can maximize your time on the water. Yak's cover water faster, but I think that can maybe give you a sence of false confidence, ok maybe that is going to far but that is what I am think.

bodfish wrote:
Hey guys,
I have tried the kayak bit a few times and have spoken about it here as well. I have no love for the kayak as a fishing platform. But if you are interested check out Native Watercraft, they have by far the coolest pedal driven fishing yaks. Built by fisherman for fisherman from the ground up. Unlike virtually ALL the rest of the fishing kayaks.

bodfish

DAMN BRO THOSE KAYAKS R SIIIIICK!!! JUST CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT THE HOBIE

I had a hobie pro angler and I sold it and got a float tube I mainly fish fresh water with a lot of docks and the tube is much easer to maneuver and fish in between I wouldn't go back to a kayak just too much to load in the truck and have to launch with the tube I can carry and put in anywhere and fish the low docks ledges.
Hope it helps

I got an easy solution for you. get both!! some thime I wanna Yak or some time I wanna tube, bass pro has good prices and payment plans.

It's all about how much you're willing to invest in a multi-dimensional kayak. If you're just investing in the low end kayak, it will be a nightmare to fish properly. Pontoon is a great away to keep your feet and oars in the water, but very bulky. I would love to have a high end peddling kayak, like the Hobie. If you have to hit the salt long distant, the option for the sail is also can be mounted. Always keep your eyes out for expandability of motor mounting, peddling assist, and paddle primary. Multi-options will open up your perspective about kayak and fishing.

You have pros and cons to each one have had each and the fact is yes I love a yak to deck it out have all the cool toys and they look sharp. But and I do mean but even if you do a lot of your own mods the $$ add up and gets kind of steep. A tube easy to use, throw in what you got, grab a few poles and you are on. Actually in my view my tubes are best but at the same time I keep a yak for a fun project

I talked to a guy who fishes lakes with a yak and I asked him about the wind thing. He said he anchors up a lot. I noticed he flies from one spot to another. Tubes are painfully slow.

Open water, nothing like a yak. Remote water, where you can't get a yak up there, inflatable yak and the lighter tubes will be the key factors to your hidden enjoyment. Everything has its place.

I love the 'tube because being hands-free when fighting a fish is a huge advantage. But I also live close to a river and have thought about a 'yak or a 'toon on the flowing water. I've heard a 'toon is the best of both worlds and plan on getting one. But how does it hold up in flowing water? Any feedback appreciated!

Hey guys,
Two biggest disadvantage to the Hobie drive system. Slow and No reverse. Once again, check out  Native Watercraft, Far and away the best fishing kayak on the market. (sadly the most expensive and a bit heavy as well)

      bodfish

bodfish wrote:Hey guys,
Two biggest disadvantage to the Hobie drive system. Slow and No reverse. Once again, check out  Native Watercraft, Far and away the best fishing kayak on the market. (sadly the most expensive and a bit heavy as well)

      bodfish

My wife and I invested in two of the Hobie Outback SUVs. I can surely say, they are freaking bulky and heavy! Sold my pontoon, but for good reasons, and well worth the risk taking. However, I've taken the liberty in using both the Hobie Mirage vs the Native Propeller systems for fishing, and made my decisions on the Hobie overall.

1. It wasn't because of the prices. They are different by just a few hundreds. Investment on a good system, like a tube, is priceless, where a little bit more goes an extra long way. Rather, the overall practicality of the systems being invested.

2. I neither side with Hobie or Native, but, the systems failed miserably to maintain positions when it comes to turbulence open waters and high wind (10mph+). There's no way in hell either system can maintain the same position without drifting, and requires you constantly adjust your yak. Investing in drift socks is the only way to go.

3. Try not to use other people's comment about ill-ability to "reverse" the yak. Native can reverse the yak by back peddling. So can the Hobie. The only thing is, the Hobie's Mirage drive has to be removed and reinstall to back peddle. Takes less than 10 seconds. I find myself not using the "reverse" mode 90% of my time out there. I spend most of my time chasing schools, rather than standing in one position. The water conditions goes from calm (no need for any reverse), to crazy where not even reverse will help within mere minutes. Drift socks get deployed, and I stay where I want to be.

4. Both yaks are stable enough to stand up for fly fishing. So, nothing poor can describe for stability.

5. Both are great in hauling massive amount of gears, beyond 400lbs, and below 500lbs. My wife and I haul our kids on our yaks in the back, and all our gears with us when we fish a full day out. Both Native and Hobie have enough room for mods for extra passengers. Native is a foot longer, and take on 500lbs. But who the heck want to carry that much weight?

6. Accessing shallow area where weeds are problem. Native propeller lost in this arena at Big Bear Lake. My wife kicked my rear using her Turbo ST fins going through weeds like it's not even there. I have to switch to paddles before I can engage the drive on the Native through the dense weed areas. When it comes to chasing schools, every forward advantage help.

This is why I purchased the second Hobie over the Native 13 Propel. Great exercises, and great fishing vehicles. Both are great, both have advantages, and Hobie Mirage system got my vote.