PICK A ’YAK

No kayak will perfectly do everything an angler might want it to during a year’s worth of fishing. It’s impossible for any one kayak to handle rough water, smooth water, streams and rivers, windblown bays and sounds, and calm lakes with the same level of performance. Anglers who seek the most efficient and comfortable kayak for their purposes need to closely examine the available boats and hull designs before making a choice.

There is no single element that determines the success and pleasure of a kayak angler more than the hull. This is where the boat meets the water, and how these two elements interact will largely dictate how well the kayak works in specific fishing conditions.

First, a fact of boat hull design: The longer and narrower the hull, the faster it will go with the least effort expended. But while fast is good, stability is very important, too. The wider the hull, the more stable it will be. A fishing kayak needs speed and ease of movement, but it also needs to be a safe and secure platform. With modern construction methods and the almost universal use of easily formed plastic hull materials, kayak designers can build