Is This The Right Kayak For Me?

 The subject of buying a "stater boat" comes up often on the kayak fishing sites I frequent and I made a mistake on my first kayak so I would like to help some others avoid that mistake if at all possible.
What I did was look on craigslist found a cheap kayak and bought it having no clue what I was doing or what I was looking for in a kayak. The first time on the water in it I knew I had made a mistake. I made due for a couple months but that was about all could stand it. I don't think it was a terrible boat just not what I needed for the task at hand.
 So what are you looking for in a fishing kayak? Where will you be fishing? How are you built physically? What will you be fishing for? These are a few of the questions you need to answer before you run out and buy the first thing you see (like I did).  The internet and a few good forums and the experience of some seasoned yakers I made a much better choice on my second kayak. One that I'll probably keep as a loaner just because it's such a good kayak.

Poor tracking and the lack of storage made it a not so good choice in a fishing kayak.

 Being in the market for a new kayak myself I had to start asking myself those same questions. So I will take you through my thought process and hopefully it will help you along in your adventure. With some experience under my belt and having a really good idea of what I want and what I don't want it's helped narrow the field rapidly. So in no particular order I'll answer those questions.

1. What are you built like physically?

    I'm 6 foot tall and 170 pounds. So most boats will work for someone built like me but if you're 4'8" and 80 pounds or     

6'6" and 350 pounds not every boat will fit you.

2. Where will you be fishing? I know, I know. In the water..... DUH! 

Will it be open water like the Gulf of Mexico or the Great Lakes? Small lakes and ponds? Moving water? If so what type; slow moving creeks and small rivers or big rivers and fast water?

Quite literally hundreds of fish landed in the beast, she's been a great ride.

  

  I obviously know my fishing style and I know the waters that I predominately fish; so the questions were limited to what am I specifically looking for in a fishing kayak? First and most important I have to be able to stand and fish. Second I need a better seat preferably something with a "high seating" position. Third but not least I wanted better in hull storage. Knowing those questions and what I'm looking for specifically has helped a lot. I also have the good fortune to be part of Johnson Outdoors

Pro Staff and to have Blake Walters near by. Because of that I've been able to log several hours on the Old Town Predator 13 (P13) I've learned that even though the P13 has all the features I'm looking for and she really started growing on me it's not the right fit for me as a primary kayak. It definitely fits the part as a secondary boat because it really shines in some of the places I like to bass fish. In fact the P13 is probably the most stable kayak I have ever paddled and that is a very good thing in my mind. What I was really needing was something that cut through the water a little better. Maybe something with a little less freeboard as to not catch quite as much wind. Now this is where time on the water and and knowing what you're looking for comes into play. You can run out and buy one just like your buddy has and you may even be really happy with it but did you really shop the market? Did you check out your local dealer and see if they demo boats? Better yet do they do demo days where you can paddle several models before you run out and pop between $1000 and $3000 for a kayak? Have you looked into finding a local kayak fishing club? Your local club is also a place to find friends to fish with that may turn into great relationships outside of fishing. 

A comfortable seat makes all the difference in the world.

 I know it seems like a lot of questions but it's really not and asking yourself a few key questions will save you time, money and frustration. If you become serious about kayaking and fishing from a kayak you'll probably change boat a couple of times anyway. Why not make your experience on the water as pleasurable as possible???

My Date With The Predator 13

 I'm the kind of person that doesn't just jump on the band wagon every time something new comes out on the market. I refuse to buy the newest coolest phone or whatever gadget that hits the market just to show it off to people who really don't care anyway. I still play a Playstation 2 and I drive a ten year old truck because I like it not because I can't afford a new one.  It really does take me a while to warm up to new products whether it be a truck, electronics or in this case a kayak. The Predator is no different, not a bad thing it's just the way it is.
 I will say this though, I liked the lines of the Predator 13 from the first time I saw it.

  I only had this boat for a weekend but that worked out perfectly because I was wanting to do some night fishing the first night and then do a slow float the next day. Once I got my load figured out and got on the water it became apparent to me really quick that this is a BIG kayak. This thing is wide and super stable, because of that there is a trade off for some speed. Because of it's stability I was standing up and fishing almost immediately. 

 Now this is definitely not an open water boat nor was it intended to be. So if you're looking for something to fish what I would call "big water" you may want to consider something like the Big Game or a Trident.  

 Between the elevated seat and being able to stand when I wanted I was fairly comfortable all night.  I caught a few fish but more importantly I was able to spend all night on the water without feeling like I needed to be in traction the next day. 

 The next day wasn't so fun, I knew it was supposed to rain but geez it came down in buckets. The fishing was slow( I only caught one dink). The upside though was the combination of the EXO FLOOR and the one way scuppers I never once worried about standing water in the cockpit which was nice. I think the one way scupper valves are slick enough that all kayaks should have them.

 I didn't write a long exhaustive review on this kayak pointing out all of its features because there are several out there including a few good videos of it. I saw no need to repeat what someone else had already done. Since that first weekend I've fished from the Predator 13 a few more times including a tournament weekend and it's really started to grow on me. So is it worthy of the buzz? I think so as long as you know what you are looking for.

 Now if I can just get a date with her little sister…..