Whitey wrote:
Well there you go start out small and work your way up.
Yep, sometimes that's the way to do it. I'm hoping to upgrade to a pedal model in a year or so.
Crankit47 wrote:
Contrary to some responses here, there are several kayaks in that price range. I have a Old Town Vapor. I prefer sit in. Also you might check Perception Sound. Both are 10’ +/- At 73 I’m still able to get in & out and car rack it without much trouble. Good luck.
I understand $600 is what it is, while you probably won't find a decked out fishing kayak for that amount, you can find one that you can set up the way you want for fishing, I did. Was just at Wal-Mart ( ok now everyone cringe 😬). They had a nice sit on top one for well under your budget. Putting a couple of rod holders on and adding an anchor and trolly system you would still be under budget. Might even add a depth/fish finder (Garmin 4+) any only slightly go over budget. Arguments will be that it won't last, well after getting into kayak fishing and finding how much fun it is, your first kayak won't be your last. Good luck and enjoy.
Skagway near Cripple Creek and Tarryall north of 11 mile would a couple of places to try. I am from Colorado Springs, but will miss the ice fishing this year because I am in the SW, Yuma AZ. Going to do a little fishing down here. Be back in Colorado the first of April.
Robert J Samples wrote:
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING, January 2021
Sabine Lake
Overall conditions: GOOD. 55 degrees. Visibility is around two to three feet in most parts of the lake and is slightly stained. Speckled trout are excellent right now on a jig or a soft plastic. They are in the northern side of the lake, in the ICW or rivers. Most of the fish will be found either along the shoreline or in the deep over mud shell bottoms.
Bolivar
GOOD. 61 Degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are found in the surf on shrimp. Black drum are good along dropoffs and around structure or vegetation. Flounder are good near rocks on croaker. Sheepshead are slow.
Trinity Bay
GOOD. 59-60 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish are fair in the marsh on mullet, soft plastics, or topwaters and are found along the north shoreline. The flounder bite is fair on mullet.
East Galveston Bay
GOOD. 59 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp or soft plastics. Redfish are good in the marsh on live mullet, soft plastics, and shrimp Sheepshead are very good on live shrimp.
West Galveston Bay
GOOD. 59 degrees. Redfish and black drum are good near the coves along the south shorelines. Flounder are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are excellent on shrimp under popping cork in the deeper water.
Texas City
FAIR TO GOOD. 59 degrees. Redfish and flounder are good and are found around the marsh on shrimp and fresh cut mullet. Black drum are good around the bayou on croaker or crab. Speckled Trout are good under the birds over shell or in the marsh on mullet or shrimp.
Freeport
GOOD. 61-62 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good in the bay on mullet or shrimp. Black Drum are fair on blue crab around the reefs. Flounder are best along the drains on mullet or minnow. Fish from the boat with live natural baits and artificial baits. For wade fishing and night time flounder gigging, use artificials.
East Matagorda Bay
GOOD. 62-63 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics around the reefs. Redfish are very good near the south shoreline on live mullet or soft plastics in the shallow water where it’s warm. Flounder are good on shrimp. Black drum are good on crab or croaker near vegetation.
West Matagorda Bay
GOOD. 62-63 degrees. This side of the bay is best for wading since there is a firm bottom and remains the best method for catching fish here. Speckled trout is good on live shrimp or cut mullet along the flats or shoreline. Redfish are good in the marshy areas on croaker. The flounder bite is good around the rocks on mullet.
Port O'Connor
GOOD. 63 degrees. Speckled trout can be found along the dropoffs and around the flats on shrimp or croaker. Redfish are good in back bays on shrimp. Flounder are good on croaker or mullet in the shallow grass flats.
Rockport
GOOD. 61 degrees. Back lakes and drains are where the speckled trout and redfish have been, and shrimp or croaker are the best baits. Flounder are good on mullet. Black drum are great around Copano Bay on crab.
Port Aransas
GOOD. 61 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout will be found in the bays using shrimp, mullet, or croaker. Wade fishing is a great method along the shallow shorelines. The oyster reefs and dropoffs in the deeper waters are good areas for Sheepshead and flounder on mullet or croaker. Black drum are good in the deeper water on crab.
Corpus Christi
GOOD. 60 degrees. The north side of the bay has been good for redfish, and black drum. Speckled trout can be found in the flats on shrimp or cut mullet. Flounder are good around the drains or rocks on mullet or croaker. Black drum are excellent on crab in the deeper water.
Baffin Bay
GOOD. 64-65 degrees. Redfish are good in the sandflats on shrimp. Topwater can work on warm sunny days in between cold fronts. Flounder are good on croaker or minnow. Speckled trout are good on shrimp in the shallows.
Port Mansfield
GOOD. 67 degrees. Trout and reds are good on the west shore where water temperatures are higher using kwiggler ball tail and willow tail and live shrimp under popping cork. Mud and grass with potholes in shallow and out to deeper water. Red snapper in state waters good with the light winds.
South Padre
GOOD. 69-70 degrees. Redfish are good in the flats fishing with cut bait on bottom rigs. Speckled trout and flounder are good around the jetties on live mullet. Black drum are good along the dropoffs on shrimp.
Port Isabel
GOOD. 69 degrees. Some speckled trout and redfish have been caught around the shallow grass flats and around Laguna Madre. Flounder are still feeding around the drains and on mullet. Black drum are good on crab in the lower Laguna Madre.
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What more, or better reason do you need? Just Sayin…RJS
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING, January 2021 br br Sab... (
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Robert,
Fantastic report. Hope to see a report like this in February. We are planning on being along the coast between Corpus Cristi and Port Lavaca in Feb. Hope to do some fishing, both from shore and from kayak.
Good morning GW, little too cold there this morning for me. Like it down there in the summer. We were there in Aug, stayed in RV at the Elks Lodge. We are in Colorado Springs.
Great story and a wonderful "food for thought" ending. It made me think about the +45yrs I put in at the company I retired from... While I would have liked to stay another year, I found that times, organization, and managements were shifting outside of my comfort zone. I still drop in to see some of the "ole gang" once in a while...helps to sooth the soul and confirm that the decision was the right one.
Not a big boat...I have a kayak that I carry on top of the car. We will be in a 40' motor home towing the car. This is our first trip down there. I'll give you a shout, we are coming across from Big Bend.
I'm going to jump in here, I'm planning on spending a couple of months, starting mid January, in the area between Corpus Christi and Magnolia Beach. Planning on a couple of weeks at both Magnolia Beach and Port Conner. So with that info, would like info on fishing in that area and that time.
Years ago I bought a set of outriggers for my canoe from Yak Attack. I have since sold the canoe, but kept the outriggers for my kayak. They mount in adjustable rod holders. I set them so they are in the water, yes they will slow you down, sometimes that is good when trolling. If they are not set just right, a very slight angle will cause uneven drag and it will be hard to keep a straight course. I just recently purchased an aftermarket rudder and have mounted it. Last time out, without the rudder, just dragging a fish basket would cause the kayak to veer off course... In any case, I feel safer with the outriggers on, especially if there is alot of boat traffic and wakes. Good Luck in your ventures.
I have "J" racks mounted to my crossbars on my Honda CR-V. I use ratchet straps to strap it in.
If I am using my shortbed truck I have an Easy-load that attaches to the receiver hitch. Put the stern on the Easy-load and swing the bow around ontop of the cab. Use a piece of PVC with pool noodles to protect the roof. My yak is a Sundolphin Journey 12'.
Welcome to the site. There are lots of good spots up and down the front range for bass. You'll find that Colorado doesn't have big lakes like the SE. One thing, keep an eye on the weather. The wind can turn a lake from glass to serious white caps in an instant.
There is a page on Facebook "Colorado Kayak Fishing Club which you might find interesting.
There is a good app that the Colorado Parks and Recreation puts out that will show you all the lakes in Colorado and what fish species are in them. It is the "Fishing Atlas".
Welcome to the site Tom
Most of the lakes and reservoirs east of the front range are good. Near you are Cherry Creek, Aurora, Chatfield. North, Jackson, Prewitt, Jumbo. Further south are Pueblo, Henery, Merideth, Adobe Creek and John Martin.
First, sorry to hear of your experiences. Like many others, I'm a kayaker too, but do my best to stay away from both bank and boat fishermen. I spent some time in CT and would fish from the beach. Frequently others would crowd in, like within 6 - 10 ft of me. I would cast sidearm (14 ft pole) to clear them out... some would move and they would snag my line... I would just say, I got it, and reel in the snag up and then cut them off. Would do the same with any boat coming too close to me if I was bank fishing, if they snag me, just reel in the snag up and then cut them off, collect some tackle. I just hate it when people crowd in, whether in a boat or on bank. A few years ago turned in a couple jet skiers to the park ranger for buzzing fishermen on the bank.
Remember the day my dad brought a Zebco 202 home from Wild Willie's in Topeka KS. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. Think he paid $2.98 for it, but back in '62 that was a lot to us. We, 4 boys, had to share it. Oh, those were the days my friend.