In the past, kayak anglers had to buy a kayak than transform it into a fishing kayak. It was a challenge to find a comfortable and stable kayak that was built for speed with enough storage capacity. Realizing the demand by kayak anglers, Emotion Kayaks has built a complete line of pre-rigged fishing kayaks equipped with fish friendly designs.
Anglers have two options when it comes to selecting a fishing kayak.
Sit-inside kayak where the angler sits in a cockpit area with their legs under a deck. Typically, kayak anglers will use sit-inside kayaks to fish in cold weather conditions for protection from waves, rain or splashes over the deck. When combined with a skirt over the cockpit, a sit-inside kayak will keep the angler and cockpit area dry.
Gear is typically stored on the front or back deck with sit-inside kayaks. Some storage is available under the deck, but should be stored in waterproof bags to ensure that it will not get wet.
Sit-on-top kayaks are by far the most popular style when it comes to fishing kayaks because of the ease of exiting and entering with little constraints; in addition to being able to stand up and fishing in some models. Anglers can also reenter a capsized sit-on-top easily with the low freeboard.
Another advantage to sit-on-top kayak is that most are self-bailing. That means all the water that ends up in the seating and cockpit areas will drain out through scupper holes. Scupper holes are an open air drain that not only let’s water escape, but provides structural support for the deck and hull area.
Hulls on sit-on-top kayaks have a sealed hull. So in the event of capsizing, the kayak will not fill up with water and sink. A positive attribute when fishing in streams or rivers with current.
Three sit-inside fishing kayaks that Emotion Kayaks (www.emotionkayaks.com) offers are designed to be fish friendly is the Glide Angler, Glide Sport Angler and the Comet 11 Angler.
Glide Angler:
Features include padded seat, front and back handles, bow and stern deck rigging to secure gear, two flush mount rod holders and adjustable foot braces.
Glide Sport Angler:
Features include CRS seat with padded back rest, thigh pads, front and back handles, ledge lock paddle keeper, two flush mount rod holders behind the seat and bow and stern deck rigging to secure gear.
Glide Angler and Glide Sport Angler
L:9’8” W:29” Weight:40 pounds Capacity:275 pounds
Comet 11 Angler:
Features induce padded backrest, padded thigh pads, tankwell with net lacing, shock cord straps to secure loose items, two flush mount rod holders and triple threat fishing configuration: two flush mount and one deck.
L: 14’ W:30” Weight:52 pounds Capacity:350 pounds
Renegade XT
Features include a Solace Storage Hatch for additional storage beneath the deck, molded in footwells, molded in paddle ledges, tankwell with cargo net lacing system, two flush mount rod holders and four integrated handles.
L:10’ W:36” Weight:49 pounds Capacity:325 pounds
Stealth 10 Angler
Features include contoured tankwell with cargo net to accommodate crate or bucket, molded in accessory wells to hold lures in the seat area, molded in footwells, CRS seat, Solace Storage Hatch for additional storage beneath the deck and two flush mount rod holders along with one Scotty rod holder.
L:10’3” W:30 Weight:49 pounds Capacity:275 pounds
Stealth 11 Angler
Features include contoured tankwell with cargo net to accommodate crate or bucket, molded in accessory wells to hold lures in the seat area, molded in footwells, CRS seat and two flush mount rod holders along with one Scotty rod holder.
L:11’ W:30 Weight:49 pounds Capacity:300 pounds
Mojo Angler
Features include paddle ledges with paddle keepers, contoured tankwell with cargo net to accommodate crate or bucket, CRS seat, two flush mount rod holders, adjustable footbraces, Solace Storage Hatch for additional storage beneath the deck and removable console-drink holder, GPS mount, rod holder and dry box.
L:12’5” W:32” Weight:61 pounds Capacity:375 pounds
Grand Slam Angler
Features include paddle keeper ledge for hands free fishing, dual tankwell with Cargo Net Lacing System, two flush mount rod holders, adjustable footbraces and Solace Storage Hatch for additional storage beneath the deck.
L14’5” W:30.5” Weight:72 pounds Capacity:350 capacity
No matter if you decide on a sit-on-top or sit-inside your fishing adventures has just begun with a fishing kayak.
Fishing kayaks can be launched for any boat ramp, dirt road or low water bridge. As long as you have water to float, fishing kayaks can be used.
The best part about fishing from a kayak is there is little up keep and it doesn’t require a tank of gas and oil to get it from one hot fishing spot to another. They can also go in super shallow water without getting stuck or breaking a prop.
Pre-rigged kayaks like Emotion Kayaks have everything you need to get started fishing. They are affordable and can be found at your local outfitter, fishing tackle retailer or big box store like Cabela’s.
