Best Kayaks For Fly Fishing

Fly fishing has been enjoyed for years with the frill of the hunt for the next monster fish by wading in the water or at the water’s edge. Still, things are starting to change with the introduction to kayak fishing this allows you to get in the midst of the fish and I want to point you in the direction of the best kayaks for fly fishing that are available on today’s market.

I lay out the top 5 best kayaks for fly fishing giving each a review what makes them ideal for fly fishing then we move into the buyer’s guide to show you what you would want to look for if you’re going to go on the journey of finding a fly fishing kayak by yourself.

Perception Pescador Pilot 12 | Sit on Top Fishing Kayak

Perception Kayaks has created one of the most expansive lines of fishing kayaks available. They come in a wide range of colors, prices, sizes, storage configurations, and more all while offering the same Perception quality that has made them such a popular feature on the kayak market. The Perception Pescador Pilot 12 is the jumbo version of the Pescador line which caters to the serious on the water angler. If you are someone who likes to spend hours out paddling around, fishing, and exploring then this is the kayak for you.

This kayak is simply massive and has more than enough storage to keep you busy all day. It is a full twelve feet long and has a whopping 475lbs of weight capacity. That means that you can really load this baby down for the long haul. Other than bad weather, the other thing that causes people to come off the water sooner than they want to is storage space. If you run out of food, water, or bait you are going to have to come in. The storage space, plus the comfort seat system and the weight capacity means you can stay on the water as long as you want.

Hobie 2020 Mirage Pro Angler 17T Dune

Hobie knows what anglers want out of a fishing kayak. They took that knowledge and set out with one goal: deliver. This kayak has everything you want out of an amazing angling kayak without all of the useless extra frills that other brands try to cram into their designs. It has ample storage, completely adjustable and moveable seats, and plenty of room for your spouse, best friend, dog, or child to accompany you out on the water.

The Hobie 2020 Mirage Pro Angler 17T Dune comes with twelve, yes twelve, rod holders. Two vertical rod holders and ten horizontal rod holders for the ultimate storage experience. The comfort minded seats are adjustable and can swivel and pivot a full hundred and eighty degrees which allow you to move to where the fish are without having to get up and risk a capsizing incident. It also features under seat storage, a large rectangular hatch with built-in tackle management infrastructure and a front hatch. This gives you plenty of room for food, beer, bait, fish, tackle and so much more.

Perception Pescador Pro 10 | Sit on Top Fishing Kayak

Perception Kayaks has created one of the largest lines of fishing kayaks available on the market. They come in a wide range of colors, prices, sizes, storage configurations and more all while offering the same Perception quality that has made them such a popular feature on the kayak market today. All of this expertise and experience can be see in their Perception Pescador Pro 10 Kayak which is yet another addition to the wildly popular Pescador fishing kayak line that seems to dominate the sales sites day in and day out.

This smaller model is perfect for the single angler who wants to spend a lot of time out on the water. It is ten feet in length, only weighs 53lbs, and can hold up to 325lbs. This makes it the perfect kayak for the person who wants to take it out and spend some quality time on the water either paddling or fishing. It comes with plenty of storage which, added to the ample weight capacity, gives you enough room to play with. Gear out this kayak any way you want with extra rods, a cooler, food, bait, and more. The sky is the limit.

Elkton Outdoors Auklet Sit On Top Fishing Kayak

Looking for an all around good fishing kayak for an affordable price? Do you also want to make sure your kayak is safe and made with the highest quality standards? Look no further. The Elkton Outdoors Auklet Sit On Top Fishing Kayak has everything you are looking for and more.

This classic fishing kayak has six rod holders and a slew of features that you will love when you are out on the water. That includes a peddle operated rudder system that will allow you to steer the kayak even if your hands are full. If you are out on a river or lake with a current and your rod is in your hand, don’t worry. You will still be able to control the kayak allowing you to stay safe and stay in the area you want to without having to put your rod down.

Perception Pescador 12 | Sit on Top Fishing Kayak

Perception Kayaks continue to make quality fishing kayaks that stand a head and shoulders above the competition. They have a quality in design that is unmatched and features specifically geared towards the fisherman. They are comfortable, safe, and come with tons of extras that will put any doubt as to the quality of these kayaks to rest for good. Introducing the Perception Pescador 12 Sit On Top Kayak, a true angler’s dream.

This kayak is supremely comfortable featuring a unique comfort seat design that is made to keep you cool and feeling great even after hours out on the water in the elements. The hull is made from a single piece construction which means it won’t leak and increases buoyancy for safety. On top of all that, it has tons of storage for all of your gear. It has a front container, two rod holders, and plenty of extra space for a cooler, extra rods, food, fish, and more.

Best Kayaks for Fly Fishing Buying Guide

Fishing from the shore will only you to reach fish at your furthest cast you may get that little closer with waders but then you can only go as far as the height of the waders that’s why we believe a fly fishing kayak is a brilliant option to target the fish that you may never have been able to reach before.

There are a few important factors to consider when you come to purchase a fly fishing kayak and we have listed them below to make sure you get the best fly fishing kayak for your needs.

Fishing Location

Something a lot of people tend to overlook is the location that you will be fishing from most people will have their regular locations that that fish so this will determine the type of fly fishing kayak you purchase.

If you fly fish in rivers then you will need a kayak that is setup for river fishing normally people like a lighter more agile kayak in these conditions. Fishing were they will be waves then you want a more robust wider fly kayak that can ride the waves out and make the fishing trip a lot more enjoyable and safer.

Now if you fish on calm flat waters with easy access then your choices are endless and in most cases much better as you will be able to get the best fly fishing kayak that gives you an elevated position picking a wide and long kayak will allow you to stand up to really asses the water with a little practice.

Fly Fishing seating Location

Right you can purchases all different fancy different seats when it comes to a fly fishing kayak and will all come down to personal choice and your experience of using them.

If you are just starting out then I would suggest getting a seat that is easily adjustable with a height back but nothing to high that hinders your casting or makes you feel unstable in the kayak.

The main thing that you want to look for when looking at the seating system is adjustability if you can move the seat forward and back and the angle of the back then I’m sure you will be able to get it to the perfect fit for your body.

Kayak Deck

When it comes to decks for fly fishing kayaks you want a large flat deck that allows you plenty of room to move around and with a little practice stand up and feel safe.

Some kayaks will try and sell you with all different gadgets and attachments but sometimes less is more and I believe that to be the case with kayaks for fly fishing as you will have a lot of line out the fewer items you have to snag your line the better. There are a few items you want like a rod holder to store you rod when paddling and a hatch to keep your terminal tackle safe when you are fishing.

Kayak Weight

When you consider weight of your new kayak there are two main points that you want to keep in mind the first being how easy will it be to transport if you are going to be taking the kayak to the water on your car roof will you be able to lift it on and off by yourself, will you be able to get it in and out the water yourself so get a weight you can move around on your own if you an angler who fishes alone a lot.

The second with the consider is if you choose to go with a very light fly fishing kayak this will be blown around in the wind a lot more than a heavy kayak so it will be a lot harder to stay in your fishing spot with a light kayak.

Kayak Movability

Movability will come down to the style of kayak that you choose and any will be easy to move over a short distance with traditional paddles, if you plan to paddle a long way then you are going to want a lighter more agile kayak this will cut thought the water and you will be able to get a lot more speed up and to your destination a lot faster.

You can now get mini outboard kayak motors so if you want a stable kayak but need to go long distance a motor can make this a lot easier.

Fly Fishing Kayak Extra Features

Now I covered this a little above go easy on the extra feature you want a hatch two would be perfect one for you line and fly’s the other for valuables like your car keys but make sure they are water tight if you are fishing in waves or choppy waters.

Conclusion

Hopefully, the guide points you in the right direction for the best kayaks for fly fishing for you and your needs and the guide really helps you make that final buying decision.

If you forced me to pick the best of the best then I would have to go with the Perception Pescador Pilot 12 | Sit on Top Fishing Kayak it is a great all-rounder and gives us fly fishers everything we would need but if you go with any on the list above I am sure you won’t be disappointed they are all brilliant fly fishing kayaks.

If you do get into the world of kayak fly fishing we wish you many happy paddling journeys with plenty of tight lines and fish landed on the kayak.