Wading vs. Kayaking

[goodwood]

Is there any benefit to wading in comparison to kayaking other than not having to load and unload a plastic boat?

mobility/not having to swim to a spot- yak
saftey/undertow/waves/shark/stingray/holes/oysters- yak
dryness- yak
storage/gear/not having to hang everything on your body- yak

[Night Wing]

One thing about yakking. You never have to worry about getting hit by a stingray.

[RATHERbFISHIN]

Nope.........looks like you covered it all

[Frreed]

I fly fish most of the time and it easier to get good casts while standing. I do fish in the kayak often, but it is much more common for me to paddle to a "fishy" spot and wade.

[Etxflybass]

Im with Frreed above.
I paddle to get away from the crowds or to find some bait moving and then get out and wade.
If I find active fish I will stay put for a while and blind cast. If it dies off, I get back in and paddle somewhere else.
The only times I dont wade are when it is too muddy or the action is in too deep water to wade.

I dont mind drift fishing from a seated position, but I get bored this way quick. I'll sight cast from the seated position if I have to, but this is never the most confortable and I usually end up cussing because Im trying to maneuver just right and the wind or current will be moving me. This is why I prefer short yaks....they are easier to position before and immediately after a cast.

There are a lot of threats hidden beneath the water, but people have been wading for generations. Wear proper foot wear and wade with a buddy until you learn what you are doing and you will be fine.

[Justin T]

It is easier for me to cash while wading. And I can see better while wading too. It's harder for me to see fish while sitting in my kayak. Much easier to see while standing. Now if you have a kayak stable enough to stand in, then you have the best of both worlds.

[Ms addicted]

Simple:


kayaking = option to wade

wading = no option to kayak

[Kingz]

Is there any benefit to wading in comparison to kayaking...

Nope...Why stand when you can sit?

[5moreminutes]

You would look funny crab walking if you didn't have a kayak under your BUTT!

[Flyfisher]

I hate wading through deep mud (deep to me is anything over a foot ). The yak solves the problem.

Ray

[CzechTex_Angler]

Look at it this way, Wade fishing is free, theres got to be a reason your a Kayak owner on a Kayak forum.

[Sugar Jay]

For me the yak is the transportation to the fishing, my first instinct is to get out and wade once I have located where I want to cast. So much easier to cast where you want on foot and not have to fight wind, current, lack of mobility once your anchored. In the yak you have to pull anchor, paddle/drift reanchor, which is ok if your going somewhere but when all you need is a few feet it is much easier to stalk a red once you know where they are by foot, however finding where they are you usually need the boat, but it has been said you can do both and wading is free so why debate.

[Chief Brody]

I will offer this - there is something to be said for grabbing a couple of lures, two fishing poles, a hand net, a hat and heading out to the water. I can do that wade fishing, and be pretty happy.

I prefer the mobility of the yak, and have found I do like fishing out of it more than I though I would - always thought I would use it as a means to get to otherwise unavailable places - and now rarely think about hitting water without the little yellow boat strapped to the top of the Escape.

[Texas Wader]

my yak is a taxi to my wade spot. wading gets you in touch with the area. you find all the sand spots, grass spots, shell, guts, depressions etc. you can't find these areas floating on top of water. if you don't know the area you are just blindcasting and hoping. why do you think the majority of top guides prefer to wade and encourage their clients to wade?
ron

[vincent]

it helps the vertically challenged get past deeper water..and guts..

[BigGabe63]

it helps the vertically challenged get past deeper water..and guts..

It also hopes the weight challenged get past muddy areas which would have us sinking a couple of feet.

[Green Water]

it helps the vertically challenged get past deeper water..and guts..

X2!!

[GoinCoastal]

When I first started kayaking, I used my kayak to get me to where I wanted to wadefish. But after a few seasons of kayak fishing, I found I prefer to fish from the yak. I seldom wade fish anymore. I found I am more mobile and more quiet in the yak than on foot. Plus when in a seated position, the fish don't see you until you are on top of them. At 6'4", they can see me way off if I am even wading knee deep water.

[harv418]

I think it all comes down to what you want to do... Cover Water or completely work a particular spot.

Kayaks allow you mobility limited only by yourself and time. You can cover alot of water (>10 miles in a day.), BUT can you really work an area over in a kayak? I know it is more beneficial for me to get out and wade and area, than to try to cover it in the yak.

So I do a little of everything. Kayak to cover water, and when I find a better spot, I'll get out and stalk it...

[Sugar Jay]

I think it all comes down to what you want to do... Cover Water or completely work a particular spot.

Kayaks allow you mobility limited only by yourself and time. You can cover alot of water (>10 miles in a day.), BUT can you really work an area over in a kayak? I know it is more beneficial for me to get out and wade and area, than to try to cover it in the yak.

So I do a little of everything. Kayak to cover water, and when I find a better spot, I'll get out and stalk it...

Well said Sir, well said!

[W5CDS]

it helps the vertically challenged get past deeper water..and guts..

It also hopes the weight challenged get past muddy areas which would have us sinking a couple of feet.

You guys have been watching me! Guilty on BOTH counts!

[mojosoul]

I think it all comes down to what you want to do... Cover Water or completely work a particular spot.

Kayaks allow you mobility limited only by yourself and time. You can cover alot of water (>10 miles in a day.), BUT can you really work an area over in a kayak? I know it is more beneficial for me to get out and wade and area, than to try to cover it in the yak.

So I do a little of everything. Kayak to cover water, and when I find a better spot, I'll get out and stalk it...

Well said Sir, well said!

Dats wha I do to

[4x4kayak2112]

Simple:


kayaking = option to wade

wading = no option to kayak

pretty much, just expands the areas you CAN fish/wade

plus isnt having a kayak sooo cool, i was the ONLY one in high school that had a kayak and a motorcycle....but no car!!!!!

[Sugar Jay]

plus isnt having a kayak sooo cool, i was the ONLY one in high school that had a kayak and a motorcycle....but no car!!!!!

So how did that work? You threw the yak in the side car and off you went?