Any Kayak Fishermen?

How big of hassle was it to register?

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How big of hassle was it to register?

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It should not have been a hassle at all. I had to pay sales tax in the Parish and City. She Parish wanted sales tax on the shipping as well which I still think is a mistake. I submitted my application in Oct and I still have not received my registration. I called in December and they said they were still working on October Applications. I called a few weeks ago and they said they were still working on October Applications. I believe you can go in person to the Baton Rouge office, so maybe that would have been the better option.

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I've been seriously considering one.

I'd buy a boat but I don't have room to store it and most storage places are $120.00 + a month.

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I was planning on buying a boat, but it's hard to justify the costs. It's not cheap to rig the kayak, but at least with it you can take the items with you when you upgrade your kayak (or even use them on your boat if you decide to get one in the future). The more I researched it and watched youtube videos the more it made sense to buy a kayak. I fish alone a large portion of the time and you can still fish with others in kayaks if that's what you prefer. The 130xtr is very stable so you can easily stand up and fish, move around a little, etc. I have the camo color, so eventually I will use it to duck hunt a little.

Youtube
I bought a kayak in 2007 that I used for fishing, camping, etc. Kayak fishing was still pretty new, so it did not have all the upgrades and accessories the kayaks have now.

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Bois D'Arc Lake trophy lake that should explode this spring.

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No fish in that lake, everything you’ve heard is lies propagated by TPW.

They were doing well out there between Xmas and new years until that front came thru. Kayak guys were all over the bridge.

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Where did you purchase that yak and how much $$$ in total will you have invested in it when you are done?

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The Bonafide site had a list of places you can order them online. I think I paid $2800 for mine from PaddleVA. The had a dealer listed in Ruston, but I was unable to get ahold of them. There is a good kayak shop in Lafayette with fishing kayaks, but they did not carry the brand I was looking for.

Kayak with shipping $3200
Trailer $1350 (Personal Kayak Trailer from TSC)
Trolling Motor $1600
Eagle Eye $1000

There are alot of used kayaks available online. I just really liked the usability, stability, and flexibility of this Kayak.

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Be sure and practice getting in and out of it until you get good at it.
I bought one designed for fishing,took a dry run in it.Almost turned it over getting in.
Was very stable paddling up and down the bayou.
Got back,turned it over getting out,lost my glasses and drowned my cellphone.
I gave it to my grandson.

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This is why I don't think I could fish with a kayak.

I’ll let someone else chime in that has
more experience with gators and in these areas. I live in a small bayou off a river and have two alligators that are in my backyard daily. I have used my older kayak in the area and never had issues with them. I had always used a fish basket with a kayak until moving here. One of the things I like about the kayak I purchased is that a yeti cooler fits perfectly in it(I’ll have to double check the size). I have a swivel seat on top of the cooler. It put my center of gravity a little higher, but I’m plenty comfortable with it in this kayak.
YouTube stability video

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Where did you get your trailer?

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Karavan Personal Watercraft Trailer, 1,250 lb. Max Capacity From TSC. I see it listed as $1500 but they were on sale for $1350. I’ve seen them on sale several times this winter.

I looked pretty hard at a pedal drive myself but went with the 130. What lakes are you primarily fishing? I will be on Cane River, Sibley, Red River mainly with some trips to Toledo Bend (mainly the North State Park). I am camping at Chicot State Park in March and will likely take the Kayak.

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Dumb question prolly, but how vulnerable to gators are you in those things? Any reason to be concerned using them in the waters around Hopedale and Shell Beach?

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I fish 90% Brackish Marsh and have never had an issue.

Never gators but a pit bull chased me down a cut off in Deatonville years ago.
I had to paddle much faster.