TexasKayakFisherman.com

I had 2 Native 14.5 Ultimate Tandems, and still have 1 of them. It's a superb kayak, very stable, I've never tipped over, even in some fast and rough water. However, it really is only a tandem for an adult and a small person. Don't let the 450 lb weight capacity fool you. I've paddled twice with ano...

Malone all the way. Galvanized, 12" wheels, sealed bearings, and options like a collapsible tongue for upright storage. I bought the wider support bars and have carried 3 kayaks on it.

I’m very happy with my Malone Microsport. It’s galvanized, has 12” wheels, sealed bearings, and with the collapsing tongue, it stores upright in the garage so I can still get my vehicle in. I added wider bars and an extra support, and easily carry 2 kayaks. I’ve also carried 3 kayaks, 2 were sitting...

Definitely pay attention to the comments about weight capacity and your weight + all gear weight. Test paddle anything before buying it. After the kayak itself, a comfortable PFD and a light paddle are important. Take the kayak out a few times fishing to see where you lay things or what you really n...

Check out the Bixpy water jet. https://bixpy.com

I just picked this up last Sunday and have only had it on the water once. I'll have to do some real fishing before thinking about rigging.

Check out the "Viking Kayak Owners Group" page on FaceBook. There are some pretty cool videos of Viking kayaks equipped with the Bixpy. Battery life and kayak speed look pretty impressive. The Viking web site states: Low speed 2-4kph, battery life approx 7 hours (20-30km paddle assisted) M...

Go minimalist. I made a crate, used it once, and never used it again. I usually carry just 2 rods and a single lure tray and a small tackle box, you can see the lure tray velcroed in front of the seat. Anchor and sunscreen go behind the seat. A small cooler goes up front. I don't even use the rod ho...

Make sure her will is up to date. There are many comfortable PFDs that are designed for paddlers. Always check the weather before heading out. Carry a phone and whistle, or a radio if going further out. A spare paddle is a good thing to have.

I've been wearing Columbia Drainmaker III shoes and like them. I just ordered a new pair of Drainmaker IV shoes, on sale for $54.90 at the Columbia web site.

One of the biggest considerations is your weight plus weight of your gear, don't exceed 70% of the stated weight capacity of the kayak. How will you transport it and store it? Budget for a good, light paddle and a comfortable PFD.

A lighter kayak that is thermoformed instead of roto-molded.

Add some very modern propulsion: https://bixpy.com/bixpy-kayak-jet/ There are some cool videos of this on YouTube.

Pedal is great unless you're going to hit some very shallow water. Most pedal kayaks I've seen paddle like fat barges in water too shallow to use the pedal drive. If going shallow, think about the Santa Cruz Raptor G2, it's designed for both paddling and pedaling.

I tried braided line on my spinning reels for two years and then gave it up. I could not cast as far and thought tying knots and clipping the line was more of a hassle. Braid is definitely strong but I felt the negatives outweighed any positives. I’ve also tried fluorocarbon and copolymer lines and ...

Things to consider: Sit-inside or sit-on-top? How will you store the kayak? How will you transport it? You don’t want to load in more than 70% of the stated weight capacity of a kayak. So add up your weight plus the weight of all gear (rods, boxes, cooler, etc.), and you probably want a kayak with a...

I use a Mad Frog Liberator transducer arm. Easy peasy, and it is made to swing up out of the water.

I started with a small folding grapnel anchor but quickly moved to a Bruce or claw style anchor with a bit of chain. It holds much better. I have a small plastic cable tie on it to break off in case it ever gets stuck.

As suggested, drill a hole at the end of each crack to prevent further cracking. Slather in 3M Marine Sealant 5200 to fill the cracks. It's a polyurethane polymer so it adheres to plastic well, stays flexible and watertight, and is designed to form a permanent bond or seal below the waterline. It's ...

With the tailgate down, you should have just a few feet hanging over unsupported and should be okay without a bed extender.

Safe for the highway if you add bow and stern straps. Check out hood straps that you can anchor to the car's body.

Do you want a 1-piece or 2-piece rod? Fast, medium, or slow tip?

I buy a reel and then try it on assorted rods to see what feels good and balanced. Let the reel pick for you. I have Abu Garcia, Berkley, Fenwick, and Shimano rods matched up to my spinning reels.

Heck of a good deal for a 4-kayak trailer down in the For Sale section: "16' Kayak trailer $400 ".

The Malone MegaSport trailer has 86" crossbars and would handle any weight you'll need for 4 kayaks. The Malone MicroSport can be fitted with 78" crossbars that might hold 4 kayaks on their sides. I have those to carry my 2 Native kayaks flat. With Malone you do get 12" wheels and sea...

You need something like a KC Welder. You've got to melt the edges along the crack on the kayak and the repair plastic so they flow together and fuse.

Probably get some good answers at: http://nativeownersgroup.com