Retro51

Well I just bought a Pelican with a cockpit, but the day before, I went to Cedar Hill to bike, and talked with some kayakers there about their sit-on-top models. He seemed to like them better - he had fishing gear, and they may be a little easier to fish from. It's pain to stick anything longer than your arm inside the cockpit. If I were to fish with mine, I would rig a bungee cord system to hold my rod on top while I paddled. In fact, I need to do that to hold my paddle when I'm not using it anyway. Lots of people fish from cockpit models. It's kind of hard to deal with a tackle box, something to keep your fish in, and maybe a lunchbox or cooler, but it could be done. You just simplify everything as much as possible.
He also told me, he likes to roll off into the water to cool off. That would be really hard to do from a cockpit, and even harder to climb back in. Well, I don't think I will do that much. Besides, I don't like the sun on my legs, which would be totally exposed if I sat on top. If I want to get out, I'll beach the craft, wade around or swim and walk around.
Finally, it would be easier to scube dive from one, but I don't plan on doing that either.
If you are buying, you need to consider the pros and cons of each one. Note: there are some really nice sit-on-top models for fishing, with rod holders and so on. If you plan to fish, you may want to consider these.

Turn Key

Hi Retro,

As you may be able to make out from my picture, ours are SOT's. We do like them though one with a cockpit would be nice in the early spring. Water tends to be a bit chilly. I like mine for fishing. I never try to carry more then one rod and I have a small (maybe 12X8X1) plastic box that is plenty big enough to carry enough tackle for one day's fishing. Add knife, pliers, water and a small snack and I'm good to go. As I've gone to just about 100% "catch and release" (for many reasons), a way to carry fish is not a problem.

Happy Camping (and Fishing)!

__________________

Retro51

Thanks - I may try fising in mine next Spring. I did see some likely spots on Lake Granbury yesterday.
However, I did have some trouble yesterday, that may have been avoided with a sit-on-top model. After spending about 3 hrs on Lake Granbury, I took it to the fork of the Trinity that runs by the Golf course in Benbrook, near the start of the Trinity Bike Trail (Memorial Park).

Well - first off the water was low, so low in spots that I had to get out and drag the kayak over rocks. So I had to master the art of getting back in, once the water was deep enough - standing in hip deep water, not from a beach. Twice I tipped over the kayak - and it filled up completely with water. I had to drag it to the side, turn it over, and then open the drain and hold it up on it's stern, to drain out the water. That would have been disastrous on a lake - since I couldn't stand in the water and pull it ashore. I'm not saying it would have sank - it has some flotation, but it would have been a major disaster. Mostly I wouldn't be going in and out on the lake, at least, not out in deep water. I think a sit-on-top model would just turn back over, and climb on again.

I think if my brother were to buy one - he's a fisherman (and not sure he would go in for paddling, since he's had some back problems) I would recommend a sit-on-top model. If I get another one, I might consider one just so I would have both. I do have different sets of plans for building canvas skin-on-frame kayaks, which I still want to do.

Hippy

I have 2 kayaks, 1 is an Old Town Loon 120 (I think) and the other is a Perception Acadia (both are roughly 8 yrs old). Both are sit in kayaks. We go fishing all the time in them, typically with a lot of gear. The cockpit in the Old Town is great, very large. My usual arrangement would be like this,

In front of boat (inside) - room enough for a large size waterproof bag or other storage device (this would be shoved all the way to the front of the boat, next in line just between the knees you have room for another storage device or in your case a good sized tackle box.
Behind the seat (inside) - room enough for another large storage container or in the case of my last trip there was room enough for 2 x 2.5gal water containers, tarps or a few other small items.
In front of boat (on top) - bungee cords hold another mid-sized storage container and I use the extra slack to hold 1 or both of my poles.

If the fishing is bad and I decide to do more close to shore exploring I can take the poles off the top and run 1 down each side of the boat on the inside with the reels sitting just next to the seat.

Here is a pic of my bro-in-law from my last trip, 9 days on the brazos with fishing equipment.
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=6184082

Retro51

Good info - I figured most of it out, except I need a place to attach bungee cords for rods and paddle. There is a panel that removes to give a hole for a rod holder. There is also a compartment on the rear deck, that is not waterproof.
Did you have a camp to go back to? Where on the Brazos was this? I saw an outfitter/canoe-rental near Cleburne yesterday, close by the Brazos. The problem I've had in the past with river trips, is how to put-in and take-out unless you have a recovery vehicle set up.

Hippy

no base camp, we usually camp on the way.

Here are 2 places that I know about that will help you portage your car or boat.

http://www.rochellescanoerental.com/ This is up near Possum Kingdom.

http://www.glenrosearea.com/rhodes/ This one is below Lake Granbury

I have used both of these services with good results from each.

For my 9 day trip I had a relative drop me in and pick me up.