TexasCHLforum.com

When I opted to change my job responsibilities and stop traveling I planned on taking up kayak fishing. There have been some threads on here periodically about boats, fishing, offshore and the like.

I have not purchased a kayak yet but I am looking since I can look for free and hobble on crutches while doing so.

I am focusing on the compartment layout on the kayaks for ease of accessibility to a stored firearm while on the water.

I have not decided on my yak pistol. It will not be one of my Kimbers. I have a S&W 642, S&W 360 .357, and Taurus 445 .44 Special. I think the revolver will be a better choice for reliability and the pistols are all either SS/titanium/alloy which will be better from a corrosion stance.

The kayaks I am looking at are sit-on-top and have dry storage in several places.close to the paddler so access is fairly quick. I have not really thought about pocket carry since yakers are often wet.

If there are any other kayak fishermen on this board I would like to understand what you do to maintain your armed status while enjoying this sport.

Anygunanywhere

I once got ahold of some bad egg salad. I yaked for 2 days! My brother actually just bought a kayak from Academy a few weeks ago with plans to use it for fishing. I'll ask him which one he got. He plans to carry his Glock 22 on the kayak. He's got a small Pelican case for it that floats and is water tight. He said there's a lanyard on the case and he's going to tie it off on one of the tie points built into the kayak.

Pelican dry case for my 6.35mm autoloader. The case is not much bigger than a large saltwater fly box and easily fits in my pfd.

Thanks. I have used Pelicans for my travel case. Sounds as if I need to go accessorize!

Anygunanywhere

I've been kayak fishing since 2001. I have a sit-on-top "Drifter" by Ocean Kayak. However, I've never carried while doing so, MAINLY BECAUSE IT'S DAY 111 AND I'M STILL WAITING ON MY CHL - oh, sorry, I digress...
Consider something watertight that floats & tether it to the boat. Simple as that. I have a dry bag & other small containers, but I've never looked for anything yak-proof to carry a handgun.I can assure you one thing - you will get wet, but you can protect your gear.I've turtled my boat before & lost some things,but I'd never get over losing a pistol.
I can only think of one instance when I wished I was carrying while out in the yak. This past spring break I was way upriver in a remote location (white bass spawn) and ran across some rather unsavory characters. Nothing happened, but it was an uneasy situation. I wasn't alone that day, but at the time I was alone enough. I made my mind up at that moment to never go back up the river unarmed. Once I got back together with the rest of my group, we made a lot of Deliverance jokes at their expense, but everyone agreed about the uneasy feelings as they encountered this bunch of guys.

"When I drink, other people learn things. One time a cab driver learned that when I say 'I gotta yak!', I don't mean I've got a long-haired buffalo in my back yard."
- Ron White