River Hunting with a Kayak???

[Okielawman23]

Hi everyone.

Went to a creek about 2 hours away and had absolutley no luck, it was a chert chreek so it was like looking for needles in a pile of needles, lol.

I live near the arkansas rivver here in Tulsa, OK. I ran into a fellow while looking around a few days ago, said he had been hunting the river for 35 years. Wow that is a long time I thought.

There are a ton of points that are found in the Arkansas river, and I seen that fellow hunting about a foot or so into the river off the bank.

I have thought about getting a small kayak and looking into the river that way. I would also be able to get to un accessible gravel bars and sand bars while the river is up with a kayak, and I could get further down stream out of the city so as to get into a little less hunted areas.

What do yall think about this idea, or has anyone ever heard of hunting for points like that. Any imput would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Christopher

 

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[Tnmountains]

I have used a canoe on small creeks. I have also sunk my canoe in small creeks,lol. Kayak takes a lot more skill and is more dangerous.If you flip you are underwater. i suggest taking a lesson on righting yourself in case of a flip.I think you could hunt very well and fast. Not sure about the dismounts you will need to do on the gravel bars,Sounds like fun.
I like a canoe cause you can haul the kitchen sink and all the condiments (storage)
Good luck be careful.Take a lesson.
TnMountains

 

[DemonCatSpaceStar]

I have thought about getting a canoe & hitting the sand bars before but when I find a canoe the right size for the right $$ something always comes up financially . I think it would be a good idea, I don't know how much knowledge you have on boating but from looking around at canoes if your concerned about tipping (in a kayak or canoe) you can buy outriggers for them & that should reduce the chances of tipping!

Good luck let us know what you decide!
8)

 

[joshuaream]

When I was in college we used to float the river in an open kayak or a touring kayak. You can hop on and off quickly and don't have to worry about the very real danger of what TnMountains mentioned (flipping over or getting swept upside down under a fallen tree.)

They aren't cheap, we always rented them.

 

[abarnard]

I do most of my hunting using a kayak to get to destinations and it sure is fun, but be careful there are many things that can happen that would suck if you were by yourself. Make sure you have a point A and point B destination, especially if the rivers velocity flow is high... Oh, and make sure that you lay your kayak completely on land so the river doesn't take it away. Screwed that one up already and had to take a courageous swim. Have fun and be safe..

 

[sidmind]

Okielawman,

I know I already replied to your PM regarding kayaks, one thing you have to remember is that when you go for it, you are committed.

there is no turning back and going upstream (unless it is a very short distance) you have to have two vehicles both with the kayak hauling equipment.
one at your destination and one at your point of departure.

I have been reading your posts for a couple of weeks, and here is my opinion.

You could probably slow down, arrowhead hunting is a hobby that is a very slow going. I have only been hunting points since last October, as a newbie I believe I can make these comments. I also spend at "least" 4 to 8 hours every Saturday and 4-8 hours every sunday searching for points when the conditions are right if it's not I don't go. matter of fact I didn't hunt from March of this year until this last week because the location was not right. over time I will find "other" places to go when my prime spot is not available, right now I still don't have them.

there is no get rich quick scheme in point hunting, There are times I go out all weekend searching my locations and don't find anything but some flakes.. then the next time I go I find 2 or 3, then the next time I find nothing again.

Get your experience doing the time in the field and get the knowledge as others have said, Spend the time talking to friends about your hobby, you will be surprised at how many people will let you know that their uncle or coworker hunts and give you a hint.
one more thing. Most people might give you a few hints, but so far I have met NO one that will flat out tell you exactly the sweet spots that they like to hunt. you must do your own time and spend the hours in the field, eventually your sweet spot might be some location that few others know about but it took you 2 months or maybee 2 years to find it.

 

[naturegirl]

Gotta jump in on this. Looking at our Okie waterways, and the SIZE of them, kayaks seemed like a natural choice. Water safety always paramount, you don't want to be on the six o'clock news. How many people are pulled from the low-water dam in Tulsa every year? That said, I hope to try out my new kayak this week! yay!!! The problem is where to start? Head-hunting won't be first priority, getting to know the boat and how it behaves is first. Lakes and thier feeder creeks will probably be first try-out. The wind is my greatest concern, especially on some of the bigger lakes. It can come up in a hurry, and whip up some big waves. Ohman, I wish I didn't have too work.

naturegirl

By the way, what was said about not jumping in to fast is good advice. This is a life-long hobby it seems, and now that the new is worn off, I'm settling in to the idea that it may take along time to amass a nice collection, but that's something to look forward too. The kayak has been something I wanted to get for a few years now for bird-watching, and the timing just worked out right.

 

[Neanderthal]

Christopher, pay close attention to Sid's post. He's giving you some very worthwhile advice.

 

[2goldennuggets]

Research different kayaks. They have sit in and sit on. The sit on I think will be my next purchase. There are different kinds of kayaks and canoes each designed for different types of water. Just ask a kayak dealer the pros and cons of each and tell him the kinds of water you tend to float he will give you some suggestions.

Sit on top kayaks have hollow insides but molded air tight, you flip one, it won't take on water like a OLD TECHNOLOGY CANOE, but are a little bit wetter ride than a sit in type. Any water that comes in will run out through the scrupper holes. The ocean models have a handle in the back center that allow you to pull yourself back in, in deep water, (if you are in good enough shape to do so). Wide sit on top style kayaks are more stable than most other types but are slower and a little more labor-ish. Narrow sit on top kayaks are a bit tippy but are built for speed and can be paddled upstream in slower water flows for short distances (not really recommended), drop-off and pick up points are very important. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T BUY A "WHITE WATER" KAYAK FOR THE ARKANSAS RIVER, VERY TIPPY! Most sit in white water kayaks have a rounded bottom and don't paddle in a straight line! You'll work twice as hard getting to where you want to go. Ones with the seam ridge down the middle bottom of the canoe or kayak will track better in a straight line.

2goldennuggets

 

[Tnmountains]

I thought long and hard before I bought. One consideration for me was low water hunting in the winter and dry storage including myself. That pretty much knocked out the kayaks for me. I ended up buying a Mad River Canoe 16' with flotation and pop up seats for back support. We covered a lot of ground very fast. Up and down the river. The problem was always having the pick up point. If you do not have a lot of current you can learn what it takes to paddle back to your truck. We also have quick strong storms come up and no matter what you paddle in a strong storm its hard to go almost anywhere.
Long story short I kept the canoe for the creeks but bought a G-3 camo duck boat with a 50 hp. That was a smart move. It will run in inches of water and you can hunt many miles very quick. Winter ,summer, storms whatever and get home on time. We can hit stuff for 40 miles and run back in.
2goldennuggets nailed it on what to look for in a kayak.Let us know what you pick.
Have fun
TnMtns

 

[riverhunter]

That's just about all I do. Hunt from kayak. I bought the cheepest kayak ever-- a 9-foot Sam's club jobby. A sit-in with room for extra paddle (not a bad idea when you think about it) and found stuff, lunch, water etc etc. Mine was very stable, flat bottomed and broad-beamed. Not tippy at all. Now I've graduated to a sit-in Calypso 13 ft. It allowed me to get to all the places which weren't at a landing-- and there's an awful lot of river-edge that isn't a landing... Of course the rivers around here are tidal and lazy- unless there's been a hurricain or flood in which case they're more dangerous than a 1-direction river. If you're fairly flexible, able to get in and out easily, I would highly recommend a kayak for river hunting. You'll get to see places that no one else sees!

Good luck and have FUN!!!
Riverhunter