Guide To Best Fishing Kayaks For Fly Fishing

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Overview of Recommendations

Here’s a quick snapshot of our top recommendations, be sure to also read our detailed reviews below.

Updated October 1, 2020

While kayak fly fishing can open all kinds of new possibilities, at a more reasonable cost than many other watercraft, you’ll want to make your selection carefully.  Many makes and models have come into play recently, to capture the booming kayaking fishing market.  But fly fishing has its own unique requirements, so you don’t want to make the mistake of just pulling one off the rack at your local store without first knowing for certain it’ll work well for you.

Our comprehensive, proprietary guide will step you through the most important considerations for best fly fishing kayaks, bearing in mind that not all kayaks are well suited to fly fishing.  Also bear in mind that adding kayak accessories, such as kayak fly rod holders, can make all the difference in how your day on the water goes.  You want to make your fly fishing kayak setup as perfect for your own needs as possible.

Safety First!

Buying a kayak not only opens up huge possibilities, it is also a huge responsibility in terms of safety. No matter how stable, all kayaks can capsize. You can kayak fly almost anywhere, but don’t buy a kayak without first getting and doing the following, and be sure to read up more detail on kayak safety and these very points in our FAQs at the end of the article:

• Get a really good life vest
• Ensure you can paddle comfortably with a quality seat and paddle
• Know your skill level relative to the water you’ll be in
• Take the right gear such as paddling gloves, throw rope, etc.

• Consider other kayak fishing accessories, because convenience can translate into safety and helps keep you from getting tired
• Take a kayaking skills course for efficient paddling and safety procedures such as T-rescues and bailing while on the water

• If you travel or even kayak fly, be sure to protect your kayak with enough packaging that it’s not compromised during transport.  We don’t think you need separate kayak fly tickets, as you can check it in at the oversized luggage counter.

Here’s What Is Important – Key Specifications

What goes into the best kayak for fly fishing?  Different kayaks are designed for different conditions and different types of water.  In fact, kayaks vary widely in their ability to turn vs. track, handle waves vs. calm water, stability, weight for portability, storage capacity, and other design specs.  Here are what we feel are the most important criteria you’ll want to ensure meet your needs.  We’ve summarize here, and have put all kinds of further detaile in our FAQ’s below that will help with fly fishing from a kayak:

• Match your kayak to the type of water – big with waves, or small and still? Moving river?
• Handling surf or waves? Be sure you can punch through.
• Seat comfort & height – tall enough for comfort, but not so tall as to obstruct casting (different than spin fishing!)
• Clear the decks – to avoid snags and tangles
• Stability is everything – especially if you want to cast standing up!
• Comfort saves the day – so you can kayak long distances
• Color matters too – lighter colors deflect light and stay cooler, darker colors can heat up too much on a sweltering day
• Sit-on-top vs sit-in design – sit-ins paddle more efficiently while sit-on-tops are easier to cast from, among other things described in more detail in FAQs
• Low profile saves energy and grief – gets pushed less by the wind.
• Watch the weight for transporting & portaging
• Stock up with storage – look at compartments and platforms fore and aft, also cockpit storage, overall volume, and features that secure your gear and coolers
• Price – just a note about cost.  Is it important?  Yes.  Can you find kayaks for less than those we’ve finalized reviews for here?  Yes.   Will you give up a lot in stability and safety and features if you spend less?  Yes.  Enough said?  Yes.

Summary of Best Fly Fishing Kayaks

We recommend that you read our full detailed fly fishing kayak reviews, below.  For a preview of what’s coming up, we’ve categorized our recommendations as follows:

Jackson Kayaks Mayfly – Orvis Special Edition

Take note, the Jackson Kayaks Mayfly was designed specifically for fly fishing. As such it is very well thought-out, a custom Jackson edition made specifically for Orvis customers.

For starters, its low gunnels will help shed the wind and stay in place to cast and reel in your fish. As a larger more stable craft, what it may lack in long distance speed or tacking is made up for in stability. Many customers report this is the most solidly stable make and model they’ve tried.   That makes this a good choice if you’re relatively new to kayaking, and/or if you plan on doing a lot of casting while standing.

The design really performs when put in salt flats, slow water, and ponds.  The Mayfly also comes with generous storage both front and stern (both with hatches), with a stern platform that can accommodate coolers  such as an Orion 25 or JKooler.   A very nice touch in the forward (bow) storage is a removable gear tray.

This kayak’s clear and clean deck is complemented by foot pegs that are designed to avoid line tangling.  It comes with numerous rod holders specifically designed for fly rods, another plus for fly fishing specific needs.  Scuppers are designed for fish finder transponders too.

This is also a boat that will be comfortable all day, and not many boats fit in that category.  This is aided by the high and comfortable seat made from a high quality Thermarest brand pad.

The primary disadvantages are the length and weight, which can make it hard to transport.  Note the weight shown in our diagram is without the seat installed.  While it may be harder to lift and transport than other kayaks, if stability is what you are looking for, this may be a small price to pay for a kayak that you can practically do handstands on it’s so stable.

Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120

The Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120 was designed specifically for fly-fishing.  By now you’ve read enough of these you know what to look for – focus in on the deck and cockpit where you’ll see fly casting friendly features.  Also measuring in at a 35 inch, like the Mayfly, it boats super stability while at the same time preventing wind push with low gunnels.  The shining feature of this kayak is, even as stable as it is, it doesn’t give up much in speed or tracking.  In fact, it gets strong reviews from users on its stability while casting combined with other performance features..

Also generous with storage, in this case a distinguishing feature of its large stern well a small hatch that allows access to the hull (most don’t allow access under the rear deck).  The hatch in front is easily reached from the cockpit (though how far down you can reach depends on how flexible you are!).  Its deck is also clear enough for fly line, with the exception that its adjustable pegs can tangle with your line.

Mounting for fish finders is a degree more flexible than most kayaks, in that it has both two transducer capable scuppers, and also can mount a side scanning fish finders.  The designers at Wilderness Systems were definitely thinking about technology use, with a built in removable pod that will hold your fish finder, battery, transducer, and cables.

The seating system is the most flexible and comfortable we’ve seen, with an adjustable AirPro Max seat in three positions.  Even at the highest setting, it allows casting comfortably.

Here we go ahead – tradeoff between weight and stability.  It’s a hefty 86 pounds, but delivers a stable casting platform.  Desert camo is the lightest color option that will absorb the least heat.

Wilderness Systems ATAK 140X

We included two kayaks from Wilderness systems for a reason.  You can transfer many of the same attributes we described above for the ATAK 120 to the ATAK 140X (upgrade to the Tarpon 130X which is unavailable).  Still priced in the medium high range compared to most other brands but worth the quality.

This boat tracks very well, even in heavy wind.  If not quite as sleek as its predecessor the Tarpon 120, it is instead very stable and well suited to casting and playing large trophy fish even while standing.

The 140X is a modified version of the already established and respected 120-130 series.  We like the broader variety of color choices than most kayak lines, yet would still choose the desert camo for sun reflection (getting bored of hearing that one?).

Same generous storage and features as the ATAK 120, with the standout feature compared to other brands that its hatches seal very well to keep your gear dry.   Plus the added feature of a pair of mini compartments covered by webbing keep your small gear handy just to either side of the cockpit.  The deck is clean, with the same drawback as the ATAK, that the foot pedals could tangle your line.  And same technology friendly design for mounting your fish finder and the removable pod to store your electronics.  And yest you guessed it already, the same extremely comfortable AirPro Max seat that is handily adjustable to three different positions.

Slightly heavier lighter  the A.T.A.K. at 72 pounds, this long kayak is manageable for most people.