Fresno Newbie

Looking forward to learning how to Kayak fish. I've sold my 16 ft tracker and want a new adventure. Mainly fished sierra lakes for trout off and on for years and still want to do that but getting out in the salt sounds really fun. Had a slight duck hunting detour which lasted 15 years. Gosh, I don't even have a kayak yet but doing my research now. Looking for a kayak that is versatile enough for the ocean and sierra lakes. Test paddled a few already but I am looking at the trident 13 seriously. Any help here though from you guys would be appreciated. Oh and I'm going to be a grandfather three times in early 2016!

Go meet/talk to Eric @ Fishermans Warehouse in Fresno.  He's a long time contributor of the group & a GREAT guy to know in the fresno area.

OK cool, definitely will, been in there many times when I had my boat.

Might have met you before when I was Manager at the west Marine in Fresno (way way back) 

Yep, coulda been, was in that store a few times too when I had my boat. I know Tracker boats are bashed quite a bit, and maybe they deserves it but I fished the heck out of that boat with just one small repair issue in 5 years, and the boat was 9 years old when I bought it.

Welcome to the madness 

Also, don't forget the "sleeper" fishery in Fresno, the San Joaquin River. Local bankies will tell you there's just planter trout or that it's really slow fishing, but kayakers will tell you different. I fished it pretty hard for about 5 years and caught all sorts of fish (10 different and I never even caught a catfish). It can definitely be slow, but get down river away from public access and you can find some fun fish. Actually right now with the flow up is perfect, it's a lot tougher at low flows. You will definitely want to go with someone for a while until you get comfortable on the river, but even when you aren't catching much, a river drift is pretty killer. And a T13 would work pretty well anywhere from the dam to 99. I took my T15 up to about 1500 CFS flows and it was doable, sort of.

Welcome!

Scott

Welcome,  I an in Fresno also. Lucky us.  Definitely talk to eric over at FW. He is a great source of info and just a good dude.  I fish the central coast mainly, since it is closer but go north as much as possible.  There are a lot of great boats out there.  Herb Bauers has the best selection locally.  They carry wilderness systems and jackson. Both quality rides.  If you want something else you will have to take a little road trip.  Headwaters in lodi is awesome.  I bought my jackson there before herb bauer started cayrring them.  I also have an eddyline Caribbean 12. Great boat. Very light weight.