fastest growing outdoor sport

I was name-dropped. Sorry for crashing your party my NorCal friends. Also, doesn't everyone know I drive a truck, not a car? He's right; there's always a kayak on top. No more room in the garage. Any publicity is good publicity.

Participation numbers are available (of a sort). We should see some fresh data any time now via the RBFF and the OIA (I think, Allen can and will correct me).

Participation numbers are available (of a sort). We should see some fresh data any time now via the RBFF and the OIA (I think, Allen can and will correct me).

They had some new numbers out at icast.  Organized differently this year and harder to extract.  I got the contacts there and hope to gain access to the data vaults.

-Allen

Kayak virus is like Zombie virus.... it's catching... Beyond Numbers, seems every lake beach place I go.... Someone is out there on a yak... Sup has been, and will probably stay a predominately Female driven sport... My buddy Chris Hollingsworth and others are trying to change that with events ect... https://www.facebook.com/SevenSeasIndustries https://www.facebook.com/adayatthebeachevents

Ncka and other groups/clubs/shows are helping kayak fishing grow as well as the kayak shops that are focused on the sport. Individuals with Yaks on the roof and a willingness to share the MaDnEsS and Lifestyle, influence many towards purchasing that first Kayak. People are heard animals, if you find a heard you can fit in with, you are a happier critter. Ncka fit the bill for me and many others... Kayak fishing will only grow bigger! Gas prices and registration/maint on a boat =$$$$$$$$ So the cost to join the Green Yakin' community is Cheap! My last Bass boat was $34.000 an AI $3500.00 Easy choice IF you can join others On the water. It's not as fun without others to play with. Let the sport grow and keep playing. The rest will catch up.  (or there will be LOTS of used yaks come winter

Also if any of you have one under a tarp in backyard please pm me

Tom's California fishing guide book was very influential to me when I arrived in Cal back in the early 90's from Minnesota. It was my West Coast fishing bible and solid reference used many times over the years. Excellent read and I enjoy his writing style.

It wasn't that many years ago that I looked at kayaking like it was a curiosity type purist sport for whale or bird watchers etc. I discounted it while sitting on the bank struggling for some fish. Wish the light had turned on for me sooner once I realized the type of equipment/rigs that were available for kayak F-I-S-H-I-N-G. I'll credit those Hobie pedals for finally waking me up from the deep sleep.

I think a lot of the growth is from previous boaters (fishing folks) who finally saw it. IT being the incredible utility that the kayak offers us anglers.

 

Trail running is frickin' blowing up right now, along with SUP (as mentioned). 

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12653.msg119075#msg119075

Damn!  I bought the Rolls Royce of kayaks.  I wanted the Ferrari.   

This soooo true! I was in Oregon this last week and I couldn't believe the number of kayaks/sub on vehicles and lakes. Eight years ago when I started kayak fishing there where few if not at all kayak anglers on the water.
I don't exactly how to react to this except to accept and enjoy my own experiences.
My garage/hanger is now being transformed into a kayak shop. Used and new kayaks/straps/"J" racks/Malone trailer....I love it!

When Bill (former NCKA President) and I used to carpool to NCKA events, we'd make the long drives and  punch each other everytime we saw a sit-on-top kayak on the road  Good times!

Trail running is frickin' blowing up right now, along with SUP (as mentioned). 

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12653.msg119075#msg119075

What happened to the Flat stalker Mooch??  That thing looked Badazz, like a baywatch rescue board with a cooler on top! 

Trail running is frickin' blowing up right now, along with SUP (as mentioned). 

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12653.msg119075#msg119075

What happened to the Flat stalker Mooch??  That thing looked Badazz, like a baywatch rescue board with a cooler on top! 

it was just a demo model

It's going to take more work to figure out the trends, but I can say the following.

The use of a kayak for fishing happened in 2.6% of fishing trips.

20.5M Americans own a boat.  Of that 12.1% own a kayak or canoe.  That's about 2.5M.

The average number of boating days per year on a canoe/kayak is 6.4.

-Allen

I've got to get my hands on that report, and I'm very curious what we'll see released at Outdoor Retailer.

6.4 trips a year? NCKA isn't 'average' in any respect.

It's going to take more work to figure out the trends, but I can say the following.

The use of a kayak for fishing happened in 2.6% of fishing trips.

20.5M Americans own a boat.  Of that 12.1% own a kayak or canoe.  That's about 2.5M.

The average number of boating days per year on a canoe/kayak is 6.4.

-Allen

I've got to get my hands on that report, and I'm very curious what we'll see released at Outdoor Retailer.

6.4 trips a year? NCKA isn't 'average' in any respect.

It's going to take more work to figure out the trends, but I can say the following.

The use of a kayak for fishing happened in 2.6% of fishing trips.

20.5M Americans own a boat.  Of that 12.1% own a kayak or canoe.  That's about 2.5M.

The average number of boating days per year on a canoe/kayak is 6.4.

-Allen

You've got mail.

-Allen

The Outdoor Industry Association offers kayak fishing participation estimates in its outdoor recreation survey. I haven't had an opportunity to look deeper into the numbers. They are:

2010: 1,044,000
2011: 1,201,000
2012: 1,409,000

Whatever their merits, they show a tremendous growth rate.