Traditionally, fly angling meant wading into cold water with a good pair of insulated hip waders. But now, a new breed of angling kayak designed with fly fishing in mind has changed the game.
No longer limited to a short stretch of a river or bank, with the tight ‘yak, fly anglers have a lot more water to call their own.
That said, not just any boat will do, and there are better and worse choices of dedicated fly enthusiasts who want to grab a paddle. We’d like to help you get your bearings and make sense of your options, and below, you’ll find a buying guide as well as reviews of some of our favorites.
Fly anglers who want to stand while fishing need a ‘yak with uncompromising stability–that’s obvious. But whether you take to your feet or stay in your seat, you’ll also want a clean, clear deck with nothing to snag your line.
The designers at Jackson Kayak clearly understood this, and the MayFly is a hard boat to beat for this reason.
Experienced fly anglers know the hassles of hang-ups caused by long lengths of line, and while not as devilishly snag-prone as standard fishing line, fly line still seems to have a perverse attraction to cannon-style mounts and protrusions.
The MayFly sports an ultra-clean deck with plenty of space. Not only does this give you room to move your feet during a fight, but it also practically guarantees slick casting. Add to that a non-slip coating, and you’ve got pretty much a perfect set up for sight fishing.
Stability is excellent, as you’d expect given Jackson Kayak’s clear nod toward standing. Good hull design and a wide beam provide plenty of primary stability and confidence-inspiring steadiness. Secondary stability is excellent, as well, and you’ll be able to stand near the edge of this ‘yak without tempting it to roll.
That said, expect slightly more sluggish handling than you’d get from trimmer, tippier designs. Hydrodynamics are all about trade-offs, and to get stability, you sacrifice speed.
Storage is ample and easy to access, including a large bow hatch with a removable tray and two fly-box storage panels to either side of the cockpit. Jackson Kayak heard the complaints about water leaks on the hatch seals and has improved that system and beefed-up the gaskets.
On each side of the cockpit, you’ll find long gear rails allowing you to customize your layout and add pretty much whatever you’d like to the mix.
The MayFly has an excellent seat that provides all-day comfort while staying reasonably cool. It also allows Molle mounted accessories on its back, adding that much more potential storage to the mix.
One YakAttack Omega rod holder comes standard, and a large stern hatch lets you store more safely below deck. The stern well could be larger, but it’s big enough for a cooler.
Overall, I really like this kayak, and with the front cannon-mount stowed away, it’s an awesome platform for fly fishing.