Comments or questions are welcome.
About the Author

I'm owner and operator of
Kayak Fish PA, LLC. We offer professional kayak fishing instruction and guide services. I’ve been an avid fisherman in the state of Pennsylvania since the age of 6. I now have almost 40 years of fishing experience in this state. My passion is kayak fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. That being said, my specialty is fishing for river smallmouth bass. Pound for pound there is no better fighter..in particular when your doing battle from a kayak! When I’m not chasing smallies, I fish for a variety of other gamefish in the waters of Pennsylvania and beyond such as walleye, crappie, perch, pickerel, muskellunge, and various types of trout. Fishing is my passion and I enjoy sharing that passion with others through my blog!
What is “good / better / best” kayak for fishing the Juniata or Susqy rivers. I am a about 6′-2″, and 215 lbs. ANy feedback would be appreciated.
Ritchie,
There are a lot of details to consider when looking at purchasing a kayak.
I think a lot of kayaks could work for you. I would consider a sit on top if you are primarily using the kayak for fishing and also the fact that you are tall. Sit on tops give you room to move around. It’s also easier to get in and out of the kayak because you do not need to slide down into the cockpit. You may also want to consider weight capacity. You should consider your own weight + fishing gear + any other gear you plan to take. For example, camping gear.
Your second consideration may be maneuverability. In general longer kayak track better but shorter kayaks tend to turn more easily. It’s going to be a compromise. In bigger rivers like the susky you will want a kayak that tracks well but at the same time you need some maneuverability to navigate rocks etc. My primary river kayaks are a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 and a Ride 135. 12.5 feet and 13.5 feet respectively. I use them both on the Juniata and the Susquehanna. I’m not trying to sell you on a particular brand. I’m just trying to provide a littler reference. I like my Ride a lot because of the great stability.
I’d recommend you shop around a lot and look at a variety of kayaks. Most shops will let you test paddle kayaks so you can get an idea of maneuverability and stability. I certainly haven’t covered all the bases here so I’d recommend you speak with someone from a kayak shop. Tussey Mountain Outfitters in Bellefonte PA deals with a ton of name brand kayaks and they can let you test paddle. Ed is the owner. The link to his website is on the lower right hand corner of my website. He can help you in more detail and he offer more suggestions and some good prices.
Thanks for the response! I will check them out.
Thanks for posting to your question. Kayak “shopping” is tons of fun. Feel free to stop back and ask more question… and let me know what you end up settling on.