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- Best fishing kayaks: stable sit-on-tops, sit-ins and tandems compared.
- Best inflatable fishing boats: packable boats for lakes and calm coastal water.
- Best inflatable dinghy boats and fishing pedal boats: easy family and small-water options.
- Best fishing float tubes: the lightest way onto a pond.
Choosing a boat
Kayak, inflatable or float tube? A kayak tracks and paddles best; an inflatable boat packs into a car trunk and carries more gear; a float tube is the simplest for small, calm water. Fishing with a partner? See 2-person fishing kayaks. Short on storage? Inflatable fishing kayaks.
Gear that goes with it: a good kayak paddle, a paddling jacket (women’s) and paddling pants for cold water, plus a bilge pump, marine compass and trolling motor battery for small boats.
New to kayak fishing? Start with kayak fishing for beginners, how to rig a fishing kayak and kayak fishing safety.
