For those who Kayak fish, are there any safety courses for kayaks offered in the state? I live in central AL. I am interested in getting into the sport, but would like to take a course and do all of my homework on the type of kayak I would like to buy. I know it will be the basic fishing model.......

I'm not aware of such a course. If you're new to kayaking in general, the best thing to do is:

1. Get a Kayak....for fishing, I'd get the widest/most stable one you can find. If you're on a budget, check facebook marketplace for a good used one. You should be able to find a good used one designed for fishing in the $500 range, give or take. I'd recommend one with an actual chair seat with a back (like the one pictured below, for example), NOT the kind that is just a molded "seat area".

2. Take that kayak somewhere where you can get it out in waist-deep water and just get comfortable using it, paddling around, moving around in it, etc....that way if you flip it, you're in shallow water.

3. If possible, get it somewhere a little deeper and practice getting back in it. Getting back in one that has flipped, particularly in water where you cannot touch, is a lot harder than it looks. I rarely fish far from bank...if I flip or fall out of mine (hasn't happened yet), my plan is just to swim it to shore and get back in, but that may not always be a possibility. I can get back into mine in open water if I have to, but that's a last resort.

4. Go fish

Thanks for that advice Gomer, I will be new to kayaking in everyway, your advice on fishing works for me, I know I want get far from the bank unless its a rare occasion.....I will definitely look for the used ones in that price range, unless I find a good deal on a brand new one......thanks for the good advice and to the point.....

Spot on Gomer! Bass pro makes some nice ones for fishing, I have a sit on, wife has a sit in, I like the openess of the sit on better. We have had ours 10 years, use them a lot and I have caught a pile of fish out of mine and never turned it over. Gormer is right about praticing getting back in it in deeper water, I watched some You tube videos on how to do it. Only time I have had to climb back in mine is when I dropped my phone in trying to take a pic of a fish I had caught and the video gave me the knowledge on how to get back in it! Also very good advice is when you first get one try and turn it over with no gear in shallow water so you will know the limits on what you can do!

I just pulled up some good stuff on You tube, I have a Wildness system kayak and they have a lot of demo's of their boats with some good tips.I just watched 11 kayak mistakes that will take your life, very good info for someone starting out!

What gomer said.

Take it easy the first few times after Gomer's suggested practice sessions. Lakes or slow rivers to start is recommemded before getting into swifter water. A sit on top (for me) is preferred. I've never flipped before but trying to bail out or turning over a half-full sit-in model to dump the water out on the bank or a sandbar doesn't sound like too much fun.

You'll get the hang of it very quickly and you'll wonder why it took so long to get one.

Like Gomer, I’m not aware of any nearby courses, but his advice is spot on…practice getting in and out, and especially practice self recovery/self rescue! If you flip your kayak in deeper water, you’ll generally have one or two chances to recover before you’re spent. Knowing which muscles you’ll need and especially HOW to recover will almost certainly be the difference between whether or not you reboard your kayak.

Proper safety and lifesaving equipment is important, too, but don’t just “have it”, know how to use it!
Here’s a video I made on safety equipment and preparedness…most is common sense stuff, but maybe you’ll get something out of it…
https://youtu.be/IBNe2fM12Zk?si=tjw-TMvea0QclxZs

Here’s one for sale that was posted in a Kayak Fishing FB group I’m in. Located in Northport. Looks to be a pretty good deal and may be negotiable…

Thanks for the feedback guys, I really don't plan on getting in any swift water or anything, mostly small lakes and ponds.....I will use the rest of the year to get educated on them and will probably get me one at the end of this year or early next year.......I appreciate all of the advice....

I will search for them on youtube.....thanks.....

I’ll add that a more stable one isn’t going to as hydrodynamic. If you’re mainly going to fish flat water I’d look for one that may not have as much drag. Some of those yaks you can stand and walk around on. It’s a nice feature but paddling a barge on flat water gets old fast.

Thanks....I will mostly just fish flat water, no whitewater rafting or anything..lol...

Here's your ear plugs, here's your Speedo. You are now a Kayaker. Happy boating !

I’d get one that was a very bright color.

I don’t kayak good luck learning the sport. The bright color is a great idea. A orange/red/yellow anything bright 12x12 flag flying. Sun glare and folks in a hurry can get you in trouble. Bigger boat are not looking for kayak’s, kinda like motorcycles on a busy road.

Copy that, my plan is to stay close to the bank and out of all the big boats paths......and I will only be fishing small lakes and ponds......

That's funny.....I will roll without the Speedos though.....

Red!! and have a air horn!