The maiden voyage of my $69 inflatable kayak

After spending too much time debating whether I needed a kayak for hunting, fishing and exercise, I finally bought a kayak. 

Not the fancy, durable, hard plastic kayak, but a cheap inflatable two man. I found one at Academy for $69.99, including two paddles and a pump. For that price, I didn't really care if it made more than a few dozen trips. But I do expect it to make it at least a few dozen trips. 

I took it out on its maiden voyage the day I bought it. It took me nearly 10 minutes to set it up the first time, but I didn't read the instructions. Going forward it should take half that time. 

After I pushed off I noticed there was a little water inside the boat. That irritated me. I expected the kayak to leak, but right out of the box? I later found out this kayak had a plug, and I hadn't plugged it. Luckily there was wetness and shrinkage but no sinkage. 

I tried to anchor near the bridge where I put in, and got a little treat when a group of Canadian Geese tried to sneak past my kayak. 

I let the wind blow my kayak across the pond (presumably to where the bait fish and game fish were located). After working the bank, I came to another bridge and caught a 12" large mouth bass on a chartreuse double willow spinner bait.

I paddled back quite smug. The kayak was light enough inflated to carry back to my apartment without deflating. I ended up sleeping in my little boat and plan on getting 100 uses out of it.