The popularity of kayaks continues to swell as more fishermen recognize the advantages of these silent, shallow-draft boats in saltwater and, increasingly, in freshwater. So long as you're not facing major chop or pondering a spot beyond the horizon, kayaks are fun, affordable fishing machines.

Since the earliest designs built specifically for fishermen came onto the market a decade or longer ago, the boats have been tweaked and re-engineered countless times by more than a dozen makers. Out there now is a fleet of sleek, comfortable, stable fishing machines capable of carrying fishermen anywhere their minds can imagine and their arms can paddle.

My first memory of kayak fishing, years ago in Port O'Connor, is the ease with which the boat slipped through the water. There is no recollection of instability or uncertainty. Just an amazing sense of freedom. That, and a childlike eagerness to paddle around the next corner, and the next and the next, in hopes of slipping within casting range of a tailing redfish.

Like any other boat owner, the kayak fishermen's fantasies are countered by as many realities, not the least important of which is that no hull does it all. With paddle-powered craft, the tendencies are either toward speed or stability. A longer, narrower boat will be faster and straighter but less maneuverable. Shorter, wider boats are slower, because they must displace more water with each forward stroke, but those kayaks are more stable. There even is a new generation of larger kayaks on the market now for anglers who are, in fishing terms, "over the slot."

Expect an entry-level fishing kayak and necessities to run $800-$1,200, depending on your personal definition of necessities. You can spend more on a boat rigged with everything the manufacturer says you need, less by shopping the classifieds for a used hull or arranging with a retailer to purchase a demo that's been taken out of service.

A big plus for the kayak industry is the availability now of less bulky personal flotation devices. Old-style life jackets and even relatively slim ski jackets are burdensome, hot and uncomfortable through a long day of paddling and fishing. Kayak anglers who still carry traditional PFDs tend to store the bulky jackets inside hatches but seldom wear them. That is risky, even in extremely shallow water.

The latest in personal flotation wears like suspenders and inflates in seconds if there is an emergency. Another version straps around the waist, like a fanny pack.

These new PFDs cost more than the basic models required by the U.S. Coast Guard. No PFD is any good unless you have it on when trouble strikes, though, and you're more likely to wear something that doesn't make you feel like you're baking in a wet, salty oven.

Accessories are limited only by the imagination. I saw proof of that in three fishermen's kayaks on display at last year's Canoe Rendezvous in Sugar Land. Each had been outfitted to its owner's tastes, and from the looks of things, those three could not have agreed on what time to leave the dock.

One man's boat had a cooler and place for keeping live bait. One had multiple rod holders, while the others stored all but a single rod below decks. One owner had more clutter topside than was on the QEII for its maiden voyage. Another guy kept a clean deck, but his boat was stuffed like a pinata.

I prefer a clean surface above and below the waterline, with little more exposed up front than first-string fishing gear, drinking water, paddle and anchor. Most everything else is within reach, either behind me or in hatches, if it's needed. Importantly, gear that is stowed properly is not subject to being knocked overboard by a sudden weight shift, rogue wave or careless swing of the paddle.

Anyone who is considering a kayak but isn't quite ready to write the check should go Saturday to the county park at San Luis Pass, site of the Paddling Anglers in Canoes and Kayaks annual fishing tournament. There, you can see every imaginable configuration and hull style, and you can ask questions of people who already have solved the problems newcomers might face.

Make no mistake that these men and women are serious paddlers and serious fishermen. In past tournaments -- despite rules that allow participants to transport their boats to fishing areas by car or trailer -- competitors have paddled as far as 12 miles to reach a favorite spot.

Last year's tournament drew more than 80 paddling anglers, most of whom already were or became PACK members. The event offers prizes in five categories and is open to non-members, for whom the entry fee is $30. For details, go to www.packtx.org.