Guided by the tenet that nature itself is the premier reason for being outdoors, this column has seldom dealt with gadgets or gear. Recently, though, I acquired an item of equipment that can genuinely enhance the simple pleasure of fishing.

It's a kayak and I desired it from the moment its sleek, camouflaged profile caught my eye in the former Woodlands World store in Farmington (relocated now to downtown Uniontown).

My kayak is the Old Town Predator K111 model but other manufacturers are producing similar "concept" kayaks for hunters and fishermen. The Predator K111 is 11 feet long, 28 inches wide amidships and weighs 48 pounds. It's stable and comfortable, easy to maneuver and light enough to load and unload alone.

On-board accessories are minimal but fun to use. The hold has built-in shotgun shell and cup holders, there's an elastic rod, gun and paddle storage system along the starboard hull, a rod holder for trolling or bait fishing to port, a bungee net on the stern deck for stowing gear and a "clothesline" system that allows you to drop an anchor off the stern without twisting around in the cockpit. Both the bow and stern are equipped with molded plastic handgrips that facilitate positioning the boat for boarding or transport.

Most importantly, the craft is a joy to fish from. The dull green-and-black camo and low profile allow an angler to sneak up on "fishy" spots even more effectively than in a canoe. It floats in water too shallow for other craft and is perfectly silent if you're careful with the paddle.

That it took so long for boat makers to produce a kayak designed for hunting and fishing is surprising when you consider that the kayak's original inventors, aboriginal inhabitants of the Arctic, used it for those same purposes to support life.

A recent outing in my Predator was no matter of life and death, but it proved how a lightweight, camouflaged and silent craft can augment enjoyment of today's outdoors. With a fly rod stowed on the starboard hull, I prowled a lakeshore looking for the pale discs of bluegill spawning redds in the shallows. Spotting about two-dozen redds, I dropped the anchor and drifted into casting distance. For the next half hour I sat there comfortably catching and releasing big bluegills that rose to gulp any dry fly dropped over their colony.

Moving to a new location, I found it was possible to use the fish themselves to maneuver the boat for the next cast. By applying pressure with the rod in the desired direction against the pull of the fish, I could adjust the kayak's angle and direction without touching the paddle. Meanwhile, yellow warblers, indigo buntings and a yellow-breasted chat foraged in the lakeside vegetation within reach of the rod tip, unaware of, or unconcerned about, my presence. Muskrats and turtles swam by unalarmed.

If immersion in the natural traits of a place is one reason to fish, a fishing kayak can help achieve the objective.

I have not had an opportunity to use my Predator on flowing water but expect it would perform well float-fishing for smallmouth bass or float-hunting ducks and geese.

Unfortunately, users of small craft such as kayaks and canoes suffer a disproportionate number of boating fatalities each year. Common sense and training can make kayak fishing a safe pursuit.

Paddling anglers should always wear a personal floatation device (PFD) and be especially wary of cold water. It is always advisable to paddle with a companion and to let someone at home know your plans.

Western Pennsylvania offers countless opportunities to paddle and fish on its lakes and streams. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site is an excellent resource for information on water trails, public lakes, small craft safety and fishing. Go to www.fish.state.pa.us and click on Pennsylvania Water Trails.

Kayak lessons and clinics are often available in the Pittsburgh area through Venture Outdoors (www.ventureoutdoors.org). For more details about the Predator K111 hunting and fishing kayak, dealers and prices, visit www.oldtowncanoe.com.