Anybody Know Anything About Kayaks?

After the plastic boat embroglio I'm almost afraid to post this.

I'm looking for a way to get around on my favorite local rivers
(Current and Jack's Fork, Mo.) by myself. I followed the "canoe"
thread, and that led me to believe that a Kayak may be the best choice
for me.

I'm interested in a Kayak I can use to haul me and my gear (fishing
gear, sleeping bag, small tent, and a cooler) to a gravel bar where I
can put up away from the rest of humanity and fish for a couple of
days at a time, dawn to whenever the hell I'm ready to quit.

I don't want to do whitewater, I'm not interested in competitve
rowing. Just transportation to for me and my gear to places where
other people aren't.

So if you've got any insight, I'd appreciate it.
BTW, I'm NOT in the market for a dinghy.