Fishing Kayaks

[BUCKrub91]

Well for the past couple years about this time ive thought about getting a fishing kayak for those smaller waters either dont allow motor boats or have areas I want to fish that I cant get in with a motor boat... I have a canoe but feel a kayak would be more manueverable for 1 person and easier to load/unload off my SUV

This year im just gonna have to bite the bullet and purchase a YAK I think... I have a couple of yaks I am interested in but let me start by saying i would mostly be fishing rivers and small lakes/ponds with it...

The yaks I am interested in are

The Jackson Coosa

The Wilderness systems Ride 115

The native Manta ray 12

Im sort of leaning towards the Coosa and Ride right now which presents a problem.. I can not find a kayak shop near me that carries either of those two boats so I would have to order online which will stop me from being able to test the boats before I buy which is a concern....

Any advice or kayak suggestions are more than welcome

[NateFollmer]

Out of those three, Ride 115 all the way. Great boat, stable, fast and you can even stand in it once you're comfortable and find it's 'tipping' point. You won't be dissappointed with it at all.

[WookieeJedi]

If I get another, it will be the Coosa. Your other two choices won't likely disappoint, either. Those are all nice rides.

[hjsmyth]

My personal boat is Pungo old. My sister recently bought a Wilderness Systems Commander. I have been fishing Merrimack River from Concord to the mouth of River in Newburyport. I helped my sister with her purchase she was looking at Native watercraft 2 person and the Commander. She decided on Commander because it was smaller and easier to handle getting off car. I have fished with it 3 times now great fishing kayak. Tracks well, extremely stable, has rail system for some nice fishing attachments and you can stand and fish I great advantage. Really like this kayak I am thinking about getting one myself I would even consider outfitting with bass yaks foot control electric motor.

[elkriverangler]

Those are 3 excellent choices you are considering and you wont go wrong with any of them. All 3 have very comfortable Seats although I would give the edge to the Coosa Hi Low Seat.

If weight is a consideration to you the Coosa and Ride are about 12-15 LBs heavier than the Manta Ray.

If you plan on doing any standing up Fishing both the Coosa and Ride have that capability, not so much on the Manta Ray.

The Ride and the Manta Ray have the Slide Trax type Rails on the Front for Mounting Rods and Accessories which the Coosa doesn't have but the Coosa has a lot of nice features too.

Another one to consider if you want to save some Money is the Perception Pescador. For around $600 it is a very nice Boat. It is the same as a pre 2009 WS Tarpon.

I have a 10' Pescador which serves me well for the River Fishing I do but if I needed a larger Yak I would be considering the same ones you are.

[pa_guy]

I have the Manta Ray 12 angler. The seat is very comfortable. I have not sat in the coosa or ride 115, so I can't compare. Like others have said don't plan on standing in the Manta Ray.

I narrowed down my list to about 4 or 5 different kayaks I was interested in and ended up buying the manta ray at a local shop that actually had one in stock.

[J.R.H.]

Both my wife and I fish very comfortably out of a Ride 115. Very stable, excellent boat.