I'm looking for a inexpensive kayak stable enough to stand on

[BIGGUNZ]

Hi I'm looking to buy a kayak to set up for bass fishing that will be easy to stand up in. I want to mount a trolling motor, and sonar. I'm looking at the ascend fs128t, so far that's the best I can find  fairly priced at 799.00. It's 33" wide Which is nice but I would like to find one  wider and cheeper. I am up for any suggestions, thank you

[jignjake]

Glad to see another kayak angler on here. Well, I've been in your exact same predicament for several months now. Unfortunately I have NOT found any other stand-up kayaks for less than the Ascend costs. I will caution you, I have heard and read consistent reviews of this exact kayak you posted and they are generally bad. Lots have been complaining about the d**n thing taking on water! And a consistent complaint in reviews has been its VERY tough to paddle, speed and manueverability. This sucks for those of us trying kayak fish on a budget. All the people I've talked to on here and in person have preached an inconvenient truth, you are gonna get what you pay for buddy. That being said, I've been looking at Jackson Kayaks. They aren't $700 but they also aren't Hobies for $2500-$4000. Just save up your pennies and buy a great product with a good warranty and a great reputation. Watch videos on Jackson Kayaks "Big Rig" and " Coosa HD". These are the two I've boiled it down to.

[Darren.]

You'll want to shop for models that are on closeout,
previous-year stock at local and online retailers like
austinkayak.com, paddleva.com. I bought my Native
Ultimate 12 for under $1000 as a prior-year model
and it is plenty stable to stand in. I think I paid in the
$850 range for it when current year was about $1100
give or take.

[buzzed bait]

i echo the what the others have already said, but wanted to add something on width.  more width does not really mean more stability.  the hull design has a big impact there.  you really do need to try them out and see which works best if at all possible.

good luck though, kayak fishing is a blast, i'll be out there tomorrow!

[J Francho]

You aren't going to get much wider than 33".  It'sl all hull design.  Look for a good condition, used boat.  Get some seta time to decide if it's truly a stand up model.

[moguy1973]

They cost more, but check out the Feel Free kayaks.  A buddy has a Lure 11.5 and stands in it all the time, even on streams.  It's really wide but doesn't have a lot of inside storage, at least not compared to my Ocean Kayak.  Has a really nice seat.  

Probably more than you want to spend though.

[bholtzinger14]

The Diablo Amigo's are wide enough to stand in and not much more money.

http://www.austinkayak.com/products/12734/Diablo-Amigo-Recreational-Kayak.html

If you are on facebook talk to Guillermo González. Im sure he will be more than glad to help you.

[Allen Der]

sounds like you want a jon boat not a kayak.  find a used coleman crawdad

[Phil_NH]

To be honest get the Ascend FS12t, not the 128. Basically the same thing, but lighter and cheaper. You can stand and do everything that the big buck models can do. Also if this is your first go at kayaking or kayak fishing then don't dump a huge amount of money on something you really haven't had that much experience with. 

In regards to the reviews-

-Earlier year models had some production issues with unsealed components. If you  can unscrew a screw and put down some marine sealant you are golden. People tend to get dramatic about things like this, yes it shouldn't be an issue, but its a minor minor issues that can be solved in 5 minutes. For the price its a no brainer.

-Poor maneuverability is another issue and to an extant its true, but as an example I wouldn't expect a tank to win the Daytona 500.  Theirs been some people reporting that folks who are shorter and weigh less have a harder time than say someone like  me who is 6'1" 230lbs, but you could take it or leave it. I fish a river that is relatively slow moving and have 0 problems with paddling and maneuvering.

But in the end you'll know which one is right for you. If you don'd end up going with Ascend try the Preception Prescadour Pro. Its new this year and looks great. Good Luck.

[dpittman]

I got a Big Rig 2015 model for 1500 to my door. I researched a lot of kayaks and thought this was the best for my needs. Extreme stability is most important to me for stand up bass fishing. The Big Rig is not small and light so something to consider. Now I am looking for a super stable kayak for my daughter and have decided on a Diablo Amigo. Seems like a lot of stability for the price. I dont want my kids falling out of their kayaks so stability is the most important factor for me. Any comments fro the Amigo would be great as there is not a lot of info out there for them.Thanks

[Dye99]

Buy once cry once. Get a boat that does what you want it to do, and lets you expand your fishing over time.

The big rig is an awesome boat, as is the Slayer series and Lure boats, and of course the ATAK for me was the cream of the crop.

I agree with the above poster who mentioned finding a last year model to get a deal.

Its like any other tool out there. If you plan on using it a lot, beat it up, then save up and buy quality.

 

 

[Caliyak]

Dude, how important is standing? 

The reason I ask; with 800 bucks, you can get a nice boat. Gets you on the water, install finder and the motor can happen but no standing.

If standing is big for you, then save more cash cuz standing comes with a price tag; 10 Benjamins or more. 

[Landis Carrier]

I can't even count the times I was out in my yak last year, too many, and I never stood once. 

[Dye99]

I have a friend I fish with that is the same way, He has no need to stand in his yak either. I had that mindset for years as well.

But for me, I like to dabble with different fishing technics that sometimes entail having the rod pointed at the water, like jerk bait fishing, poppers and walking the dog on topwater, and just sight fishing in general, so I started gravitating to standing.

Granted, If you practice enough you can stand in any kayak, I just practiced in the summer when its warm enough that getting in the water isn't bad!

I would think that if standing wasn't an issue, at least make sure you have a seat that isn't a "wet butt" style, so that you can fish in the colder months comfortably!

[jignjake]

I've fished from a kayak for over 3 years now and there's nothing I desire more than the ability to stand and fish. Not being able to stand limits several things that can only help you put more fish in the boat. Here are a few, jerk bait, top water and flipping jigs properly, scanning the water for cover from a better perspective AND more successful hook sets. THE biggest difference I've noticed in a kayak is the amount of fish you miss with non-moving baits where a real "hook set" is crucial to getting the fish into the boat. From the seated position you are at a much lower position of leverage with the rod and therefore a much different position for a proper hook set. The ability to stand in a kayak creates the best position to perform the listed techniques properly, better visually spot cover AND gives you the best position to set the hook on fish.

[DogBone_384]

I own a '14 128T and a FeelFree Lure 11.5.  Both are great kayaks.  You say mounting a trolling motor and fish finder are keys.  I have a Lowrance Elite-4X on it now and am going to mount a trolling motor on it this season. 

Scroll down to the bottom of this thread, it shows how I mounted my transducer:

I recommend the 128T because it's stable enough to stand up and fish, has tons of storage space (think battery), has a swivel, all-day-comfortable seat.  Its shape favors a transom mount trolling motor mounted on the side.  

Read reviews on the 128T, and yes, there are a few flaws, but nothing that takes away from its value.  Perhaps the '16 model fixed.

Lastly, if you're Military or Public Safety, BPS offers a discount with proper ID.

Best of luck picking out a kayak!

[boostr]

I stand 100% of the time, unless I'm paddeling, but then again I'll do that standing up on occasion. That's why I bought the Lure 11.5. Check out the Field and Stream Shadow Caster it's almost an exact copy of the Feelfree Lure 11.5, but for half the price.

[Janderson45]

Standing was crucial to me as well, I ended up with a WS ride 115x.  I stand in it very easily whenever I desire, even paddle around standing up.  Never flipped it, not sure I really could even if I wanted to.  

[SHaugh]

Standing in a Kayak is a learned skill. It will take practice to become good at it.    There is no magic version of one that is rock stable.  A lot of people don't do it simply because it's uncomfortable to constantly be maintaining your balance like that...   this video is a good example.   If you don't  think you'd like standing for extended periods on that board you probably should consider a more stable type of boat or remain sitting imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkGICEaMPe8

 

 

[Dye99]

There actually are a few kayaks out there that are very easy to stand in are not a balancing act. The Jackson big rig is one, the other is the Wildy atak.

My wife was standing and fishing in my atak in the first 20 min...

[J Francho]

Coosa, Prowler Big Game I/II, Ride 115/135, Moken 12/13, Malibu X, Commander 120/140, Freedom Hawk 12/14...

All boats I've personally fished from, and found standing a very easy and intuitive experience.  Seat time is a must when buying a boat!

[SHaugh]

I could very well be a top heavy old dork, but my advice would be to not assume that any kayak is stable enough to stand on until you've tried it yourself in wind and maybe a slight chop.   Don't spend $1000 on something till you're absolutely sure it does what you think it's going to.

[J Francho]

^^^Yep.  I'll say a third time: SEAT TIME!!!