Kayak Suggestions: Creeks/Shallow Rivers, long distance multi-Day Trips.

[hawk45]

Hi everyone.

Been doing some kayak fishing trips with a few buddies recently and borrowing a kayak.  I'm borrowing a Emotion Angler 11 sit-on-top.   While I'm gracious my buddy lets me use his spare, it doesn't track at all and wears me out as I have to constantly be paddling.  This also limits my fishing time as it's always going into spins as we drift.  Short story long, I"m looking to invest in one of my own.

Almost all of our trips are on small rivers that can get very shallow in spots, so the kayak has to be agile and buoyant with my 230lb 6'4" body plus gear (cooler, tackle, tent, spare clothes).  We do long day trips that may cover 12-15 miles over a 10 hour day.  The current kayak I'm using is killing me.

I'd love to say I have $1200 to throw down on a kayak, but that would be a big stretch.  I am a believer in buy once, cry once, so based on recommendations, I may have to wait to purchase something.  I wish I could get out more, but I'd estimate 6 times this summer would probably be a stretch, just due to time.

I've been on ACK but not sure what can fill all my needs for capacity, weight, comfort and maneuverability in shallow/windy rivers. 

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[buzzed bait]

i'd be looking hard at a jackson coosa.  they're well made and designed for shallow moving water.

[clayton86]

Look into a perception pescador 120pro can be had fairly cheap and they are a great little boat. I'm on the wildy prostaff and perception is one of the sister companies. At a demo day we sold out of them on the first day I put a few bigger guys out on one they all loved it were able to stand up even. I messed around with a coosa over the weekend as well very slick boat as well but I think they may be a bit out of the price range I'm not sure though. Another option is the ride 115 can be picked up used fairly cheap also. 

[sully99]

You should look into a Hybrid, like a Ultimate or Comander. Bass Pro even has a Asend Hybrid now. They are very stable, plenty of room for gear and very comfortable. 

[rippin-lips]

I'm a big fan of my ride 115 but the rear tankwell area is rather small. Once my engle cooler is in there it's full basically. Definitely not getting a crate and cooler in there at the same time. I put a soft cooler in the front hatch. Maybe one of the WS commander kayaks would fit the bill a bit better. 

[clayton86]

3 hours ago, rippin-lips said:

I'm a big fan of my ride 115 but the rear tankwell area is rather small. Once my engle cooler is in there it's full basically. Definitely not getting a crate and cooler in there at the same time. I put a soft cooler in the front hatch. Maybe one of the WS commander kayaks would fit the bill a bit better. 

I took the commander out at paddle fest back in May I'm a little undecided on it. I like it and don't like it at the same time. 

 

I have been been taking my ATAK down some super shallow creeks this week without the seat attached basically a paddleboard. I'm gonna add the anchor trolley kit and a stake out pole so I can leave my paddle behind and it will be just about perfect for the trips. Only down side is the ATAKs size in the little creeks if I get turned broad side it's to long to really turn well with out doing a 3 point turn or getting out and man handling it around. 

 

 

 

 

[hawk45]

I was able to get to a local shop today and look at a few kayaks and sit in them.  No place to demo them though.  I asked about demoing them and they said they haven't done a demo day in several months and none planned.  I looked at the WS Ride 115X, Old Town Predator MX and a few others, but the Ride 115X is the one I'm leaning towards due to features and price.  No final decisions made yet though.

 

[rippin-lips]

I'd definitely look into joining the kayak buy/sell/trade group on facebook. You can find some good deals on there. I saw a ride 115x yesterday with a rudder kit,blackpack crate, and the airpro max seat for $1,200. 

[BrianSnat]

230 lbs and wanting to carry fishing gear, camping gear and a cooler?  I think the question should be which canoe should you buy.

[Allen Der]

+1 for either the commander 120/140 or the pescador pro 120.  

[Bassyakker]

I have the Perception Pescador Pro 120 and I love it.  It will be hard to beat in the under $1200 range.  Comfortable seat, plenty of storage in the rear and can fit a small cooker in the front well if you want. 

[clayton86]

5 hours ago, Bassyakker said:

I have the Perception Pescador Pro 120 and I love it.  It will be hard to beat in the under $1200 range.  Comfortable seat, plenty of storage in the rear and can fit a small cooker in the front well if you want. 

Could almost buy two for 1200 they were on sale at paddle fest for $640

[Dogmatic]

Diablo builds a hybrid, but not the typical canoe/yak, but a SUP/yak, might fit your needs. Traditional hybrids do fit your requirements also. Native Ultimate, Wildy Commander, Ascend H12, above all else you should try to demo, the only sure fire way to make an informed decision. There's a saying in the yak world, much like your "buy once, cry once", "buy your second kayak, first". Almost everyone jumps in and buys a yak before they know what they really want, only to "upgrade" a season later. Good luck, and let us know what you decide on.

[the reel ess]

On 6/20/2016 at 8:54 PM, clayton86 said:

Look into a perception pescador 120pro can be had fairly cheap and they are a great little boat. I'm on the wildy prostaff and perception is one of the sister companies. At a demo day we sold out of them on the first day I put a few bigger guys out on one they all loved it were able to stand up even. I messed around with a coosa over the weekend as well very slick boat as well but I think they may be a bit out of the price range I'm not sure though. Another option is the ride 115 can be picked up used fairly cheap also. 

I have the last generation of this boat It handles great in shallow water I've had it on a tiny river (creek until it rains) as well as a medium, rocky river and it was fine. It's nimble enough to go back to a spot you've already floated past