UnknownTerritory Posted June 18, 2017 Posted June 18, 2017 Hey guys, this year I've really got into bass fishing pretty heavily. I was debating on my first purchase between a kayak or jon boat. I chose JB because I figured the more people the merrier. Lately I've realized how much the JB limits me in certain conditions so I'm looking to make a big kayak purchase soon. Before you ask yes I've fished out of a kayak and I believe i know what to look for in a kayak for me. Yet I'm stuck at crossroads between two kayaks. The Jackson Big Rig and The Wilderness ATAK 120. If anyone has knowledge about either I'm open to the good and bad especially since they both aren't cheap kayaks to me. For me fishing in smaller lakes, ponds, and rivers i see the 12' ATAK better puttied but i do not want to just give up on the big rig after all it is just 1' foot bigger and wider! Anyways thanks for any advice and info on these kayaks! Again open to both good things and bad things! Quote
padon Posted June 19, 2017 Posted June 19, 2017 both great boats ,I own a 120 and have fished out of a friends big rig.the big rig is more stable but I do stand in my 120 no problem. to me your choice really comes down to off the water.in other words how are you gonna haul it , car top ,trailer , truck. and how far do you need to move it to launch. the big rig is a lot of boat to move if you need to car top or access remote places. the good news is you wont go wrong either way both boats just have different advantages. 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted June 19, 2017 Super User Posted June 19, 2017 Excellent choices, either. Since you're looking at a bigger yak, the new Native Titan is right around the corner, and is more of a boat, like the Hobie Pro Angler. It is also priced closer to the Hobie. But it is a beast of a yak. So many great yaks out there. If you can, see if a local kayak place will let you demo different models. Then you will get a good taste for what each offers, which one feels better, and so on. If no demos, at least get some sit-in time in a store. Quote
Sylvaneous Posted June 23, 2017 Posted June 23, 2017 It seems that everything is focused on sit-on kayaks. OK, fine, but they are heavier due to all that plastic and moldings across the top and the need to enclose everything. So how are you going to handle the kayak? If you trailer it, you begin to lose some of the advantages of a kayak, as you have to buy a trailer, hook it up, register and license it... I kayak fish because I don't have lots of disposable income and don't want to mortgage my future to buy a boat to play fish games with. I car-top. Not an option with stand-up sit on fishing kayaks, unless you are really tall and really strong. Sit-ins like the Native Ultimate and Jackson Kilroy (i have both) put your feet lower and are more stable but don't weight 92 lbs. I stand and fish plenty. duck hunt out of my Native. 2 years ago I shot all my ducks while standing IN the Native. I have found, with kayaks, less is more. The Native Ultimate has very few features, basically none, and it easier to deal with and more functional than feature packed boats with the center lift out consol and standing pads and compartments. 1 Quote
benbo Posted June 24, 2017 Posted June 24, 2017 I cartop my Atak 120's. yes, 2. Easily done by myself with the seat removed, a little trickier with the seat in. The center dry hatch on the Atak 120 is almost inaccessible when on the water because of the seat being on top of it depending on how the kayak is trimmed. The rear hatch is a pretty far reach from the seat also. The Atak 120 is pre rigged for a Wildy rudder which is awesome, but if you're not planning on installing one, I would suggest dabbing silicone in the foot control tubes. I would suggest dabbing silicone in every factory mounting hole to be safe. Your hull will not capsize, but your dry hatches will no longer be dry hatches. Plenty of track, Flexpod, Airpro Max seat, accessories, the Atak 120 is an awesome boat. I'm sure the Big Rig is amazing as well. I would not dismiss the Radar From Wilderness Systems in either size before you decide. Quote
IndyBass Posted June 25, 2017 Posted June 25, 2017 11 hours ago, benbo said: I cartop my Atak 120's. yes, 2. Easily done by myself with the seat removed, a little trickier with the seat in. The center dry hatch on the Atak 120 is almost inaccessible when on the water because of the seat being on top of it depending on how the kayak is trimmed. The rear hatch is a pretty far reach from the seat also. The Atak 120 is pre rigged for a Wildy rudder which is awesome, but if you're not planning on installing one, I would suggest dabbing silicone in the foot control tubes. I would suggest dabbing silicone in every factory mounting hole to be safe. Your hull will not capsize, but your dry hatches will no longer be dry hatches. Plenty of track, Flexpod, Airpro Max seat, accessories, the Atak 120 is an awesome boat. I'm sure the Big Rig is amazing as well. I would not dismiss the Radar From Wilderness Systems in either size before you decide. How in the hell do you get them up there by yourself, I can barely get one on a trailer. Quote
benbo Posted June 25, 2017 Posted June 25, 2017 (edited) 15 hours ago, Midwest Fisherman said: How in the hell do you get them up there by yourself, I can barely get one on a trailer. I carry them like this with the seats and flexpod removed. I get the bottom gunnel on the cradles, then I tip the top of the kayak over until it fully rests on the cradles. This isn't me, btw. I'm not saying it's easy, but it is do-able. Edit - this isn't me btw. Edited June 25, 2017 by benbo 1 Quote
HeavyTwenty Posted June 25, 2017 Posted June 25, 2017 16 hours ago, Midwest Fisherman said: How in the hell do you get them up there by yourself, I can barely get one on a trailer. I've done this on my old Civic. Back to the original question: I'd probably pick the ATAK 120. The ATAK is suppose to paddle similar to my Radar, which paddles really well for such a stable kayak. I've heard the Big Rig is kind of slow, but I don't have personal experience with it. 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted June 25, 2017 Super User Posted June 25, 2017 Car topping a kayak is more about technique than strength. I cartopped my ATAK 140 on top of my lifted wrangler pretty easily. So this just shows i disagree with the notion that you cannot cartop a SOT that you can stand in. 1 Quote
padon Posted June 26, 2017 Posted June 26, 2017 I have an f150 that I can slide my atak in very easily. I also have a Honda civic that I can load it on easily too.Its fairly simple to take an old moving blanket bath mat etc , lay it on the trunk and rear window, lift the nose of the boat on it and slide it onto the roof rack. not exactly a feat of superhuman strength or civil engineering. Quote
benbo Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 I have to load them the way I do since I'm carrying two of them on my rack. Quote
Scrapiron Posted June 29, 2017 Posted June 29, 2017 I load my Cuda LT and Native Tribe on top of a Honda Odyssey van. Using the Thule Outrigger bar makes it easier. As others said, it's about technique. But yeah, they're waaay up there. I got the LT version since I didn't want to car top a regular Cuda or anything over ~55# and didn't want the hassle of a trailer. Quote
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