Looking at Inflatables boats/kayaks/canoes for fishing.

[BIGfryFish]

Hello, 

 

It's been a while since I last posted. 

 

I'm interesting in getting out on the area waters this Spring/Summer. So I am looking for some recommendations on some good Inflatable Kayaks, Boats, Rafts for fishing.  It would be used on ponds, lakes, slow rivers/steams. No whitewater rafting. Something that that could be for 1 or 2 people would be fine. Minimum load capacity has to be at least 350lbs+  It needs to be comfortable for a large guy 6ft 2in 250-260lbs plus fishing gear.  My gear could range from a small-medium tackle bag/box, 1-2 rods/reels, pack lunch, safety gear (var), cooler/cool bag, etc.  I'm trying to stay under a MAX budget of $1200 including (boat, PFD, paddles, needed access, etc)

 

Currently I can't go with a hard shell kayak because of transportation/storage issues.  So please keep this in mind with your suggestions.

Here are the few I found while looking.  What are the opinions of these?  Any good standouts?  Pros/Cons of each?

 

Classic Accessories Colorado XTS Fishing Inflatable Pontoon Boat
Classic Accessories Colorado XT Inflatable Pontoon Boat
Aquaglide BLACKFOOT ANGLER 125 HB
Aquaglide BLACKFOOT ANGLER 110 HB
Sevylor Coleman Colorado 2-Person Fishing Kayak
Sea Eagle 385fta FastTrack Angler Series Inflatable Fishing Boat
Sea Eagle 350fx Fishing Explorer Inflatable Fishing Boat
Sea Eagle 285 Frameless Pontoon Boat Inflatable Fishing Boat
Alpacka Rafts
Kokopelli Packraft
AIRE rafts

 

Are any of these right for my situation?  Do any of these perform better than the rest?  Which ones, and how so?

 

IS there anything else out there I should look at?

 

Thx,  :)

 

[Scott F]

I use a personal pontoon and have for many years. I use an Outcast Fishcat. I think they are higher quality that the Classic Accessories boats.

EVERY boat has benefits and drawbacks. And all the boats you listed have their fans. I use mine mostly on streams and rivers, and have run class 2 rapids easily. They store and transport easily even in a small car. Very stable on the water. No floor means you'll get your legs wet. I wear waders.

You have to determine what works for you.

[BIGfryFish]

19 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I use a personal pontoon and have for many years. I use an Outcast Fishcat. I think they are higher quality that the Classic Accessories boats.

How so?   What don't you like about the Classic Accessaries?   Do they have any big issues that the Outcast doesn't?

[Scott F]

There isn't anything wrong with the Classic Accessories, but I think the tubes on the Outcast are higher quality, I don't like the the frames as much. The space between the foot pegs are too close together on the CA, makes it harder to get in and out of the boat. I know there are more places to buy the CA which makes them easier to buy. There's a reason they cost less. If you saw them side by side, you'd see it.

[greentrout]

many years ago i owned a sea eagle 8 ... really liked it ...hard flr... trolling motor up front ... even put a 2hp on it in the back on occasion ... sea eagle makes quality products ... biggest cons ...the wind can blow you around ... time to put together and take apart ... but that's part of the equation if you buy an inflatable...always felt safe in one and never had a puncture ...

 

was in some wild waters ...

 

good fishing...

 

check out intex boats too ... http://rubberboats.com/

[BIGfryFish]

@ Scott F

Looking at the Outcast website I could only find this:
https://www.outcastboats.com/pontoon-boats/pac-1000fs-green-gray.html

It's the only model I can find to "compare" based on their given specs.

 

@ greentrout

I've also looked at Sea Eagle, but I don't know yet.    ATM I don't need a trolling motor,
maybe at a future time.  I don't need a boat I can stand up in.  When I do and have the place
for it I may get something like this. https://store.blueskyboatworks.com/360-angler/

But for now I'm limited to inflatables.

[Allen Der]

check your local regulations.  around here a lot of public water does not allow the use of inflatables.

[Frog Turds]

In general I've never heard that for any place where there's been a restriction on inflatables on public waters unless its part of an HOA pond/lake or something along those lines...You have a specific example or site I can read where that's a regulation on a particular public lake/lakes?...Genuinely curious since this is the 1st time I've ever heard that for public waters...

[Allen Der]

1 hour ago, Frog Turds said:

In general I've never heard that for any place where there's been a restriction on inflatables on public waters unless its part of an HOA pond/lake or something along those lines...You have a specific example or site I can read where that's a regulation on a particular public lake/lakes?...Genuinely curious since this is the 1st time I've ever heard that for public waters...

Every state, county, etc is different.  Just saying here in Illinois it is not allowed on many lakes.  About 10 years ago I purchased a sevylor fish Hunter because I didn't know any better and hadn't learned about kayak fishing yet.  You really have no place to store a kayak?  I know guys that keep them in their bedroom or living room.  Even heard of guys taking them in the elevator of an apartment building.

[FryDog62]

I started looking at inflatables recently as an option to deflate and leave in storage out of state when not using it.  The one I’m most intrigued with (but haven’t used) is the Sea Eagle 385 Fastrack.  Reason for my interest is twofold: 1) I can add a trolling motor which is operated to the side instead of reaching back awkwardly to a tiller and 2) It has a forward keel and rear rudders to keep it tracking straight.  I’ve seen several videos of people fishing in other rudderless inflatables and they spin around anytime the wind blows or even when they shift their weight to cast, set the hook, fight a fish, etc...

 

Never been in a Sea Eagle but interested in trying one out..

[BIGfryFish]

@ Allen Der - I live in a small apartment.  Nothing is allowed in the common areas.

 

@ FryDog62 - Besides my lack of storage space, the inflatable would be easy to transport in most vehicles without issues.   

 

 

Anymore insight on the inflatables I posted?  there others I should also checkout?

 

[TnRiver46]

consumer warning: do not use inflatables for frog gigging........ second thought go for it, makes a great story 

[Scott F]

On 2/19/2019 at 1:00 PM, BIGfryFish said:

@ Scott F

Looking at the Outcast website I could only find this:
https://www.outcastboats.com/pontoon-boats/pac-1000fs-green-gray.html

It's the only model I can find to "compare" based on their given specs.

You didn’t see the Fish cat 9 IR at about half the price?

[JustJames]

Do you have a lot of wind in your area? How big of a lake you plan to fish? Inflatable kayak and even light wind doesnt match. Some of them have skeg built in but some don’t, even that tracking is still suck. 

I still have brand new sevylor Tahiti kayak sitting in my garage, wind is the thing that scared me. On the other hand my friend paddle in his sea eagle 370 once awhile and fish with it a few time.

Now we both got Float Tube which is a lot easier to fish and maneuver, easy storage and can rig for fishing easier than inflatable kayak.

[Scott F]

1 minute ago, JustJames said:

Do you have a lot of wind in your area? How big of a lake you plan to fish? Inflatable kayak and even light wind doesnt match. Some of them have skeg built in but some don’t, even that tracking is still suck. 

I still have brand new sevylor Tahiti kayak sitting in my garage, wind is the thing that scared me. On the other hand my friend paddle in his sea eagle 370 once awhile and fish with it a few time.

Now we both got Float Tube which is a lot easier to fish and maneuver, easy storage and can rig for fishing easier than inflatable kayak.

Like I said, every boat has it’s good points and bad points. The OP has no place to keep any boat with a rigid hull. Float tubes are no good in moving water like the streams he’d like to fish. Every boat gets blown around in the wind. Anything he chooses will be a compromise of some kind.

[BIGfryFish]

4 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

consumer warning: do not use inflatables for frog gigging........ second thought go for it, makes a great story 

 

Although I do like fried frog legs, I'd rather be fishing then chasing after kermits.  :)

 

 

4 hours ago, Scott F said:

You didn’t see the Fish cat 9 IR at about half the price?

 

I did see it, but I didn't see the proper "specs" listed.    So I listed the the ones that had all there specs listed.

 

 

1 hour ago, JustJames said:

Do you have a lot of wind in your area? How big of a lake you plan to fish? Inflatable kayak and even light wind doesnt match. Some of them have skeg built in but some don’t, even that tracking is still suck. 

I still have brand new sevylor Tahiti kayak sitting in my garage, wind is the thing that scared me. On the other hand my friend paddle in his sea eagle 370 once awhile and fish with it a few time.

Now we both got Float Tube which is a lot easier to fish and maneuver, easy storage and can rig for fishing easier than inflatable kayak.

 I'm not talking about Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake George, Saratoga Lake, etc.     Those are way to big and busy

for what I like to do.

 

Local areas I'd like to try are:

 

Collins Park Lake
Rensselaer Lake (Six Mile Waterworks)
Grafton Lakes

small river tributaries (quiet sections)

 

 

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

Like I said, every boat has it’s good points and bad points. The OP has no place to keep any boat with a rigid hull. Float tubes are no good in moving water like the streams he’d like to fish. Every boat gets blown around in the wind. Anything he chooses will be a compromise of some kind.

That's what I'm looking for something I can use for the planned fishing in the locations I can get to.     Based on my

space constraints that's inflatables.  Kayak, Pontoon or Canoe?

 

From the list above my favs are:

Classic Accessories Colorado XTS Fishing Inflatable Pontoon Boat
Classic Accessories Colorado XT Inflatable Pontoon Boat
Aquaglide BLACKFOOT ANGLER 125 HB

Sevylor Coleman Colorado 2-Person Fishing Kayak

 

I like them for various reasons: capacity, features, functionality, portability, color, modifications, etc. 

 

Has anyone tried any/all of these, if so can you give a more detailed insight?

 

How would you rate them by capacity, features, functionality, portability, modifications, etc?

 

Is there anything else that is as good, the same, better?

 

Thx for the help.  :)

 

[Robin A]

I have a Blackfoot 125 and it's great.....Loads of storage and comes with a deluxe seat and fishing cooler.

I use it on the local rivers (NW Fl.) and lakes and shallow bays.

I've had hard shell kayaks and prefer the inflatables.

Get a quality boat.....cheap ones not good.

Going  to use it in Ar. on the White River in the fall. I've been using canoes and hard shell yaks up until this trip.

 

Robin