Ascend kayaks???

[Joedodge]

I’m looking to get a second kayak to use along side my native ultimate. Anyone have any expierence with the ascend boats from bass pro?? Or able to recommend a model they sell? 

[Bluebasser86]

I don't personally, but a buddy from work had one. It was very heavy, not real stable, and paddled poorly. He sold it after only owning it for one summer. 

[Scott804]

Outside of the fully rigged Tournament 133x, I would stray away. They have good deck space, but they don't make a pedal drive and they don't paddle great so you are basically forced to run a trolling motor if you want to make the most of the boat, in my opinion. 

[Jmilburn76]

Why not a Native Falcon to go with your Ultimate?

[flyfisher]

Going from an ultimate to that boat will feel like a barge.  What purpose are you trying to fill with this second kayak?  

For years I had a boat for lakes, commander 120, and a boat for rivers in the jackson coosa.  Both great boats but for different purposes.

 

[Joedodge]

Thanks guys. Just looking for a second kayak for my wife. And another to use on lakes and ponds really and it’s a easy to get boat near me. Since bass pro is in town. But if the reviews are that bad I’ll stray away. 

[FishTank]

I looked at them last year and saw a few on the water but I haven't been in one. The people I have talked to like them but not on small ponds or on open water. A trolling motor is a must and they do not track well just based on size alone. I would look at an Old Towne too if possible. 

[volzfan59]

I had an Ascend 128T kayak. It was a great kayak, at a good price. I added a foot controlled Minn Kota and a Power Pole Micro to mine. Ascend used to make a hybrid kayak similar to your Ultimate. You can spend a lot more, but why? With the prices some of the name brand kayak companies are changing, you can buy a real boat.

 

Now, all of that said, after five or six years I sold my Ascend kayak and bought a full sized boat. Kayak fishing just wasn't for me.

[DogBone_384]

I started with a 128T in ‘14. It was a great Kayak and fair price to start kayak fishing with.

 

I sold it when I discovered pedal drive kayaks.

 

It had a very comfortable swivel seat, lots of hull storage and was stand up stable. I also had a trolling motor on it.

 

They were made in the USA then.

 

Best of luck with your choice.

[Zcoker]

I purchased an Ascend 10 foot kayak from from Bass Pro that served me very well. It was very light, I think about 30lbs and I could take it solo practically anywhere! It was quite comfortable and held everything I needed and I don't recall any major issues with the boat at all. I mainly fished it in the Everglades and a few time at Heardwaters Lake here in Florida. Only reason I got rid of it is because I went with one of the newer powered kayaks. 

[flyfisher]

On 4/8/2022 at 5:58 PM, DogBone_384 said:

I started with a 128T in ‘14. It was a great Kayak and fair price to start kayak fishing with.

 

I sold it when I discovered pedal drive kayaks.

 

It had a very comfortable swivel seat, lots of hull storage and was stand up stable. I also had a trolling motor on it.

 

They were made in the USA then.

 

Best of luck with your choice.

I am pretty sure they still are manufactured in the US.

[Dervish]

I have been using an ascend 128t with yak power for 2 years now.  I love it.  I know pedal drives are amazing, but I don't mind the exercise involved with paddling that beast around.  It's heavy, and most inportantly, it's stable.  I can stand on it with no issues.  I've dealt with pretty extreme winds, currents, and waves in it and felt pretty safe, but keep in mind I am decent with my paddles and you have to pay attention to what is going on in windy situations.   I drive a little Subaru car, but I can keep it on the roof of my car no problem.  There is a company that sells trolling motors and mounts customized just for that hull that mount into the rear rod holders if you want it.  Downside for me is that the hatches are not waterproof.  When I keep if on my car, it will fill with water when it rains, which is bad for the wiring inside and it's a ***** to clean.  At the end of the day, it's a nice little boat and I love it.  There's a newer model out there that I'd like to try, but if I was going to upgrade, I'd probably get a pedal drive

[Run2jeepn]

I have a 133X now and a 12T as an extra for family and friends. Last 2 years I had a 128T. The 128T was a good boat. Never had a problem and not to bad to paddle around. Very stable. I traded my 128T for the 133X.  The 133X is even more stable, but not fun to paddle around in. If it's windy or any current it takes to much energy to paddling around to have any fun. So a Trolling motor is a must.

 

Acsend 133X

Pro's

Very, Very Stable

Pre-wired with Yak-Power

Has built in Mounts for front or rear Trolling motors

Has 2 laydown Rod Holders ( Big advantage on Rivers with trees)

Plenty of Storage and Deck Space

 

Con's

Heavy 130lbs

Some of issues with the Deck warping a little ( I haven't had any issues with mine)

No Swivel set like was on the 128T

Not the easiest to paddle

- Going to end up buying a Trolling

 

[schplurg]

That Ascend costs about the same as a Sportsman 120 and weighs over 40 pounds more. Doesn't come pre-wired but wow that is really heavy. My answer to this thread title is no.

[Dangerfield]

Native Falcon, Bonafide RS117, Oldtowns are good options. Also look up Crescent Kayaks, probably on the lighter side, the Light Tackle has flush mounted rod holders.

[LrgmouthShad]

Well I aint sure how I missed this but I fish out of a H12 Ascend. Love it. It is a tank. I wanted space, comfort, and good weight capacity and H12 does a great job for all of that. The seat is very comfortable, I fish out of it for hours and hours on end, no problems. But I'm also young