Native Slayer Max 10 OR Native Titan 10.5

[JodonFishing]

Let me start by saying im new here. Im Jesse big in the bass fishing tournament scene but due to constant increases in prices to operate a bass boat I am starting to consider trying Kayak Bass Fishing, not selling my boat just thinking about dabbling in it in 2025, im always up for a new challenge. let me start by saying I have fished out of a kayak, but never competitively. I have done my research and I basically narrowed my search down to two kayaks. Came across this site and the message board and looks like there is some knowledgable people on here when it comes to kayaks. so here it is im lookin at the native slayer max 10 and the native titan X 10.5. I know the titan is going to be a better built more sturdy and stable platform but is it really worth the extra 700 dollars that it cost? as well its 50 pounds heavier which is 50% heavier that seems like quite a lot. now not ever owning a "Heavy" kayak I honestly don't know how hard it is to manage a 150 pound kayak. that's the man reason I was leaning towards the slayer max which comes in at 97 pounds. as well the cheaper price tag. Appreciate any input! thank you

[casts_by_fly]

Are you thinking to truck bed it or trailer?  
 

adding a motor or just going for a pedal version?

[JodonFishing]

57 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Are you thinking to truck bed it or trailer?  
 

adding a motor or just going for a pedal version?

Truck bed and pedal. Motors are for boats not kayaks…. 

[Bluebasser86]

12 minutes ago, JodonFishing said:

Truck bed and pedal. Motors are for boats not kayaks…. 

The extra weight will help a little with how much you’re blown around in the wind and you should still be able to load it easily enough in a truck bed. I bed loaded mine for a few years until I got a trailer with gear in it, which would be way heavier than the hulk of either of those boats. 
 

Imo, if you’re seriously considering buying a kayak to tournament fish, look at one you can put some kind of motor on, you’re at a serious disadvantage without one and every circuit allows for at least one per boat anymore (some allow 2). I’ve tournament fished over 20 years and kayak tournament fished for 4 years now, I’ve never felt at more of a disadvantage as I did fishing against a bunch of guys with motors while I was pedaling, especially in the wind. Last years kayak classic was the final straw on my holdout against the motor. I fought the wind for days and in the end, missed walking the Bassmaster Classic stage by 1/4”. I know of at least a couple fish I missed or lost that would have done it for me if I hadn’t been trying to fight the wind and boat position. 
 

Maybe there’s no wind or current where you fish, but after a season of fishing with a motor on my yak now, I’ll never tournament fish without one again unless it’s just physically impossible because of the water I’m fishing.

[Glenn]

^^ He's not wrong ^^ 

Not only did he place 15th in this year's Kayak Classic, but he's already qualified for next year's Classic. You're talking to the best of the best.

 

The man knows.

[JodonFishing]

Ten4 thankyou. I’m deff holding out on a motor, I’m stuck in my ways and I’m not trying to make national championships or anything, that what my bass boat is for. Just looking for a new challenge n I feel a pedal drive is exactly what I’m looking for. How much more will the wind blow a slayer max around compared to a titan. Motor aside I can’t see how one won’t get blown around anymore then the next. Hell my bass boat gets blown around lol

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, JodonFishing said:

Ten4 thankyou. I’m deff holding out on a motor, I’m stuck in my ways and I’m not trying to make national championships or anything, that what my bass boat is for. Just looking for a new challenge n I feel a pedal drive is exactly what I’m looking for. How much more will the wind blow a slayer max around compared to a titan. Motor aside I can’t see how one won’t get blown around anymore then the next. Hell my bass boat gets blown around lol

You're right, you will get blown around in the wind, but hull design plays a big factor into how much and then your ability to turn quickly is going to be a big factor in your ability to fish effectively. 

 

You might want to do a little bit more research into the tournaments you're planning on fishing. Are they associated with BASS? If they are, you can likely qualify for the Bassmaster Kayak Classic through them. I fish the state circuit here and qualified through the championship the last 2 years (2nd place last year and 1st this year). I actually qualified my first year of fishing tournaments from the kayak (won the championship again), but didn't fish it. Part of that was because I didn't understand how everything worked and was a little overwhelmed, and partly because I wasn't in a place financially to go to Louisiana and fish the tournament that year. Had I done my research, I would have been prepared in the event I qualified and been able to fish it. Knowing what I know now, I feel bad because I took the only qualifying spot for the club from a bunch of other guys who probably would have gone and fished it. Just something to consider before you jump into them so you don't end up in the same situation I did. 

 

If you're going to just jump into a small group like a jackpot club or weeknight tournaments with no affiliation to BASS and no chance to qualify for a larger tournament, then I would try to go look at both boats in person. Preferably, find a dealer that carries both and does demo days so you can actually pedal both of them, stand in them, rock them, move around in them, sit in the seat and decide if you could sit in it for hours, pick them up, whatever you want to do and look at to determine which would fit you better.  I took almost a year of doing research before finally pulling the trigger on mine. It's resulted in me getting exactly what I wanted and not jumping around to different boats like I see so many guys doing. I've been in the same one since I bought it in 2019. I know exactly where everything is, where it goes, and what it's capable of. It makes it so much easier when I'm on the water when I don't have to learn a new boat every year. So do as much research as you can so you can "Buy once, cry once". 

[MediumMouthBass]

The bigger the kayak, the harder it is to maneuver, and the slower it goes.

But maybe you want stability over speed/handling. Maybe not.

Theres alot of preferences that make up a kayak purchase.

Fill out a list of exactly what you want the kayak to do and go from there.

 

Every kayak gets blown around, hull design may reduce it but it wont eliminate it.

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I took almost a year of doing research before finally pulling the trigger on mine. It's resulted in me getting exactly what I wanted and not jumping around to different boats like I see so many guys doing. I've been in the same one since I bought it in 2019. I know exactly where everything is, where it goes, and what it's capable of. It makes it so much easier when I'm on the water when I don't have to learn a new boat every year. So do as much research as you can so you can "Buy once, cry once". 

I bought a new Lite Tackle, after 2 months i bought a new Shoalie to replace it, and gave the Lite Tackle to my mom. I thought it was enough for what i needed, but after a few trips on the water i realized it had more speed than i needed, and not enough stability. It didnt have enough space to hold lures and tackle bags either. When im on the Shoalie it feels like it was made for me.

Several of us went through a few or a few dozen kayaks to find the one for us. Again write down everything you need and want, then go to the dealer and see which one checks all the boxes.

[JodonFishing]

Thanks for the food for thought. Deff weighing my options and my problem is there’s no kayak dealers anywhere near where I live. One that sales them but doesn’t do demos or anything and even that place is two hours away

[casts_by_fly]

12 minutes ago, JodonFishing said:

Thanks for the food for thought. Deff weighing my options and my problem is there’s no kayak dealers anywhere near where I live. One that sales them but doesn’t do demos or anything and even that place is two hours away

 

What area do you live in?  You might be able to find someone locally who fishes those boats and you can check them out.

[Jason413]

I'll say this, the kayak you start with might not be the one you end with lol.  And no kayak is perfect for all situations, so try to match it to what you'll be fishing.  I'm on my 5th.  Started with an 11' kayak, too small.  Moved up to a 13'5 Lure, great kayak, but too narrow (not stability wise, just not enough room to move around, felt constrained).  Then bought a Hobie PA 14 360.  Great kayak, but didn't feel it gave me much over some other options for 2x the price.  I now fish out of 2 kayaks, Native Titan 12 (Not the X) and a Jackson Big Rig FD.  Love both of them.  Titan is much easier to maneuver so that's my small water kayak.  Big Rig is my big/open water kayak.  

 

Coming from a boat you may find a 10' kayak doesn't have high enough capacity for all the gear you want to bring.  No motor/battery will help with that though.  Although I agree with others, I don't like fishing tournaments without one.  Casual outings I just pedal.

 

Both of my kayaks are big and heavy.  It's a non issue though, get a good cart and balance the kayak on it correctly and you're lifting 40lbs tops.  Depends on where and how you have to store them as well.  

 

My best advice, try to buy a good used one if you can.  If you aren't happy with it you will be able to sell it for about what you paid for it.

 

 

[Fishingmickey]

I'll just add this, The seat is everything in a kayak. if your not comfortable fishing after a couple of hours and your legs and other lower extremity areas are falling asleep or worse, your not going to like it. Seriously you need to demo as many as possible. You don't give your size in your post or location in your profile.  Kayak's are weight sensitive. You can get into trouble with one fairly easily.

     How much "stuff" are you planning on fishing with. Rod's, reels electronics etc.  How are the water conditions where your going to be fishing.  Open water, lots of weeds, shore line plant growth, (big lake, small pond, rivers etc.)  How windy is it? So take all of those things into mind when making your decision on what to buy.

     There is a lot to consider before pulling the trigger, IMHO tournament Kayak fishing is a blast and very challenging. I've been doing it for over ten years now. Good luck on finding what your looking for.

Fishingmickey