First Time Kayak Ideas 2024

atown angler reply :

So after really working on the wife to let me finally get a kayak, I'm not sure which route to go. I'm more or less looking for opinions on which route is recommended. I have 3 options I'm considering thus far. My budget is around $1000. I was either thinking of getting an Ascend fs12 and building it up right away, a Vibe sea ghost 130 which comes as a package with included paddle, rudder, deluxe seat, and not being able to add electronics or such for awhile, or really go for broke and get a Feelfree lure 11.5 and not really be able to upgrade at all. Just looking for experience out there on which route any of you guys have gone. I'll be fishing mostly small lakes and occasionally rivers. Thanks in advance.

atown angler reply :

Well after looking into the Jackson Cuda 12, I'm really liking that as well, especially since it's made in USA and is 15% off right now.

Fun4Me reply :

You'll be buying a Hobie in no time LOL!!

In all seriousness, I'm in the same position as you, with roughly the same budget. I'm leaning more towards the cheaper boat and better accessories, but I haven't bought anything yet.

Looking forward to hearing others opinions.

Jim Mac reply :

Are you able to try out any of those kayaks? That's the best thing to do.

OperationEagle reply :

On 8/29/2015 at 8:53 PM, atown angler said:
Well after looking into the Jackson Cuda 12, I'm really liking that as well, especially since it's made in USA and is 15% off right now.

That's how much I paid for my JC12 in its inaugural year 2012. I think that is a great price for a kayak that has a well laid out deck, well balanced hull design, and ready to fish from day 1. In fact I bet you wont use some of the accessories it comes with.

Only permanent mod I did was to install silent traction on the floor area. Absolutely nothing else needed...for the yak that is.

Don't forget the car carrier, a good lifejacket, a decent paddle, and anchor.

I have not paddled the lure or ghost.

Looking at the ghost, the first concern I have is the low seat. There is a huge advantage to being able to sit up high. Allows you to get a better angle to sight fish, and helps with getting to and from the standing position. This was a feature that interested me a great deal with the JC12...to be able to get up and sit down w control and as little noise as possible. Since then, a number of manufacturers incorporated a similar the "lawnchair" design.

BTW, on a related note, I placed a very high priority to standing stability and/or the ability to stand and fish. With the high sitting seat, I really don't feel the need to stand up to fish. I still however place a premium on stability as this contributes to confidence and therefore safety.

I've had a positive experience w the Cuda but am not necessarily pushing it as it's all personal preference. Sit in as many as you can. Think of it as picking your fishing partner ....so take your time, do your research, and do it right the first time. A lot of experienced yakkers on here who are very helpful....so ask away!

HeavyDluxe reply :

Paddle before you buy, if at all possible. You'd be surprised how different the boats can feel and just how much (or little) you'll like about one as compared to the other.

In the absence of that, I would personally recommend going for the Lure or Jackson for a couple reasons:

1) You don't want to buy a ton of outfitting gear at first, anyway, IMHO. You're much better served to fish the boat 'as is' for a little while to see what you think will work for you and then start assembling the accessories your want.

2) The better brand boat will hold its value a bit better in the long run than the knock-offs. There's nothing really wrong with the other boats, for the most part. But, if there's a chance you're going to look to upgrade later, you'll be happier with the JK, or Wilderness, or Moken or whatever label on the boat.

3) Buy once, cry once. Get the boat you think you'll be happy with so that you can, to the degree it's ever possible, be able to kill off any buyer's remorse.

I bought a 'blemished' Ride 115 and I've never looked back.

flyfisher reply :

Define upgrade? when i bought my first kayak i did some stuff to it that was waste of time and money. My last kayak (number 5 in my life) i didn't do anything to it until i had about 100+ hours in the boat.

Demo boats and get what you like and if it is out of your price range, save up and get it in your price range because you will get it eventually anyways.

Fun4Me reply :

Is your $1000 budget just for the boat, or do you need a pfd, paddle, rigging, supplies, etc.

atown angler reply :

Thanks for the replies...originally my budget was $1000 for everything. I do have a paddle to get started with, my nissan Xterra has a roof rack and crossbars so I was I just gonna strap it to them so really I only would need a Pfd and anchor. I was toying with the idea of an Ascend and having the extra money towards fish finder, better paddle, new rod holders, crate storage and accessories. But I'm totally on page with what Heavy is saying, just knowing in the past how I am with hobby stuff, like fishing started with a cheap-o baitcast combo from DSG then within a few months I'm building a custom rod to match my Lew's pro tourney reel, it might be in my best interest to just get started with a more well rounded model right off the bat. As far as testing goes the closet dealer of either I found is close to 2 hours away. I'll keep looking, next is to try and get a deal maybe on a end of model year sale.

Fun4Me reply :

Only you know how the conversation went in regards to getting your wife on board with the kayak. If your budget is flexible, then you have some options as to getting a boat that's going to eat up your entire original budget. If it's not, then in my opinion, you should try to get the best all around set up you can. Just like boats, all paddles aren't the same, and that goes for pfd's as well, especially when it comes to kayaks and comfort.

Or, to put it into rod and reel terms, if my budget for a set up was $200 and I bought a custom $225 rod, only to put a $10 plastic reel on it, I probably could have found a better way to spend the money to get a better all around set up.

The flip side to that is, buying used opens up a door to having better stuff for cheaper prices as well.

DogBone_384 reply :

I own an Ascend 128T and a FeelFree Lure 11.5. Both have great seats and are very stable. I'd give the stability nod to the Lure because it sits a little lower in the water. The 128T's seat swivels, which is an advantage when anchored. The Lure is lighter than the 128T. I can hoist it onto my truck's ladder racks easily, even at the end of a day fishing. The 128T isn't too heavy to lift, but lacks handles in the middle. I just give it a bear hug and lever it up via the back rack.

After owning both since April '14, I'm selling my 128T and buying a 2nd Lure. My wife likes that one better - she can nap sitting up while floating around the ponds we venture.

No matter what, try to test paddle as many as you can to get a feel for them. Even if they're from other members who might be willing to meet you and fish.

Turtle135 reply :

On 8/30/2015 at 8:02 PM, atown angler said:
But I'm totally on page with what Heavy is saying, just knowing in the past how I am with hobby stuff, like fishing started with a cheap-o baitcast combo from DSG then within a few months I'm building a custom rod to match my Lew's pro tourney reel, it might be in my best interest to just get started with a more well rounded model right off the bat.

I think you are on the right track. I have been chasing largemouth from a kayak since 1991. In the beginning there were not a whole lot of options for a fishing kayak but now all the major kayak manufacturers have multiple lines designed for the kayak angler. My primary fishing kayak at this time is a Wilderness Systems Ride 115. It is well suited for the reservoirs and tidal rivers I fish. It is stable, tracks well and the ability to stand and stretch makes for a comfortable platform during a 12 hour stint on the water. A longer kayak would be faster but the ease of transport in the bed of my small pickup truck gets me on the water 3-4 times a week. That is how it works, the easier it is to get on and off the water the more frequently you will use it.

If you are on facebook look around for kayak fishing groups or kayak bass tournaments in your area. In my area we have a fishing group that holds monthly outings and we have a kayak bass fishing tournament series. Either type of event would give you an opportunity to see what others are paddling and likely get a quick test paddle in.

HeavyDluxe reply :

On 8/30/2015 at 8:02 PM, atown angler said:
As far as testing goes the closet dealer of either I found is close to 2 hours away. I'll keep looking, next is to try and get a deal maybe on a end of model year sale.

That is a haul... I'll just add two other little nuggets for thought:

1. You're spending a thousand bucks... If that dealer has inventory, the gas money and time invested to drive, test-paddle, and return home with your new kayak might be money well-spent.

2. While my own experience confirmed that each model of kayak feels different enough to warrant testing whenever it's possible, I think that there's enough similarity that purchasing a well-respected brand/model without demo would get you 75% of the way there.

For example, I found the Coosa to be flippable (which I didn't like). But, if I'm honest, it was WAY more stable than the other kayak I had at the time. Had I bought the Coosa without a test paddle, I think I would've been able to adapt to it quite well and never had a second thought.

And, even if I eventually did change my mind, I'd be more apt to get my $$ back out of a used name-brand boat...

So, YMMV.... But keep us posted on what you do! Good luck.

boostr reply :

I drove over an hour to test some yaks, and it was worth it. Came home with a Lure 11.5, Chinook pfd, and Adventure Technologies Angler paddle the same day. This happened in May of this year and paid around 1300 bucks for everything. The Lure was $1045, but may get cheaper during the fall and winter, plus they are coming out with a new version of the Lure if they haven't already. I'm pretty sure the old version will have a great price drop if you wait. Just my 2 cents.

Dogmatic reply :

I read some great advice,either here or on one of the FB kayak pages, "Demo as much as you can, and buy your second yak, first." Which means, you might be better off going with the more expensive, but better suited yak first rather than buying the bargain and upgrading in a year. Not having fished from a yak though makes it tough to know what you really want. Myself as an example, the only thing I really know that my yak must have, is stability, I must be able to fish standing, and not occasionally, but most of the time. That leaves a lot of yaks to look at.

atown angler reply :

Thanks for all the advice. Still trying to come up with my best option, anyone know a Jackson dealer with free shipping?

Bass newb reply :

On 8/30/2015 at 8:02 PM, atown angler said:
Thanks for the replies...originally my budget was $1000 for everything. I do have a paddle to get started with, my nissan Xterra has a roof rack and crossbars so I was I just gonna strap it to them so really I only would need a Pfd and anchor. I was toying with the idea of an Ascend and having the extra money towards fish finder, better paddle, new rod holders, crate storage and accessories. But I'm totally on page with what Heavy is saying, just knowing in the past how I am with hobby stuff, like fishing started with a cheap-o baitcast combo from DSG then within a few months I'm building a custom rod to match my Lew's pro tourney reel, it might be in my best interest to just get started with a more well rounded model right off the bat. As far as testing goes the closet dealer of either I found is close to 2 hours away. I'll keep looking, next is to try and get a deal maybe on a end of model year sale.

$200 for a paddle and $550 for rooftop rack gear is what I paid. Doesn't leave much of that $1000 budget for kayak. Roof rack gear will run a pretty penny. - nvrmd. See that you have the rood rack covered.

boostr reply :

You can get a good pfd for $135 to $150, and some foam rack blocks to place on your cross bars with cam straps for like 40 bucks.

atown angler reply :

So after a lot of thought I think it's in my best interest to just get the better yak to begin with and just worry about adding accessories over time.

Now the next question is '15 Jackson cuda 12 or '16 Feelfree lure 11.5 which comes now with new electronics pod. Both seats get great reviews, I like the wheel in the keel feature of the lure but hard to not love that Jackson is American made....any tidbits to from anyone who has any experience with either would be greatly appreciated.

microotter reply :

I have a Jackson and it is really high quality and am very happy with it. Some people in my kayak fishing club have complained and said the plastic on their feel free kayaks felt less durable and almost flimsy. I never paddled one though. I would like to they looks cool.

I may have missed it but a lot depends on the water you will be fishing. The cuda and the lure are pretty different hull designs. The cuda is pretty fast, but also versatile. The lure has a really wide deck and is stable if you plan on standing a lot. I thought that I would stand all the time before I owned a kayak, but I rarely do now that I actually have one. The speed comes in handy when I fish lakes and big rivers.

I will echo what others have said, try to paddle them both before buying.

Also i know in years past previous years Jacksons all go on sale at the end of the year.

HeavyDluxe reply :

I haven't paddled both, but I would say that appearances alone seem to confirm what microotter said... The Cuda looks faster, more nimble/maneuverable, and a better tracker. The Lure looks like the more stable platform.

Short of paddling the two, I'd watch a lot of videos and see how the boats are equipped. Which one's accessories, mounts, organizational style, etc seems like it would fit the way you fish the best?

For example, I really always liked the way the Jackson boats handle rod storage...

OperationEagle reply :

Hey atown...call some online shops. Since you are looking for a pfd, etc see what total package price they can give you.

I used Wildcat Creek Outfitters in Indianapolis (my home town before moving to MN). Looks like they have the 15% off as well.

You might have to act a bit faster to ensure you get the color you want. They gave me great advice. I bought my pfd, paddle, cart, and JKCuda12 from them. I was satisfied with everything they suggested for me.

I am so glad you are choosing to spend a bit more to get what you want. Eliminates the "starter set up" syndrome which either ends of with extra work, costing more in the long run, or not being very satisfying as you would always be eyeing the kayak you should have saved up to buy the first time.

Tight Lines.

Basspro3106 reply :

Check out Feel free lure kayaks. I'm selling my ride for one of these bad boys.

atown angler reply :

Been looking at both every chance I've got at work today....what a tough decision

boostr reply :

I don't know where these people say that the plastic is flimsy on the Lures, I'm 200lbs and the there is no flex on the floor whatsoever when I stand. Second when I tie the yak down on my roof it doesnt even flex when I pull the straps tight. The wheel is awesome I drag my Lure to the water fully loaded 4-5 rods, seat, full crate, paddle, and SOP thru grass dirt and gravel.

boostr reply :

If you gonna do a lot of standing when fishing like I do, the Lure is the way to go, if you are gonna do more sitting when fishing, or need to get to a spot fast (which in a yak I think is redundant) get the Jackson. Yes the Lure is wide, and can be pig to paddle long distance against a breeze but it's good exercise. On calm days it paddles nicely.

atown angler reply :

As of now the lure is in the lead, but I just happen to see a video for the 2016 cuda....looks pretty sick.

Montanaro reply :

I just got a lure 11.5 a couple weekends ago.

Love it.

Lots of storage and useful compartments and the seat is amazing.

Easy to stand in and has a cushioned pad on the standing platform which makes you a quieter angler.

The lure does NOT flex. Yeah it can be a pig to paddle but that's what you sacrifice for a wide hull. It's actually fairly fast for its size.

Jim Mac reply :

I looked into the Lure 11.5 but the closest dealer was way too far away. It looks like a great kayak though.

Montanaro reply :

My dealer was an hour and a half away. Was worth it

Subaqua Adinterim reply :

Manufacturers are improving their offerings every year, even Pelican is coming out with something similar to the Lure called the Catch. Dicks sporting goods also carries the Field & Stream Shadow Caster which is similar to the Lure for $800

OperationEagle reply :

On 9/4/2015 at 5:38 AM, boostr said:
If you gonna do a lot of standing when fishing like I do, the Lure is the way to go, if you are gonna do more sitting when fishing, or need to get to a spot fast (which in a yak I think is redundant) get the Jackson. Yes the Lure is wide, and can be pig to paddle long distance against a breeze but it's good exercise. On calm days it paddles nicely.

Hey boostr...not sure why this would be redundant. I THINK what you meant was need to get to a spot fast (which in a yak you think is contrary with the purpose of a yak?) but I am not sure.

Anyways...

General rule of thumb is to spend least amount of time getting to your destination so you can spend more time fishing (unless you are floating down a river, or sightseeing along the way). I have some "go to" lakes with favorite spots that I just want to travel to quickly.

Second rule of thumb is to get to my spots with the least amount of energy as possible (conserve energy). The easier it is to move around in your boat the less energy expended and the more distance you can go/longer you can stay out fishing without feeling tired.

This is why at least for me, I felt getting a boat that was a bit faster and easier to paddle would pay dividends each time I was out with it.

I also know this is why I look for the lightest cargo to accompany me. I question every piece of equipment I take...all in the pursuit of the conservation of energy. I might be different than most...IDK.

I stand almost every time I am on my yak fishing. But I spend the vast majority...like 90% of my time, seated. Therefore, if I had to choose which attribute takes priority, standing or speed/maneuverability, I would give the edge to speed. Of course I would want BOTH...I think the Cuda gives me a decent balance between the two.

This is also why you will hear (and I think its fair) that there are boats more stable than the Cuda...but I always know that something got traded off. Sorry for the ramble. Hope this helps the OP.

boostr reply :

On 9/6/2015 at 12:02 PM, OperationEagle said:

Hey boostr...not sure why this would be redundant. I THINK what you meant was need to get to a spot fast (which in a yak you think is contrary with the purpose of a yak?) but I am not sure.

Anyways...

General rule of thumb is to spend least amount of time getting to your destination so you can spend more time fishing (unless you are floating down a river, or sightseeing along the way). I have some "go to" lakes with favorite spots that I just want to travel to quickly.

Second rule of thumb is to get to my spots with the least amount of energy as possible (conserve energy). The easier it is to move around in your boat the less energy expended and the more distance you can go/longer you can stay out fishing without feeling tired.

This is why at least for me, I felt getting a boat that was a bit faster and easier to paddle would pay dividends each time I was out with it.

I also know this is why I look for the lightest cargo to accompany me. I question every piece of equipment I take...all in the pursuit of the conservation of energy. I might be different than most...IDK.

I stand almost every time I am on my yak fishing. But I spend the vast majority...like 90% of my time, seated. Therefore, if I had to choose which attribute takes priority, standing or speed/maneuverability, I would give the edge to speed. Of course I would want BOTH...I think the Cuda gives me a decent balance between the two.

This is also why you will hear (and I think its fair) that there are boats more stable than the Cuda...but I always know that something got traded off. Sorry for the ramble. Hope this helps the OP.

You right wrong big word... , but what you said . It's all a matter of what you prefer. I'm not worried about getting to a spot fast, but it is good if your on a new body of water especially a large one. The Lure is actually fast enough on a calm day, it just sucks when you have to paddle back to the launch with the wind blowing in your face... That's the only time the wind likes to pick up for some reason.

the reel ess reply :

Two things I don't have with my $500 Perception Pescador 12.0 that I wish I had are stadium seat with an up and a down position and the stability to be able to fish standing. That said, Perception is coming out with a Pescador for 2016 with both those features. MSRP is $800, so it'll probably run a tad over $600.

buzzed bait reply :

On 9/10/2015 at 4:59 AM, the reel ess said:
Two things I don't have with my $500 Perception Pescador 12.0 that I wish I had are stadium seat with an up and a down position and the stability to be able to fish standing. That said, Perception is coming out with a Pescador for 2016 with both those features. MSRP is $800, so it'll probably run a tad over $600.

just saw something about that new one and pelican putting out a model with a stadium seat too.... competition is heating up in the kayak world and that's good news for the consumer!!

atown angler reply :

Order has been placed......

boostr reply :

On what?

atown angler reply :

The "allure" of the lure won me over. Got an 11.5 in lime camo in route.

Jim Mac reply :

On 9/18/2015 at 4:30 AM, atown angler said:
The "allure" of the lure won me over. Got an 11.5 in lime camo in route.

Nice. Were you able to try it out?

atown angler reply :

Ran into a guy at a local pond that had a 13.5 so not the exact same model but close enough, only had a few minutes in it but I was sold pretty quick.

boostr reply :

On 9/18/2015 at 4:30 AM, atown angler said:
The "allure" of the lure won me over. Got an 11.5 in lime camo in route.

Nice, you'll really like it.

197

First Time Kayak Ideas 2024

related Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Bass Boats Canoes Kayaks topic