Kayak Recommendation 2025
KentuckyDave reply :
I am about to purchase my first kayak and am needing some help deciding between these 2....
1. Field and Stream Shadow Caster
2. Pelican Catch 120
What would you all go with?????
DogBone_384 reply :
Did you sit in them, even if on the floor at the store? Go with the one you feel most comfortable in. You're gonna be in it for hours at a time.
I have a kayak dealer near me that encourages test rides. I bought my Lure 11.5 because of how comfortable it is.
PECo reply :
Between those two, I'd definitely go with the Pelican Catch 120. It weighs 69 pounds versus 95. Also, the reviews that I've read show that the Field & Stream Shadow Caster has had quality issues.
But, like DogBone_384 said, you should paddle before you buy.
Angry John reply :
looked briefly at the price of the two your going after and would say to check out the classic nucanoe. Its what i roll in and its reconfigurable for a lot of situations including two or three passengers. If you do plan on taking another i would go with a 12. I stand and frog fish in mine and its oooooo so stable. They travel around and have shows where you can try all the different models. I would also recommend you test drive before paying.
dwh4784 reply :
To me those are both in a weird spot. Cabelas lists a SOT Ocean brand "Caper" for $749, I think that would be much better quality than either of those brands. Perception Pescador also comes to mind in that price range. I'm sure there's more, I didn't shop SOT's too much.
the reel ess reply :
I can't help with those models. But I can tell you not to make your decision all about the money unless you'll only use it very occasionally. I spent $550 on a decent model (Pescador 14') about 6 years ago and it has served well. My next one will be stable enough to stand and must have a good stadium style seat. Those are the only tings I'm lacking, but I'm getting too old to have my butt asleep and feet going numb for 3+ hours.
Big-Bass reply :
I just got an Old Town Predator MX for $799 (was $1,299 and was on closeout) at Sierra Trading Post. They have some seriously good deals on kayaks at a much better cost. You might want to check them out.
Darren. reply :
Have owned a Pelican, not the Catch, but a 10' model.
Solid boat, if a little on the tippy side. Catch probably
a good choice.
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 3/26/2017 at 4:18 AM, KentuckyDave said:I am about to purchase my first kayak and am needing some help deciding between these 2....
1. Field and Stream Shadow Caster
2. Pelican Catch 120
What would you all go with?????
I only have experience with the Catch 120 so I can't give you an accurate comparison. I can tell you that I really like my kayak though. For the price I think it's really hard to beat it. I bought mine on sale last year for $599.
PECo reply :
I was at my local Dick's Sporting Goods, yesterday, and saw this Perception Hook Angler 10.5 for only $499.99:
It's compact for storage and transport, weighs only 51 pounds, and comes equipped with an anchor trolley (anchor included) and a Scotty rod holder. It looks like a really sweet boat for small water.
Big-Bass reply :
They are nice boats...just be sure the seat is comfortable!
Hawkeye21 reply :
On 3/29/2017 at 10:06 AM, PECo said:I was at my local Dick's Sporting Goods, yesterday, and saw this Perception Hook Angler 10.5 for only $499.99:
It's compact for storage and transport, weighs only 51 pounds, and comes equipped with an anchor trolley (anchor included) and a Scotty rod holder. It looks like a really sweet boat for small water.
It will certainly get you started out on the water. Not sure on how comfortable it is or how much room you have but it looks good for the price. I wouldn't be surprised after a year or two if you're ready for an upgrade though.
Fishingmickey reply :
Hello Kentucky Dave,
A lot of good advice above. I'd like to add my bit to it. I don't recommend going with the cheaper kayaks. Not sure what size guy you are (it makes a really big difference). Smaller narrow kayaks are much more prone to capsizing. If your a big guy in a small boat and you get your center of gravity off of the center line much at all. Like reaching out to net a fish, grabbing a limb, dealing with a power boat wake or waves and chop. The kayak will flip and your swimming. All of your stuff goes either floating away or sinks to the bottom. If the water is cold and your alone it can be life threatening quickly. It happens really quick like slipping on a bar of soap quick.
Second thing is the seat. If it doesn't have good back support and isn't very well made or cheaply made. it will suck. like the other posters have said. Your butt will go numb and back will be aching inside of a hour or two.
I love to kayak fish and love to spend time on the water with friends. I hate reading about how some have died. I feel a lot of that is caused by the smaller inexpensive kayaks and new to kayaking fisherman not having a experienced kayak fisherman to guide them past those pitfalls.
That said, I hope you find a kayak that works for you and you get bit by the kayak fishing bug.
Fishingmickey.
Subaqua Adinterim reply :
No experience with the 2 that you initially mentioned. Comfort is important to me as well as stability. I'm considering a more open design, something like a Nucanoe Frontier 12. The storage areas behind the seat on many kayaks such as the one pictured above are a little too much for me. I like a little area behind the seat to hold something as long and as wide as a crate, any more than that is excess. I would rather have room to have my rods next to me.
I presently have a hybrid, sit inside canoe (Hornbeck) that is 12' long and weighs 18#s. Not the most comfortable, however, wide open and easily transported. The idea of a sit on top, stable kayak, such as what you mentioned in your original post should work well for you.
Best of luck in your research and selection.
Big-Bass reply :
I got an Old Town Predator MX on Sierra Trading Post for $799 about a month ago. It was a 2016 in Urban Camo. It's a great boat. And I have an LL Bean Manatee DLX Angler (Perception Prodigy) 120 and both are great kayaks. I agree with not getting a cheaper kayak and if you are tall or heavy, get a 12' kayak if you can manage it! Best wishes on the water!
bholtzinger14 reply :
Check out the Vibes too. I really like mine for the price. The raised seat means everything to me.
1idrod reply :
I'm new here but have some experience in a short time with kayaks. I agree with bholtzinger14. Check the Vibes out. I have a Hobie Outback, Jackson Cuda 12 and two Stealth Anglers made by Lifetime from Cabela's. I would put the Vibe Sea Ghost up against my Cuda as far as what you get for your money. My buddy just bought one and I'm jealous compared to my Cuda.
Also, maybe it's just me but a sit-in are just asking for trouble. If you get into water that's over your head it just scares me. When they flip they're going down. You can turn over most SOT kayaks and they will still float as long as the hatches seal and if they do leak it's gonna take time. The other is going to the bottom.
dwh4784 reply :
I think you'd have to be crazy, drunk, way too big or any combination of the three to tip over my sit inside Old Town Vapor 10. It's wide and stable, we're not talking white water kayaks here. Even then, it has plenty of foam inside for flotation I wouldn't expect it to sink. I get the draw of SOT's, but only at the price point that gets you a raised seat. Up until that point I would stick with a quality sit inside over the comparable SOT offerings.
kschultz76 reply :
On 4/1/2017 at 11:35 AM, 1idrod said:I'm new here but have some experience in a short time with kayaks. I agree with bholtzinger14. Check the Vibes out. I have a Hobie Outback, Jackson Cuda 12 and two Stealth Anglers made by Lifetime from Cabela's. I would put the Vibe Sea Ghost up against my Cuda as far as what you get for your money. My buddy just bought one and I'm jealous compared to my Cuda.
Also, maybe it's just me but a sit-in are just asking for trouble. If you get into water that's over your head it just scares me. When they flip they're going down. You can turn over most SOT kayaks and they will still float as long as the hatches seal and if they do leak it's gonna take time. The other is going to the bottom.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree, your statements about sinks are incorrect. Maybe not all but most sinks will float when swamped and most have sealed bulkheads with dry storage that help in this department. Most sinks can be righted in the water even when swamped and with proper technique re-entered and pumped out with a hand pump, or paddled to water shallow enough that you can stand to tip them up to empty them.
As some one with lots of experience many types of kayaks I can tell you that frankly no one belongs on the water in any type of kayak unless they are prepared to handle a roll over and recovery. SOTs are harder to re enter then you might think in water over your head in soaking wet clothes. Everyone on the water in kayak should wear a PFD at all time in any water no exceptions. Anyone paddling a touring or white after boat with a tight cockpit should practice wet exits. Anyone paddling alone should practice wet exits, reentrys, and self rescue techniques whether you're in a sink or a sot.
I know much of this from experience. I have practiced these things in various kayaks, and have had at least two situations in my life where having practiced these things got me and others back home safe after accidental roll overs in kayaks and canoes.
All of that said purpose built fishing sot and sink kayaks are typically so wide with so much primary stability rolling them is highly unlikely in reality. You'd have to trying very hard to put most of them over all the way. But proper safety and caution is the first rule in all boating especially kayaks and canoes.
kschultz76 reply :
On 3/30/2017 at 7:36 AM, Big-Bass said:I got an Old Town Predator MX on Sierra Trading Post for $799 about a month ago. It was a 2016 in Urban Camo. It's a great boat. And I have an LL Bean Manatee DLX Angler (Perception Prodigy) 120 and both are great kayaks. I agree with not getting a cheaper kayak and if you are tall or heavy, get a 12' kayak if you can manage it! Best wishes on the water!
The two kayaks you're considering will certainly get you on the water. If they're all you can find in your budget choose the one that you find most comfortable and has the best storage setup.
I agree with with so many others, get out to a place you can demo and sit in as many boats as you can. They all have their own character, and fit everyone differently. You won't know if it's really for you till you get it in the water.
The deal quoted above above on the Predator is an excellent value. I'd really suggest you look around to see if you can find a close out, blemish, demo, or used deal on a quality boat from Old Town, Wilderness Systems, Native, or Jackson. I'm partial to Jackson and Wilderness Systems myself. The used kayak market is a great way to make your budget go farther and as long as some one put some effort into taking care of a used boat there's not much you can do to them to trash them.
Some great boats oats to look at used are the Jackson Coosa HD, Jackson Cuda, Jackson Kilroy, Old Town Predators, and Wilderness Systems ATAKs.
Good luck and and let us know what you end up with.
1idrod reply :
On 4/1/2017 at 12:23 PM, dwh4784 said:I think you'd have to be crazy, drunk, way too big or any combination of the three to tip over my sit inside Old Town Vapor 10. It's wide and stable, we're not talking white water kayaks here. Even then, it has plenty of foam inside for flotation I wouldn't expect it to sink. I get the draw of SOT's, but only at the price point that gets you a raised seat. Up until that point I would stick with a quality sit inside over the comparable SOT offerings.
On 4/3/2017 at 7:00 AM, kschultz76 said:
I'm sorry but I have to disagree, your statements about sinks are incorrect. Maybe not all but most sinks will float when swamped and most have sealed bulkheads with dry storage that help in this department. Most sinks can be righted in the water even when swamped and with proper technique re-entered and pumped out with a hand pump, or paddled to water shallow enough that you can stand to tip them up to empty them.
As some one with lots of experience many types of kayaks I can tell you that frankly no one belongs on the water in any type of kayak unless they are prepared to handle a roll over and recovery. SOTs are harder to re enter then you might think in water over your head in soaking wet clothes. Everyone on the water in kayak should wear a PFD at all time in any water no exceptions. Anyone paddling a touring or white after boat with a tight cockpit should practice wet exits. Anyone paddling alone should practice wet exits, reentrys, and self rescue techniques whether you're in a sink or a sot.
I know much of this from experience. I have practiced these things in various kayaks, and have had at least two situations in my life where having practiced these things got me and others back home safe after accidental roll overs in kayaks and canoes.
All of that said purpose built fishing sot and sink kayaks are typically so wide with so much primary stability rolling them is highly unlikely in reality. You'd have to trying very hard to put most of them over all the way. But proper safety and caution is the first rule in all boating especially kayaks and canoes.
Well I take back my statement then as I was wrong. It was from my friends experience with his sit inside that I drew my conclusion. His went under but luckily we were in only 5' of water. Maybe it's the cheap one he had but it did go under so I just assumed they all were the same. Yes preparation is a must and PFD's are always worn, not just stuffed under the bungees I see a lot of folks doing.
kschultz76 reply :
On 4/3/2017 at 9:32 AM, 1idrod said:
Well I take back my statement then as I was wrong. It was from my friends experience with his sit inside that I drew my conclusion. His went under but luckily we were in only 5' of water. Maybe it's the cheap one he had but it did go under so I just assumed they all were the same. Yes preparation is a must and PFD's are always worn, not just stuffed under the bungees I see a lot of folks doing.
Sorry for coming off harsh. If it had zero flotation it's possible that it swamped that bad. I'm used to boats with sealed bulks. If you don't have sealed bulks in boat you should add float bags to take up air space and add flotation.
It's fair to have your concern if you had that kind of bad experience. Not all sinks are going to have that issue. Stick to boats with 1-2 good sized sealed bulkheads. My Tsunami floats even with a cockpit full of water. Stick with what's comfortable for you personally and stick to larger boats, wider and longer, with at least 1 sealed bulk head.
Here's a couple good videos. Just don't let go of your paddle like in the second one.
1idrod reply :
kschultz76
No problem. I shouldn't have used my limited experience with sit inside to make such a judgment either.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 3/26/2017 at 4:31 AM, DogBone_384 said:Did you sit in them, even if on the floor at the store? Go with the one you feel most comfortable in. You're gonna be in it for hours at a time.
I have a kayak dealer near me that encourages test rides. I bought my Lure 11.5 because of how comfortable it is.
Same. Shame we could never know it handles like a drunk bathtub without putting it on the water tho ?
DogBone_384 reply :
On 4/4/2017 at 9:25 PM, Master Bait'r said:
Same. Shame we could never know it handles like a drunk bathtub without putting it on the water tho ?
Never been in a drunk bathtub before so I wouldn't know. I like the way my Lure handles and how rock stable it is while standing.
I also have a '14 Ascend 128T. I love the storage space and the swivel seat. I call it my aircraft carrier.
Master Bait'r reply :
On 4/5/2017 at 12:41 AM, DogBone_384 said:
Never been in a drunk bathtub before so I wouldn't know. I like the way my Lure handles and how rock stable it is while standing.
I also have a '14 Ascend 128T. I love the storage space and the swivel seat. I call it my aircraft carrier.
Hull is plenty stable but it tracks horribly. It pivots when a gnat farts. If I wasn't planning to one day get the pedal/motor drive system I would have already sold it for a wildy.
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