Anyone Been In One Of The Ascend Brand Kayaks Sold At Basspro

[polock]

I have my eyes on a 10 old town vapor xt kayak, but i am looking at the ascend brand bass pro carries, just wondering if anyone has any experience with them. I am looking for a combination of speed, stability and room for fishing. I was set on old town's vapor but then when I went to bass pro I saw these ascends and decided to find out about them before I bought.

[smallmouthjoe]

That's funny, I have a friend that is looking into getting the fishing model they have at BP and I was going to post the same message you did. Very interested to hear what people have to say on this subject.

[crappiefisherman]

I too am interested.I actually am in the position to sell these units.We dont have any in stock in Branson, but I understand they are less exspensive.Come on down to BPS on the landing and talk to someone in the camping Dept.they can be sold and delivered at the Branson location.

[jdmidwest]

I personally would not buy a kayak less than 12' for fishing or anything else other than paddling a fast stream. The 12' length tracks better, has more room, is stable, and turns ok. I have 2 12' yaks and love them, sold a 13'8" because it was too long on small streams, and have used 10' yaks and do not like them.

[polock]

I went up to basspro last night after I left Cox. I had a really helpful guy help me get all the kayaks down and sit in them. I tried out the old town vapor 10xt and the ascent mid grade one for 399 the vapor is 439.00.

Here is what I found out.

Vapor:

more narrow

Lighter

larger cockpit opening

smaller cockpit tray and it is almost impossible to reach

more comfortable seat

hatch cover but the hatch is a lot smaller

Ascend mid range:

Wider

a bit heavier but I easily threw it up on my shoulder

The cockpit is set up perfect, the tray has more capacity and is easily reached but doesn't feel too tight.

has one paddle holder.

doesn't have hatch cover but this hatch will hold a TON of stuff

you can adjust the seat back while sitting in these with one hand. It is awesome how they have these set up. the seat wasn't the best but not the worst either

The only difference I found in the 399 and 499 angler model were:

angler model has 2 paddle holders,

one more "x" of bungee on the front rigging.

bungees for the rear hatch

2 flush mount rod holders

and a rod holder mounted on the cockpit tray.

I found all this stuff to make the mid grade like the angler model online for about 40 bucks. I think I am going to go with the ascend. My only worry is that it is 31 inches wide, it might be incredibly slow.

[eric1978]

Make sure you don't rule out solo canoes before you buy a kayak. There's not much you can do in most kayaks that you can't do in some canoes...plus your storage is nearly unlimited and they are generally more comfortable.

[polock]

Make sure you don't rule out solo canoes before you buy a kayak. There's not much you can do in most kayaks that you can't do in some canoes...plus your storage is nearly unlimited and they are generally more comfortable.

I like a kayak better really.

Just got off the phone with the plant manager in Lebanon where these kayaks are made. He said he owns a 12vapor, a 10vapor and one of these ascends. He said the ascend will out track the 10 vapor. sounds like they are really going to back their warranty even after the 1 year if something breaks. He pretty much made up my mind. I am gonna get the mid line ascend. probably be next week.

[Bill Anderson]

In my opinion, 10 foot kayaks track little better than an innertube. I would not consider anything less than 12 feet for fishing or general paddling, and a 14 is even better. Running heavy whitewater calls for a different animal, but for general fishing on streams or lakes, I think a 12 footer is a good compromise. It also handles wind a lot better than the 10. If you fish mostly on bigger water, a 16 footer is even faster and tracks like a dream. I used one while living in Florida from time to time, and it handled the wind in Sarasota Bay and Tampa Bay very well. Here in the Ozarks, I would love to have a 12 footer with a rudder or a solo canoe.

[polock]

Man, You got me second guessing now. I am really really liking everything about the bass pro ascends. they feel great in the seat, the have easily reached storage, and they are priced right. I am wanting this yak for finley river, swan creek, and smaller rivers around here. upper jacks fork and current river. I won't be hitting any big water. I would go with the old town vapor 12' but I just don't like the set up of them as well. I like being able to reach the cockpit tray when sitting down but still having room to set a pole beside me. I think I am going to go with the 10' because of ease of use and being in smaller creeks and such maybe tracking won't be a big issue.

[RSBreth]

If you're really concerned about storage access, and access to multiple rods, you still ought to check out the solo canoe thing. I'm biased, but the bias comes from experience in 'Yaks versus solo's.