Help On Fishing Kayaks

[UnCivE]

DO NOT buy any sit on top kayak that does not have scupper (drainage) holes in the seat area. You will end up sitting in water with a wet, chaffed behind all day and you will hate the experience.

Frankly you get what you pay for. Sure we could all plop down in an old inner tube and it would get the job done, for cheap, but when you start looking at room (a cooler is a must, warm drinks suck, and it gives you ice in case you need to remove a hook, easier to do when the body part is numb), room for rods, SEATING!!! probably the most important feature. etc etc. and uncomfortable, too small, unstable, butt wet, cheapo kayak is going to deliver the kind of experience you paid for.

There are some really nice kayaks in the $500-600 range that would work much better, and of course there are always deals. Check with local sporting goods shops (not walmarx as they don't know a darn thing about what they sell) and see if they have any demo or closeout models. Also check the web. I know a couple of places that regularly carry high end kayaks in their closeout/outlet sections. ACK currently has at least 5 that are under $500 and around 10 under $800, with some really good deals too.

To make this point more clear. . . don't buy the sit on top Bass Pro kayak. It's got flawed drainage design. I really really like the sit in kayak (the one I've got), but the sit on top is probably not worth the dough (in my opinion).

[straw hat]

WOW I am impressed with the info. Thanks so much. I will print this off and get it to him. I know he will appreiate it veryt much. Thanks very much.

[BassMaster#1]

I have the bass pro ascend sit fs12t (sit on top) and it works out great for me. I've taken it out on the meramec for a 7mile float and put it in a few lakes and have yet to get the wet but syndrome. I will actully be taken it out this weekend to try out my new fishfinder install. I have the newest one which has a better seat and extra storage by the cup holder. I've also added a 10" storage copartment in back and a 4"inch dry storage on the other side of the cup holder. I've also added a fishfinder and moved the rod holder closer to me. I think the rod holder is to far in front of you for the average person. The kayak has been great and there is all sorts of mods on you tube that can be done to these kayaks. For people that do have the wet butt syndrome there are pre drilled holes on this kayak where holes were suppose to go, but for somereason they stopped half way and never drilled them all the way through. Some people have just finished drilling the holes all the way through, which in case solves the water holding in the kayak but I have yet to have water sit in the kayak. The boat is on the heavy side at 67lbs but again it's still a nice kayak for the price. Good luck with your purchase any thing that can get you on the water is a plus in my book.

[Woodland Artisan]

I have the 2012 version of the Bass Pro Ascend FS12T, too, BassMaster#1, and agree with the wet butt ... it's not a problem if you're not crashing into 2' swells out at sea or just flailing about with your paddles. In fact, I have yet to take out the scupper plugs. It just doesn't get that wet. If anything, I wish the forward scuppers were a bit farther forward as what little water does accumulate there seems to hold closer to the feet.

With this kayak, I've made 3 different fishing trips in the past month and caught 3 different fish that were the largest of those types I've ever caught ... catfish, muskie and now largemouth bass. They weren't monsters, by any means, but certainly personal bests. There are much better kayaks, I'm sure, but the price was right and it got me out there a day after I got it. So far, I'm very happy.