How many kayak anglers?

[DBrooke]

I know out of the thousands of yak anglers in the US there have got to be more than just me here? I'm in North Central IL and I have a kayak problem.
Started in May of 2012 when I bought my first yak and started customizing it day 1. She was only a 10'er but I didn't want to spend alot starting out and not knowing if I'd even like it.

Well I fished my first online tournament out of her and ended up winning as well as catching my PB kayak bass of 21"


At this point I was hooked, literally. I upgraded to a used Malibu Stealth 14 within 2 months.

Fishing out of her, I qualified for the 2018 Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship. 750 anglers competing for a 1st place of $100K on Kentucky Lake!

For the record, I bombed at it lol
Over the winter of 2017-2018 I decided I would upgrade one more time. So I sold my original kayak for what I paid (talk about holding value) and bought a NuCanoe Pursuit

Seeing as I had to drive to Tennessee for the big show, I also built this custom trailer to haul 2 yaks at a time.

It served well for the trip too (did I mention I bombed at KY?)

This season I've cashed checks but never the one I needed. Well last month I competed in 2 online events for the best 5 bass in a time period Kayak Bass League midwest bass battle was 2 weeks long and Kayak Bass Fishing IL challenge was 1 month long. The bass gods smiled upon me and even though I lost some quality fish, I ended up winning both events and again securing my ticket to the 2019 KBF National Championship!


Long story short, this is what I have been up to the last 2 years other than work 

[the_huber_show]

That's awesome!  I have been eyeballing a kayak for sometime now....

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the update Dave and most of it I know already since I follow your adventures on Facebook. May the fish Gods be good to you on your next trip down to 2019 KBF National Championship.

[DBrooke]

Yeah it's gonna be interesting for sure........
"Eligible water will include the Red River within a 25 mile radius of Tournament HQ and these five lakes: Caddo, Wallace, Cypress Black Bayou, Cross, and Bistineau."

[Lipripper]

Yeah it's gonna be interesting for sure........
"Eligible water will include the Red River within a 25 mile radius of Tournament HQ and these five lakes: Caddo, Wallace, Cypress Black Bayou, Cross, and Bistineau."

You should be able to get some help on some of them lakes cause Mike and the other LA members fish some of them lakes a lot.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

That's awesome!  I have been eyeballing a kayak for sometime now....

Get one!
I'd rather have a canoe, mostly because I want a little freeboard between me and the water. Too many damn gators and snakes round here to be sitting right on top of the water for my taste, not to mention the best places for small craft in my area are exactly where the biggest and ugliest of each hang out.

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[BrandonK]

Nice rig!

I'm a kayak basser. Former Chicago suburbian, now down in NC near Raleigh. I've gone through several kayaks but my current , and favorite thus far, is the now discontinued, kayak canoe hybrid, Commander 120 from Wilderness Systems (insert outdated Chad Hoover plug here).

Caught a few 23"+ this year in it, including my PB 24" fish at 8lb 10oz



There was a time not too long ago that I wanted a boat. I gotta say, for fishing purposes, I prefer the stealth of a kayak hands down. I still want a boat though lol. But not for fishing

[DBrooke]

Brandon you were a lucky one to get out of here! I tied my PB of 21 again this year and still hunting for 1 bigger every chance I get. You do any onlines?

[BrandonK]

Brandon you were a lucky one to get out of here! I tied my PB of 21 again this year and still hunting for 1 bigger every chance I get. You do any onlines?

Yes I was. Opportunity knocked a few years ago and it was see ya later Cook County. Only online I've done is for this forum. Work travel usually keeps me from being a consistent participant

[YoTone]

Might as well make this my first post on this forum.
Native Slayer Propel 10 fishing the philly region. Got her at the middle of 2017 and have been  in love with it since. I got it for two reasons, one was having the propel pedal unit  and the other reason  is that this kayak is very light for a what it is.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Haha, that's a cool pic man!

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[DBrooke]

Might as well make this my first post on this forum.
Native Slayer Propel 10 fishing the philly region. Got her at the middle of 2017 and have been  in love with it since. I got it for two reasons, one was having the propel pedal unit  and the other reason  is that this kayak is very light for a what it is.

First, Welcome to UB!
Second, Who was the brave soul you were casting at

[Smallie_Stalker]

Might as well make this my first post on this forum.
Native Slayer Propel 10 fishing the philly region. Got her at the middle of 2017 and have been  in love with it since. I got it for two reasons, one was having the propel pedal unit  and the other reason  is that this kayak is very light for a what it is.

Welcome to the Ultimate Bass family! Pleasure to have you with us. Pull up a chair, make yourself right at home and jump in wherever you feel comfortable.  


We love pictures around here so thanks for sharing yours. Please feel free to post some pics of your catches anytime in our Catch of the Day board.



Would like to win some free gear from some of the great companies that sponsor our site? Be sure and put your name in for the New Member's Contest and the Weekly Contests .


Looking forward to seeing you around the boards and to learning from what you share with us.


In the meantime, if you need any help with anything at all please don't hesitate to contact me or any other staff member.


Once again, Welcome!


><> Smallie_Stalker  <><



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[TheLastRodBender]

Heck of an evolution there bud!!!

Happy to see more and more kayak anglers getting on here.  It's a seriously awesome way to chase those little green fish we all obsess over. 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Heck of an evolution there bud!!!

Happy to see more and more kayak anglers getting on here.  It's a seriously awesome way to chase those little green fish we all obsess over.

I'm working on talking my sister into fishing from hers. She's not really into fishing, but got a pretty nice Abu Revo combo last year just in case she decides to give it a shot. Doesn't even have any line on it yet!

Her kayak should be delivered by the end of the week.

She's been doing research on mods already. I think I'm bout to get a kayak fishing partner.

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[TheLastRodBender]

I'm working on talking my sister into fishing from hers. She's not really into fishing, but got a pretty nice Abu Revo combo last year just in case she decides to give it a shot. Doesn't even have any line on it yet!

Her kayak should be delivered by the end of the week.

She's been doing research on mods already. I think I'm bout to get a kayak fishing partner.

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thats awesome!!!  a good fishin partner is hard to find sometimes.  This 'hobby' we have has a funny way of making us hungry for more... always.  The more you dip your toes, the more you wanna jump right in. 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

My wife is usually my fishing partner, but lately she's been stretched a bit thin. Her general manager and warehouse manager have quit, so she's doing their jobs plus her own.
By the time she comes home, she's wiped out. Seeing as I haven't found another job yet, I'm trying to be a good househusband and make sure she comes home to a clean and quiet house.

The youngest boy likes to go fishing with me sometimes, but he's more into exploring than fishing. He'll grab his .22 pistol and his hatchet and just go see what he can see, thinks he's Davy Crockett or something, even had a coon skin cap for a while. So even when he goes with me I still end up talking to the breeze.

If I had the extra money and a way to haul it, I'd get him a kayak too. Lots of places around here you can ONLY find from the water.

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[Lipripper]

My wife is usually my fishing partner, but lately she's been stretched a bit thin. Her general manager and warehouse manager have quit, so she's doing their jobs plus her own.
By the time she comes home, she's wiped out. Seeing as I haven't found another job yet, I'm trying to be a good househusband and make sure she comes home to a clean and quiet house.

The youngest boy likes to go fishing with me sometimes, but he's more into exploring than fishing. He'll grab his .22 pistol and his hatchet and just go see what he can see, thinks he's Davy Crockett or something, even had a coon skin cap for a while. So even when he goes with me I still end up talking to the breeze.

If I had the extra money and a way to haul it, I'd get him a kayak too. Lots of places around here you can ONLY find from the water.

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That's a good thing at least he's doing something other than playing video games or on his phone all the time like some young folks are these days.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

That's a good thing at least he's doing something other than playing video games or on his phone all the time like some young folks are these days.

Exactly. Now, those are his favorite two things to do, but as long as he meets my standards on grades, chores, behavior, and spending at least SOME time outdoors, I let him enjoy those privileges to his heart's content.


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[Stren_g]

Wow I'm late to this thread  count me in the yak club! I got my 3 waters big fish 120 earlier this year, and it has be a game changer! No tournaments yet, but maybe some day.

[CybrSlydr]

I want to get a kayak but they are so expensive!!!

Then I'd have to find a place to store it and someway to haul it...   Even more expensive!

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[SteelHorseCowboy]

I want to get a kayak but they are so expensive!!!

Then I'd have to find a place to store it and someway to haul it...   Even more expensive!

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Hauling is easy.

Believe me man, money and a tow vehicle have been my biggest obstacles to getting off the bank and on the water. This is the cheapest and easiest way to do it. Mine retails for about $450 new, the foam blocks and straps to throw it on the car roof were about $25-$30 (too damn much in my opinion), my paddle was around $40.

As for storage, that can be a challenge. Mine's leaning against the back wall of the house at the moment, but as the weather gets colder it will eventually be secured in the barn.

There's gonna be a lot of fishing stuff going on sale soon for Black Friday. Start pinching your pennies now and maybe you'll be able to get your hands on one.

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[BrandonK]

Hauling is easy.

Believe me man, money and a tow vehicle have been my biggest obstacles to getting off the bank and on the water. This is the cheapest and easiest way to do it. Mine retails for about $450 new, the foam blocks and straps to throw it on the car roof were about $25-$30 (too damn much in my opinion), my paddle was around $40.

As for storage, that can be a challenge. Mine's leaning against the back wall of the house at the moment, but as the weather gets colder it will eventually be secured in the barn.

There's gonna be a lot of fishing stuff going on sale soon for Black Friday. Start pinching your pennies now and maybe you'll be able to get your hands on one.

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Good call on the Black Friday sales. If you have a Bass Pro or Cabela's near, they have their own line of kayaks, brand named Ascend. They are actually a pretty solid kayak and great for the price. Best part is due to the hull design they're very stable. If I didn't already have my WS Commander setup to my liking, I'd buy one for sure. May still buy the wife one

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Good call on the Black Friday sales. If you have a Bass Pro or Cabela's near, they have their own line of kayaks, brand named Ascend. They are actually a pretty solid kayak and great for the price. Best part is due to the hull design they're very stable. If I didn't already have my WS Commander setup to my liking, I'd buy one for sure. May still buy the wife one

The Ascend 12t is one I checked out too. The day I decided to bite the bullet and get a kayak, I was fishing at a nearby lake and my neighbor showed up with his which he'd just bought the night before. He offered to let me paddle around and I'm actually the first one to take it on the water.
It is pretty stable, but I'm leery of standing up in a yak. I'm a little top heavy and have had a few blows to the head affecting my balance. But his son, probably about 6' and 220# was standing and fishing from it about 10 minutes later.
It seemed a bit odd to handle, but I believe that's because it's pretty wide and flat. Also felt like it had a VERY sturdy build.

I also really like the Field & Stream Shadow Cast 12. That looks like a very nice ride, but it's pretty pricey and I believe close to 80#.

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[BrandonK]

If and when I buy an Ascend, it'll be the H12. I'm partial to the kayak/canoe hybrids. Easier to stand in because your feet are lower in the water column, plus you can brace your lower legs against the side of the kayak and it makes you feel more stable as well. And they are lighter than sit on top kayaks. But if you flip it, it's game over