The Best & Worst Fishing Kayaks of 2026 (Some Brands Won't Like This) transcript

Hey you fish freaks, welcome to episode number 144 of the KFO Show, Kayak Fishing Obsessed. And if there's one thing that I've learned after fishing, reviewing, and spending time in dozens of different kayaks over the years is this, not all kayaks are created equal and not all companies are created equal either. Some kayaks are built by anglers who truly understand what happens on the water and others feel like they were designed in a boardroom by people who never skipped a jig under a dock.

Some companies are constantly pushing innovation, listening to feedback, and making products better and others are content with keep selling the same thing year after year while making decisions in a vacuum. And tonight, we're talking about all of it. Joining me is none other than Andy Dill, the Bearded Paddler, as we break down the best and worst fishing kayaks of 2026. We're going to talk about the boats that impressed us, the boats that disappointed us, and everything in between.

So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's talk kayaks because some brands may not like this conversation, but anglers are probably going to love it. So, before we hop in, Wyatt, we all love discussing the latest features, right? The newest releases and which kayaks are best for our style of fishing, but none of that matters if you don't make it home safely. That's why Chad Hoover and I created KFAST, Kayak Fishing Advanced Safety Training.

So, whether you're brand new to kayaking or kayak fishing or you've been doing it for years, if you want to become a more safer, more confident angler, head over check out the KFAST Basic Certification because the best kayak in the world is the one that gets you home safely at the end of the day. Head over to kfast.co and earn your certification today. Wyatt, let's freaking go, brother. How you doing? >> What's going on, man?

Doing all right. So, you got the you got the the captain there, the guide the guide level coming out soon, right? >> The guide level, we got advanced coming out soon. >> Man, advanced coming out. Okay. >> Yeah, we'll see we'll see what happens there. So, how you been? >> Been pretty pretty good. I'd say miss miss miss you last miss you last week. You're out there fishing fishing without me. >> I know.

It sucks. I don't know where my guest went. He wasn't in the green room. He is no longer there. He is gone. So, I guess we can talk a little bit. So, you still have a job? >> One one of the kayak companies kicked in the door and and cut his internet. >> [laughter] >> Got a couple already giving us warnings on Facebook. So, we'll talk about that in just a little bit. My goodness. So, Wyatt what everyone wants to know and yes everybody I know I have a glitch.

I don't know I I'm using a new computer there's a glitch if you're watching this live. So, we'll get through it and I'll figure it out hopefully for the next time. But, Wyatt favorite segment of the show do you still have a job my friend? >> Still still have a job. Still >> been have you been given a talking to recently? >> Uh not not yet. Not yet. I I I I have been sat down in the office because for some reason my store is number one in the company for selling coochies.

Don't know who's buying them all. >> [laughter] >> Could not tell you. >> Are you kidding me? >> Dead dead serious, yeah. >> You're number one in the country. >> No, number one in the company for selling for selling the hag's somehow. I don't know who's buying them, but >> Oh man, that's >> I don't know who has a box like 50 of them sitting right in there >> [laughter] >> but >> Oh, so are they hard to keep I mean if you guys didn't see last week's show we had or two weeks ago we had um Austin Hoover on and if you're really interested in like figuring out this bait that's kind of taken everybody by storm, um definitely watch that because if you want to learn about the rigging and the rod and the reel and the line and what to do and what not to do.

Austin's an official >> problems. >> Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of rigging problems even from that two weeks ago. So, when I need to it did it fix it you said it fixed all of your rigging problems? That's awesome. >> I I I lose no more fish now. It's great. >> That's awesome. And and but it's evolving so now people are doing like frog hooks and it's even evolving past that. It's getting wild. It's getting wild and crazy.

So, Oh, yeah. Heck yeah. >> Frog frog frog hooking that one. >> Frog hookin' that one. My gosh. I'm here for I'm I'll be throwing it tomorrow. I'm heading up to Lake Erie. We're going to see I got I got a little small one. Um the Spinker is what I think I got on Amazon, one of the cheap ones. I'm going to be drop shotting that one. And then the ones that you put the juice on. Um um so I got the that hooked up as well.

So it's going to be a good time. We'll see if we'll see what I can pick up on Lake Erie. Maybe a walleye. We'll see what happens. All right. Well, it looks like our guest is back into the green room. So let's go on and welcome him to the show. Andy, how's it doing, brother? You got me there? >> What is going on? >> Yeah. >> I had uh got something on my keyboard. I was wiping it off and I just shut down the whole operation there.

So >> There we go. I love it. This is hot out of the gate. We already got 101 live right now. So this is going to be a good show tonight. I'm excited. And so let's just go and hop in because I have I have 50 questions. Like literal 50 50 questions to walk through. And it was interesting cuz when I posted this earlier today I had someone like, "How you supposed to pick the best fishing kayaks?" Well, we like you got lake and you got river.

I was like, "We're going to talk about them contextually." So >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> And so this is the third year, Andy, we've done this. We do the best and worst fishing kayaks 2024, 2025, and now 2026. We've had companies get upset with us, write us afterwards about their kayak to do an actual review. After I did the review, I never heard from them. I don't think they liked my review. Um we have we have companies already on Facebook giving a giving some some pleas about what we should and should not do on tonight's show.

So we're going to be talking about that as well. This is going to be a good one. >> Oh man, it's going to be a barn burner. And >> I know. >> Yeah, we're we're not sponsored. So there's no telling. >> All right. So first >> There's no telling. >> First let's get something out there, right? Cuz people are Let's talk We talked about this a little bit in the green room. I think it's important.

People are like, "Oh, Andy's biased. Darren's biased cuz he loves Bonafide. Wyatt's biased cuz he likes Old Town." And just I to get out there right out of the gate. Yes. We're biased. We have been in a lot of kayaks. Andy's worked on a lot of kayaks. We've seen a lot of crap kayaks. We've seen a lot of great kayaks. And because of that experience, you're absolutely right. I'm biased out my rear. 100%. >> But it's we know what we're looking for. >> paid bias.

But it is bias. Yeah, personal bias. >> There's no one who doesn't have a bias. So, just going into that, just know it. We try to be fair in the same breath. But in the same breath, you know, we we like what we like and we try to do breakdown for the most part. A lot of creators like to breakdown what it is they actually like about these kayaks. So, let's go and hop right into it. Andy, in your opinion, what's what's the single most important thing a fishing kayak must do well? >> Uh two things, but really it just it's got to be riggable.

So, and you hear people talk about rigging a kayak up. So, you get a kayak, you get it out of the box, you you bring it home. What you're going to do with it is going to determine how much you like it. Nobody keeps it completely stock. It's like buying a motorcycle. You know, what is the first thing you start thinking about is okay, all this stuff I can do to it. >> Uh-huh. >> So, you know, it it is it thoughtfully laid out?

And and that's another thing. So, a lot of these kayaks are coming from the factories ready to go. You know, where if you want to put a live scope on it, you want to put bow mount or stern mount or you know, you want to do all this stuff to it. It's coming a lot easier. So, eventually, and it we're in 2026 now. So, why we're not doing this across the board where it just amazes me that you still have to drill some holes in kayaks today. >> That is crazy. >> Yeah, but to me it it you know, it's got to be laid out thoughtfully.

It's got to be made and designed by people who actually fish out of these kayaks. Not an engineer in the boardroom drawing something up for you know, a a room full of people who never will float on the water. Uh and then two, it's got to be sturdy heavy duty. We're talking about fishing kayak. So you know, you never want to buy a kayak that is that you're not going to be able to take any gear on because that's what we do.

You know, I'm not talking about just big guys. I'm talking about taking gear, batteries, motors, tackle. You know, we we all have a tendency to to pack away a week's worth of tackle when we still throw the two same two or three lures around. You know, it >> [laughter] >> So a kayak that's going to do that, you want room. You want heavy duty. You don't want a weak fragile kayak that is not going to be able to be customized in any way you can cuz that that future proves it a little bit.

It makes you where you're not having to buy these for every two or three years, you know. Granted me and you probably mirror that quite a bit. You know, I'm seems like I'm buying something new every year, but it's still it's something, you know, it's something I look for is like, you know, okay, what can I do with this? I'm not looking to just float around. I'm looking to do some crazy stuff with it and and enjoy my time out on the water like I want to. >> So here's a question for you and you too Wyatt because I'm doing a video.

I just got that editing it today. So it's kind of done, right? So what you say is not going to influence at all, but I am curious on your thoughts because I'm doing like a under $1,200 what I would be buy as a beginner today. And I had a hard time recommending kayaks that fell below a certain price point. I noticed that there was a specific price point in all my research and all the experience I've had with these kayaks.

And I was like, I don't even want to recommend a kayak under this many hundreds of dollars. And then when it started going north of that, I was like, okay, then you start getting, you know, more comfortable seats and you start getting better materials and you start getting actual kayak fishing accessories. And when you get below that, you start getting molded uncomfortable seats and stability is bad and you get, you know, all these accessories are just kind of pieces of crap and it's not you're just probably not going to be happy with it.

What's What What is that number for you? What's your over under? And let me know in the comments if you're listening in live, what do you think that it if you have bought a new kayak and you're looking at it and you're like, everything under this seemed to like suck. It once I hit that dollar amount moving forward like, oh, then they actually started becoming something that I I want to put my butt in and fish out of for hours a day.

I mean, if I I'm going to write mine down right now. >> Like if I was going to motorize it and rig it, if I was going to like put some kind of motor on it and rig it, probably it probably be like 1,700. >> Oh, yeah. Wow. Yeah, why is this contextualized, right? Why it's a tournament angler, he's like, okay. That makes sense if you want to put a motor on it. How about under $1,200? So, between zero and $1,200, where would you land? >> Zero to 1,200, it'd probably be the $1,000.

I mean, it'd be one of the the Old Towns that, you know, Top Water 120. 1,600, yeah. >> No, I'm not 1,600. That's a 600. >> Oh, 600. >> kayaks. Once you started hitting the $600 range, you can actually get a beefy kayak. >> Oh, as far as far as like what's a beginner what's a beginner >> a beginner type kayak. And I even hate >> I I really I mean, I sell them at work. The the Lifetime Tetons. >> Yes. >> Those things are rockstars for like 250 bucks, 300 bucks.

They have the They have the sit-off plastic. They actually have the right They have the right the you know, raised seat on them. The tracks kind of suck, but I mean, then again, it's 300 bucks. Like if you just want to throw it in your truck bed and bounce it around and go throw it in the pond down the road, you can do that. >> Any thoughts there, Bearded? We're going to move on. >> Uh, the only thing about that is what you're what what he's saying is 100% correct.

It is a perfect kayak to do that. The people that buy those kayaks, though, typically don't want to do just that. And that's where things get a a tricky, you know, that's where you see on the owner's groups, you know, where someone's like, "Hey, I just got this Pelican kayak at the grocery store and I want to put a motor on it." And or I want to put outriggers on it to make it more comfortable or I want to take the seat off and put a frame seat on it that's going to sit really high.

And people are buying these kayaks with that in mind and they don't understand that it wasn't designed to do that. And you're going to really compromise the functionality of that kayak. Like you said, if somebody's looking to put, you know, like you know, a a large pond or a small pond or just, you know, just kind of paddle around and or close to the shore, so it's phenomenal. You can just throw in the back of the truck.

There's something to be said for lighter throw-and-go kayaks. Uh I'm not saying that everybody needs to go out and buy a $1,500 kayak. Just the problem is is when you're talking about like the Lifetimes and the Pelicans and the Ascends and all that is people are trying to make them, more times than not, something they're not. And you know, they're uh these aren't offshore rigs that you're going to be able to just rig to the max and they're not going to be as stable as, you know, a better quality kayak.

They're not going to perform as well in the water and, you know, they there is some good marketing behind some of it. Not necessarily Lifetimes, but uh when I talk about the worst kayaks of all, I'm I'm rarely talking about those because they fill up they fill a hole. They they fill a void. They're for what they're designed to do, they're perfect, you know. $300, you're talking about somebody that just Maybe they don't have a Yeah, maybe they don't have a $1,000 to spend.

There's no shame in that whatsoever, but if somebody is putting that in their in their house saying, "Okay, this is going to be my tournament fishing rig. I'm going to find a way to put a little motor on it and I'm going to do all this stuff." Like, "Ew." You're going to spend more money in the long run doing that because you're going to have to buy another kayak or you're going to have to get some rescue gear because you're going to get out there in the middle of the water and take in water and be get stranded.

Like it it's That's my only thing with those kayaks is as long as people are educated on what they do, yeah, it's fine. It's great. Um you know, they're great buddy kayaks. They're small water kayaks. You know, there's no reason to >> dragging through the wood kayaks. That's what you use >> Absolutely. >> I've gotten rid of mine. I might only use it a two or three times a year, but >> Yeah, 100%. >> drag, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Then you get to the point where you have like six or seven kayaks and it starts to be like, okay, You got one for every every single >> We we call it scenario out there. >> And then with the excuse we give ourselves is they're buddy kayaks. >> 100%. >> All these people I know that don't have kayaks that >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> All right, I want 30-second answers for the next four questions.

You guys ready for this? >> Good luck with that. >> What is the most overrated feature in fishing kayaks today? >> Oh, I had it before. Oh, rod rod holders. Built-in rod holders. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you took mine. >> [laughter] >> Had had had to get it first. >> Flush mount rod holders I think are the just the most over utilized, under used thing out there. They did All they do is they just collect water.

Uh a lot of times when people get water in their in their kayak, a lot of times that's that's where it comes from. Uh the you know, as kayaks bend and warp a little bit when heat, that's usually the culprit. >> Like it. All right, I like it. You guys kept it under 30 seconds. What's the most underrated feature? >> Underrated. >> Underrated feature to me, speed and performance. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, everyone's like stability, stability, stability.

And the opposite of stability is kind of speed and performance. You don't want something necessary A lot of people think they want stability until they realize, okay, I have stability now and I don't want to paddle it. >> Exactly. >> have to paddle stability. >> And what do they do? They they end up selling it on Marketplace for pennies on the dollar. Yeah. Yeah. And >> [laughter] >> but even even that, if you don't have a good performance, you you put a motor on it, your motor is fighting the same battle you were fighting with a paddle.

It's just you're not getting the speed that everyone else is getting on a better designed kayak. And you know, yeah, I can add 15 or 1600 dollars in a motor on this kayak and I'm only getting the same speed that some people are getting in a good pedal drive kayak. >> Yeah, 100%. >> Yeah. I like it. >> Moving it on to the next one. And what I'm trying to do is contextualize a lot of our thought process before we go into these specific kayaks and we're going to talk about, you know, the best for the river, the best for the lake, the best for tandem, the best you know, we're going to we're going to and the worst.

We will get there. But I just want to go really quick. Um, what makes a kayak feel cheap and what makes a kayak feel premium, right? You got people who probably listen in and like, "Hey, I have one kayak and my my only experience has really been this one kayak or no kayak at all. What should I be looking for?" Cuz you sell these, right, Andy? >> Oh, yeah. >> I'm sorry. And Wyatt, you sell them, too, technically.

So. >> Yeah. Yeah. My my my my long-term durability is fingernail. If I can stick a fingernail and it sticks into the plastic. >> [laughter] >> Is that a good Is that a good test, Andy? >> Put a Put a fingernail in that plastic [laughter] and stick? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I'm good. >> That was Man, uh so mine was cheap plastic and the touch test is what I had written down. So, um and not in so much like, you know, he's perfectly said it, the fingernail test.

Uh cheap kayaks, cheap plastics, low density plastics are going to have that waxy kind of uh really soft texture where you feel like you could scratch it with your fingernail or touch it just just pinch it and it flexes. And so, what are you going to do when you put uh a 180 200 250 pound man on it and or or woman? And yeah, you're going to be you're going to be in danger. And you know, but you're also going to wonder sun does some crazy stuff to plastics.

It does even crazier stuff to low quality plastics. >> Fast. >> Yeah. You you just you're you're going to be you're just going to be in trouble in a lot quicker this you know a lot shorter time span there. >> Yeah. So my my thing with the when I when I when I was selling like Pelicans versus Perception I would with the especially the sit-ins I would grab grab the inside inside of like the the the cockpit and you could just roll.

This is one I would grab inside of the cockpit and roll it out. >> [laughter] >> That's the kayak version of kicking the tires. It's just just grabbing the side and just you know doing the you know do the flex test on it. >> I like it. Um now before we just I I own a Sun Dolphin Aruba 10. I'm in love with it. So if you guys start making fun of Sun Dolphins we have a problem. All right. I need to create a Facebook group called Sun Dolphin Army.

I have a feeling that would probably >> It's a good it's a good summertime kayak for how much it gets you in the water. Yeah. Cool cool you all. >> piece of crap. I use it twice a year and for this reason only. >> That's what I'm going to say you could probably sell some decals and then it would it like the kayak itself it would falter over time. >> Yeah. Yeah. You know what I want to do? Actually so this is interesting.

So there is a down in Columbus there's a fishing expo in like December and Recken Creek Outfitters gives away trophies for like most rigged you know the least rigged stuff like that. I want to enter in my Sun Dolphin Aruba 10 cuz it has one DIY rod holder on it and so I'm going for the trophy this year folks. >> Take take take your Aruba 10 and like dual graphic and all. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. There we go. >> Just blue blue two iPads dude or something.

[laughter] >> Rig it to the gills. >> 100%. >> 100%. Here's a question I have for you. I mean the opposite of terrible plastic is obviously what makes a kayak feel premium. So what can be 30 seconds on that? >> A premium seat a premium feeling seat. So it's you know granted you can see some okay looking seats on really bad kayaks, but if somebody and I'm talking about just a casual first-time buyer with first time they look at a kayak, obviously the plastic is going to be better quality a good quality kayak, but your seat.

So, you can tell who really put the effort into seating and comfort and adjustability. Typically, you're not going to see that on a Sun Dolphin or you know some of your lower end kayaks. You start to really get into like you said that $700 to $800 range and up, you'll start to see what you get with that extra money. So, the seating quality is usually the first thing that happens where you start seeing a frame seat on there, adjustable and removable frame seat that you can throw up on the bank and use it as a camp chair like that that that stuff is what really starts swinging the gate you know when you can get into a little bit more of a premium kayak. >> Yeah.

And then we start moving up to the like the $1,000 ranges. You start getting like deck pads. You start realizing oh man, this starts getting So, it's really interesting that that $600 to $1,000 range. >> You can move the needle quite a bit on quality in kayak that you get if if you're able to get to that $1,000 range cuz when you get that $1,000 range, you start getting to the you start getting to the RS 117 from Bonafide.

You start getting into the what's that one from from Perception? >> Oh, the Pescador Pro? >> No, maybe it's not Perception. Crap. It's the Outlaw. Um maybe it's not Perception. It's What's the who makes the Outlaw? >> Oh, the Perception. >> It is Perception. Yeah, it's the Outlaw. You start getting into that type of kayak. Yeah. So, it gets start get really interesting really fast. All right. Here's a question I have for you cuz the number one question if you're going to go to answer the public.com, which is just an you know it coalesces everything that everyone asks the internet and you type in kayak fishing.

The number one question might be is kayak fishing dangerous, but followed by that is going to be anything around stability. >> Yeah. >> Andy, is there such a thing as too much stability, in your opinion? >> A thousand percent. So, uh you know, and that's that's the number one question I get asked, I get emailed about, I get everything. And I understand it. I do. But, when you're talking about if somebody's asking me, "Okay, the new canoe the new canoe YuMax and the Bonafide XTR, which one's more stable?" At that point, you're you're so far on the stability scale, it doesn't matter.

You know, the most stable >> XTR versus the Max? >> Yeah, the Max or any big kayak. >> Yeah, I mean, the answer's XTR, but yeah, sure. >> Well, you know, it's it's But, when you get I always tell them like the most stable fishing platform in the entire market, in the entire world, is the bank. So, we get on kayaks to get off the bank. But, that's the most stable fishing platform. So, if you really want stability, you're going to be fishing from a pier or the bank.

I think you're in a kayak >> in fear. I mean, I think it's the first and the second question. Number one and number two are like they're connected, right? Is kayak fishing dangerous? I'm afraid I'm going to fall out and I mean, I I fish in gator-infested waters, right? I do this, I do I'm not a great swimmer. I'm kind of overweight, so I'm not sure if I can get back in my >> It's okay. Or I have a disability or something.

Like, I I definitely understand it. So, but you know, when you get so far on that, then what happens is they've never been in a kayak before. So, as soon as you get into a kayak, you start to get used to it. You start to feel like, "Okay, there's no way I can ever even flip this thing over, but I'm so tired of paddling around or I'm just not getting the speed that my friends are getting in their other kayaks." And then they want to upgrade.

And they've already spent a thousand dollars or more on this kayak. And then they want to get into maybe an eighteen hundred dollar kayak. Well, they're selling their thousand dollar kayak for six or seven hundred dollars. And you know, it just it gets really expensive in the long run. So, performance should matter. But, you know, I don't care if you're motorizing it, if you have a pedal drive, or if you're just paddling it, because regardless, you want it to move through the water really well and that's where that's the number one thing that people don't really pay attention to is if you're just [clears throat] wanting stability, you're going to be working out or your motor is going to be working harder than it needs to or it just it it's going to feel like a slug in the water regardless of how you're moving it through there, but you can't have too much stability, but stability is important.

So, I'm not saying it's not. It just you want to have some performance with it as well. >> And it's also contextualized to the person, right? >> Yes. Personal Personal stability is definitely different. So, you know, you can't >> who's like, "Hey, I I I I stand a lot, right? And so, I need I need a kayak or I am afraid of whatever it is." So, I hear what you're saying. Okay, I want 30-second answers to these ones cuz we're going to we're going to move fast here.

Um what's the biggest red flag when you first step in a kayak? >> If that floor flexes >> Yeah. >> I I I've I've been in some three and four thousand dollar kayaks. I step in it and that floor flexes and I'm like, "Mm." Confidence immediately. >> Same here. Uh flex that I the first time I ever saw the uh the Tactical Pro uh from Wilderness Systems, that was the first thing I looked at was like, "Oh my god, the flex on this is unreal." Flex is going to cause you a lot of problems down the road.

It's going to It's going to uh the the scupper tubes are going to push through the deck, you know, that that deck's going to get softer in heat. It's It's going to do a lot of things. Flex is a thing. Now, I didn't You don't have to feel like concrete on it, but flex can too much flex can be a huge huge issue and a big red flag. >> Okay. I like it. And last question before we head into like the best fishing kayak sold in in 2026, um what's worse?

Poor stability, poor tracking, poor storage, or poor seat in your opinion? >> Um I'm kind of a stickler for tracking, honestly. >> Yeah? But you fish fast, that makes sense. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> How about you, Andy? >> I fish and I stand up, so if I'm getting the motor going and it's like it's sitting there trying to like swing around, I can't. Drives me insane. >> Makes sense. >> I think they're all important.

I think poor and when we're talking about stability, we're talking about poor stability for a fishing kayak. I think that's a that's just a no-go. Because when you're talking about motorizing, if it's if it's unstable, your motor and your battery are going in the water. Poor storage, like everything else can kind of be fixed. So, you can throw a kayak cushion on a on a subpar seat. You you know, poor tracking, if you're paddling, better a really good paddle technique can kind of compensate for that a little bit.

Storage, you know, add-ons can be expensive. So, you know, if you're Not everybody needs a $200, you know, Blackpack Pro, even though all roads lead to the Blackpack Pro, I always argue, but yeah, I mean it it Storage can be fixed. Poor tracking can kind of be fixed. I mean, you can throw a rudder on or something, but again, that's added expense to you know, fix a shortcoming. But you know, stability, when you're talking about putting outriggers, homemade stuff just to fix the kayak, that you bought the wrong kayak. >> Yeah, it's time to sell that one on Facebook Marketplace and start and look for another one.

All right, so now we're going to hop into kind of the meat of the show. And when we talk about the best kayaks of 2026, really what I'm contextualizing here is kayaks that are still being sold in 2026, right? So, you can't talk about obviously kayaks that aren't being made anymore, but they could have been made a couple years ago, but still being sold today. People can still get their hands on them. You can still buy them on the secondary market.

That is what that the kind of not just the six that came out this past year. All right, so let's hop in and Wyatt and Andy and anybody else in the comment section, I want to see you guys blow this up as well. What in your opinion is the and of course, it's all going to be contextualized, right? So, I'm going to best paddle kayak, and so I want you to of course share why and and how maybe it's just how you fish. That might help someone out there who fishes like you.

Best paddle kayak out there. >> [clears throat] >> Got quiet. >> Yeah. >> Bueller? >> Got real quiet. >> Bueller? >> [laughter] >> I I'll start. So, best paddle fishing kayak, um to me is the the Crescent Shoalie. Um I've been in a lot of them. Uh the Shoalie may not have the stability that a lot of people look for, you know, especially beginners that aren't, you know, that it'll feel a little tippy, but man, you talk about throwing that thing around and really paddling it fast.

Uh again, it's still a heavier kayak at about 85 lb, but the Shoalie is just a good performing paddling kayak. You can still motorize it, of course, but you know, as far as just if you're just wanting to paddle it and you you value paddle performance over everything, the Shoalie is really kind of hard to beat. >> Mine >> What do you think, Ben? >> Mine would have to be secondary market. >> Say what? >> Mine would have to be secondary market. >> Keep talking. >> Pa- paddle-wise, like an Attack 120.

Attack 140. Like it would be it'd be Facebook Marketplace or >> That's a big old girl. >> [laughter] >> Good one, though. It's a good good kayak. >> Yeah. It sat super low to the water. Wind never really affected it. Ton of storage, yeah. Seat was fantastic. >> You got someone over here that's like, "No idea. Paddle is for emergency use. This is a motor user." >> What What is this paddle you speak of? >> I love it.

But you I mean, you don't you don't Do you take your Shoalie out to the lake, or are you just talking in the context of a [clears throat] of of current? >> Just paddle performance. Like if if if I have to I mean, you don't get me wrong. You can take a Shoalie out in the lake, but if I'm just talking about just strictly paddling the kayak. Uh if I've got to go, the New Canoe Flint is a really good one, as well. Uh but, you know, again, these are kind of meant to be river kayaks, too, which where paddle performance really is kind of a premium. >> Yeah.

Yeah, I like it. And I was actually out in a a new canoe kayak. I haven't announced it yet. I got myself hands on another one. I was surprised with how well it paddles. So >> Yeah. >> I mean, straight I mean, it tracks really well, obviously, because of the whole design. It's like, "Hey, this isn't this isn't that bad." All right. But, anyways, got a video coming out. >> new canoe are you in? >> Which new canoe was that one?

I mean, it can only be one of three, right? So, we will see what happens here. It launches Launches on Thursday. I just sold my Max. That went out the That went out the door and did a video on the X-Drive versus the Max. If you haven't seen that yet, head over Windel Fishing and check that out. All right. >> Shameless plug. >> Shameless. I don't mind. I don't mind at all. The beauty of having your own podcast you can do what you want. >> Absolutely.

[laughter] >> Love it. All right. That's best paddle kayak. Uh let's talk about the best motorized kayak in your opinion. So, let your brain chew on that for a second. Let me see what else [clears throat] um while you're doing that I'm going to read the comment section. All right. I paddle the Perception Outlaw and trust me it sure isn't the best paddle kayak. >> [laughter] >> I think you would have lost half the crowd if we would have said that kayak for paddling. >> 100%.

What else we got? Um Someone said I thought my LTE was pretty easy to paddle. There we go. Tamarack Pro for work-related trips. I like it. Um See if there's any else See if there's any comments other comments in here. Someone said LTE again. All right. So, back our question. Best motorized kayak in your opinion. >> So, the best motorized kayak again with stability, with rig-ability, with performance in mind to me is the Bonafide PWR 129. >> Okay. >> That is I think one of the most underrated kayaks because it came out in between it came out kind of there wasn't a big gap between the PWR and the XTR.

The XTR is just the it's the it's that big bass boat energy the you know it's got everything on it you know it's wide it's stable it's you know the stand-up platform you can just rig it out crazy but just as far as out of the box value I think the PWR 129 is still one of the one of the greatest fishing kayaks ever made and I'm in a you can you know I'm in a Nucanoe YuMax that's my primary kayak right now the PWR is still sitting in the garage cuz I can't bring myself to get rid of it it is just it is just that good comes with a foot control rudder it comes with all kinds of rigging options comes with a catch board holder and the hatch the hatch is really well thought out the battery storage is simple but well thought out it's in the middle of the kayak where the battery should be whether you're bow or stern like there's so much going on with that one and designed by the goat Hans with Bonafide and to me if that kayak would have came out last year I think we would have you know after the XTR I think we'd be talking a little bit different about it but I think the XTR kind of shadowed it a little bit kind of you know just took some of the thunder away from it which is fine you know that's what they want to do they want to come out with exciting products every year and they're definitely the best at doing that right now but the PWR to me is just yeah it's it's just it's amazing. >> I know someone mentioned in the comments section but the PWR isn't factory motorized that's all right we'll talk about motors you can put on it some of the factory in fact Wyatt's probably going to talk about one here in a second so Wyatt's what's your pick? >> Mine for the way for the way that I fish the Old Town Autopilot.

Yeah the the the the center the center the center pod mount like I know I know it's slow. It is It is what it is. It's slow. But, having having that that motor so low to the center of the deck means I can stand I can fish over it. I can cast over it. I don't I don't have a trolling motor head there in the in the front of the boat. Plus, it's set set back a little bit. So, it's you know, I can cast over it, which I do a lot of cypress tree fishing, a lot of dock fishing, and stuff like that.

And you know, all that side arm casting lets me get right over it. >> Mhm. I like it. And what motor do you put on yours, Andy? >> So, right now I'm running a NK 300. Um you know, it's it is what it is. Uh it gets me I've gone stern mount. >> [laughter] >> Not the most glowing endorsement I've ever heard. >> I'm not you know, not >> [laughter] >> not a sponsor. Not a sponsor.

Uh I got it really I got it really cheap. I got it really cheap. So, full disclosure. I bought it with my own money, but I bought it at a wholesale cost. So, they they they'd screwed up some they'd screwed [clears throat] up some orders that we'd done. And we got like the gold vendor discount. And I just asked the owners. I'm like, "Hey, I'm just going to order an extra one. I'm just going to buy it off of you." So, I got the thing for like I don't know, 600 something bucks a couple of years ago.

So, I you know, first world problems. I know I know, but you know, if it craps out, I'm okay with that. I'll just I'll toss it or I'll part it out or something. I I don't >> I feel like if you got 2 years out of it, you're you're >> Yeah, and I've gotten I think I'm on year like year or three or four. >> How's it sound? Because I've I've People know my issues. I make videos about it. I'm not a huge fan.

But, I'm always open to hearing other people's experiences. >> I don't have that issue yet. Um but, I'm not I'm not somebody that's using it every couple of days. So, I'll I'll I'll it out on the weekend. I'll do that. I've been on the river so much the last couple years, uh you know, again shooting the series and just, you know, doing doing what I love to do. Uh but, you know, I still go out on the lake. I still like to chase largemouth, but you know, and with a good kayak, especially motorizing, it's one that, you know, I'm not a big one to do both, but, you know, bow mount I did for a few years and I've done stern mount for a few years and there's definitely pros and cons to that.

Um also, those of you watching, if you want to see a video on bow mount versus stern mount, >> Shameless plug. >> go to the Bearded Paddler on YouTube and check out my newest video on the two. >> The new goal is how many times can we plug ourselves throughout the rest of this show, Wyatt? You're next. >> Yep. You were next. You know, I actually put a um Torqeedo Ultralight on the back of my um Umax.

And I was wildly surprised how move how how that thing moved. >> Yeah. >> I was I was impressed. >> fast. >> It is fast for how It's a 13 and 1/2 foot kayak. For how fast that thing moves, >> Yeah. >> I was like, "Wow." I uh I should have mentioned that video now I'm thinking about it. I'm just now thinking about it cuz that by far cuz you would you put the Torqeedo on the back of an XDR, it's like chugga chugga chugga lugga chugga lugga, you know, you might get four.

Um but, I was moving. So, I was wildly impressed. So, that's something you're thinking about doing, um you're going to be happy with your result. All right, so we talked about best motorized kayak and this is kind of it's kind of a different angle, but now let's talk about like a best tournament kayak, right? For Wyatt, I know you obviously you got a wallpaper of checks and trophies behind you. Um I dabble every once in a while, but I am friends with a lot of people who do this like it's their like it's their job.

And so, best tournament kayak, what's your thoughts? Also, those listening in live, go and throw it in there and why. Who wants it? Who wants it? >> Oh, I'm I'm deferring to the the trophies in the middle there. All All there you go. >> Trophy wallpaper. >> Yeah. I mean, mine mine is autopilot. I've been in XDR, I've been in PWR, and things like that. The XDR is pretty pretty fantastic for a tournament like tournament setup rig.

I mean, I I fish I fish with all the guys who have it fully fully like rigged out, you know, all the It's like if you if you were just going to walk into a store and say, "Here's a blank check. Give me a, you know, dual graph, power pole motor, everything kayak." It would autopilot over XDR. >> All right. With me, it's the XDR or the Max with a edge to the XDR. When you're talking about tournament fishing, so I'm in the new canoe right now because my style is a little different.

I don't use depth finders. I There's a lot of stuff I don't use. I like propulsion. I'm I'm all about that. And I like the foot steer system that they have. I think their motor mount foot steer is just phenomenal. Whether you're going bow mount or stern mount. It's it You know, if you're going bow mount, you can have the foot steer single foot steer for a rudder. Or if you're doing stern mount, you can hook it up. They use a metal mandrel, so you don't have any of those cables or those crazy fishing knots that you're tying to that horrible steering triangle that are on the Newports.

But the XDR, when you're talking about like graphs and you're talking about rigability, you can still walk around on it. You have a stand-up deck. If you're, you know, unless you're putting a captain's bridge up there, but there's even a mount on the very tip of that boat if you want to stand on that stand-up deck and you want to have your graph down there. There's so many different things you can do with that. And it just takes it to another level when you're talking about tournament fishing.

Uh yeah, I I think that is I think that's exactly what that kayak was designed to do, and I think that's what it flourishes at is that tournament rig, that, you know, trailer, the pull it up with the truck that's all wrapped, you know, and it's got window fishing on the side or you know, or Chad Hoover fishing, you know, that's exactly what that's exactly what that kayak is meant to do and it and it does it really really well. >> I don't think I have a single sticker on my truck.

It's just old. >> Those are those are rookie numbers. You got to pump that up. >> I know. Zero sticker [laughter] on my truck. I'm kind of through the I'm like if if you're not paying me, your sticker's not going on my truck. >> Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't think I've got any stickers on mine right now. >> Like I I'm not even going to go to the effort. My gosh. Just not not my style. All right.

No Hobie mention. I see a lot of guys running Hobies and in the tournament scene. >> Hobie asked me about like 2019 Hobie for their tournament rig and I'm like you're going to have to manufacture some stuff to get the graphs and everything set up on there. Like Autopilot XTR is going to be pre-set up. Like you're not going to have a problem putting putting your, you know, 15-in Lowrance transducer on there. You're not going to have issues running wiring and everything like that.

Hobie, you're going to have to you're going to have to play with it. >> But you can go to Bass Pro and get all that stuff now, can't you? >> I think so. I think there might be a small resurgence coming. Something that They have some They have some yardage to make up. >> They They sure hope so. >> But I don't know. We'll see what happens. >> I I hope so. I'm rooting for it. I I think that I I've said it several times.

I've been labeled as a Hobie hater. I have a Hobie in the garage, but it you know, I the industry's better with them in it, but man, when you talk about a insurmountable uphill battle, I don't know that Bass Pro truly knows the uphill climb they've got coming or they're just looking at putting a Hobie Drive in an Ascend kayak and call it a good. You just you never know. >> We'll see. [clears throat] I >> That That would be that would be a fun ICAST story right there. >> It's going to be interesting.

I'm privy to information that I can't share, but I know a lot of conversations going on in the background and it's just what I'm All I can say is it's it's going to be interesting what the next year looks like when it comes to comes to Hobie, right? Because >> Yeah, cuz I mean, let's let's face it. When it comes to making quality kayaks, nobody does it better than Bass Pro Shops in Lebanon, Missouri. >> [laughter] >> I'm I'm This is This is my optimistic face. >> Ah, you are a Hobie hater. >> I have some bias.

I'm not going to lie. >> Yeah. Some bias there. >> It's a I I did that We we call them we call them in the biz ticking time bombs. >> Oh. >> My first my my last uh my last task in the kayak store was fixing a 360 drive and replacing the clutch and the belt assembly and all that. I was like >> Sounds like a good time. >> Yeah, I was like I've done this a lot. I I was I was good at it, but the fact that you're good at it and there is a property here which I need to get some pictures of that cuz I know the guy.

There is a graveyard of kayaks. All the decommissioned hulls, he wanted to make like like a some kind of like nativity scene almost, but it was just kayaks everywhere and they're all Pro Anglers. >> Oh [laughter] my god. >> There's >> They're not a good look, Hobie. >> Cuz we we sold a tremendous volume of Pro Anglers and you know, it he has so many he has all the colors. He's got all the all the Hobie, the 12-footers, the 14.

They're all 360s, of course. They're all cracked hulls and you know, the people that say it's not as big of a problem like I beg to differ. But it's just it's just one of those things where you know, it it's a great design or it's it's a great thought. But everyone's got the same I just posted on Facebook a little bit ago was like what's the best kayak ever made in your opinion? And people say well, I want to say Pro Angler, but you know, until you know, I'm just scared of it breaking.

I was like well, then it's not the Pro Angler. >> Yeah, there's no but after the period. >> Yeah, there's you can't do you you That's kind of what I was kind of looking for is like people want to lie of that kayak. People want to love it. The industry wants to love it and then the people hate not people want to be jealous of it. It's just it's just not there anymore. And I to me, I think they just got to scrap the 360 Drive, go back to the drawing board cuz there's other companies right now that seem to be doing it better which is not hard to do right now. >> Crazy Cranker over here in the comment section.

I think Bass Pro is still scratching their head on what they've gotten themselves into. >> Well, they're they got deep pockets and they're not dumb. I like to give them a hard time but yeah, Bass Pro is very good at making money and they will make money on it. It's just it just depends on how they're going to do it. If they're just going to scrap Hobie and just sell a few models, you know, the the passport, the quest, the compass, the Outback.

Cuz I still think the Outback is one of the best pedal kayaks out there. But nobody thinks about the Outback when they think of Hobie. They only think of the Pro Angler. They only think of the the $6,000 time bomb that they sell. So, >> [laughter] >> they they really do make a good kayak. It's just that one kayak has ruined them. You can't you can't have your most expensive kayak in your lineup be your worst kayak. >> All right. >> And that's kind of where they're at. >> I mean, if you tell me how you really feel, Andy.

I love it. >> yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's >> the thing. It's not coming from this like you you've worked on, you've sold a lot of, you've seen the returns, you've seen the lot of them. >> I've owned a Pro Angler, so >> You owned them. So, this isn't coming from just a I want to take a shot at a company I don't have any experience. Actually, quite a bit of experience. >> Even dealing with them, it's just it's it's a it's a trip.

It anybody that's listening that has worked or owns a kayak shop and has dealt with Hobie, uh their reps that would come by every few months, they were policemen. They were you had to you had to display them a certain way, you had to have certain marketing materials on them. You had to have a TV that was playing a Hobie marketing video on it. It was very strict. And then the last couple of years before all this happened, they just didn't care anymore.

You they would go through a new rep like every couple of cycles. >> Oh, really? >> You know, they didn't they were just there and they just like see if you wanted to order anything. I'm like, well, no, we've got two-year-old brand new kayaks still on the floor here and you know, when we have someone with a warranty, we me personally, I'd always shield the customer from this. So, but we would get more questions asked from Hobie as opposed to a bonafide or a new new or even a Jackson kayak.

They say like, "Yeah, just send us some pictures and then give them a new kayak and we'll take care of you on the back end." Like, "Get them out on the water right now." With Hobie, it's like, "Well, how they storing it? You know, what was the What was the humidity? Yeah, what was the What was the the barometric pressure that day? Or you know, what was like What was the What was the UV index like?" You [laughter] know, it's like you can't >> And yeah. >> There's And then we have like or you know, how are they storing it?

How are they you know, are they storing it outside? I'm like, "It's a kayak. Like, it's not in a temperature-controlled room. You know, like you can't You want to take care of your stuff, don't get me wrong, but like you can't They bought it 6 months ago. It shouldn't be There shouldn't be a hole in it right now." >> Well, those questions are literally like questions an insurance company would ask when they don't want to pay out what they are liable for.

Those are exactly How can we place the fault on the user so we don't have to get them another kayak out the door? >> Yep. That's exactly what that is. >> 100% and that was the beginning of the end right there is when we started seeing more and more of that. >> I'm curious, what if you didn't have like your TV playing? What would happen? I know this is years ago. >> Well, they can they can penalize you on that, but >> Penalize you as like I'm not going to stop >> Yeah.

And what was funny was and again, I know we're kind of getting a little long-winded on this one, but the the bunks when you're talking about, you know, people like to store them on bunks, they like to do the 3-in and then Hobie would say you're "Well, you can't store them like that." Even say to the owner's manual, you can't store it. But the the the the racks that they give us that we get from Hobie is metal and the metal is like this much and it goes right down the gunnels where the scupper holes are cuz they're saying if you store them on bunks, it's going to push the scupper tubes up into the deck.

But literally what they make us store them on is metal and it's about maybe an inch in you know an inch across. And it goes right up in there the entire weight. So like, why is that good enough to display them and sell them, but someone can't put them on a bunk that's like this big around? Like, no, that people get really scientific when they're storing their $6,000 kayak. They don't want to damage it in any way. They're They're asking One of the most common questions is how far What What's the space between the bunks?

You know, how can I effectively store this and I'm not damaging my kayak? You know, it's an investment. >> Yeah. >> Hobie says you have to store it upside down on the H-rails. Nobody does that. >> No, no. >> They're heavy as crap. You need like a muscle man to flip that thing over. >> Yeah, and I would tell them like, you're storing it upside down on the H-rails, but that's where your rudder handles are and your 360 handles.

You're You're You're wanting to put it on that, which is plastic? No. >> All right. That was fun. Thank you for taking some time. >> awesome. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> It's going to get better, folks. We're not even at the best of it. Wait till we get to worst. All right, let's kind of move a little bit quicker as we're coming up on 50 minutes here. Best river kayak. Now, I imagine you already said the Shoalie is paddling, so you think it's the same? >> Um Best river kayak, I love the Shoalie.

I love the the RVR from Bonafide for two different reasons, but the U10, so I I know I'm I'm kind of biased on the U10 for rivers, but just that guy who wants the capacity to carry a lot of gear with him. If you're wanting to keep it minimal, Shoalie is phenomenal. If you want to have a little maybe a little both, kind of keep it minimal, but still have, you know, a little bit more gear, the RVR is is That drop-down skeg to me with the RVR is what makes that different.

And you get two different handling kayaks in one. If you want a better tracking on a river, which is fine, you drop that skeg down. If you want to spin it and maneuver it really quickly, bring it up. It's a completely different kayak. And plus the one thing that no one talks about on river kayaking is paddling up current. I'm not talking about rapids. I'm talking about, you know, just a little slow current. You go over a shoal and you want to come, you know, and kind of double back a little bit.

You want to hit those little smallmouth areas. Put that skeg down. >> Yeah. That's what I love about the RVR over the Shovi. And the Shovi you don't have that choice. You just if it happens to be windy that day, you're going >> You're going to spin around. >> super low, you're going to be spinning around. Now you can make that choice with the RVR the drop down skeg or not. It's really just a handle on the side of the kayak.

You flip it up, it recesses back into the back of the boat. You flip it down, it's it's money. And it's a it's curved a little bit more, so you're going to have a little bit more uh I don't know, the performance out of it when it comes to turning. So I'm a big fan there. Wyatt, you've been in a lot of river kayaks. Do you Do you even do a lot of river fishing? >> No. >> I haven't been in a lot of river kayaks actually.

I'm I'm I'm going to go fish the Potomac and I'm probably going to take my my Big Water out there. And I'll I'll roll that around with with the with the pod in in the place of the pedal drive, so >> I'm sensing a theme here. >> [laughter] >> You got the Big Water, you got the old the autopilot. Yeah, um and also if anybody is interested in the RVR versus a Shovi direct comparison, me and Christina did a video on my YouTube channel.

If you want to check it out. >> plug. Dang it, he's one up on me. >> Ayo. >> Frickin' frack. All right. I had [laughter] to get two in before the end of the show, or you would have beaten me. Um 30-second answers for these. Best offshore kayak. >> Big Water. >> I agree with the Big Water. >> Okay. >> Walk for someone who's never touched or seen a Big Water and don't even know what the crap you're talking about. >> It's underrated.

It's very underrated. >> Yeah. Uh Old Town Big Water PDL. >> Yeah. >> Uh, you can you can do the EPDL with it as well. You can you can run a EP EPDL version, but super high sides. So, I'll say it sits fine in rough water. It's got a very sharp front, so it cuts waves pretty well. Bone dry on the inside, like dry as kind of ever ever seen. I've I've had mine 7 mi offshore. And it's a tank. It's a tank.

Yeah. Not not a ton of not a ton of tank well storage, but yeah. >> All right. >> Well, you're offshore. I mean, it it you're you're needing to cover some ground. You need to get over some surf. You need to cut through some of that. And that's uh, there's a very it it's an underserved community, the offshore. So, I mean, it's offshore fishing does not pay the bills, unfortunately. So, inshore is where it's at.

There are just more people to sell there. But, you know, Big Water is something that is just not on a lot of people's list when you're talking about offshore. Hobie's also does offshore very very well. I wouldn't take a Pro Angler out there, but I you know, you you they've got specifically Island Kayaks that are built for that specifically. So, >> There you go. All right, next one. Best beginner kayak. Now, I do want to clarify a beginner kayak doesn't have to be a $400 kayak, right?

Not not everybody wants to get into kayak fishing just because it's called beginner is is is broke, right? So, it's also not a $7,000 kayak, either. So, when I ask you for best beginner kayak, the kayak that you can get into and not feel like you have to upgrade right away. Like, you can feel comfortable, add to it, and in a couple years still be in it and be like, "Okay, I'm still liking not run out of room, not feel like you're you can't motorize it." So, the best like grow into kayak beginner kayak in your opinion. >> Mhm. >> Go ahead. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I know where you're going. >> I can't I can't answer that one yet. >> [laughter] >> Can't answer it yet.

So, not Old Town. I'll go and throw that out there. All right. >> May may maybe uh Wait wait wait a wait a wait a little while. >> I thought he was going to give it away for a second. I shut my mouth. >> [laughter] >> I will find out in the green room, folks. Um >> Yeah, I do have I do have the answer, just not yet. Uh >> All right. >> Yeah. D D M R moment. >> [laughter] >> I love it.

Andy, what do you got? >> So, beginner kayak, um I tell you what, there's a lot of good beginner kayaks out there. Uh So, if you're just simple setup, Jackson Bite is a really good one. Uh the >> I was just I was just at a dealer and they're like, "Oh, there's Jackson but we're actually not going to carry them anymore." And then they shut their mouths. I'm like, "You're not >> They were They were doing a dealer here was doing a the NRs buy one get one free like the last year.

[laughter] >> [laughter] >> I've never heard of a BOGO on a fishing kayak before. Get these things out of my shop. >> Yeah, I man, the NR. >> [laughter] >> The NR a BOGO BOGO on a How wait >> That but I know exactly what he was talking about. So, that is to me that's the biggest fail in the history of the kayak industry was the Jackson NR. And the funny thing was and just inside story, uh good friend of mine used to used to work at Jackson Kayak.

He has one of the original NRs, the promotional NR that was made with the plastic that was supposed to be made with and it is still running strong today. >> Oh, so something happened post >> Yeah, they >> production model? >> Something. Yeah. But, uh RS 117 is a good one at a thousand bucks. The Jackson Bite is a good one at a thousand bucks. Uh you know, the Old Town Sportsman 106 is not a bad beginning kayak.

Uh you know, the 120 is a little better, but it's a little bit higher. Uh and the Crescent Light Tackle, the Light Tackle 2 is something that is you know, a lot of people don't talk about. It's 11.99. It's a great paddling kayak with a frame seat and just everything you kind of want out of a beginner fishing kayak. You know, when you're talking about the Shoalie and the RVR, you're looking at 1600 plus dollars there, but beginning to start out, you know, those those are those would be my picks there. >> Okay.

Which um and this is the last question we're going to ask before we hop into our our kind of the Well, we actually started that conversation with the Naru bit, but the worst kayak still being sold in 2026. Which kayak deserves more attention? Like the most underrated fishing kayak out there in your opinion? >> It's getting getting attention, but I think all the NuCanoes. It's it's Yeah. I I would agree with every NuCanoe. >> They're getting the attention.

Yeah, they're getting >> That's that's definitely things are getting to need to get more attention and somebody said it in the a couple people have said it in the comments, the Native Propel LTE. Uh so, we did a video on that. They actually sent one down to us to just kind of review and test out. I loved that kayak. It was so light. Me and Christina picked it up and like I was able to grab the side handles and just pick it up on the side and >> It's in the 70s, isn't it? 70 lbs? >> it's unbelievable and you know, you just throw the drive in it and go.

It's the best throw and go pedal drive kayak that is out there and you can still motorize it. You can still rig it up. There's so much to like about that kayak and I think it was when we reviewed it, I think it was like 2299 or something like that. That's a pedal that's a that's a high quality pedal drive kayak with internal storage and and just gear track everywhere and adjustable seat, like everything you want. >> And a pedal drive that's tested and tried over the last >> It's the same It's the same pedal drive that's on the Titan X. >> on the It's the same exact one.

It's >> Those drives run for $1,000. So, that kind of really you're only looking at a pedal drive kayak. You know, you kick the motor out, you're looking at a $1,200 kayak. That's >> I don't know how they did it, but they do it and as I said, I I haven't I'm sure there's a problem out there that somebody's had somewhere, but I haven't heard any negativity on that kayak and they have sold a pretty good amount of those. >> I did my I did a video on that.

I did a review on it. And when I do reviews, you I I scour, do a lot of research, talk to a lot of people who own them, talk to a lot of dealers who own them, and I couldn't find anything at that time. It was fairly new and I I mean, I'm a little always a little late to the game cuz I like to get in them a little longer before I start talking and giving a review on them, but nonetheless Hey, what's up? There she is. >> [laughter] >> There she is.

I like it. All right. So, now let's switch gears a little bit here. Let's talk about uh the worst kayaks still being sold in 2026. We already talked about the BOGO, buy one get one. Narrows, I think someone in the comments section just said Oh, what did they say? I missed it. Comments are flying by over here. Um Someone said, yes, they took a bunch of plastic out of the Narrows from the pre-production to the production model.

Um sounds like I don't know who made that decision. >> Really? >> You don't think uh I don't think ever taking plastic out um usually a good good idea. Yeah. I mean, how much plastic are you really saving? 5 lb of plastic? >> Well, what I heard was they changed the the company that they got the plastic from between research and development and final production. So, uh I don't think I think the intention was good and you got to remember, too, this was a time when fuel was really high and the plastics that these kayaks are made of is petroleum based.

So, when you're talking about like gas is $4.00 a gallon, that is going to affect the cost of kayaks, the raw materials. So, uh I think somebody was just trying to be a little too smart for their own good and trying to save a buck and it just it was a disaster. >> Would it have saved that kayak? >> No. If they would have just If they literally would have just done what they originally were planning on doing, I think it would be a different story.

I still don't think it would be a really popular kayak because it's still every single kayak in Jackson's lineup, you there's not really a whole lot you can put a bow mount motor on and there's not really anything you can effectively put a stern mount motor on. They've got mounts back there for like power pole that you can kind of rig up to do a Torqeedo or a Newport, but they're they're so far behind the ball on that and the industry has really passed them by.

I mean, having eight different pedal drive kayaks is not where you want to be right now. That's kind of where they're at. >> Yeah. Uh Low Life Angler says LTE right here. Someone else said, um just bought a used LTE and I love it. By the way, if you haven't watched that video on my LTE review, please check it out. Haha, [laughter] plug number two. Plug number two, we're Todd. We are Todd. I like it. Got some people over here talking about the Kaho or Kajo, we'll talk about that a little bit cuz I have two of them sitting in my garage right now.

Haven't even seen the water yet. So, we'll talk about that in just a minute. >> I know, right? Interesting. >> Interesting. Just got Just got them. We'll talk about that. Um cuz I spent a lot of time with Josh Thomas. Um and so I spent hours doing interviews. You guys seen those or not, if you're interested in those. But um going to be going to be interesting. All right. Where were we at on questions here?

Worst kayaks Worst kayaks. Um >> Worst kayak sold in 2026? >> I got I got Go for it, baby. >> [laughter] >> So, I'm going to hit an old friend of mine >> Wait for it. >> in the gut. [laughter] An old friend of good friends, Brooklyn Kayak Company. >> They're you're a friends? >> No. >> No. So, this is what I was talking about at the beginning of the podcast. Bearded Paddler and I did a podcast last year.

They write me. >> They say, "Hey, essentially it it was two degree of we didn't like what you said. We don't think it was fair." >> And I was like, "I didn't say it. Andy said it." >> [laughter] >> Um >> Busted. >> I don't have any experience with Brooklyn Paddle Company, but if you want to send me one, go ahead. Not thinking in a million years they would send me one. So, I was like, "Yeah, yeah, here's the you know, address, whatever.

Like, chance." Like, I I run top-tier kayaks. Why would you send me your budget pedal drive? Within like a week it's sitting on my drive. Like, all right, I got to give it a fair shake. Feel like I gave it a fair shake. A lot of issues when you try to do everything. They try to be a paddle kayak, a pedal drive kayak, and a motorized kayak all in the same kayak and you you're just going to be it was just crap across the board in my opinion.

You couldn't really do anything great with any of them. But, you have a lot more experience than that, and so they were actually mad at you. >> Yeah. And it was funny because they assumed I'd never had experience on any of these. So, what I did was mine So, the kayaks that we sold, you know, we sold Jackson, we sold Bonafide, Hobie, uh you know, Native, even Old Town, and >> Even Old Town? >> Well, it I was the only location that we could sell Old Town in, but yeah, I mean, it it is just I liked all of them.

But, when people we did trade-ins. So, when people are trading in these budget kayaks, they you get to see what they look like after a couple years of hard use, and you start to notice the same issues over and over and over again. It's not just kind of a one-off thing. And with Brooklyn Kayak, it was just like it wasn't even a couple years. Like, "Hey, I took this thing out." Or I ordered this online from Amazon cuz, you know, it was COVID and you couldn't get anything anywhere.

And And get it. You know, they're if you're looking at a Hobie kayak for a couple thousand dollars or any any brand um and you got this brand that just come out of nowhere during COVID and they're like, "Hey, we got a this premium fishing kayak pedal drive for a thousand dollars." And you can't get a good paddle kayak for that much. So like, yeah, they they sold a lot of kayaks. They sold a lot of plastic. And man, and then you saw Brian Latimer who I have immense respect for and actually enjoy his channel uh you know B Lat uh he's got to be >> sponsored by them for like >> Yeah, he's had two BKC kayaks in his driveway.

I'm like, "Dude, what are you doing?" Like he's a he's a bass boat guy and he just like he's I don't think he knew what he was doing or what he was getting into. He's saying like, "Oh, man, these are great. They're premium." And I'm like oh my god. Uh but yeah, I just I had a I just I got tickled about that that for one that they're watching. So, thank you for that. And two, like I said that one day that got so much hate from them is like, "If you got if you if you don't love if you hate fishing kayaks and you hate money, you should absolutely invest in a Brooklyn kayak." >> [laughter] >> And he said it again. >> I'll say it again every single person >> like they've gotten better, right?

It's not like, "Oh, BKC is on the rise. They're trying to make some changes over there." >> Yeah, and if that was the case, I would have respect I would respect that immensely. It's like they they've done the work, they've done the homework, they want to stay in the industry. No, they're just more interested in just slinging cheap plastic and not servicing, not you know, not not doing anything for warranties, no dealer support, no nothing.

It just you know, we'll we'll sell this stuff all day long. And you know >> The feedback was given. 100% right? Not even not a call, not a conversation, then nothing. It's This is what I was talking about the beginning. There's There's There's kayak companies who listen, right? There's kayak companies who people who work there actually anglers, right understand what anglers want and then there's other companies who want to move plastic and make weird decisions that make no contextual sense to the fishing industry.

So I don't know. >> Yeah, yeah and again I mean it even great even great kayak companies fail. You know what I mean that even they make a model that just doesn't hit it right or that's fine. Like I want people to continue to innovate but when you're just failing every single year and you're putting out the same product every single year and you're just you know you're getting mad at people that are getting upset at the quality or the money cuz I mean let's be honest a thousand dollars is still a lot of money.

It's not that you know it's just I'm sitting here I'm I'm I'm sitting here looking at the comments here. >> There's a lot of comments here. We're going to get to all of those. >> Yeah and knowing knowing who is in who is in the chat also I think that's the way he's laughing at us well I mean all good man. >> Yeah, you're good. >> But I mean uh >> All right next question which kayak company is the most overpriced in your opinion? >> [laughter] >> I mean that's an easy one.

That's a softball there. >> And I just pitched it up cuz I don't think I mean I know your answer Wyatt may know your answer but I guarantee 165 alive do not know your answer. >> I've got two of them and I'll obviously Hobie like the Hobie Pro Angler it's just it's it's too expensive it's you don't get the quality. That's the easy one. To me and it's the it's the EP DL from Old Town. $6,000 electronic assist pedal drive with no spot lock when you can build a spot lock trolling motor kayak or even have dual setup on a quality hull for less than $6,000.

Uh you can make the same argument against the Old Town autopilot. I'm not going to do that because I think the Old Town autopilot it's maybe the industry has passed it by a little bit, but it's still relevant. It's still phenomenal. It still gets people out of the box not having to rig it, throw a battery in it, and you're good to go. I have such an immense respect for the autopilot. But >> very niche niche audience that would be that would be buying the EPDL. >> Yeah.

But to me, like the EPDL, like it it was a good idea, but it was a huge flop because of the price. And you can make the argument that putting it on the Big Water originally was kind of a mistake because it you're you're selling it to inland fishermen. I think if they would have done it on the Sportsman platform, it probably would have been received a little bit better. But now, I mean, you can God, you can get a Spot-Lock trolling motor from Minn Kota.

At the time, it was MotorGuide, and you I'd like to see more innovation in the bow mount industry. But yeah, I mean, you can do a lot of stuff. You got a stern mount Spot-Lock motor now. It's like you can do a lot of stuff, and you can just throw it on there. And a quality hull, like a Bonafide or an Old Town, or you know, the Old Town Sportsman Pro, you know, that's made that's made ready to go. You just hook your motor up to the bow or stern and go.

So, it yeah, it's uh But yeah, that EPDL, it it just it felt like >> seen one in the wild? Why I have never seen one in the wild. Other than mine whenever I'm out there. I mean, the Blake has Blake has the Big Water. Blake has Big Water EPDL. So, I mean, I've fished with them a little bit. Yeah. [snorts] >> Yeah, we only saw pro staff guys with them. Uh we never Like But it was exciting. People got really excited about it when they cuz that that launched at ICAST, didn't it?

If I remember right. Uh so, there was a lot of hype and a lot of excitement around it. It just seemed like when people heard the price, yeah, I mean, maybe you know, maybe it And if there was a Spot-Lock capability, that's I feel like that would be something that they could do. And then they could probably >> thoughts are that if if you made if you made the Big Water EPDL and marketed strictly for saltwater, it would have >> Yeah. >> done a whole lot like cuz troll trolling for kings, trolling for sales and stuff like that, it would kill kill it out there. >> Oh, yeah.

You got William Queen in the comments section saying, uh I love my EPDL, but I didn't pay six for it, I only paid four. >> That's a different story. There's more value >> Yeah, I would imagine that they got it used or people are just trying to move it from the stores, right? And they needed to just kind of to uh >> Yeah. Yeah, that that was that was a thing. >> Old Town. Do I wish I do wish I had spot lock?

It was a comment in there, yeah. >> So, as as good as Old Town is and as a cult-like following as they have and for good reason, they're they're one of the best quality fishing kayaks out there. Um there's a lot of dealers having a lot of problem moving them because they really did saturate the market pretty good during those, you know, 2020 to 2020 23 and this is when it was hard to get kayaks. You can get Old Towns.

So, we got a lot of Old Towns out there. Well, now there's so many of them out there and you're seeing some really good deals out there. You're seeing some good deals on EPDLs. That does not mean that it that Old Town makes a sub-par kayak. It's just they might have the bubble might have burst before they realized that and they really got a lot of inventory out there, which a lot of dealers, which I was part of that, we were we were hungry for it.

We needed it really bad. Now, that 2022 market saturation, uh that put a lot of people out of business. And you're starting to see that even now, but I feel like we're kind of leveled out here in the last year or so and we're set for a really strong run in the industry, I feel. >> Yeah. Here's the interesting question. I'm going to switch gears on you a little bit. Which kayak has the biggest gap between marketing and reality? >> Ooh.

I'm just going to throw it out there, the Ascend 133X. >> Wow, heading walking in the Bass Pro Shop now. >> I mean, but but what what did people get more excited about is a kayak with a bow mount spot lock trolling motor, a package deal. You can just walk into Bass Pro with your club card and just slam it on the counter and you can be out there fishing. That is the worst That is the worst kayak I've ever been in bar none.

Now >> Oh really? >> Yeah, me uh >> why why? >> Now me and Christina did a video comparing the Ascend 133X with the Perception Outlaw. >> plug on me. >> But uh just standing on Yeah, standing on it the Deck Flex is more than I think people realize cuz you don't really get to stand in them in Bass Pro. Um the Deck Flex is it flexes the most of any kayak I've been around. >> You can't put it in the bass tank?

Come on. Come on Bass Pro. >> I paddled >> They have like ponds inside there everywhere. You can just throw it in there. Step on it. >> I actually paddled it which uh I just I'm a glutton for punishment. So uh paddling it I and I'm comparing it to the the Perception Outlaw. So I mean, you know, the it made the Outlaw seem like a speedboat. And then I'm sitting there thinking, "Okay, how much speed are people getting with this MotorGuide Xi3 on it?" Like three, three and a half miles an hour?

Like there's pedal drive kayaks. A Brooklyn kayak can probably move three, three and a half miles an hour if you really push it. >> But don't really push it by the way. >> Yeah, don't do it. Uh Yeah, it's but yeah, it I think the Ascend 133 I think it was the best marketing. I think it was the the marketing versus reality is just such a huge gap on that kayak cuz you see so many of them out there. But everyone knows a friend at Bass Pro that they get a 40% discount from. >> [laughter] >> Everybody was able to get their hands on one of them and man, there's so many of them out there for sale.

Look like they've never even been wet. So it it >> I'm going to I'm going to plug that video one more time because my dog is in that video. >> What what video is that? >> You can't plug it. You can't use the same plug twice. You're only getting credit for one. Three to two. >> I'm plugging my dog, not really the video. >> Yeah, the the fur torpedo or black lab that loved to kept Yeah, [laughter] kept going from one kayak to the other cuz you know, one of us was in the other one, so. >> Pretty sure that was the video where I I bit it because she dropped me >> Yeah, in paddle board. >> [laughter] >> That's his my film or >> Everyone's probably like, where did that female voice come from?

Those listening on live are like, what in the world just happened? Wyatt's voice just dropped, folks. So >> [laughter] >> Finally, we're so excited for him. Wyatt, what's your thoughts on it? What's the >> Oh, I'm going to get I'm going to get some hate for it. I mean, back back whenever I sold Vibe kayaks. >> Oh. >> Never never never opened so much plastic like the the pack the plastic packaging that the kayaks come in, you would cut that bag open and there would just be pieces just lying all inside of it.

Every single one of them just all the plastic broke, all the parts broke, everything was a nightmare again. >> Oh, yeah. Talking about like shavings from production, you're talking about broken kayak showing up. >> Yeah, just like pieces of the seat breaking off and pieces of the hatches and the little the the eye bolts all breaking and just like everything just Yeah. >> Yeah. Interesting. >> That that and I put I I I couldn't I couldn't stand them up inside the store because they would bend. >> [laughter] >> Like just just regularly standing inside the store, I put a 12-foot seat like the the seat goes in there and you take it down and it's like starting to just fold over slowly. >> [laughter] >> All right.

This is I'm learning quite a bit actually, so I really appreciate you guys. I mean, I I I don't know why I forgot this, but Wyatt, I know you've been selling like the beginner kayaks for a long time and so it's really fascinating. >> The the new Sea Ghost looks interesting with the redesign back. I will give it that. It does look interesting as long as they fix the the plastic issues and random every single piece is proprietary out there. >> [laughter] >> All right.

All right, switching gears. New question here. Which kayak is trying to solve a problem nobody has? I mean, we did just talk about the EPDL. >> A little bit. >> That was That was my answer I had for that cuz you know, I was like, who who needs cruise control on a pedal drive? They want a motor, they want spot lock, guys. What What What kayak would you never recommend? >> Hobie. Yeah, Hobie. >> Yeah, >> [clears throat] >> yeah, I mean, it's a Hobie's a quality kayak that you don't know where the future is.

So, how I don't know how people are selling them right now, to be honest with you. Uh cuz they still are supporting dealers supposedly. Um they're still going to work through dealers from what I hear for warranties and things like that, but they're still selling them at Bass Pro. So, I don't know any paddle shop that wants to compete with the largest big box fishing store in the world that has a dealer network that no kayak shop even even gets close.

And But yeah, I mean, it's uh yeah. That That's That That would be That would be mine. >> No, I like it. >> They got the Viking kayaks? Is that the other one? >> Are they still out there? >> Yeah, they are still out there. >> I've heard some noise on them here, too. >> There was some noise recently because they were uh >> I think you're talking about the same thing. >> about some beef that >> Some drama. >> It wasn't necessarily like the company, it was just like somebody in the company that was taking shots back and forth about stuff that happened years ago.

But I actually don't know a lick about Viking kayaks. >> They're It's the same kayak, different name, honestly. Those Those the You know, I mean, I know people are going to hate this because there's a lot of people that are happy with these, but Vibe and FeelFree and, you know, they they make some okay kayaks, but they're pretty much the same thing. They're the Alibaba kayaks is what some people call them. Or you just It's low-density plastic.

You can't really effectively plastic weld those kayaks because it is a different density. It's the same reason and this kills me and I'm I've got some video footage of me melting a Lowe's Someone had taken a Lowe's bucket You see this big blue and tried to plastic weld It's not the same. People that say it's the same, it's not. I just took a heat gun and just flashed it on there and it just ran off like water. The melting point is is different.

The everything is different. There it matters. And when you're when you're dealing with these other kayaks, if you get a hole in it or a pretty good puncture or a pretty good rip, yeah, you're not going to be able to twist and and blend plastic in with it. You're going to be slapping Flex Tape on the side of it to stop the water leaking and just pray to God it doesn't happen that while you're out there on the middle of the water, so. >> Yeah.

I know when I got my Umax actually comes with pieces of plastic, right? That you can plastic weld in case something happens to it. So >> It's color matched. >> Yeah, 100%. Um when I first when I had my first pedal drive, the Native Slayer Propel 10 I I sat too fast down on my seat and it cracked right around the seat area. So I put some metal mesh in there and plastic welded it and it it held up like a boss for like a year afterwards.

And so if you have a quality kayak with certain HDPE, you can do that, too. However, some kayaks you think you'll be able to fix and you cannot. And it's kind of like once it happens, you're kind of done or you're limping it along um until you find something else. Freshwater Pursuit said, "Hey Darren, plug the Big Adventures video about the packing and the shipping portion." You know what, Freshwater? I think I will.

If you haven't checked out that video, where I went into Big Adventures and showed the processing about how they make new canoes and Bonafides. It's 110,000 views. >> company. >> You should go check it out. And Andy, we are three and three for shameless plugs, my friend. >> I tell you what, I I hear a challenge. I hear a challenge. [laughter] I can't I can't. Um here's a here's I'm going to go a question over here coming from Don Queen 8170.

Any thoughts on Hammerhead Kayaks? Once again, another company I've never had any any I mean I've I've heard of them before but never had my hands on one. >> So, Hammerhead um, they're okay. Um, I'll just I'll plug my friend James here at uh Midwest Kayak Company. Midwest Kayak Company in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. >> That was from somebody else. Yeah. >> it's just a it's a it's a quality paddle shop and uh but uh yeah, he uh he got his start selling Hammerhead Kayaks and he said they were great.

Um, again, it's a company we'll get into this I think with the one of the other questions you got here but uh you know, it's a company that doesn't pretend to be USA made and and manufactured and all this. Like they you know, they don't hide from what they are and that's fine. Uh, it gave a cheap pedal drive option. You had parts availability. You had service. Now, it wasn't the best dealer service there is so when you don't expect that from something they were probably the ones that maybe supported their dealers a little bit better and you had warranty support.

You have a point of contact. You had you know, they did it right. They did better probably than anybody else that kind of fits in that niche. Um, you know, obviously Brooklyn Kayak did it worst of all of them. Hammerhead was probably the top tier of the bottom edge I guess I I guess you could call it but yeah, it's uh you know, you're not going to it's not going to be something you're going >> glowing review there >> Yeah, well, I mean the top edge but the worst. >> If you if you ask anyone from Hammerhead, they're not going to sit there and tell you that they're going to dethrone the the Bonafides and the NuCanoes of the world.

They're just trying to get people on the water. I mean I and I don't have any like personal experience with them. I just I know of dealers that have worked with them and you know, they said they got us kayaks when we really needed them and our customers liked them and they still like them. Now, those customers eventually will buy a step up, you know, they'll buy a NuCanoe or you know, a Crescent or you know, but Hammerhead's kind of had a place there.

Uh it's not It's just like any of those other companies, you don't see them doing it for a long period of time and that's the one problem with those pop-up companies is their shelf life is not really that long. It's hard to make it in the industry and have sustainable success in it. >> Yeah, and that's a that's a big problem if you think about it because you're going to likely have to service in some way, especially the more parts and pieces that it has to it and if they're no longer around, you are stuck. >> Yeah. >> Right?

Or you're working with a secondary market trying to Frankenstein this thing back together so you can get out in the water. >> And those companies are always going to do direct to consumer also. So I mean they're you know, when I say support, you know, the dealers can get parts for it, but those customers can also buy it directly from them for the same price anyway, so you know, I'm not always a big fan of that model because it doesn't benefit the consumer as much as you think it would either, so. >> Yeah.

Now here's a question coming in from Matt Neolette Jr. And I actually like this kayak. It's actually one of my top three picks for a beginner kayak. Any opinions on the Perception Outlaw because that price point, especially if you buy it on the used secondary market, you can get this kayak for 700 bucks. >> If you buy it used, I remember when the new kayak was 700 bucks. It went up pretty quick. >> or It's like eight or nine now. >> Yeah.

And you can Yeah, when you get to When you're when you're when you're pushing a thousand dollars, that's a little different of a It's a different kayak in my opinion. Because when you get to a thousand, you're the Jackson Bite is a lot better than the Outlaw, but the Outlaw is more stable, it's got a higher seat. It's the perfect just guy don't care if he's fishing or not, he's just out there having a good time, lounging around. >> Yeah. >> But if you want something that performs a little bit better because they're both 11 and a half foot long, they're both the same width, they're both the same relative weight, both have a same around the same, you know, like four 400 425 pound capacity.

So they're very, very similar, but when you put them next to each other, people just always gravitate to that really high seat position, and the Kaik is designed for that. So, it It's a great kayak. I love it. And then, there's so many of them out there cuz they've been making them for so long that you can [clears throat] you can get them for 600, 700 bucks, and it's the same >> I was like, you got to be kidding me.

That's a steal for a first-time kayak. >> That's a different kayak at 550 than it is at a thousand. >> 100%. I love it. Love it, love it. All right, other questions I have for you. We're starting to get into some kayak-specific um What do you think the biggest launch of 2026 was? Like, the most suc- the biggest success story? Like, these are just kayaks that launched this year. >> Yeah, the UMAX. Um Now, I'll I'll say this, though, the UMAX um I I don't know that they did the best job marketing it like they should have uh cuz they were it it wasn't something that just turned the industry over on its head.

It's an upgraded unlimited. Yeah, So, you know, if if somebody has a an XTR, they're not going to switch to the UMAX. If somebody has the UMAX, they may not switch to the XTR. It's just there there's not one over the other. It just fills a niche for uh the New Canoe for me, the selling point was I wanted more space, and I wanted performance. It's hard to find a 13 and 1/2-ft kayak that is not a hundred something, you know, 150 lbs or more, and it performs well.

And you can do it's it is rated for two motors. So, that is, you know, you can do two motors on a lot of kayaks. This one is actually rated for it. So, >> Also rated for a 3 horsepower. >> Yes. And you can make the argument you can technically put a lot more on it. That's just probably legally how much they're willing to go. So, there's a there's a lot of uh there's there's a lot of factors that go into that.

Yeah, she could probably put a 6 horsepower on there if you if you, you know, reinforce it enough, but uh they're not going to say that because if somebody goes out there and does it and doesn't do something right and then they end up getting in a lot of trouble out there in the middle of water. Yeah, it's they'll say, "Well, they rated it this." Uh >> Yeah, 100%. There's a little bit of liability that you got to take into consideration there. >> Yeah, and I'd probably be the same way, honestly. >> Yeah.

Wyatt, any thoughts there? >> I mean, I I would just from the fishing world super interested in the Mosa, but just just want to get out there and see it. >> Yeah, I've been in one. It's interesting. Um if if they can it's it's a little loud, right? So, I've I'm I've a big I've come to conclusion as a fisherman, I mean, I truly believe this. The louder the motor, you just spook the big girls, right? I mean, it's just it is what it is.

And so, yes, you can throttle down and you know, paddle in and so forth and so on, but loud motors, I'm just not a big a big fan of them. Um I don't even like I'm getting to the point where I don't like fishing around people who have super super loud motors. And some of these things are freaking noisy. But, we'll see. But, I think they're I think the Mosa the Voya X is actually doing it right, right? I was at the Bassmaster Crackett Classic, I was in one, and they were sitting there listening to feedback, and you kind of didn't hear from them.

I think they went back to the drawing board, and I think probably, you know, looked I I know some of the feedback we gave them, I'm seeing some of the new kayaks coming out, and they took some of that feedback. So, they're listening to anglers, which I think is really >> Imagine that. >> I know, right? And so, it's like, okay, this kayak this kayak company might actually be doing it right. So, we will see what happens there. 160 live right now.

If you have not yet done so, hit the like button. All right, getting a lot of comments over here about the Flux Jet. And so, we'll talk about that in a little bit. It's interesting they made a they made a post earlier today. I want to read this because they saw that um Andy and I were in Wyatt were going to do this. >> I mean, they're in the they're in the chat. >> They're in the chat. I love it. I appreciate you that they're >> Yeah, absolutely. >> They said, "Do you think Flux Flux Jet made the list?

We've had a lot of people asking for more independent reviews, customer feedback, and blah blah blah blah and they basically asked people to hey, do you think they made the list? And then they wrote, "One thing we'd ask, if you're going to review, compare, or discuss the Flux Jet, make sure you've actually spent time around the kayak first. Seen a few re- reviews and opinions from people who haven't been on one, >> I mean >> seen one in person, in some cases haven't even talked to an owner. >> Who can talk about it. >> And nobody has it yet. >> You got Pro Staff >> There's a There's a There's a few people. >> But, you know, and I'm not mad at that.

I'm just saying it just, you know, you're going to If you If you're going at ICAST, last year's ICAST, I should remind it. It You're at last year's ICAST, you you do a tremendous amount of content and reels and short-form stuff and you get so many people excited, you've taken a lot of money, and you've got to be You've got to have some a little thicker skin than that, cuz I've seen some feedback that they come out with people that are complaining about this.

These are people These are hard-working people. These are the people that are keeping your doors open. And to be, you know, it's like, "Hey, people need to be patient." Like, you're talking about they've shelled out some real money. Some Most of them that I know of have paid in full, and they're still waiting. So, to me, that is the epitome of patience. Um you know, I I and I'm not going to throw any business owners under the bus, but there are some people out there that have been, you know, when when they're selling these kayaks, they're putting their name and attaching it to that company.

So, it doesn't matter if it's Old Town or Bonafide or any of these sale. Uh So, you got to be careful with that. But, people have a right to be frustrated, and I'm not saying it's a I've never said it's a bad kayak, because I don't know. I've you know, I've never been in one. I've never I've just seen the video content. I've seen I've talked to people behind the scenes about what has gone on there and you know, there's nothing there's no super red flags maybe but it's just you know, people are getting tired of saying okay, it's another month.

It's another month and they've been told that for about seven or eight months now so people are getting their refunds, people are switching to different kayaks and you kind of wonder, you know, we're we're getting close to July here. In my opinion, July is the end of the kayak season as far as buying kayaks. Uh dealers they typically do their pre-season ordering around September, October and they hit the they start hitting the floors, you know, 2027s.

Nobody wants to buy more 2026s to put on the floor when 27s are going to start hitting so >> [clears throat] >> you know, that that's my thing on it. That's that's that's you know, my my shoebox there uh but yeah, I mean you can't get mad at your customers when your customers have a right to be. You could say hey guys, we understand. We appreciate your patience. >> [clears throat] >> We understand if you want to go somewhere else but just know that we will be getting out these.

To me, I'm sorry. It happens. I think I feel like most people understand that. Maybe not everybody but come and say is like hey, you know, you guys can't be talking about this because you haven't experienced it. Well, most people haven't so that's all you can do is talk about it and kind of give your opinions on it and as long as we label them as opinions, I've never once said that I'm in this kayak and I I hated it.

I've never said that so >> So, what I what I like about Flux Jet, right? The idea, right? The the pure idea. No one's really done this on a kayak before. And so I was like okay, this has a lot of promise. I've actually seen the kayak, put my hands on the kayak at ICAST last year. But not to be able to talk about it if you haven't seen one. That's not how that works folks. You can't Flux Jet, you can't throw out all this marketing and talk about it and and you say hey, we're going to have demos at ICAST and they reached out to me 6 months prior to it and like hey we want to get you guys to try it out.

I kept following up, nothing. Did the demo, nothing. Did a video on it at I cast and they're like hey and not having the demo we want to fly you out there and to do a review on it in San Diego wherever they're at. That never materialized and I haven't talked to them I don't think maybe it's a month after I cast. And so I can't give any thoughts on it. I've had a lot of people ask me hey what's your thoughts on a flood jet cuz they assumed I was going to get one because I was told I was going to get one and never did.

So that kind of pissed me off when companies tell me one thing I then take that at face value tell my people that it's coming and then it doesn't come because they didn't follow through with it. Now that said I want flood jet to succeed right? I'm doing some videos [clears throat] like okay this is looks promising but until I get my hands on one we will see what happens. But so far I mean I'm they put stuff out every day they're they're getting kayaks out the door.

They might be hundreds out there in in the field right now. I think they're showing up daily so we will see what happens. But I mean that's still like there's nothing more to talk about like I don't I don't know what to talk about. There's no one that I trust that has actually done like a in like review got into the wiring they're doing some of the test that I would be doing on kayaks. I mean I I think I know I can look at the kayaks there's a lot I can tell from the kayak I think there's a lot to be desired when it comes to the design of the actual kayak think the motor is the the spectacle the crown jewel of that kayak.

Um that motor needs to be on a better fishing kayak in my my opinion. I mean as far as design is concerned. >> Yeah it needs to be on a roto molded kayak and you know and I'm not I'm not saying it needs to be on another brand but you know it it maybe if they get successful enough that they can bring some whole production, they can roto mold a you know thicker density and have a heavier duty fishing kayak. This people that are ordering these kayaks right now don't want to hear that because they're essentially funding research on another kayak by whatever is going on right now.

So >> Have you heard there's the next kayak at end design? >> Um I haven't heard anything concrete, no. I can't imagine that they're not. I mean you're you want to start designing the next best thing, you know, like what what where are you going to follow up with? I almost feel like they would have been better off debuting it at this year's ICAST than last year's. And you know, I would have had those I would have had the you know, the promo ones in the hands of pro staff, basically what they're doing right now. >> They say they don't have a pro staff.

That was actually >> Well, you know what I mean? Like the people that are pushing content out, you know, the your TikTokers and stuff, you know, you're going to you're going to put them in kayaks and get that content out and then you're ready to deliver on that. That's a much better look and as opposed to well, I gave money to the shop or you know, we ordered it online. I got some emails, but we don't know. And it just you lose trust and then if you do come out with that bigger better product down the road man, um you're going to have those people that are just you you kind of lost in the beginning.

You know, you you fumbled the ball at the goal line almost there. >> Yeah, I'm definitely in a wait and see. I'm going to hold my breath. >> cautiously optimistic >> I haven't even covered anything Flex Jet since the ICAST because I'm like, okay, I need to I need to I don't want to necessarily attach my personal brand to this yet because I don't one don't know the guys well enough and two, this kayak is wildly untested in the field for any significant amount of time.

So we'll see. I I wish you the the Flex Jet. We will see what happens. And uh >> Do your thing. >> Yeah. You guys freaking nail it. All right, let's keep moving on cuz we haven't talked about this one. There's been a lot of comments in the comment section. The Camino Journey. Right? So, we all know the kind of history of Camino Journey. If you don't, I would go check out those interviews that I had with Josh Thomas on it. >> Boom!

Free! Come on now. >> I love that you got the check marks down there. >> [laughter] >> There's like two or three or four videos on that. So, that counts as three or four plugs. I think so. So, I just jumped up to seven. Yeah, [laughter] definitely think so. Um but no, essentially this company um owned by Josh Thomas. Josh started Vibe Kayaks, exited, I think probably nicely. And then he was like, "Hey, I want to come out with a more premium kayak than the Vibe Kayaks." And he didn't didn't come out with one.

He's like, "I'm going to come out with five." So, he has the Camino Journey Outpost, I think in I think in two different sizes. He has the Outlanders in three different sizes, which are the inflatables. And then he has the Terra. I think it's the Terra. Um which is like the real It's like the the skiff type of flat I don't I haven't even seen one yet. I actually have a Outpost in my garage. I just got the pedal drive motor.

I have a Outlander in my garage, just blew it up but seat together yesterday. And we'll have it out in the water this Friday. And in a couple weeks after I have some time to fish out of it and see what I like about it, I'll be getting a review out the door for you. Um I don't like to be the guy who gets a review right out the door after it's getting it and just looking at it. Um so, I'm always going to be late to the game while everyone else gobbles up the initial views because I actually want to fish out of this thing and see, you know, it it takes a bunch of different nuanced fishing trips to be like, "Okay, this is what I don't like in this scenario." You can't do that with one trip out.

You just can't. Sorry. Um so, it's going to take It's going to take a hot minute for me to get that out the door. But, your thoughts on Camino Journey cuz I get this thing I got it delivered um by Eco Fishing and I heard a lot of people have mixed mixed this and that about it. It was like wrapped in carpet and then wrapped in plastic. Came flawless. So, I know that they I think they recently moved over to like a white gloves delivery service.

So, I'm not sure if that happened between some of the bad experiences, but mine came and it came flawless and >> Eco? >> Yeah, with Eco. >> Yeah, it seemed um it seemed like they at one point they were claiming like 99% damage-free and then it seemed like the last probably year you just started to hear a lot more noise around that. So, I if they've switched the service, that's good cuz I mean as much as I like to hate on online services, I mean they they definitely fill a need.

Everybody has a paddle shop, you know, within a couple of hours. So, it's but yeah, I mean that's there's nothing more frustrating and it's bad for the industry when someone gets into it they spend some real money on that first kayak and then they comes and it's just damaged. So, they think they just get a bad taste of kayaking not just a bad taste of that experience. So, >> Yeah. I will say the fit and finish on the Coosa just by you know, unwrapping I was like, okay, this is uh everything that Josh said in those interviews is uh he actually did.

So, we'll see. I haven't pedaled the pedal drive. It hasn't touched water yet. Stay tuned on that. Any thoughts on any of that line? Any experience? Any comments? >> Yeah, I mean um and they I've been asked about it a lot and again I have no no hands-on experience cuz there's just nothing around here that carries it. But, the only thing that I always tell people and it was the same thing when I get, you know, stuff about Flex Shot.

This is early. This is like, you know, uh couple months after ICAST like you got to be really careful on the hype, the internet hype. And then the only thing I saw with out or with with Coosa was just really trendy Tik Toky reels and they did a they probably did the best job on it in my opinion cuz it was it was good stuff. It was, you know, I don't know I I know how else to describe it, but >> It was showing up in the feed, 100% I think. >> Yeah, in a exactly.

It was pushed and it was out there and it got people talking and that's what you want to do with it. The only problem with that is if you if you're if you have so much hype, you got to deliver on it. And uh you know, I think it the industry needs more of that kind of kayak company. Uh they don't need to be the number one, you know, everything, but they need to be a quality brand at a quality price. Now, Cajuns are you know, I wouldn't call them >> premium price >> entry level uh price point, so there comes some danger with that.

You know, if you're if you're charging a premium price, no matter how good it looks, it's got to hold up and you got to be able to get support for it because things happen, you know, it it's nothing against anybody, but you know, if you if you open that thing up and you put it on the water and the first time you sit on the seat, a buckle breaks or something or a screw comes out and falls in the the the lake. Yeah, but how quickly can you get it?

How what's the support look like, you know? Uh customer service, that's the number one thing that people like to talk about when there's a problem, but it's not it's not even the first thought when they're when they're buying a kayak, so. >> 100% and that's that's the thing you got to think about when buying a the kayak from a new company, right? >> Yeah. >> To to be told, no one knows yet, right? Same thing with Flex Yak, no one knows >> because well, these things are plastic, it's mechanical, it's a motor.

Things are going to break if you're the best or the worst, you know, kayak company out there, it doesn't matter. And so, we're it's it's still to be decided whether or not how well they take care of their people post purchase. Same thing with