Can anyone give some feedback on the native ultimate kayaks...I duck hunt and camp and would like to start kayak fishing some. I like the hybrid design...thanks

I have a pair of Native Ultimate 14.5 tandems and love them. Lots of room to carry stuff. Very stable, I've never felt like I was going to tip over. The newer Ultimate FX is supposed to be even more stable. I paddled alongside a guy in an Ultimate FX, it rode a little higher on the water and is about 20 lbs heavier. The "pontoon bottom" is flatter in the FX, which is supposed to make it easier to stand up in. The rudder is a good thing to have.

Comfortable seating. But remember it's not a SOT, so if you do get water inside you might have to bail. I use a spray skirt on the bow on windy days, the FX has a hard cover. I just carry a plastic bottle I cut in half to do the occasional bailing, with most of the water coming in from my wet feet.

The FX does come with hi/lo seating and anchor trolleys.

The one in the foreground is mine.


With bow skirt.

What he said. I'll add that they are not extremely fast, but they are fast enough, they track very well, and are very comfortable to fish from. If they fit your needs, they are extremely hard to beat. I have a Wilderness Commander 140, which is very similar in design, and very similar in performance, and I love it for longer trips on medium sized waters. Definitely get a rudder.

Just fyi, I have the Commander because it was a deal I couldn't pass up.

I was set on the Native Ultimate FX 12 for fly fishing and duck hunting. Demo the Ultimate and loved the stability,open deck and seat was outstanding. Was about to pull the trigger and buy one until it was suggested idemo the WS Commander 12. In my opinion the Commander tracked better, was easier to stand in,and loved the captains perch. The Native seat is hard to beat but in the end I liked the Commander much better. Can't go wrong with either.

I had a Native Ultimate 14-thank God it was stolen. Now I have a Diablo Adios. I loved the Ultimate, but in my opinion, the Adios is in a class of its own for a single angler.

I've had basic Ultimates and now have a FX12, FX15 & FX13 Propel. The FX models are great kayaks.
The only complaint I have is they sit fairly high in the water and catch a lot of wind.
They are very stable and carry a good load with a lot of room.
I would definitely have a rudder.

I have a 14 ultimate and agree with pelican on all his points except I don't need or want a rudder. I also have a prowler 13 angler which I love. It is faster than my ultimate and easier to handle in the wind. I'm 72 years old so the prowler is not as comfortable after several hours fishing as the ultimate.( I have a high rise seat) The ultimate allows me to stand occasionally and stretch my legs and back. I have never carried the ultimate to the coast because of the wind issues. I also have an electric bilge pump which comes in handy if water gets into the ultimate-p-

I have the Commander 140. Very easy to stand up in and fish. I fly fish and have no problem fly casting while standing in the Commander. I'm on the coast and it handles wind well. It's about an inch or so taller than the super low profile WS Tarpon and a lot lower than a Hobie PA. Nothing like a traditional canoe's handling in the wind.

I've been in an older Ultimate 14.5 once and that was before I got my Commander. I really couldn't compare them fairly. But any kayak that lets you stand up and fish easily is a game changer. On comfort and on ability to sight cast if that is your thing. I still have a Tarpon 140 and haven't used it in years. Only time I would I'ver the Commander is if I was going off the beach into the open gulf or into a river with significant Rapids.

But if you don't like to carry very much, never want to stand, are worried about the lack of self bailing, get something beside the Ultimate or Commander. A lot of guys I know want a sleek fast kayak to go a long way. The Commander or the Ultimate aren't the best for that. Some folks want lots of compartments for gear and electronics. No one kayak does it all. I value the ease of and the superior stability of standing above everything else. And a clean deck that won't entangle fly line or let it blow off the deck.

I've duck hunted once in the Commander. There is tons of room for decoys and blind materials. And 475 pounds of capacity. Not sure what the Ultimate has on capacity but it looks like you could put a lot of gear in that one. A hybrid is the way to go because your gear isn't going to slide off a raised deck. Self bailing kayaks have a raised deck and just aren't good gear haulers unless it fits in a relatively tiny hatch or the tankwell. You could put bags of decoys forward of the seat that would never fit in most self bailing designs.

Thanks these are very good points ...keep them coming I'm open to all advice.

Brought home a ultimate 12 yesterday...it's camouflage and like new condition...couldn't beat the 400$ price tag....so I pulled the trigger.

I think I would have taken that deal too.