Let's face it. Not everyone has tons of coin to drop on kayaks. I'm one of those guys. I've horse traded my way to where I am and it's taken almost 11 years to do it. Don't think for a second that it's all glitz and glam here. For you, the guy slugging away 50 hours a week for 50% of what you're worth, I know that money in your pocket is never enough but the sweet release that fishing gives you keeps you going. I know what getting off the banks and on the lakes could do for you. With that first paddle stroke you'll know the sweet bliss of kayak fishing. I do however want to make sure you spend your hard earned money wisely. You may have this kayak for quite a while. You'll want maximum resale if you do need to sell it and a good fishing platform if you keep it. So here is the deal. I've made a list of my four favorite kayaks that you can get into for less than $600. I've paddled every single one of these and owned a couple of them. They are good kayaks. Do they have lots of bells and whistles? No. Will they get you on the water? You bet. People can always find used kayaks but this is for those folks who want a brand new kayak. (Please also keep in mind you'll have to buy a paddle, life jacket and whistle in most states if you don't already have them.) Without further ado, the four kayaks you should try under $600.

Making the list: Native, Heritage, Perception and Old Town.


See more at:
http://www.paynespaddlefish.com/2013/11/four-kayaks-you-should-try-under-600.html

You are cranking out some great blog posts on great topics. Keep it up!

I like your list and my favorite is the Pescador. That kayak is hard to beat for the price. Another one I would add to the list is an Ascend FS12T sit on top kayak from Bass Pro. They run $499 and it did me well before I swapped out.

I think the Ascend line of kayaks from Bass Pro should make this list too. I've had mine for 3 yrs now and its still going strong and from looking at the newer models they have made a tond of improvements! They also have a pretty good selection for under $600

Don't forget the old reliable OK Scrambler.... Not alot of bells and whistles but great starter boat

I agree the Bass Pro Ascent FS12T and the OK Scrambler 7 Caper should be on the list. If you got rid of the Native Watercraft Redfish 12 (it's the same kayak as the Angler 12 but with a better seat and bow hatch) then you can re-title it "Four Kayaks You Should Try under $500".

True true. I hesitated on the FS12T because I have not paddled one ever and have heard quite a few mixed reviews. I like the idea though. Maybe an addendum will come tomorrow. 2 More kayaks you should check out. Keep them coming fellas. Seems the BP and OK need some time in the limelight according to popular opinion. Anything else I am missing?

This may fit in with the BP yaks in that I doubt you have tested and it's not a "popular" kayak but I've read some decent reports and in person it appears to have reasonable quality and features. Another longshot but under your $600 target and often on sale. The reality is there are a limited under $600 new yaks - I think you have hit the major players.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/produc...product_rr_1_37

edit: Not real sure who makes these but one post I read says it may be molded by "The Joy Sports Company".....same company molding the feelfree line. FeelFree Kayak : Joy Sports CO.,LTD. Bangkok Thailand 10400 . Feel free (get it?) to correct me if this is incorrect.

The Perception Scout was a big choice for me vs the pescador. I ended up with the pescador because it was used, and saved me money, but new for new I think I'd be paddling a scout right now. The open front storage mirroring the back seems infinitely more useful to me, save for the lack of self bailing, a hybrid like that seems very attractive. The self bailing is actually more just like self wetting kayak for me anyways apparently, as I ride in my pescador with my heels submerged at all times, which surprised me at only 185lb + limited gear.

I'm likin my Pescador 12's for sure... Uncertain what another $500-700 would have gotten me. My bro-n-law seems to like his Old Town Caspian's which I think he bought on sale for $300

+1 on scrambelr. Malibu mini x is a good little boat and might be an option for some guys.

Although it technicly does not qualify right now ACK has 13' prowlers for $629 in the outlet. I bet you could get 10% off that with known discounts bringing it under the $600 mark. This would be a good option for a lot of guys.

Great topic! And a great list going, too.

BKT, for me at least, one of the things the extra cash buys is carrying capacity. I weigh 265, and I carry some weight up higher. A kayak that tops out at 350# is marginal at best for me. I've paddled some of the kayaks mentioned. As soon as I sit in a Pescador 12 or Redfish, water comes up through the scuppers into the cockpit. That doesn't happen on my Ride 115.

I posted this in the good deals thread, but just a heads up, we will have our FS12 sit-on-top kayaks on sale starting tomorrow (regularly $499 on sale for $399).

And yes, this is a pretty darn good starter/budget kayak for the price.

The sale starts on the 27th of November and goes to the 1st of December.

Good looking out Dean. Look for a new post tomorrow listing the FS12. I'll drop a note about the sale as well.

10-4. I weigh in at 185 and water will come up through the scupper by my feet when still. About level when on the move. I will say these are the first ones I've owned so really clueless to what the extra cash would have gotten me but still good boats for the money. PLUS I needed two boats... I'm ain't rich for certain so it's going to be a gradual upgrade for me...

With that said, I'll have two vehicle notes paid off in the next year... If I take a strong liking to the kayaks AND feel I can get by without the purchase of a bass boat(wanting it bad), I'll be seeking something like the Ride 135 or whatever they have out at that time.

only thing i didnt like about pescoder was my feet were in water at scuppers.had to plug them then it was fine. plus a little more tippy than i liked at 28 inches wide. go 30 or more for beginners in my opinion

ALso the Durability of the Pescador's plastic is not good IMO. They are very thin on the bottom and around the scuppers. My buddy and I bought our kayaks at the same time about 3 yrs ago. I bought the ascend FS10 sit in and he bought the Pescador. About a year into us owning them he developed a leak around the scupper under the seat. Mine is still going store. You have to take into account though that first year we dragging through and over everything. My kayak survived, his didnt. They are still good yaks just don't expect them to hold up for very long if you do alot of shallow water fishing, dragging.

buy a bass pro ascend fs 12 and resale it next year for 450 if u dont like it. greaaat deal right there

I just looked at the sale ad again, and although the pic shows the FS12T SOT kayak, the ad plainly says "FS12 Sit In Kayak". BIG DIFFERENCE. Not sure what the deal is there, but Bass Pro doesn't typically let errors in copy make it to the print version.

Yeah, its a print error.

The sale is for the FS12 sit-on-top kayaks (regularly $499 on sale for $100 off).

Lots of folks buy kayaks that are not suitable for their weight. More folks should be looking at 13 foot and up length kayaks unless they prefer super wide.

This. I hadn't seen a single other person mention this before buying mine, and my first time out was cold and footwell was ankle deep the entire time, literally as soon as it touched the water. I wouldn't consider it tippy at all though personally... I horsed around on it quite a bit and didn't flip it, in heavy winds with a few good sized boats blasting by putting me in brutal wakes my first outing in it. The wet feet thing isn't a major issue but was certainly a mildly unpleasant surprise... I'm not some 300+lb heavyweight so didn't expect that. I've been on dinky SOT's in the Bahamas with my wife and had no such issues. It did make me immediately regret not getting the scout somewhat honestly, as it was another I had been shopping closely with the pescador



http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/perception-sport-scout-12-kayak/pid-678803?color=Green%2fBrown&N=670787849


That's the Perception Sport Scout 12 I am referencing as the other I was considering. It too is a retired higher end design mold, and is a favorable reviewed craft most everywhere I looked for reviews. Literally the ONLY negative I ever saw mentioned was the need to carry a sponge for emergency bailing/removing excess overspray, but that most never had to use theirs.

Would simple scupper plugs not solve the wet foot problem?

on the Pescador

yes it would help for sure but I don't worry about the ones by my feet cause my legs aren't long enough to let my feet get in the water. lol

I do plug the ones by the hatch between the legs and under the seat.

They sure do, but to me... at that point the scout is the better boat. Thats like $30 in plugs for a boat thats already $50 more than the one without scuppers. Make sense?

Update, found Pescadors for $399 new! Dang! Sold under different name, but a rose by any other name...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/sto...;classNum=50621

Note on the west marine pescador/pompano: Looks like they are not including any seat - either bottom or back with this. OTOH, I am not saying the plastic may not be as comfortable as the standard seat.

Looks like West Marine has some drastic markdowns on kayak seats also.....the pompano with an aftermarket seat may end up being a better boat and still cheaper than the standard. Those old WS tarpon molds sure have earned their keep.

Sure have!

More notes - the WM pompano descr says it has two flush mounted rod holders (although the pics shows one) and says it also have an anchor trolley. I'm thinking a pompano with an aftermarket seat may be well ahead of the academy version of the pesc. The trick would be finding a seat that worked for you - the std pesc seat is a "fixed,folding" thing that at least gives you good back support. Read the reviews on the WM pompano first if you are considering this yak and make sure it's not a deal killer for you.

For big guys or tandem, the Lifetime Manta Tandem can be found for under $500. Got mine for $299 when Sports Authority was getting rid of them this spring.
Very slow, tracks meh, but very stable, never get my feet or butt wet.

I'm a Pescador and have no complaints other than not being able to cast net shad from it.

need some Scotty stabilizers and you could fix that. Or make some from scratch.

With some practice it can be done sitting down as well.

Scupper plugs... Cheap >>>---> http://m.grainger.com/mobile/product/Rubber-Tip-6J572


http://www.overstock.com/#/Sports-Toys/Jef-World-of-Golf-Yellow-Foam-Practice-Balls/8270600/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&ef_id=UhA8wgAABIYS@K6q:20131127222159:s

http://m.golfsmith.com/product/30034386/hank-haney-foam-practice-balls-12-ct/?lcode=CI&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=30034386&prof=21&camp=7814&affcode=cr545521&cid=37024404071&networkType=search&tcode=GOOGLE&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product+Listing+Ads-_-All+Product+Listings-_-&url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.golfsmith.com%252Fproduct%252F30034386%252Fhank-haney-foam-practice-balls-12-ct%252F%2526lcode%253DCI&gclid=CMiL25WBhrsCFa9DMgod7jgAYQ

I'm not a caveman. I can manipulated all sorts of round and or cylindrical objects into the round opening. I graps the tricky concept of a "plug".... my point was simply that having scuppers that need plugging because they don't function (constantly submerged when craft is in the water) makes them NOT scuppers at all and irritates me and means I'd be better off without them. If the tops of the scupper holes already ride below water line on a 350lb rate kayak, at the front of the kayak where almost no weight is, with only a 180lb paddler on board, something tells me the scuppers shouldn't even be there in the first place. Further more, I'd much rather be buying a sponge to get rid of water that made its way in than be buying scupper plugs to plug holes that weren't thoughtfully engineered to function at even half capacity. I really don't understand why they ride fully submerged.

Thanks for posting that, that's the kayak I enjoyed while in the ocean in the Bahamas! It was my first kayak experience and got me hooked. Thing handled 4ft breaking rollercoaster waves with me and my wife on board (300lb or so) with never more than a bit of mist across the nose. Great fun!

I was steered by more knowledgeable advisers here to the pescador as my starter yak and I couldn't have been more pleased. I remain hard pressed to believe there's one out there offering more bang for the buck. I'm convinced they paddle the best out of ones in that price range.

its a rely good looking and i wan a buy one for my next fishing trip

I have had the OLD TOWN VAPOR 10 ANGLER for a couple years now. Guadalupe river fishing only. Only time I turtled was my fault, I have had gar pull me around the river, and if I wasnt so old it would be easier to paddle up river. I like the sit in, plenty of room, space for tackle behind me and fits nicely in the back of my Dakota. Just dont get caught in the rain, it does tend to hold water.