The Best Kayak For River Fishing in 2022?! 

I wish all fishing kayaks were lighter. Hard to have all the features and durability without the weight. Kayaks use to be way lighter, but they weren’t near as fancy.

I love this! That is actually what I watched this for. I am just as much a rec yaker as a fishing one, and we go out on all kinds of water. I want something that is going to be able to handle in all of it and not be dead weight! Yet, be a solid buy.

I have a ck1 dislike it more each time I take it out, it’s just so hard to paddle unless you are going against current and the seat is painful.

@@TismFishing where do you live? I could definitely use another ck1 here.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Agreed. Based on the 4 criteria outlined at the beginning of the video, I anticipated the kayak being the Crescent LT. That said, great review on the Moken!

The only gripe with the Light Tackle in these conditions is the wet front hatch. We do love the hull design for river fishing. The CK-1 is awesome, just a little slow. Can’t wait to test paddle their new purpose built river fishing platform! 😍

Yea, I could see that. I don't fish class 3 rapids so I hadn't thought about that. I'm really pumped to see the new crescent! I'm most likely going to buy it.

Nice congrats

We’ve used it in years past. It’s a really fun kayak too. A little to wide and slow for my taste. I actually prefer the OG Coosa, but I realize I’m in the minority.

@@HeadwatersKayak it ain’t fast for sure

That’s a though one. If I was on the larger size I’d probably lean towards the Crescent Lite Tackle.

Tarpon 120 is great - a bit less stable than the Moken, but as long as you’re okay with not standing it’s a great ride.

It’s such a great all arounder.

It would be fine for just floating mild rivers, but it doesn’t paddle anywhere near as well as something like the Moken or a Crescent.

Faster and better tracking. Easier to edge and lean. The lure is a better platform for standing and is more stable for the super high position.

@@HeadwatersKayak I'm on the fence as to which one I should get! Seriously considering the moken a lot more! Thanks

Less maneuverable in real tight spots, but better tracking, and a little more well rounded for a multitude of conditions.

This boat has a very nice balance of the two. It tracks well for a 12.5' kayak. We've taken it to the coast in fairly rough conditions. Rudders help if you're paddling in heavy winds.

Always use dry bags no matter the kayak. The feel free hatch is pretty dry but kayaks have ways of getting water in them.

Not yet! I shot a review of it with Dan recently (one of our newest videos on the channel), but I didn’t have a chance to actually get in it yet. My prediction based on the designs and dans experience would be that the Moken is faster while the Shoalie is more stable. Given my style of paddling, I’d probably still go with the Moken as I’m more after hull speed.

240cm

Have one on my truck! I’ll tell you soon.

@@HeadwatersKayak what's your consensus?

@@HeadwatersKayak yea what's your consensus?

I would not want to take a flash in the rivers. The drive would hit on everything, and the center of gravity is higher.

@@HeadwatersKayak did you have the beaver tail rudder when u were testing or no rudder? Also would you even add the rudder in river conditions?

It is very good. Would make my top 5 list no doubt, and so with the Shoalie.

It really depends on your size. If you’re under 220 pounds I would go for a smaller more nimble boat. If you’re over then may be a Lure or something more stable. But with more stability comes less performance, and in most cases last fun. I would also add the Crescent CK-1 or Lite Tackle to your shortlist.

@@HeadwatersKayak thank you for your feedback. I’m about to turn 56 and weigh in about 183. This kayak I’m looking for will be strictly for fly fishing trout and smallmouth rivers and streams and most will have currents swift water mix with slow moving water. In that slower moving water I will want to stand and use my fly rod. Do you feel you could stand up in the moken and fly fish for for a period of time at a slow drift? Would you pick the Crescent CK 1 over the Lure and keep it between the moken and the crescent? Thanks again for any info. I’m not wanting to get into buy sale trade. I will just be using this as a recreational fishing but like well built do the job for my need equipment. Thank you

It’s perfect for all arounder.

I’d be skeptical of taking anything super cheap that’s inflatable on a river that’s class 3 - the old outback design is actually a pretty good river float boat with the drive out and rudder up!

Thanks for the feedback! Good to know that my old outback may work just as well as a budget pontoon boat. Will hold off for now and give my outback a go before, that should help me determine my specific needs.

We have several videos with Crescents. I’ve got the new Lite Tackle I’ll be reviewing soon.

Bending Branches make great paddles

230cm - I use a 220 with my narrower fishing kayaks but had to go 230 since the Moken is a bit wider than my usual whip

Draw stroke. Pulls the kayak sideways. We have a stroke video coming out next week that will break this one down in more detail.

Honestly not sure on this one.

Feelfree went away with the molded cup holders and this seemed to fix the craking problem

Yeah, haven’t heard of any of that happening with the v2