My first time Kayaking and this Kayak held strong. ru-vid.comUgkx4k5UrhC3v_Y4hIEaXLGvHcN5a5aBmZNB The water got pretty rough as a speed boat zipped by me, and the Kayak withstood it (I expected to be capsized). The Ores are very easy to put together, the pump worked beautifully. the seats are a bit hard to sit in after a while (I recommend sitting on the floor). after reading the reviews I was very scared it'd get a hole in it, the material is very strong and durable. The Air valve may need a small Phillips head screwdriver to adjust, other than that, it's well worth the money!(update)I've gone Kayaking in 3 Lakes and 2 rivers totaling about 40 miles. the kayak had two holes and they patched easily and no other problems can't wait for kayaking season this year!
I picked up my Big Fish 120 a week ago and have been out once. This is my first kayak, I'm 64, 6'1", 250lbs. I was concerned, due to its weight and size (and mine), that it might be a bear to paddle. I took it out on a local reservoir/river in a light wind (10-15mph) and chop. On the contrary, it was a dream to paddle even with the seat in the high position. It tracked very well regardless of the direction of the wind, was extremely stable and maneuvered well. I seriously could have gone all day. I got a Werner Shuna paddle and I can support everything you've said in your other videos about spending money on a quality paddle. I know this can be a real expense for many people but I'm a firm believer that you don't want to practice false-economy when making a long-term purchase like this. Do you research, save for what you want, try not to cut corners, and it will reward you by making the experience even better than you imagined.
We love the Vibe SG130, fished these in lakes and the gulf!! Super stable and the hatches stay dry!! With all the features you get with the vibe plus GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE all under a 1000.00 bucks that's hard to beat!!!
I’m a 5’11” 285 Anglr and have had the sea ghost 130 for about two months and I absolutely love it. I’ve tipped some other kayaks in past as a big guy and this yak is plenty stable for me to stand up and paddle off the shore line. Haven’t stood up to fish yet but don’t think there would be any issue with it.
I've been fishing out of my Yellowfin 100 for a year now and love it. I mostly fish big ponds and calm flatwater lakes. The stability is great even at 6' 1" and 200 lbs but it takes some practice to stand and fish. Like you said, it's a great grab and go yak. I can pull up and have it in the water and launched in minutes and the same for docking and loading. I highly recommend it for anyone as a starter yak and anyone only fishing small water not wanting to break the bank on something they don't really need. I do recommend installing an anchor trolley and anchor. There is plenty of room in the hull to put a battery for a fishfinder and any other electronics too. Another recommendation is to spend a little money and upgrade the paddle. The one that comes with it is great as a back-up but the plastic blades and aluminum shaft gets a little tiresome to paddle after a few hours or if the water gets rough in bigger lakes. I found an Aquabound Sting Ray Carbon Posi-Lok for $150 on a local site and I love it and can tell a big difference. In fact, enough of a difference that if I bought a bigger kayak I'd probably research getting an even better paddle. It really makes it a lot more enjoyable if you're going to be out for several hours. I hope my personal review might help reninforce your great review for anyone starting out. One last note. You need to think about how much you're going to use it and where and maybe think about waiting a little longer and saving up and just spending the money right off the bat to get a bigger, more stable, and possibly a peddle kayak. I will definitely keep my Vibe Yellowfin 100 because it fits a personal need for grab and go but I'm honestly already wanting a Hobie Pro Angler or Native so I can cover bigger water, faster.
I got the Big Fish120 and I love it. It is so stable and has tons of room. But it really needs a rudder to help with the tracking. Other than that its was the best money I've spent.
We have a couple of Moken 12.5’s (and a Moken 10 as well) and we just bought a Big Fish 120. Haven’t been able to get it out yet. We love our Mokens, but we are not off shore fishermen so we have found a couple of mods for another seat. Can’t wait to try that out as well, because the 12.5 is a dream to paddle and the ONLY drawback for us is the seat- though it is comfortable in its own right.
The Cabela's Advanced Angler 120 is the same boat, obviously made by Big Fish. The Cabela's price is $999 , too, but I was lucky and got one that was returned to the Bargain Cave for $700. I really like the hull design. Great boat, it's just not as fast as many others, but, I'm fishing, not racing. I'm going to see if there's a way to add a hatch for dry storage.
Awesome review last year when I bought my first kayak. This video was so much help. I got into my yellowfin 100 and don’t regret it. Great starter kayak. But now I think I am going to upgrade to a big fish 105.
I also wanted to apologize when you tried to give advise and i ignored it on performance and speed being better then stability. I suppose i just wanted something simple yes later down the road when i have more experience i will be looking into a bigger better kayak an more costly by that time newer better kayaks will be out and i will be coming to u again with comparisons. you still have the best vids compared with others even mentioned that in the comments on a few of them on some comparison vids for kayaks your the only person who not only talks about the specs but shows how each one u spoke about performs on the water and thats what makes choosing easier.
I just orderd a Big fish 120 for the quality and price it's a real winner i'm getting a rudder put on it and will be using it here on the Venice Laguna in Italy,thanks for sharing
The problem with the Bigfish is it's enormous even in the 10 foot version, the height of it is insane and makes it so much harder to maneuver out of the water than everything else out there. And nothing compares to the FeelFree 0-gravity seat, most comfortable and adjustable seat on the market.
That would be fun. Plan on doing a stability comparison soon. Capacity for yaks is all over the board, and I think it would be fun to take a few popular boats and actually put them to the test with weights and see if they hold the loads they claim.
Now that's something I would really like to see.. I'm 320 and want to get into yaking big time.. wont be standing much but I'll mainly be in the flats and of course I want it super stable
I am 315 - I bought an ascend fs12 some years ago - it works just fine - I have loaded it down with myself, days worth of gear, cooler, and even the occasional kid/dog - Never once had a stability or weight issue
While I appreciate your video, one thing I would ALWAYS like to see or to know is the hull configuration of any boat that you review. It seems that tri-hulls are more stable when standing so for me, this would be an important feature to know about
So torn between the Sea Ghost 110 or the Big Fish 105.....primarily a bass fisherman so leaning towards the Big Fish but the Sea Ghost with the rudder and paddle is an awesome deal.....6'0" and 230 so both should work.....decisions, decisions.....
I love these. I am kind of torn on the feelfree lure 10 and the big fish 105. But for me the bigfish takes with with rudder ready and the thru hull sonar pod. I like the gravity seat better but the big fish being able to convert to a fold back leaning post is great also. Maybe at some point this year ill be able to get a couple for me and my son. For now its sticking with out diy kayaks. Really great over view of these yaks. Thanks!
Nice, I built mine for under 200. But i used a lot of iso on marketplaces to find materiel's. Dont get me wrong i love my diy yaks...But i so want one of these! All of them look great but that bigfish 105 looks perfect for river fishing the Brazos.
Ive got one of the yellowfins you mentioned in the video. Its a great little boat for the money and it doesnt weigh much so car toping it is very easy. Plus you really do get some nice features on it as well. Ive also added one of the poor mans power poles as I call them to the back of it. Along with building my own all in one battery box with the fishfinder and transducer arm all mounted to it. It all fits right between the front foot rest. So I just put it on when in use and pack it up when Im done. One thing I will admit about the vibe kayaks though is I dont think the plastic of the hull is as thick as higher end brands. It seems like the deck has a lot of flex in it. I had one of the Jackson cudas before and it just seemed like a much tougher kayak.
Jason S I agree. Compared to the Feelfree, Native, Nucanoe the plastic on the Vibe is thinner, but they also weigh a lot less. Same material just less of it. Bonafide took the same approach with their new yaks. They have more flex, but they are way lighter when car-topping. I’ve had very few Vibe Warranties, but when I have they have replaced every one no questions asked.
Headwaters Kayak Yeah im not to worried about it myself as most of my fishing is done on lakes where im launching in sand. And I love the lighter weight since I do car top..
My own opinion. Molded in front and back handles are nice. However, when you have to portage on a river, they are not user friendly. Your hand needs something a bit smaller in diameter to hold that thing for a longer trek. I wish they'd make them smaller in diameter. It is really hard to hold on to that molded in handle for a hundred yards. If you are stupid like me, and take your fishing kayak down a rather rapid river, fishing kayaks are not really suited for that. But what I learned is that when trekking down a river, those little bungees do not hold gear down when you flip your kayak. Big bungees don't either. Do not trust them. You need positive, hard fastened straps to hold your gear in place, like the Feel Free provides in back of the seat. You won't lose stuff in the hull, again like Feel Free and others provide. Hull storage is important, I think. The new Big Fish doesn't have hull storage so you better add pad eyes for positive tie-down of your deck stuff. Everything should be tied down solidly. I have the Feel Free 10 and love it. Only complaints are too large of diameter on the molded in handles, and no hole for at least a skeg. I really don't want a rudder, but skeg would be good. Also, the console needs to be a tighter seal. It is so loose and not water tight. I put a couple of pad eyes in and added a couple of mini bungees to hold that lid down tight. Not water tight, but it won't come open when I flip.
I never kayaked before , so I started watching videos online to get a ideal of what to buy because going to Walmart probably not the best bet. After watching several of your videos I narrowed it down to two Bigfish 105, very stable I would be doing small river fishing so it would be perfect for that location. When i watched another video of yours it said people often have buyers regret buying a slower more most stable boat they can, I was thinking about going with Feelfree Moken 12.5: $799 so I can take it on small rivers for fishing or if I wanted to go for a distant paddle this boat wouldn't be so slow it kill me. Im 6'0 225 LBs any advice be helpful , I plan to of course bringing a life jacket an investing in a good paddle an par-taking in a lesson before jumping in the water.
I'm torn between the sea ghost 110 and the big fish 105 . I want the big fish but I can't get past the 89lb weight all my fishing is in creeks and small rivers where it's not uncommon to have to drag over shoals .
Beautiful Kayak ... There is a store in california. They sell online I would like to give one to my daughter. They are super ..... I liked them ... With time I will see one by one and how much they cost .... thanks for the video and the information .. I will keep the video.
My wife and I are at a Crossroads . was wondering if you could do a video on just a Dorado and 11.5 and nothing else . We are trying to figure out is it worth buying the overdrive and motor and adding it to our lure 11.5 or is it worth spending the money to upgrade to a newer Dorado. we're having a tough time deciding which route we want to go and they're really just isn't a video with a side-by-side explanation on why you would want to do one or the other . We understand the different options that you can get going to a Dorado so it's not the options difference it's just are we better off to spend a little bit of money and keep what we have or in the long run is it just not worth keeping what we have and upgrading thank you and please respond. I hope you can make a video so my wife can make a better informed decision
I'm considering purchasing the big fish 105. I've heard alot of people say that it's not meant for big lakes. Due to the cathedral style and width is this kayak alot tougher than others to paddle in general?
You should do 10 best pedal drive fishing kayaks of 2018 and put them in order from good to best with pros and cons not sure of what pedal drives you carry but would be cool to see but nice video Dan keep up the good work man
Don Juan yes it’s tricky because I don’t sell all the brands and I don’t have a solid relationship with another local shop that would work with me. I’d want to include Hobie and Wilderness and Old Town for sure.
Oh yeah I gotcha man it wouldn't be fair to the other brands and to the people that own those brands but who knows you might get a good relationship with another shop that carries those brands
I just found you this week and have been watching all your videos... Ive only just even knew about fishing kayaks to be honest and have looked closely at the Vibes.. What I want is to use it to fish lightly but mostly paddle boarding with space for my dogs.. Something super stable... Now ive seen so many brands im not only sold on the vibe... what 1 would you pick for that?? Seems like they all are great!!! There is nobody here selling these to try out!!
When I was teaching self rescues, I had a student who had a frame style seat from a good brand and he broke it in the normal trial of re-entry and self rescue. Do you think the frame style seats are weaker than the older style seats? They don't seam as durable and definitely not made for offshore where a deep water self rescue is a must.
Stuck between the Big Fish 120 and the Moken 12.5. I fish mostly on open lakes. I like having stability while standing and a higher seat, but then you have the trade off for speed and paddling ability. What would you recommend?
Awesome video, thank you so much. I believe you did well and kept it unbiased. The negative...you made my decision harder. Do you have any comments on the ozark trail 12' angler? It runs about 500 bucks but if you have reviewed it and don't recommend I will steer clear. Thanks again for your video!
Thanks for taking the time to review these yaks. I have watched it dozens of times to decide what I do and don’t want in my next purchase. You have the Native Manta Ray 12 XT rated at 235lb weight limit capacity. Is this a typo (325...?). Seems low, maybe a yak for smaller people?
Jamey Waits good catch! 325 is what it’s suppose to be. With that said at 230 is stops draining through the scuppers. Found that out yesterday when I tested it
Headwaters Kayak Well I’m around 245lbs so probably won’t work for me. If you have tested the Native Slayer 12 XC what’s your thoughts on this new yak. It has a capacity of 450lbs. Thanks in advance
What kayak would you suggest for camping. I plan on doing kayak camping with my son and his friends this summer and all I have now is for lifetime tamarack kayaks
Question for you Dan. I have narrowed down to the Sea Ghost 110, Flint or Moken 12.5. I live in North Central Florida. Mostly will be in rivers or bays. Would like to try BTB one day as well. Which of the three would you give the nod to?
Thank you for the great video! I suppose all of these kayaks are plastic kayaks. How do they compare to fiberglass fishing kayaks like stealth? I'll be buying a kayak for offshore fishing.
Outstanding. Question: Which one on this list comes with or the possibility to install the foot paddle? If the answer is none so what’s my option for a foot paddle for under $1200
Hi Dan. I’m looking for a kayak that I can use for photography and keep leaning toward the fishing yaks. Since I’m a newbie can you tell me if I’m on track and if so what would be a good boat to start with. My concerns are stability, storage and maneuvering. Thanks !
I really want the big fish, but I’m looking into a pelican catch 100 for the price and the fact I can grab local. I’m curious though, have you ever used a catch 100? Your opinion would mean a lot. I’ve been in a tamarack and I’m looking to upgrade paddle and boat.
Hello Dan , new to the sport and new subscriber, wow! really wish I had found you and your channel sooner, Great information on so many different kayaks, looking forward to your next vids. I'd like to ask your opinion on the malibu Xfactor, your perspective input on this craft would mean so much. your experience and knowledge base in the sport is obvious and appreciated. Thank you Sam Chino,Ca.
megasam how big are you? You taking it off shore? Malibu quality has been hit and miss over the years but they make a very stable sea worthy craft. Especially for bigger folks. Where is Chino? Down South? Thanks for the SUB! Welcome to the community.
Like my name says "megasam?" 250 lbs. I've rented the a malibu X factor and was able to stand up in it, a lot other's I couldn't stand in. And Definitely can't afford the Hobie's,
Well if you have a Malibu Dealer near you and they’ve let you demo and you like it, go with that. Local shop support is more important than any specific brand. OEX down there sells them and they are a good group of guys.
I currently have the perception pescador pro 100. I really like the boat and have taken it out 5 times on creeks and rivers. Everything is great except that I can’t fit my poles underneath the boat and there is only one 6 inch hatch to the dry storage. I was told by the place that I purchased the kayak from that I could return it for a full refund. They have the big fish 105 that I was also looking at. I noticed that there wasn’t storage under the boat but they also had built in rod holders and standing room while only being 50$ more. I just wanted to know if you thought it would be worth it to get the big fish and your opinion on how the kayaks stack up to one another
Would you consider the big fish 120 to be good for the ocean as well? I want to get in to kayaking but probably won't be able to upgrade when I'm better at it and want to venture out further than the bay
