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I Bought the WRONG Fishing Kayak… Don’t Make My Mistake

Wendell Fishing

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Thinking about buying a fishing kayak? Before you spend your money, here are 10 things you NEED to know before buying a fishing kayak that could save you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars. Whether you're looking for your first fishing kayak, comparing pedal vs paddle kayaks, considering a motorized fishing kayak, or trying to figure out the best fishing kayak for beginners, I break down the biggest fishing kayak buying mistakes anglers make, including stability, hull design, weight and transportation, comfort, pedal drives, motors, accessories, warranties, rigging, and the true cost of owning a kayak. If you're shopping for a new or used fishing kayak from Old Town, Bonafide, NuCanoe, Native Watercraft, Hobie, or any other brand, watch this fishing kayak buying guide before you buy so you don't end up with the wrong kayak for the way you actually fish.

Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank You!

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TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS

0:00 Buying Your First Fishing Kayak? Start Here
0:06 What to Look for When Buying a Fishing Kayak
1:02 How Stable Does a Fishing Kayak Need to Be?
2:16 How to Choose a Fishing Kayak for Where You Fish
3:30 Fishing Kayak Weight, Transport & Storage
4:23 Do You Need a Pedal Drive or Motor on a Fishing Kayak?
5:21 How to Choose a Reliable Fishing Kayak Brand
6:04 Fishing Kayak Seat Comfort & Ergonomics
6:38 Best Fishing Kayak Upgrades for Beginners
8:07 Should You Try a Fishing Kayak Before Buying?
8:30 How to Choose Your First Fishing Kayak
9:28 How Much Does a Fishing Kayak REALLY Cost?

20 Comments

@wendellfishing Creator 1 month ago Pinned

Help a brother out — if you enjoyed the video, make sure to “Hype” it on your phone after you hit that Like button! 👊🔥

@raygissendanner1476 1 month ago

Are you calling out Austin lol

@raygissendanner1476 1 month ago

Thank you for the great information on kayaks I was telling my nephew the same thing about get a new vehicle get the one you can afford and that will do everything you are needing it to do

@coldspring624 1 month ago

I fished Nimisula for years when not on Erie. You are in my old grounds. I fished Nimi when the pike were numerous . Now its all lake Superior and lake Michigan. I thought I recognized the water in some of your clips. All good food for thought for the prospective buyer.

@howardrichburg2398 1 month ago

MY crate is the 5 gal bucket I have been using for years fishing for everything and everywhere . All the gear i need fits in there, I can dump it out and haul my fish or beer.

@ak3ldama 1 month ago

My first kayak is a Pelican rebel sit inside. Cheap but just enough perks. Love the dang thing. Light enough to lift onto a car and get out on the water. About a year later added a couple tie downs for an anchor and next looking to add a fish finder but kept it simple so far. By far the best fishing purchase I can imagine is getting a kayak, such a wholesome hobby. Sitting in a river catching catfish and seeing a deer come to the bank is so peaceful. Learn as you go and keep it simple.

@lanceh.5671 1 month ago

Very true words. I started small and simple and stayed that way. 😊

@warnerww83 4 days ago (edited)

I originally purchased an Oldtown Sportsman 106 paddle Kayak, and spent a long time convinced I should have gotten the pedal version. The more I fish in my local area, the more grateful I am that I didn't. This kayak is easy to toss in the back of my truck, it can go in any water I need it to, and its been rare that I felt I needed to cover more water than paddling could provide. If anything its forced me to slow down and pick apart the water. I'm a working parent, I don't see myself getting into tournaments anytime soon.

@lowlifeangler 1 month ago (edited)

As the wrong kayak:
Saw a barely used Native Propel LTE for sale.
Equipped with:
NK180 HD , Native Sidekicks wheels, Yakattack Blackpak,a huge finder graph package, rod holders anchor wizard. $4500. Good price for all the extra items. But overloaded for this 10ft lightweight kayak. The seller probably didn't like it after rigged up. Should of have bought a Native Titan or a similar fishing kayak to rig up.

@Qu3st4Gold 1 month ago

I am kfast certified. I love my first kayak, but it took a few trips to love it.

@Siimplyphysics 1 month ago

gang caught a fish mid video , tough 🔥🔥🔥

@brianklimaszewski 1 month ago

I just bought my first kayak last week and literally went through all these thoughts and stages when deciding what to get. Was initially thinking oh man I need a super stable kayak since I'm a bigger guy and added all the fishing stuff to the cart. Then I was like wait I'm only getting this to go kayaking with my kids, so maybe I should focus on a stable easy paddling kayak and landed with the sportsman 120 pro. Bought a nice paddle because whether I like fishing in it or not I'm going to want the nice paddle to kayak with the kids. Then I bought a crate and anchor wizard all of which I can use on a boat or easily sell.

@fishingguuru6888 1 month ago

sir i missed the part where you bought the wrong kayak in the thumnale

@duanezablocki8249 1 month ago

Ohio here. I get the pains of the registration thing. But my favorite kayak is the one I have. It's better than not having none. It's a perception showdown. It's nice for not being one of the biggest name yaks. Had it out in lake Erie a few times and was very stable. Just heavy. But like I said, it's better than none. I just wish I was a good angler lol

@stevemartin6592 1 month ago

Excellent practical advice!

@WatchEmFlop 1 month ago

Solid advice and nice mid vid catch😎

@lowlifeangler 1 month ago

Good questions, good answers.
I bought the Native Propel LTE because the haul weight and the Propel drive for easy transport without a trailer. Predrilled for a small electric motor in the future. For $2300, it was a good budget. Yes, I could have borrowed more $$. All the accessories that I use from my cheap paddle kayak can attach to the Native within minutes that saved minutes. Which saved money. Except for the Wendell Fishing stickers.
They are on both kayaks 😂.
I need a 2 kayak trailer before thinking of getting a pedal/ motor combo or fully motorized.
Probably go all out with the Fluxjet kayak.

@grumpysgarage7276 1 month ago

Great information. I had a Bonafide RS117 and Feelfree Moken 10 V2. I am stuck on debating between a pedal kayak or a motorized one. I am a 100% disabled veteran, I am not sure that I have the endurance for a pedal kayak yet the physical exercise of it would be good for me. Mainly fish lakes and reservoirs

@lowlifeangler 1 month ago

Ha! Love the fish catch in mid video with the VoltIQ X! If you want to get rid of it, let me know first!
I love your explanation vids while on the water NOT in front of a desk like most YouTube channels.

@robertpapps3618 1 month ago (edited)

Thanks for your post! A number of years ago I settled on a 14 ft Hornbeck Classic pack canoe. The bare boat weighs 25 lbs. I use it constantly as it pretty much puts itself on top of the car. I'm sure my seat isn't as comfortable as the ones I see on some of the more deluxe setups but at 76 years old I usually lose interest after about three hours so the seat is seldom a limiting factor.