I picked up the Ascend 133X Match Kayak in an Supreme Freshwater Fishing Package deal that was available by Bass Pro in the course of their Spring Traditional sale. You can nonetheless come across the Saltwater Ultimate Fishing Package which is similar but has the Saltwater model of the Motorguide Xi3 Trolling Motor I have the black Freshwater model. It’s the similar package I received other than with the Bass Pro Lithium battery and the Garmin 7-inch device. They also give a Freshwater Fishing Bundle with no battery, and a smaller sized fundamental fish finder for about $1,000 a lot less. It is even now a great package but for the sake of this evaluation I will emphasis on the capabilities of the Ascend 133x Event Kayak and also talk about some of the items I liked and didn’t like about the package deal add-ons with this kayak.
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THE ASCEND 133X Tournament KAYAK SPECS
There is a ton to like about the Ascend 133X Match Kayak and there are some issues that will acquire a minor obtaining employed to. A handful of of the specs related to this huge kayak involve its fat of 125 pounds, its whopping potential of 550 pounds, the entrance plate for mounting trolling motors, numerous wiring areas for batteries and other increase-ons, dry storage areas in the front and back again, by means of hull access for operating wires and more, and sufficient open up inside for carrying a whole lot of equipment in entrance and in back.
On major of that the kayak is 13 ft long and 36 1/2 inches large. That is a good width for a fishing kayak most of the time, but with this boat staying so extended, it does appear to be narrow till you get in it and get your legs below you so to communicate.
The pre-mounted tracks make introducing extras pretty uncomplicated. They are a little bit forward, I would like to see just one extra observe closer to the seat. Having said that, there are pleasant deal with storage cubbies on possibly facet as effectively as a slide out tray underneath the comfort and ease seat. The seat can also be altered up or down if you desire sitting down down in the boat although paddling or up a minimal higher whilst fishing. The foot pedals are very easily altered to make it relaxed to dig in and fish.
The roto-molded hull gives the boat its keel and footprint in the water that makes it secure. 1 word of warning as this was an adjustment for me getting been in a lot of other kayaks: the hull is made thinner and significantly less rigid than some kayaks I am a lot more acquainted fishing out of. This gives the boat an extra flex that I was not accustomed to. This created the boat feel like it was unstable for about the first 5 minutes. What I considered was me having difficulties to equilibrium in the boat was truly me adjusting to the flex in the material. Just after about 10 minutes, I under no circumstances wavered or believed about it once again. That was just one issue I would convey to persons who may possibly experience the similar feeling.
FISHABILITY OF THE ASCEND 133X Match KAYAK
I’ve been fishing out of it now for a thirty day period and have had a ball this spring catching spawning crappie, bluegill, shell crackers and bass that have started off transferring shallow in recent days. I located paddling the Ascend 133X to be a ton simpler than I imagined it would be specified its 13 feet of size. I stood up to fish a time or two but I struggle with balance concerns soon after a back and hip personal injury. Therefore I don’t stand for lengthy intervals quite very well. I didn’t locate it to be the most fishable boat standing up, but I was able to stand up and fish out of it. It just usually takes receiving used to the flex of the content.
The boat is tremendous fishy with a trolling motor and graph on it. It feels pretty much like a little boat or canoe with its deep nicely location. I had a backpack of deal with, various rods, net, rope, and other equipment in the well. The two rod holders in the back again are great as well as the substantial again tank to maintain a huge crate, batteries and extra. The storage was very good on this kayak. I could have a whole lot of equipment simply in arms reach without having sensation too cluttered.
I was equipped to maintain with the MotorGuide Xi3 distant and anchor lock means and fish locations little by little and comprehensively that permit me decide on up a bunch of major crappie this spring out of the yak.
I use Livescope a lot and wished the observe was a little closer to my chair and not so significantly in front of me. I even played with mounting my transportable Livescope arm which is on a transom mount trolling motor bracket that I can tighten down to the side of a gunnel. The handles on this kayak made that a minor additional tough as that is correct where by I wanted to mount the Livescope arm. I did get it to get the job done and was plainly able to capture a bunch of fish.
The place TO FISH OUT OF THE ASCEND 133X Match KAYAK
I performed around and fished a several various locations out of this kayak and for me, I like the trolling motor solution. I think this is a fantastic compact waters craft. When I got it out in pretty wavy situations, I felt a very little uneasy about the security. I hardly ever had an concern and under no circumstances tipped it but I was careful and very careful as, yet again, I didn’t sense as relaxed in huge h2o as I did in lesser, calmer waters.
1 consideration is this can be a absolutely functioning boat in waters with no way to launch a complete dimension boat. The Xi3 trolling motor and a solitary 12-Volt Tracker Lithium battery could make this boat scoot. With a Garmin 7-inch fish finder and Livescope, I assume I could find and catch the fish in any small water I fall this kayak in.
The catch is you will need to figure out how to get the kayak in and out of the drinking water. At 125 pounds, it’s on the superior conclude of weight for fishing kayaks and a little bit cumbersome for more compact anglers to port about on their own. I utilised a established of kayak wheels to not only unload the boat from my truck, which saved my back again a large amount, but it also served me get the kayak to the h2o. If you tie a strap to your wheels and one particular to your kayak, you can roll the kayak to the h2o, enable it go in the water and then pull your wheels absolutely free when the kayak floats off. Then pull the wheels in by the strap and pull the kayak back again in by the strap. It’s a helpful and rapid way to get it in the h2o with out hurting your back.
A Great BOAT FOR A KAYAK MOTOR
To me, the Motorguide Xi3 and the Ascend 133X Event Kayak are a best pairing. The motor was a lot more than enough to transfer this boat all over, fish all working day with a solitary battery and get in and out no problem on more compact lakes or remaining in one bay on significant lakes like Kentucky Lake. It’s been a dang blast this spring for me. I glance ahead to fishing a good deal far more out of this spring and summer season. I previously have some close friends seeking me to leave it at their lake dwelling to make getting it in and out of the drinking water quick and simple. It need to be a enjoyment boat for tooling close to and chasing shallow fish.
The Ascend 133X Match Kayak is approximately $1,099 by itself. The Bass Pro Paddling Offer is an additional $150 for a paddle and existence jacket and the Freshwater Tournament package deal is $2,399 for the kayak, paddle, little fish finder, MotorGuide distant managed Xi3 trolling motor, rod holder, and rapid launch plate for rapid getting rid of and mounting of the trolling motor. The Top Saltwater Fishing bundle has a significantly improved Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73sv fish finder as properly as a Lithium Battery for $3,964.
The Freshwater Match deal is a great price tag position for all that is bundled and a prepared to go fishing vessel for less than $2,500. It’s a good price kayak for individuals that can’t find the money for $3,000 for a kayak and $2,000 of insert-on accessories but want to obtain a ton extra water than they can from the bank.
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