River kayaking has become more fun and adventurous with the best river fishing kayaks on the market.
Whether you want to go for hunting trips, family outings, or adventures, these kayaks are a fit.
The popularity of kayaking has made it possible to have the innovative best river fishing kayaks. There is a difference between fishing in an ocean and a river.
This means that you should make use of the right kayak for each trip on the water. The best river fishing kayaks have made it easier for you to drift down the water for your fishing.
You need a comfortable and friendly kayak for your river fishing that can offer you more maneuverability. A kayak equipped with the right features and storage space can help you with your fishing.
Before you buy your kayak, you should learn more about specifications and features. This article has been created to offer you a well-detailed view on some of the best river fishing kayaks.
Table of Contents
Top river fishing kayaks my tests
| River fishing kayaks | Pros | Cons |
| Vibe Kayaks Skipjack 90
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It has a load capacity that is enough.
The company has great customer service. It has carry handles for ease of carrying. It is equipped with many storage options with waterproof hatches. It has four-rod holders The kayak is lightweight and mobile. It has a sturdy build. It offers paddle leashes |
There are complaints about the seat’s buckles being lousy.
It has low top speed.
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| Perception Pescador Pro
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The model is among the best river fishing kayaks with adjustable and comfortable seats.
It offers great stability. It is a two-man vessel. The kayak offers strong and leak-proof construction. It has ample storage space. The kayak has several mounting options.
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This model is very expensive.
It is more on the hefty side. It does not have high-quality rod holder.
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| Sun Dolphin Excursion
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The model is an entry-level kayak.
It comes as a lightweight and portable kayak. It offers a robust design. It has amazing tracking and stability. The model is affordable. It has a two-year warranty.
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The fishing kayak is not for professionals.
It has a low speed. It has a low weight capacity. It has a limited storage space.
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| Lifetime Tandem
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The kayak has a 500-pound load capacity.
The model is a great bang for the buck. It has many storage space options. It is fitted for many fishing techniques. It offers superior stability. The model offers a self-bailing system. It comes with a five-year warranty.
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The kayak is heavy for one person to handle and carry.
The seats lack cushioning. It has short paddles for a kayak that is wide.
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| Sevylor Coleman Colorado
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The model is super portable.
It can suit two persons. It has tough construction. The kayak has many storage options. It has a Boston valve for easy inflation and deflation.
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The storage hatches are not waterproof.
The rod holders’ position can get in the way.
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Types of best river fishing kayaks
Here is a list of some of the fishing kayaks you need for a river adventure:
Vibe Kayaks Skipjack 90
Vibe Kayaks Skipjack 90 is innovative and suitable for anglers who want something great while fishing. It has a length of 9 feet and 32 inches in width.
The kayak lets users guide it seamlessly. It offers a hard-chined hull that is edgy for better tracking and speed.
This river kayak is not the fastest on the market, but it has a moderate speed that is enough for your navigation.
This model is a sit-on-top kayak that has an elevated rocker for better views of the water. It offers users easy access to things happening on the deck.
The seat is fitted with an ergonomic backrest and a cushion that ensure you have a comfortable fishing experience for a long time without suffering any back pain.
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The kayak is made of polyurethane that is durable, naturally buoyant, and leak-proof. The model is equipped with six scupper holes for draining water out of the kayak.
The holes ensure that your lower body is dry. The fishing kayak is fitted with four flush-mount rod holders and universal mounting points for fish finders and cameras.
The outer hull is rigged with bungee leashes to ensure that a paddle is not lost when landing a catch. The rigged hull helps to secure the paddle.
It has numerous storage options for you, including a central waterproof well to keep your personal items dry. It has sealed hatches in its bow and a massive tank at the rear for the tackle box and gear.
It has a 300-pound load capacity that is suitable for one angler with heavy gear on board. It weighs 46 pounds, which makes it easier to transport.
Pros:
It has a load capacity that is enough.
The company has great customer service.
It has carry handles for ease of carrying.
It is equipped with many storage options with waterproof hatches.
It has four-rod holders
The kayak is lightweight and mobile.
It has a sturdy build.
It offers paddle leashes.
Cons:
There are complaints about the seat’s buckles being lousy.
It has low top speed.
Perception Pescador Pro
The Perception Pescador Pro is among the best river fishing kayaks for your fishing activities. It is comfortable to use and stable on the water.
The kayak is an excellent model that can handle two people with a load capacity of 375 pounds. This is suitable for two people and their gear.
The lawn chairs are some of the highlights of the kayak. It allows you to sit comfortably for hours. Its removable seats come with two-level adjustments for lowering or optimal casting for better paddling.
The seats are made of breathable mesh for cooling during hot and sunny climates. It measures a length of 12 feet and 32.5 inches in width.
The kayak is ideal for fishing in streams and slow-moving rivers. The length makes it an exception for maneuverability.
The width ensures perfect stability that allows anglers to stand up and cast without losing balance or tipping over.
It has an easy installation with many of its hardware mounting options and gear tracks for fish finders, cameras, GPS, and rod holders.
There is lots of storage room in the stern and bow tank wells for users. The paddle holder lets users to rest their paddle and grab the rod without losing it in the water.
This model is made from polyethylene to offer great resistance to UV and abrasion. The Pescador Pro is great to use, but expensive.
Pros:
The model is among the best river fishing kayaks with adjustable and comfortable seats.
It offers great stability.
It is a two-man vessel.
The kayak offers strong and leak-proof construction.
It has ample storage space.
The kayak has several mounting options.
Cons:
This model is very expensive.
It is more on the hefty side.
It does not have a high-quality rod holder.
Sun Dolphin Excursion
On our list, this model is a great entry-level model that is packed with features for fishing. The Sun Dolphin Excursion is one of the best river fishing kayaks on the market.
It measures 10 feet long and 29 inches wide and is constructed as a small and stable floater for calm waters. The kayak tracks excellently for the shorter boats.
It can hold a straight line while navigating narrow streams. It weighs 40 pounds, making an extremely lightweight fishing kayak.
The model is a sit-inside kayak that protects users from the weather and helps in keeping them dry. However, it does not have stability compared to the sit-on-top kayaks.
It compensated its users with the open cockpit design that offers enough legroom and improves the steadiness of the kayak.
This product is rugged with UV stabilized polyethylene for maximum strength and longevity. The kayak is fully rigged to accommodate newbies.
It offers two flush-mount rod holders, a paddle holder, a padded seat, a cup holder, and a swivel-mounted rod holder.
Pros:
The model is an entry-level kayak.
It comes as a lightweight and portable kayak.
It offers a robust design.
It has amazing tracking and stability.
The model is affordable.
It has a two-year warranty.
Cons:
The fishing kayak is not for professionals.
It has a low speed.
It has a low weight capacity.
It has a limited storage space.
Lifetime Tandem
When it comes to the best river fishing kayaks, Lifetime Tandem has the highest weight capacity on our list. It comes with a weight capacity of 500 pounds.
The kayak is great for plus-sized kayakers and anglers who like to go fishing in groups. It has two paddler seats and a passenger one in the middle.
This makes room for two adults and a pet or a child. It measures 10 feet long and 36 inches wide. The width takes care of fast water twisting watercourses.
The model is a sit-on-top with a tunnel hull design, that lets users fish sideways. They can extend their legs into the water or cast while standing up and never trip over or lose balance.
The seats are elevated to keep you dry and allow for accurate casting. The model has four pole holders and a 6-inch storage hatch at the rear.
It has plenty of storage space in the bow area. It is made of high-density polyethylene for superior strength and durability.
Pros:
The kayak has a 500-pound load capacity.
The model is a great bang for the buck.
It has many storage space options.
It is fitted for many fishing techniques.
It offers superior stability.
The model offers a self-bailing system.
It comes with a five-year warranty.
Cons:
The kayak is heavy for one person to handle and carry.
The seats lack cushioning.
It has short paddles for a kayak that is wide.
Sevylor Coleman Colorado
Are you thinking of getting the most portable river kayak? The Sevylor Colorado is considered the most portable kayak for river fishing.
The model is among the best river fishing kayaks that are inflatable. It weighs 40 pounds and can be packed in a trunk.
You can launch the kayak with ease. It has carrying handles on its sides for easy movement. It is fitted with adjustable pole holders for enhanced hand-free fishing.
The paddle holder secures it out of the way while fighting with a fish. This model comes with plenty of storage hatches in the bow and stern.
The seats have mesh pockets for keeping your food close to you. The D-rings allow you to clip your pump, whistle, and knot tying tools.
If the kayak is inflated, it measures 10 feet 9 inches long and 35.5 inches wide. It is a sit-inside kayak with adjustable seats and high sides to keep you nice and dry.
The model has a capacity of 470 pounds and can fit two grown anglers with their fishing equipment comfortably.
The bottom is crafted from 1000D tarpaulin, and the whole body is covered with 840D nylon for extra protection and waterproofness.
Pros:
The model is super portable.
It can suit two persons.
It has tough construction.
The kayak has many storage options.
It has a Boston valve for easy inflation and deflation.
Cons:
The storage hatches are not waterproof.
The rod holders’ position can get in the way.
Factors to Consider When Looking The Best River Fishing Kayaks
Here is what to consider when you want to buy a river fishing kayak:
Length: You should go for length between 8 and 12 feet in length.
Width: for stability, kayaks with widths of 30 inches or more should be your choice.
Weight Capacity: Make sure you pick the right weight capacity that can suit your fishing experience.
Type of Cockpit: You can consider either the sit-on-top (SOT) or the sit-inside (SIK). Sit-on-top kayaks are the most preferred type for river fishing
Portability: You decide how portable your best river fishing kayaks should be.
Storage: Check the storage space of the kayak before making the purchase.
Top Final Verdict
You can pick your river fishing kayak from the list we gave you. We are taking the Skipjack 90 as our best river fishing kayak.
This is because of its short length and wide deck. It has everything you need from rod holders and mounting options for your fishing gadgets.
