HARRISBURG — Usually new trends and products are scoffed at by veteran hunters, allowing the newbie crowd to try them and letting the test of time weed out the gimmicks.
There is a major exception to that wait-and-see approach, however, by even the oldest of old salts among the waterfowl hunting fraternity. In recent years the use of kayaks has hooked scores of anglers pursuing everything from salmon to bass and trout. Likewise, waterfowlers are flocking to the use of kayaks for their intended purpose as a watercraft and also for ground blinds.
Not surprisingly among the leaders in this surge is the Ascend line of kayaks that is available exclusively at Bass Pro Shops, the sporting goods chain that introduced the original Tracker fishing boat packages. Ascent kayaks are made in the Tracker Marine factory in Missouri, and waterfowl hunters are flocking to them with a loyal following similar to that of anglers to the line of fishing boats.
While Ascend kayaks are available in a variety of lengths and colors, the most popular fishing colors are green, a black-and-neutral similar to the new military camouflage and the standard black-and-green camouflage. These hull colors, of course, make them the ideal craft for waterfowl hunting.
Both sit-in and sit-on models are available in 10- and 12-foot lengths, but this is one instance where bigger is not the best choice for everyone. Also, the sit-in models have the advantage of being able to store items — like a shotgun — under the forward deck with quick access when jump-shooting ducks.
Although the FS12 has a load capacity of 350 pounds, this is not a major concern because one of the big advantages of waterfowl hunting from a kayak is eliminating the need to pack a lot of gear. For that reason the FS10, with a load capacity of 325 pounds and a weight of 51 pounds, is an excellent choice as it can be transported in pickup trucks with standard beds. In addition, its made-in-the-USA tag retails for less than $500.
Recently, Bass Pro Shops Harrisburg manager Jim O’Brien of Minersville used a FS10 Ascend to demonstrate the advantages of using kayaks for waterfowl hunting during an in-store seminar. These kayaks come equipped with side paddle holders and can be customized to install U-shape brackets on the gunnels to keep a shotgun within reach, or a soft-side gun case can be installed under the upper front deck to keep a shotgun out of the weather.
“Ascend kayaks became one of our best sellers when we first began to carry them, and now that there have been upgrades in the design it’s almost impossible for us to keep them in stock,” O’Brien said. “We’ve always had some waterfowl hunters who enjoyed hunting ducks mostly from kayaks designed for fishing, but many of them needed modifications.
“With the improvements to the FS10 over the original models there is very little need for them to be customized for hunting, and the watertight storage compartment on the forward deck is the perfect place to store items such as cell phones. There is more room for gear because the foam flotation blocks have been replaced with sprayed-in foam.”
O’Brien said he learned from first-hand experience the durability of the hull, which incorporates an extended keel with performance rocker and strakes for maximum maneuvering, tracking, stability and ease of maneuvering when paddling. Ascend kayaks are designed to withstand encounters with submerged rocks and other hazards without sustaining damage, but he said his FS10 surpassed the manufacturer’s claims.
“We were on a family fishing trip and my wife forgot to tie down the kayak in the bed of the pickup truck,” O’Brien said. “Going around a bend on a dirt road at about 35 mph the kayak slid out and bounced off a tree.
“Expecting the worst, the hull wasn’t even scratched, let alone cracked. I guess it’s OK for me to tell this story because I’ll make sure she doesn’t read this.”