Sprinkled into the sea of paddle board manufacturers Mark and Adam were able to test out many of the new fishing kayaks from Diablo Paddlesports, Native Watercraft, Old Town, Jackson Kayak and more. The guys jokingly called the event Paddleboard Fest and SUP Fest because the demo was absolutely dominated by everything stand up paddle board.

Diablo "Amigo"

The "Amigo" by Diablo Paddlesports is their first rotomolded kayak. The Amigo paddled well and its lower profile did not catch the wind like previous Diablo models.

Old Town "Predator 13"

Old Town "Predator MX"

Old Town had the "Predator 13" and "Predator MX" on hand. Initial tests showed both boats to be stable in both the high and low position and handled extremely well.

Jackson Kayak "Big Rig"

The "Big Rig" by Jackson Kayaks is certainly a kayak for larger kayak anglers. The rod channels were the standout feature of this kayak. The demo model was equipped with the Power-Pole "Micro" which stopped the Big Rig with ease.

Native Watercraft "Slayer Propel 13"

The Native Watercraft "Propel 13" was the standout at the outdoor demo for the YakAngler crew. The kayak was much more comfortable to peddle then the "Ultimate Propel" and "Mariner Propel" models. Mark decided to do a side by side comparison with a Hobie out on the reservoir and was not disappointed.

Mark Standing in the "ORU Kayak"

Mark falling out of the "ORU Kayak"

Mark was also able to get back to his Japanese roots and try out the "ORU Origami Kayak". The kayak paddled like a traditional sit in kayak. The ORU was stable enough for him to stand until a gust of wind quickly sent him into the water.

Kaku Kayak

RTM Kayaks "K Largo"

The crew was also able to get into models by new kayak manufacture Kaku Kayaks and French owned RTM kayaks. Both these kayak manufactures had solid fishing kayaks with a more traditional feel.

Having hundreds of paddle craft to demo in one location, free beer, laid back vendors, and beautiful weather made for a great day of work for the guys at YakAngler. You can bet that the Outdoor Retailer open air demo will be on their calendars for years to come.