Today I will take you through my NRS Pike Pro 126 Inflatable Fishing Kayak Review.
First off, the Pike Pro is considered a sit-inside inflatable kayak. So instead of sitting on top of the boat you actually sit down inside it. That being said, the Pike Pro has a very open cockpit. It’s definitely not like the traditional touring-style kayaks or whitewater kayaks where you're crammed into a tight cockpit area. So I actually think it’s more of a hybrid between the two.
Before jumping in I want to mention that the NRS Pike comes in Standard and Pro packages. For this review, I tested a Pro model.
Standard NRS Pike 126 vs. NRS Pike Pro
The Standard NRS Pike 126 comes with a hand pump, a backpack, a patch kit, and a framed seat.
With the Pike Pro version, you get all this plus a paddle and some cool Yak Attack accessories. The Pro also comes in a unique color scheme. The MSRP is $1,395 for the Standard Pike and $1,795 for the Pro model. But when you look at what you’re getting with the Pike Pro, I think the price difference is totally justified.
NRS Pike Pro – Specs and Capacity
The Pike Pro or Pike Pro 126 is 12 feet 8 inches long, 38 inches wide, and weighs around 48 pounds.
It also has a capacity of 375 pounds. I weigh about 220 pounds, and even with my fishing gear, I didn’t feel like I was anywhere near weighing the boat down beyond what it could handle. But I will say that I haven't put a ton of gear in it like I would if I was going on an overnight trip.
Between me, my Black Pack, rods, tackle, and assorted gear, I was probably pushing the 300-pound range. But even at that weight the boat just felt stable and rock solid. I really feel like that 375-pound number is accurate or maybe even a little conservative for the boat.
Easy to Set Up and Transport
The Pike from NRS is a great option if you don’t have a pick-up truck or trailer because it packs down easily and fits in the backpack that comes with it.
Once it's deflated and packed away, you can even put it in the back seat or trunk of a car.
Three Inflatable Chambers
The Pike Pro has three inflatable chambers – two in the outside tubes and one in the floor.
The outside tubes can be inflated to 3 PSI. That gives you plenty of stability and buoyancy that allows the boat to float on top of the water nicely. Thanks to its drop stitch technology, the floor can be inflated up to about 8 PSI.
This makes for a very rigid and stable platform so you can actually stand up and move around in the boat with confidence.
The Pike Pro 126 is Tough and Durable
I also like that the Pike Pro is constructed from durable PVC. This is a big deal because I get tons of questions from people concerned about puncturing inflatable boats with hooks, knives, and even sharp fish fins. They also want to know how inflatables hold up around rocks, logs, debris, and even oyster shells if you’ll be fishing in shallow tidal areas.
But it's never been a problem for me, and I don’t see it being an issue in the future. I’ve been fishing from inflatables for years, and I’ve never had a hook puncture one of these boats.
That’s not to say that it couldn’t happen, but it’s pretty unlikely. And even if you do have a mishap that results in a puncture, it would be pretty easy to fix because the Pro comes with a patch kit.
NRS Pike Pro – Equipment and Features
Starting up front, you have a nice handle on the bow that makes it easy to carry, drag, and lift the boat.
Another thing I really like is that the bottom of the kayak has a reinforced nose or keel with a hard plastic cover. This allows the boat to cut through the water very sharply.
It also helps resist abrasions and punctures when you’re beaching the boat or bumping into submerged rocks and logs.
Next, you have a number of D-rings that you can lace a bungee through. You can also use the D-rings for attaching other types of straps and gear to the boat.
Pike Pro’s Foot Pegs
The Pike Pro has a lot of great features, but my favorite might be the foot pegs or foot braces like the ones on the Kuda.
Most kayak anglers start out fishing from shore or in traditional boats before jumping into kayaking. When getting started, they may not have a lot of experience or technique which can make the transition a little hairy.
That’s pretty much how it was with me, but I quickly learned a number of techniques that have served me well. One was how important it is to use your core when paddling so that you're more efficient out on the water. Foot pegs really help because they allow you to brace your feet and engage your core and legs instead of just your arms and shoulders. This is especially helpful when you’re in moving water or maneuvering in tight places full of obstacles and obstructions.
I love having foot pegs on a kayak because they make for an all-around better experience. I think this is something that gets overlooked on a lot of inflatable kayaks. It’s actually pretty awesome that the Pike Pro has them.
High-Quality Yak Attack Gear
What makes the Pike Pro a fishing kayak is that it comes with a number of accessories and design features that are specific to kayak fishing. Here I’m talking about things like the Yak Attack switch pads and switch mounts that come with the boat.
With the Pike Pro, you get Yak Attack switch pads on either side of the tubes and between the foot braces. This gives you four bolt patterns, and Yak Attack’s switch mounts screw right into them. So altogether you have five switch pads and five mounts.
In addition, you get an assortment of popular Yak Attack accessories like a cup holder and the RotoGrip. The RotoGrip allows you to quickly lock the paddle in place when you’re fighting a fish and need both hands.
You also get a couple of the Omega Pro rod holders which are universal whether you're fly fishing or conventional fishing with a bait caster or a spinning setup. These accessories all work really well and can be mounted in any of the five locations.
The Pike Pro also comes with Yak Attack’s new BlackPak Pro which has four rod holders mounted to it.
The Pike Pro Comes With an NRS Paddle
Another great thing about the Pike Pro is that it comes with a paddle.
I've been using Bending Branches paddles for a long time and I’m definitely a little spoiled when it comes to high-end lightweight paddles. In fact, all my paddles have carbon fiber shafts along with carbon blades or a combination of fiberglass carbon or carbon nylon.
I generally choose my paddle depending on the situation, but it’s nice that this boat comes with NRS’ 240-inch paddle. I think it’s the perfect size for the boat, and it worked well with my high-angle style of paddling too.
But I still think this is a nice paddle even though I’m used to Bending Branches paddles. NRS’s paddle does feel a little heavy compared to the others, but it’s definitely durable. I also feel like it’s a good value with the Pike Pro package, and it’s by no means low-end. In fact, I’d probably put it somewhere at the high end of the mid-range.
If you're going to be using this boat a lot you may want to think about upgrading. However, it's a good value and a nice piece of gear to get with the Pike Pro.
Cockpit, Floor, and Seat
If you've seen my NRS Kuda 126 review, you know that it comes with a measuring board. It’s the same one you get with the NRS Pike and NRS Pike Pro.
In addition, you get an EVA pad that provides another layer of protection against punctures. It also gives you extra traction when the boat gets wet.
Moving back you'll find a sturdy framed seat that’s really flat and compact when it’s folded down. I’m very familiar with the seat because I’ve fished from it on other NRS kayaks. It’s pretty much the same seat that comes with both versions of the Kuda, even though they’re sit-on-top boats, unlike the Pike and Pike Pro which are sit-inside boats.
I’ve always found it to be a comfortable seat, and I like that it can be adjusted fore and aft. It has four straps, so it's easy to get the boat dialed down into a sweet spot.
The Back of the Boat
With the Pike Pro, you get the standard bungee and D-rings lining both sides of the tank wheel area. You can move those bungees around or add straps or carabiners or whatever you need to get your gear tied down.
You also have another handle underneath the boat that comes in handy when loading, moving, or unloading the boat.
The Pike Pro Has a Rigid Fin for Easy Tracking
Tracking in an inflatable without a fin can be tricky. When you make a paddle stroke the boat is going to want to turn quite a bit. When that happens, you'll have to fight it back and forth.
What's nice about the Pike Pro is that there's a fin installed in a fin box. The fin helps you track straight and prevents the wind from blowing you off course.
The fin that comes with the boat is what NRS calls the all-water fin. It hangs down about four or five inches below the boat. It’s ideal in most situations like when you're trying to cover a fair amount of distance in open water like lakes and ponds.
However, I really like using inflatable kayaks in rivers. However, the ones around my house are really shallow in some areas. I find that the all-water fin is a bit long for shallow conditions. So I switched it out for NRS’ whitewater fin which only sticks down a few inches.
The Pike Pro Comes with a Pump
The Pike Pro comes with a manual pump, but if you’re going to be inflating and deflating the boat frequently you may want to invest in an electric pump. That way you can get your gear together and make other preparations while the boat is filling up.
The Pike Pro's unit is what they call the 2 HP pump. I’m not sure if the HP stands for horsepower or just means that it has two different settings. However, it has high and low airflow settings which allow you to get lots of air into the boat pretty quickly. You start on the high setting until you get close to the 3 PSI rating in the sides and 8 PSI in the deck. Then you can switch over to the low setting to get that last little bit of air in.
NRS Patch Kit Included
One word of advice is that you shouldn’t leave inflatable kayaks inflated to the max PSI when they’re not being used. And even when you are using them, it’s best not to go all the way to the max. This is important because if it’s cool in the morning and you’re boat is full of air, it’ll expand as the temperature rises. This expansion could cause a problem, so it’s generally best to slightly underinflate.
But again, the Pike Pro kayak comes with a patch kit, and I always recommend carrying a small hand pump with you as well. This way if you run into a problem you can do a quick patch repair, inflate the damaged chamber and get back out on the water in a hurry. And remember, the boat has three separate chambers, so it’ll keep you afloat even if one is punctured or starts to leak.
NRS Pike Pro 126 – Ready to Go Right Out of the Box
NRS’ Pike Pro is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality inflatable fishing kayak that’s easy to set up, transport, and store.
The Pike Pro is also easy to rig, has lots of great features, and comes standard with some pretty top-notch gear. All you'll really need to do is grab your gear and a personal flotation device.
I tend to use boats like the Pike Pro in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Especially when I’m going to be spending most of my time close to shore. I really don’t recommend inflatables for bigger lakes or offshore scenarios.
Check out the NRS' website for more information on the Pike Pro 126.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to check out my YouTube channel The Road Trip Angler, and keep an eye out for more reviews and head-to-head comparisons that we'll be publishing shortly.
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Inflatable fishing kayak: NRS Pike Pro 126
Life vest: NRS Chinook PFD
Accessories: Yakattack Omega Rod Holder, Yakattack Cup Holder, Yakattack Rotogrip, and the Yakattack BlackPak Pro
Shirt: NRS Varial Hoodie
Rods: Judge Crankbait Series, Eternity Series, Revelation Series
Sunglasses: Wiley X
