Fishing kayaks have been some of the best-selling models on the market for a number of years now. With that popularity has come significant advancements in the tech/styles, but also the prices. Hardcore anglers might be accustomed to spending 10s of thousands of dollars on motorboats and other gear. So a high-end kayak in the $2,000 to $5,000+ range might not be a big deal. But for many of us, those kinds of figures can be a huge deterrent.
Not everyone needs a top-tier kayak to get the job done. Thankfully, there is a subsection of this market that specializes in fishing-specific kayaks for under $1,000. These are great for occasionally casting a line, or simply a straight-forward paddle whenever desired. If that sounds more like your style then you've come to the right place. I'm going to tell you about my experiences on the water with the $740 Pelican Catch Mode 110 kayak so you can figure out if it's the right purchase for what you need.
ABOUT THE PELICAN CATCH MODE 110 KAYAK
PRICE: $740 USD
LENGTH: 10′ 8″
WIDTH: 34.5″
WEIGHT: 63 LBS (28.5 KG)
CAPACITY: 375 LBS (170 KG)
The Catch Mode 110 features 4 carry handles (1 one on each end and side), a retractable skeg, a suspension-seat that transforms into a booster-seat, a covered front storage with a paddle holder, gear tracks for mounting accessories, 2 bottle holders, traction pads, 3 flush-mount rod holders, and a partridge in a pear…I mean, and bungees in the rear tank well for securing a crate or dry bag. Most kayaks are rotomolded. The Catch Mode 110 kayak takes a different approach called thermoforming. This is a process that makes the two pieces of the kayak's hull separate before welding them together. The end result is a lightweight yet durable design. This leads me to my first personal note on the Catch Mode 110.
Pelican Catch Mode 110
How portable is the Pelican Catch Mode 110?
The Pelican Catch Mode 110 is quite light compared to most sit-on-top fishing kayaks. So that's a plus. Its sub-11-foot design also aids in the overall portability. Once a kayak gets over 12-feet in length, it becomes a lot more awkward to move around on your own. The large side grab handles complete the solo-mission trifecta by allowing for a suitcase-style carry to and from the water. One thing I immediately noticed and appreciated about these handles is that they have lots of clearance. So your fingers don't get pinched (a common problem with side handles). So overall, the Catch Mode 110 has good portability compared to the competition – not so much relative to actual portable kayaks, but you have to calibrate these things accordingly.
How stable is a Pelican Catch Mode 110 kayak?
The Catch Mode 110 felt very solid in all three positions: normal, sitting in the elevated position, and while standing. Good stability is important in the latter two positions. Because the higher you can get, the more perspective you'll have when it comes to the fishing part. Sitting higher or standing in the boat raises your center-of-gravity, which inherently chips away at the overall stability. The design of the Catch Mode 110 is able to compensate beautifully for the stability.
How does the Pelican Catch Mode 110 perform?
This kayak's primary goal is to be a stable platform for fishing. Its short, wide, sit-on-top body is simply not designed to be a speed machine. There are no 10 to 11-foot kayak designed for speed. The Catch Mode 110 is not the kayak to effortlessly glide long distances or go anywhere at a high-octane pace. This is no fault of Pelican, it is just the nature of this particular kayak.
Retractable Skeg
The retractable skeg made a noticeable difference in terms of improving the tracking. At least the energy you'll spend paddling across the pond won't be wasted with constant course corrections. Once you put the skeg down, it cannot be retracted again from within the cockpit. Instead, you would have to paddle to shore and do it manually. In higher-end models this is usually a two-way street and something that you can control right from your seat. The Catch Mode 110 is easy to turn (the performance plus-side of a short boat).
Adjustable paddle
Something that's worth noting is that I used an adjustable paddle (Wilderness Systems Pungo Glass) for this gear test. I quite liked this paddle and I do recommend that you check it out. I recommend that you get an adjustable paddle to go with this kayak. The reason being is that the ideal paddle length will change based on your seating position. When I was in the lower seating position, I had my Pungo Glass set to 232-234 cm. In the elevated position I maxed it out to 240cms and would have liked a little bit more. The pedestal position is really more of a fishing-specific set-up, so it's just worth considering if you will be paddling much from up there. This is something that you can tinker with over time.
Is the Pelican Catch Mode 110 comfortable?
Being able to switch through so many positions (low/normal, cross-legged, elevated, and standing) does boost the comfort of this kayak. The Catch Mode 110 has a suspension seat, which I always sing the praises of since it forms so well to whoever is sitting in it. It's also a wide seat, which expands the spectrum of who can sit comfortably in it.
Back support
A little nitpick is that the back support is a smidge high for my liking. I wish there were more lumbar support, that would further boost the overall comfort of this seat. A critique is that the seat has some give to it, which means that it shifts from side to side as you paddle or lean over the edge. This isn't the first time I've encountered this annoyance with suspension seats. It's an easy enough fix since you can stuff some material between the seat and the sides of the kayak. You shouldn't have to do that. I'd love to see Pelican address this in future upgrades.
Footpegs
I maxed out the footpegs on the Catch Mode 110 because I am 6′ 2″ and long in the legs. This was still perfect for me but if you're any taller then you will not have the same experience. Your knees will bend up too high, which will detract from the comfort and impede your paddling. In the other direction, the foot pegs come surprisingly far forward. So if you're shorter then you'll be laughing.
Pelican Catch Mode 110 features
Some yes, and a couple…not so much. I was a fan of the bow storage area and the cover that comes with it. For me, this is usually a bit of a dead zone. I'm an out-of-sight, out-of-mind kind of guy. So if there's a hatch there then I tend to forget about whatever I put in it. The removable cover gives the option to stow gear, in full-view of the paddler at all times. You can ditch the cover and just keep the front of the boat nice and open. If you like to bring a small to medium sized dog with you on your fishing adventures then this will be a good area for him/her to perch.
Water bottle holder
Another cool feature was the bungee-style water bottle holder (one on each side). It's easy to get dehydrated when kayak fishing and it was nice to have my trustee Naglene in front of me the whole time without sloshing about in the boat. That's another common complaint with big, open platforms. A water bottle knocking around in a storage compartment or just in the cockpit can scare off the fish. The water bottle design was well thought out by Pelican.
Gear tracks
A design misstep was the placement of the gear tracks. The idea is that they open the door to a wealth of accessories. However, anything you mount on these gear tracks will get knocked by your paddle. They're simply in the wrong place. They needed to go further forward, or even better, behind the seat. I initially thought the same thing about the third rod holder. The rod holder is placed for when you are standing in the kayak. I wasn't able to visualize a saving-grace for the gear tracks though.
Otherwise, I already mentioned the mostly pros of the seat and then the minor and medium-sized cons. The retractable skeg is a nice feature. It comes with the downside of not being able to draw it back up from inside the kayak.
Is the Pelican Catch Mode 110 worth it?
Despite the occasional quirks, the Catch Mode 110 is easily worth the $740 (USD). For a fishing-specific kayak with these kinds of features, that is a very fair price. There are only a handful of comparable kayaks in this class. One of them is the Perception Pescador, which I tested/reviewed last year. That was another quality boat. I would now have to give the crown to the Pelican Catch Mode 110 because of the comfier suspension seat.
Who is the Catch Mode 110 kayak for?
Just because this kayak has great value doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone. That said, the Catch Mode 110 is a versatile kayak. The Pelican Catch Mode 110 is a great kayak for people new to the world of kayak fishing. It would work for people who like to dabble in the sport but also enjoy heading out for a casual paddle. I even think it's a reasonable choice for hard-core anglers, since they tend to customize their boats anyway. I could see a seasoned vet decking this thing out with some better placed gear tracks. Having a great time while also saving a lot of money.
As I mentioned before, the only thing the Pelican Catch Mode 110 really lacks is the paddling efficiency for long stretches and the ability to out-sprint competitors. Its purpose is to offer a stable platform for anglers and recreational kayakers.
I hope you enjoyed this review. For more kayak breakdowns, helpful tips, and Paddle Tales videos check out PaddleTV.
The manufacturers info says it can take up to a 2.5 hp motor. is this correct? can a trolloing motor be used with it?
You can buy a mount for a motor attachment. A trolling motor would work. If you do a google search for ‘kayak motor’, you’ll find a bunch of different motor options from companies like Minn Kota, Torqeedo, Motorguide, Bixpy, Newport, etc… I’ve never attached a motor myself, and so I can’t offer specific guidance. Good luck!