Inflatable kayak and fishing kayak are two terms that you don’t often hear together. After all, the idea of mixing inflatable anything with all the hooks and sharp gear used in fishing seems somewhat dubious. But the reality is that a good quality inflatable kayak can be an excellent vessel to fish from. Which is exactly what the NRS Pike inflatable fishing kayak claims to be. So how did the NRS Pike fare when I tried it out?
The NRS Pike Specifications
- Retail Price: $1400 (USD)
- Length: 12’ 8”
- Width: 38”
- Weight: 48 lbs
- Capacity: 375 lbs
- Best Use: Kayak fishing and recreational paddling
Features of the NRS Pike Fishing Kayak
The features of the NRS Pike inflatable fishing kayak include:
- Protective EVA foam deck pad
- A rigid bow keel
- Adjustable foot pegs
- A frame seat
- Daisy chain rigging on the bow and stern
- A fish measuring board
- A removable fin
- Five YakAttack accessory mounts
- A carry bag, pump, and repair kit
- A three-year warranty
How Easily Does the NRS Pike Inflate?
The NRS Pike is very easy to inflate. It has three non-drop stitch chambers along the sides which you need to pump to 3 psi. When fully pumped these do not feel flimsy at all.
The floor of the kayak is drop stitch and needs to be pumped up to 8 psi. This means that once fully inflated it is firm and rigid, allowing the whole kayak to perform more like a hard shell kayak. All in all, when fully inflated the kayak is hard, rigid, and not at all flimsy.
How Well Does the NRS Pump Work?
What I especially liked about assembling the NRS Pike is the pump that it came with. This was the NRS 2 HP Pump, one I’d never used before. This pump has two switches depending on which pump mode you want to use. The first mode lets you fill the kayak quickly, pumping lots of air into it at once.
When it gets harder and tighter to pump you can just flick a switch on the pump and switch it into the pressure boosting mode. This makes it easier to pump the kayak fully up to the high pressure it needs. This pump really takes the strain off of inflating an inflatable kayak.
I would always advocate using an electric pump, especially if you are regularly using an inflatable kayak. There are so many excellent options available nowadays, including battery-operated pumps so you don’t even need a vehicle. These really take the effort out of pumping up an inflatable kayak. But if you are looking for manual pumps then the NRS 2 HP Pump is an excellent option.
Who is the NRS Pike or Pike Pro for?
The NRS Pike is intended as an inflatable fishing kayak. However, the only features that differentiate this from a recreational kayak are the five YakAttack accessory mounts and the fish measuring board. The YakAttack mounts allow you to attach fishing gear to the kayak making it a fishing kayak machine. But, beyond that, this works well as a recreational kayak too!
If you are looking for a more kitted-out version of the NRS Pike, then you can purchase the NRS Pike Pro. This comes with paddles and five different Yakattack accessories to attach to the mounts on the kayak. These accessories are:
- YakAttack RotoGrip Paddle Holder
- YakAttack MultiMount Cupholder
- YakAttack MightyMount Switch
- YakAttack BlackPak Kayak Fishing Crate
- YakAttack Omega Pro Rod Holder with Track Mounted LockNLoad Mounting System
How Well Does the NRS Pike Perform?
I tested the NRS Pike out for an hour to see how it actually performed in action.
Portability
The NRS Pike weighs 48 lbs, which is not particularly heavy or light, but compared to a hard shell fishing kayak the same size, it is considerably lighter. You can definitely feel the weight whilst carrying the bag with everything in it, but it is still very portable. It is quick and easy to assemble. So overall, this boat gets high marks when talking about its portability.
Comfort
The whole idea of an elevated, framed seat in an inflatable kayak is amazing. I love it! The framed seat conforms to almost any butt shape and is nice and wide to fit a variety of differently-sized people. The back support on the seat is excellent, and the fact that the seat is elevated helps to keep you nice and dry.
The NRS Pike also has footpegs, something I love. The foot pegs in this boat are a good size and are high enough for you to rest the balls of your feet on them and get good support. This keeps your legs supported and allows you to push off of something while paddling. So not only do they make the kayak more comfortable, but they also enhance your paddling performance.
Stability
This kayak is rock solid. Standing up in it was a breeze. I don’t even know if you could flip the kayak if you tried. You are more likely to fall out of the kayak than flip it. It really is that stable!
Performance
Inflatable kayaks and performance don’t typically go together. Most inflatable kayaks are flat at the bottom meaning that they do not cut a path through the water. This means that the bow is not held in place and moves back and forth with every stroke you take. This lowers the performance of the kayak.
To counter this problem, the NRS Pike has a hard bow keel at the front of the boat. And this works well. It cuts through the water and holds a line much better than other inflatable kayaks. However, while this is a significant step up from other inflatable kayaks that do not have this, it still does not compare to hard shell kayaks.
The other thing about this kayak is that there is not a lot of rocker. It is quite flat. This was very noticeable when kayaking in the waves because they would very easily break over the bow. But the shape is what keeps the boat tracking in a straighter line compared to more banana-shaped inflatable kayaks.
All in all, for an inflatable kayak, this boat gives a solid performance.
The Features
This kayak does not have lots of features, but there are some worth talking about.
The daisy chain rigging on the kayak allows you to customize the tie-downs as well as add stuff to the boat. This is a simple but convenient feature to have on a kayak.
The YakAttack accessory mounts are a very nice feature. They have been placed in intelligent spots around the kayak so that they do not get in the way of paddling. This means you can use the mounts while paddling the boat.
The EVA pads stop you from slipping when you stand up but also provide protection for the kayak.
Is the NRS Pike Kayak Worth it?
Fishing kayaks range in price between about $800 to $5000 (USD). So this boat, which costs around $1400 (USD), while not cheap or entry-level, is not the extreme either. In fact, it is pretty much bang on what I would expect to pay for a portable, inflatable fishing kayak of this nature.
There are a number of features on the NRS Pike that add premium costs to the boat. For example, you will pay premium prices for a drop stitch floor. But it is the drop stitch floor that allows this kayak to travel through the water more like a hard shell kayak. You will also expect to pay more for a framed seat or for YakAttack mounts, but you are also getting value from these features.
The NRS Pike and Pike Pro are really well made inflatable fishing kayaks. NRS has been making boats for whitewater for years, and any boat that can handle being dragged over rocks and paddled down high-speed rapids, can handle fish hooks and fishing gear, provided you are a little careful. I would have total confidence fishing in this kayak. It is built tough and durable.
Overall, this inflatable fishing kayak has solid value for kayak anglers or recreational kayakers. This is perfect for anyone who wants an inflatable, calm-weather boat that will track well through the water. You pay a slight premium, but you will get premium features and a long-lasting, durable kayak.
PFDs/Life Jackets: NRS Zen PFD
Kayak: NRS Pike (and Pro)
Dry Suit: NRS Axiom Dry Suit
