Wilderness Ride 115X for BTB ? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

jruiz · 06-05-2014, 11:37 AM

Some seats, like the one I have, have integrated pouches that are sized for plano tackle boxes. Actually mine came with two large ones and three small ones.

Siebler · 06-06-2014, 09:30 AM

This year I have spent more time in my 115x than any other kayak and am VERY impressed by it. It is a little shorter than what I would usually tell folks for a BTB boat but overall it is very nice. Throw in the new Hi/LO AirMax Pro seat that is being released in October and I think it is a great choice.

Want to try one? Hit me up you can borrow mine for a day or come demo at OEX.

5-20 · 06-07-2014, 10:47 AM

Thanks, CJ. I went down to oex last friday and looked at a bunch of yaks including the 115x. Its undoubtedly a nice yak, but just by looking at it, i think i would probably be more comfortable with a yak in the 14' range that would probably track a little better on long paddles since i'll probably want to use it for btb fishing most of the time. I guess the 115x kind of strikes me as more of a bass fishing yak.

easyday · 06-09-2014, 09:35 AM

Did you check out the tarpon line?

EDC · 06-09-2014, 07:05 PM

Wilderness Systems are more designed to be freshwater but they are really nice anyway you fish them. The track system can be added to many other kayaks though and I would personally want a longer kayak for what you are doing. Just my opinion. Have you checked out the 140?

5-20 · 06-09-2014, 07:59 PM

Yeah, the Tarpon 140's a really good looking yak. I'm still thinking stable/wide is the way I want to go and the Tarpon 140 with 30" width is decent, but the Malibu Stealth 14 and/or X-Factor with 33" is still what I'm kinda leaning towards.

Admittedly, I like the slide trax rails on the wilderness yaks a lot better than I like malibu's design, mounted on the sides instead of the top of the yak -- which apparently can be only used with the x-wing. I don't plan on having a x-wing if I buy a malibu (don't like paddling around with what appears to be a low hanging bridge right in front of me for perpetuity) and I've been wondering if I could mount something similar to the slide trax on the malibu, mostly so I could have a rod or two in front of me when trolling live bait. I suppose I probably could just use one of those ball style ram mounts...

easyday · 06-09-2014, 09:54 PM

I have the 160 and I love it. And for its length/width its suprisingly stable. I looked at the 140 and it felt incredibly stable dont let the width fool you the secondary stability is pretty awesome, and it tracks like a dream. The deck layout and storage is something you have to figure out, but like I said I love it. I had an xfactor 14 and sold it and got my tarpon. The tarpon is so much faster and and a much easier paddle. With the X Factor I felt like I was paddling a tank. The stability was unmatched but once I got comfortable on the water, the size seemed more of a hassle when paddling long distances.thats my .02

06-06-2014, 09:30 AM	#2
Siebler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richland Oregon Posts: 1,547	This year I have spent more time in my 115x than any other kayak and am VERY impressed by it. It is a little shorter than what I would usually tell folks for a BTB boat but overall it is very nice. Throw in the new Hi/LO AirMax Pro seat that is being released in October and I think it is a great choice. Want to try one? Hit me up you can borrow mine for a day or come demo at OEX. __________________ CJ Siebler

06-09-2014, 09:35 AM	#4
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	Did you check out the tarpon line? __________________

06-09-2014, 09:54 PM	#7
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	I have the 160 and I love it. And for its length/width its suprisingly stable. I looked at the 140 and it felt incredibly stable dont let the width fool you the secondary stability is pretty awesome, and it tracks like a dream. The deck layout and storage is something you have to figure out, but like I said I love it. I had an xfactor 14 and sold it and got my tarpon. The tarpon is so much faster and and a much easier paddle. With the X Factor I felt like I was paddling a tank. The stability was unmatched but once I got comfortable on the water, the size seemed more of a hassle when paddling long distances.thats my .02 __________________

06-05-2014, 11:37 AM	#1
jruiz Large Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 1,011	Some seats, like the one I have, have integrated pouches that are sized for plano tackle boxes. Actually mine came with two large ones and three small ones.

06-07-2014, 10:47 AM	#3
5-20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 241	Thanks, CJ. I went down to oex last friday and looked at a bunch of yaks including the 115x. Its undoubtedly a nice yak, but just by looking at it, i think i would probably be more comfortable with a yak in the 14' range that would probably track a little better on long paddles since i'll probably want to use it for btb fishing most of the time. I guess the 115x kind of strikes me as more of a bass fishing yak.

06-09-2014, 07:05 PM	#5
EDC Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Oceanside Posts: 44	Wilderness Systems are more designed to be freshwater but they are really nice anyway you fish them. The track system can be added to many other kayaks though and I would personally want a longer kayak for what you are doing. Just my opinion. Have you checked out the 140?

06-09-2014, 07:59 PM	#6
5-20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 241	Yeah, the Tarpon 140's a really good looking yak. I'm still thinking stable/wide is the way I want to go and the Tarpon 140 with 30" width is decent, but the Malibu Stealth 14 and/or X-Factor with 33" is still what I'm kinda leaning towards. Admittedly, I like the slide trax rails on the wilderness yaks a lot better than I like malibu's design, mounted on the sides instead of the top of the yak -- which apparently can be only used with the x-wing. I don't plan on having a x-wing if I buy a malibu (don't like paddling around with what appears to be a low hanging bridge right in front of me for perpetuity) and I've been wondering if I could mount something similar to the slide trax on the malibu, mostly so I could have a rod or two in front of me when trolling live bait. I suppose I probably could just use one of those ball style ram mounts...