Ascend FS12T

People rating this Kayak unstable and unable to stand, that'a on Them and Their own balance issues. I can stand and literally jump side to side on the edges on this kayal fully loaded and remain stable/my gear fine. I weigh 225pnds. My son has and can do the same on his, he is only 140pnds.

Not a fan! Bought this kayak a few months ago. After reading many reviews I figured it was the best bang for my buck. Not the case! At 31" wide this is not a stable kayak. Those who say this is stable need to try a Pescador 12. Night and day difference! If you reach around to the rear storage well on the Ascend 12T you better hang on as it's extremely tippy. The thickness of the hull on the Ascend 12T is also disappointing. Again when I compared this to the Pescador 12 be purchased (which was less expensive) there is a night a day difference. The material on the Pescador is a lot heavier and overall much better built. The tracking is average at best. When paddling at a comfortable pace it does walk side to side. If you compare the Ascend 12T to a Sundolphin from Walmart I'll agree it's a better kayak. However it gets outclassed quickly when compared to a comparable kayak line. Folks there are better options. Look at what the kayak's overall weight capacity is and that'll tell you a lot about how well it is built. The Ascend 12T is a decent backup kayak but that's all I recommend it used for. Much better options available (for less money).

I have had my Ascend FS12T for a touch over a year. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It has had water up to the gunwales tops. Kept paddling in high winds, and the water kept going out of the scuppers. Extremely stable in rough water. Been in 3' swells from ship wakes and just rolls with the flow. The seat was replaced about 4 months ago. The support straps broke. Easy time doing that with warranty people. The bolts I have replaced and the metal tubing does corrode from saltwater despite washdowns after each trip. I used pipe insulation on the back and this has taken a little of the stress off the bolts. I have remove the tracks on the side and welded the holes up. I do have a small track that I put my anchor winch on and remove my winch after every trip. I wish they had an access in the front and stern. I'm in the process of installing a rudder as this kayak does track towards the wind when paddling. Not a major complaint just a fact of life. I'm planning on installing a vertical panel in the back to run steering cables inside. Enough stuff is outside already. I replaced the front hatch gasket today with a silicone 1/4" x 1/4" adhesive back gasket. The front hatch leaked because of poor workmanship installing the original gasket. Both upper and lower original gaskets had a 1"+ gap due probably to stretching the gasket during installation and then it returned to original length. (Had to be careful doing that when I used to work). I have added anchor trolleys on both sides. I changed the paddle clip to the side because that works for me. The changes I made are what works for me. I would emphasis that fact. The Ascend kayak is a great kayak. I have rubbed oyster beds, trolleyed it to launch and if it was about 30#'s lighter that would be great, but I wouldn't trade that for the thickness of material. For those younger folks, # is not a hashtag it equals pounds. 🤣🤣🤣All in all it is a super great kayak.

I am 5' 6" 160 pounds I can stand on the edge and it will not flip. Not that slow compared to my Sun Dolphin sit in 10 foot kayak

The 2016 Bass Pro Ascend FS12T has changed significantly from 2015. During the 2016 production year, there was a shift from placing a rod holder on the starboard gunwale to placing tracks on both the Port and starboard. This is a very positive change that provides considerable flexibility in what and where owners may place accessories. In addition to this change, the center weathertight hatch has been raised slightly to make it more weathertight. Again, this is a positive change. The FS12T is a very good value, priced at $599.99. Military members generally get a 10% discount at Bass Pro, making it an even better value. The kayak is quite usable, including for fishing, straight off the showroom floor. In addition to the items mentioned above, it has bungees front and rear for holding gear, a very generous crate well, two flush rod holders, paddle clips, and a seat renounced for its comfort. However, it lacks an anchor trolley, which most anglers will quickly add. All in all this is a quality kayak at a good price point. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to get into kayak angling or kayaking in general.

I just bought my 2015 ASCEND FS12T about 2 months ago (my first kayak) and I am very happy with it. The ASCEND has 3 for rod holders, 2 mounted behind the seat and one front rod holder. There is plenty of space behind the seat for sizable ice chest or tackle box, there is a convenient hatch between your legs for tackle plus a screw on lid pocket (water proof). The ASCEND drink holder also in between your legs. I find the boat extremely comfortable; however, I haven't spent more than 10 hours fishing in it. The high back seat is really nice and adjustable. In the far front is a small area which is good place to keep small tackle boxes. I have found it's very stable however only been in a small lake with wind and current so far.

Cons: seat bracket bolts will bend due to space between the back seat bar brackets (floor) doesn’t rest on the floor of the kayak. The fix was easy by installing two rubber neoprene washers (7/8") to support the back seat bar taking the pressure off the guiding pins to prevent the seat movement. Another item would be nice is cleats were installed on both sides mid-way.

The bottom line: I feel this is a great kayak for fishing alone and is worth the price as the ASCEND SF12T. I would recommend this Kayak, ASCEND FS12T SOT by Bass Pro.

This is a special boat for a specific purpose. It is a wonderfully stable fishing platform with great storage. The reason I only rated it a 6 is because it is very heavy both in and out of the water. It tracks great but, I was frequently left in the dust of my friends in smaller lighter boats. Also, during a recent Oklahoma hail storm, a chunk of baseball sized hail punched a hole in the keel. In her defense, not many boats could do better with that kind of pounding.

If you are just fishing small farm ponds I think you will really enjoy this boat. If exploration or rivers are your thing go with something lighter. I replaced this Yak with Bass Pro's FS10 sit inside that is 20lbs lighter and handles better on rivers.

After a long research project and trying to keep costs down I purchased the FS12T Sit on Top. very good boat at a good price. very open deck front and rear and large openings. 1 nice sized hatch mid ship. great seat, but there are reported issues on other sites, but I haven't experienced any issues. stable and can even stand. 31" wide. the rod holders are 2 clips, instead of a bungee wrap and I hit the rear one when paddling once in a while.
I would recommend this kayak.