Coosa

Bought this about 2 years ago and have been using it often. Most of my paddling is in PA in larger streams or smaller rivers for trout and smallmouth, with occasional lake and bigger river trips. I needed something light enough to cartop on my own, nimble enough to negotiate minor rapids, and most importantly low draft to get over riffles. That's really a huge consideration!!! So many of the fishing kayaks are getting so big that you need a trailer and a launch, which kind of defeats the point of having a yak.

Everything is a trade-off, but this meets my goals. I am about 5'8" 190 lbs and I can stand, and I can cast a spinning rod while standing, but not real comfortably. The back cast on a fly rod is tougher yet, but hey, there's a high seating position and that is fine. It is a little on the heavy side when you gotta portage around dams, or carry a few hundred yards to the stream (with a partner). But it's doable, and to get any lighter you gotta give up standing, and it's already on the lighter end as fishing yaks go. The right balance of size and length, IMO. Storage and layout is excellent. Wish I had a track on it for a fly rod holder, as the upright rod holder doesn't handle the short butt of a fly rod. It's got some rocker and it's real nimble in the current. The drag chain chute is fantastic, perfect for my needs. The seat is comfortable. It paddles well and is very stable when sitting down. The dry storage compartment is great and works. The high nose is great for standing waves in rapids, but does catch wind on big water, this is a CREEK fishing boat. I draft in not much more than an inch of water and it handles scrapes well, I get through riffles commonly when others have to get out and pull.

I bought this as an entry to kayak fishing. I fish 80% on fast moving river for trout and smallmouth. I am 6ft 230lbs and this is NOT a stand up and fish kayak for moving water at my size. If the wind is blowing upstream and the yak turns sideways the current will throw me off balance in the high seat position. I think I will keep for fishing ponds but moving up to a tri hull yak for stability.

I had a 2011 or 2012 model for about 5 years. Great fishing kayak... except when the wind blew. Nothing wrong with the yak, I just bought the wrong model for the open water I usually fish. On creeks and small, sheltered water it was great! Lots of innovations for its time, newer models I've seen are even better.

I recently purchased a used Jackson Coosa. This is a great Kayak! Lots of storage in the bow and stern of the boat, Dry storage and built in paddle holders on both sides of the boat. The Coosa also has to built in rod holders behind the seat. Speaking of the seat, it is very comfortable. The seat is adjustable high and low and can be removed and used as a beach chair.

The only downside is that the kayak isnt as stable standing as I had hoped. The WS Ride 115 seems to be much more stable while standing. I also would prefer more storage closer to the seat for easier access.

Overall I really enjoy fishing out of this boat in my lake and I am looking forward to getting it out in the gulf this summer!

This is a great boat for flat water fishing. It is stable and easy to paddle. It is not a sports car on turning and running a course required back paddle and sweep strokes to get it to turn. It is comfortable and would rate it higher if it were more maneuverable.

I recently purchased the Jackson Coosa sit on top kayak. I am very impressed with the kayak when fishing in moving water. When fishing in steal water the kayak seems to require more energy to move the boat that I thought it would. In fairness to the dealer, they did tell me that the boat was primarily designed to float in moving water. However, standing up in the boat to fish seems to be more difficult then what they advertise. Also, I like the option of using the bungee straps on the side of the kayak for the rod holder. However, I like to hook my bait on the hook eyelet of my St. Croix fishing rod so that I don't hook the crank bait on a bush or tree limb.Twice the hook became hooked to the fabric that is raped around the side handles on the boat. Therefore I have give the kayak an overall 8.

Let me start by saying this is my first kayak and I am a beginner. With that said, I think that overall the Coosa is a great kayak for it's intended purpose. It is a very stable and very open platform from which to fish. It is not particularly fast or graceful, but it is not supposed to be. In contrast, my wife has a Jackson Ibis that is much faster, much more effortless and much more graceful, however it would be a pain to try to fish out of the Ibis. So again, for it's intended purpose, the Coosa is about as perfect as you can get.

One other thing to say: Almost everyone has asked me if I have tried standing up in it, and I have. At 6'-0, 265lbs, it is stable to stand on, but I could not imagine trying to land a fish while standing. Basically, it was all I could do to maintain my balance just standing there. Hopefully I will get better at standing with practice as I really hoped to be able to stand while fishing.

Love it with Coosa, good stablity, easy paddling, open concept, easy for setup for fishing equipment. I used my Coosa for fishing, and like I can standing when casting the lures. Or for fly fishing. the best kayak in the market for standing fishing platform.

My 2011 Coosa is great. I am in the river most of the time. Standing, paddling, sitting, or even swimming from the Coosa. I get back into my Coosa in deep water very easy. I take lots of gear with me all the time. I did install a trolling motor on it for going up river. Did I mention the storage. I bought it used, She will never be for sale again.
fish jumped, gotta go.

Well, I broke down and bought brand new Coosa. It is a very awesome looking boat. I stood up fishing in river all day, but every rapid I went down I tried to wheel around and fish eddy I flipped. Lost lots of gear. Boat flips way to easy in river. I'm use to a sit-in 11ft Old Town that never flipped. I weigh about 210 and been fishing in canoes all my life. This kayak tips easy.

I bought my boat spring of 2012. I was looking for a fishing/white water boat that I could paddle upstream through a chute to fish the next pool, then paddle back down to my vehicle. I am 6 feet tall and 240 pounds.

This boat works for what I bought it for. It can ferry and can eddy turn. I can fish from it. I cannot stand up in it. I cannot use the high seat position, only the low seat position. The boat is heavy for it's length, and is awkward to load and unload from a vehicle rack. The carry handles are where the rod tie-downs should be and vice-versa. The compartment lids have bungees run though them so they are not water tight. But if you use small water tight bags, you can camp out of it. I use a long kayak paddle, but on small lakes or slow rivers, I prefer a bent shaft paddle. I added carabineers to guide anchor/mooring lines, and I added anchor cleats by the carry handle. I added a Scotty rod holder mid-ships. Many of the features for fishing are weak or need modification. Plan on getting hung up on vertical stumps. I have better boats for birding, hunting, or photography. The seat is very comfortable. I like the camo choices. I like the relatively easy in and out.

I would rate this boat as above average, not outstanding. It does fill a unique niche in my boat fleet. Happy paddling!

We just picked up our Coosa's today (Pink & Camo) and took them out for a test paddle on the pond. We haven't fished yet but let me say I am already impressed with the maneuverability and stability of this yak! After a couple times of standing and sitting I was very comfortable with it! I gave it a 9 because I have only had it a day but I will update you down the road!