Kayak Review: Cabela’s Advanced Anglers 120

Some boats claim to do it all. Other models are designed to do one thing well. The latter is true about Cabela’s new Advanced Anglers 120. At just over 12 feet long and exactly 35 inches wide, this tri-hulled, flat-decked kayak is purpose-built for standup fishing.

For guys looking to chase bucketmouth bass in the backwater or target marsh ghosts in the skinnywater, there’s no better option than a standup fishing kayak. Cabela’s partnered with the gurus at FeelFree to design the Advanced Anglers from the ground up.

Starting below the waterline, the Advanced Anglers features an aggressive tri-hull design that places more of the volume towards the outside of the hull to improve stability with a middle keel for straight tracking. The angles are sharp, making the boat look like a Stealth bomber.

Topside is all standup. The flat deck is reinforced and textured. In the center, a removable pod will hold three tackle trays or carry fishfinders, battery and transducer in a single package.

One unique feature is a forward well instead of a bow hatch. This is a popular option for standup anglers; just throw your gear and tackle in the bow so you don’t have to turn around while standing up.

Four gear tracks and bow and stern bungees come included. The hull is built tough, as expected from FeelFree, and features a cool camo color scheme that would make it a capable hunting blind. I like the little details, like the stand-assist strap and molded tackle crate base in the stern well.

A great standup boat needs a great standup seat. The Advanced Anglers rethinks the seat to provide four positions from low for paddling to high for a better view. Best yet, the seat folds out of the way to expose a flat pad at the boat’s sweet spot. Stand the seat up, and it makes a solid leaning post. Fold it flat for transport and storage. The only thing the seat doesn’t do is readily come out of the boat. It’s mounted on a separately molded insert that can be removed if the seat needs to be repaired.

On the water, the 120 is a solid fishing platform. Sit, stand, walk around, I could even crawl on top of a 25-quart cooler for a better view. The boat weighs 100 pounds, which further improves stability. Standing on the deck or paddling from the seat, I was able work the boat through tight places. Despite the weight, the boat’s aggressive design made it easy to move. The confidence I felt fishing from a solid platform allowed me to paddle and fish without a wobble.

With retail giants BassPro and Cabela’s now under the same management, the future of the Advanced Anglers 120 is uncertain. Get one while you still can.

FISH-FRIENDLY FEATURES:

• Reinforced, textured deck
• Four gear tracks
• Four position seat
• Bow well
• Tri-hull
• Removable gear and electronics pod
• Two horizontal rod holders with rod tip protector

This article was first published in the Winter 2016 issue of Kayak Angler Magazine. Subscribe to Kayak Angler Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.