Novice seeking advice

[Ronny Bell]

I am trying to decide between a Ride 115 and a Jackson Coosa as my first yak purchase. I will use it primarily for flyfishing two tailwater rivers for trout, the White and Northfork rivers in north Arkansas. Both rivers have moderate flows and few difficult rapids. I am 6' 4" 230 lbs. Any suggestions for an old-timer novice would be greatly appreciated.

[Richie Strawn]

I drilled a hole through the "L" bracket that the WS seat attaches to. I used a "snap ring" that secures through that hole. I used a piece of 1" strap attached to the snap ring and then laced through the regular strap mount on the Coosa seat. I have ordered some bungee and two plastic snap hooks to mount the rear of the seat to the pad eyes at the rear, just like the WS seat mounts. It allows me to adjust the Coosa seat forwards and backwards just like the WS seat.

[Ronny Bell]

Thanks Richie and Steve!  Did you have to do any redneck engineering to install the Coosa seat in the Ride?

[Richie Strawn]

Ron, you can't go wrong with the Ride!

[Richie Strawn]

Ron, I was faced with the same choice a few months ago. My fishing partner paddles a Coosa and loves it. However, Steve is spot on in his assessment. Also, after seeing Steve's pic, I borrowed my partner's Coosa seat and used it on my Ride, Wow! I ordered on the next day.

[Steve Komarinetz]

Ron, they are two completely different kayaks, simply put if you going to fish anything larger than a stream get the Ride, the Coosa is too sensitive to the wind there is very little control out in the open, your blown around like a foam cup on the water.The Coosa is more comfortable but!! you can bolt in the Coosa seat in a Ride or get the new seat from WS,  

Try them both

Steve