A sports car is great for performance, but it’s not convenient for hauling groceries. A minivan is perfect for ferrying the family, but it won’t win any races. The epic struggle between convenience and performance rages on with the performance of a hard plastic kayak versus the convenience of an inflatable.
Aquaglide’s Blackfoot Angler 130 is the most recent victory for convenience. At only 41 pounds and folding down to 29 by 22 by 10 inches, the Blackfoot goes anywhere. Inflated, the 13-foot waterline and 38-inch beam improve tracking and stability. But is the Blackfoot really the best of both worlds?
Aquaglide’s Blackfoot Angler 130 is Ready for Big Water
Aquaglide Blackfoot Angler 130 Specs
Length: 13’0”
Width: 38”
Weight: 41 lbs
Capacity: 650 lbs
MSRP: $1,349.99 USD
aquaglide.com
Key Fishy Features
The first test is certifying the Blackfoot as a fishing kayak. Aquaglide didn’t just add Angler to the name, they built a ready-to-fish inflatable.
Let’s talk about the nine universal mounting bases located at convenient locations throughout the kayak.
The universal mounts at the bow and the stern are in a perfect location to add an Anchor Wizard anchor trolley with the winch attached to the mounting base behind the seat.
Universal mounts on the gunwale forward of the seat are set up for electronics and rod holders. There is even a universal mount in the deck to accommodate a rod holder for rigging and standup fishing.
To further customize the Blackfoot 130, MOLLE plates on each side of the cockpit hold a mesh bag to keep small items secure.
Loops, loops and more loops, the Blackfoot Angler is peppered with web loops and stainless steel D-rings. For big adventures, there is space for strapping camping equipment or float bags.
The icing on the cake is a folding cooler with rod holders and gear pockets that Velcros into the bottom of the kayak. I used the cooler as a gear crate fitting a small tackle box and bag with leaders and other accessories. Even without ice, the cooler kept my lunch and drinks cool. And the cooler folds to fit in the kayak’s carry case.
Aquaglide Frame Seat
One of my biggest complaints about inflatable fishing kayaks is the seats. Inflatable seats are comfortable, but they don’t offer the best fishing or paddling platforms. I feel like I’m sitting too low in the kayak and reaching around the wide gunwales.
The Blackfook 130 Angler is one of the only inflatable fishing kayaks outfitted with a legit frame seat. The Aquaglide frame seat is wide and deep with a high backrest for full support.
The frame is covered with quick-drying fabric that drains water and provides support. I keep my keys and wallet in the small bag at the back of the seat.
For better paddling performance, configure the seat in the low position by placing rubber pads on the seat legs. The low position improves stability for river fishing or rough water. Sitting closer to the water also increases paddling power.
To fish sheltered water, the seat’s high position offers better visibility and a more comfortable casting and fishing position. Remove the rubber pads from the seat legs and add an extension to lift the seat 10 inches off the deck. The high seat position includes a tackle box shelf beneath the seat to accommodate two tackle trays.
When I’m paddling an inflatable kayak, I never know where to put my feet. For a little extra support, the Blackfoot Angler has an adjustable foot rest that straps into the deck loops and Velcros to the floor.
Best of all, the frame seat folds flat and packs into the carry case. It installs in the kayak using the deck loops, so the seat moves forward and back to balance the boat.
Like I said, the Aquaglide frame seat is legit. The AG seat’s comfort and versatility are the Blackfoot Angler’s biggest contributions to convenience and performance.
On-Water Performance
Okay, so the Blackfoot is a fishing machine, but can it keep up with a hard plastic kayak? Let’s not set unrealistic expectations. In a foot race, a similar-sized hard-body kayak would probably win. That being said, the Blackfoot takes inflatable performance to the absolute limit.
First, a word about Aquaglide. The kayak company was started by river adventure enthusiasts looking for a better inflatable. The result is an inflatable boat capable of carrying gear and paddlers down raging rivers and across open lakes.
The Blackfoot Angler uses the same design cues as its sister boats with more volume and width to accommodate tackle and allow standup fishing.
To begin, the hull has a sharp entry and exit to pass easily through the water and cut into waves. The drop stitch floor is angled up in the bow and stern to further reduce water resistance. And, a large, removable skeg improves straight-line tracking.
My favorite Aquaglide feature is the spray shield in the bow. The bow is covered with a hard plastic shield that sheds water and looks cool. The shield also provides a semi-dry space to keep a rain jacket or drybag.
Aquaglide boats are made for rivers and rough water, so five scuppers in the cockpit quickly drain water.
These features improve paddling performance, but what about fishing? The Blackfoot Angler is 38 inches wide with a high-pressure drop stitch floor supported between 11-inch-wide low-pressure chambers. The combination keeps the Blackfoot stiff and stable for standup fishing.
When I’m standing, I can paddle the Blackfoot without the boat spinning in circles. Wind is still an issue, blowing the boat off course, but the low-profile gunwales do their best to cut beneath the breeze.
Let me interrupt this review to add more to the Aquaglide story. In addition to building adventure-ready inflatable kayaks, they also make giant inflatable lakefront water parks. Aquaglide’s inflatable kayaks use the same Duratex material making them almost indestructible. If the material is damaged, it is easy to fix with an included patch kit.
Look, an inflatable is never going to perform like a hard plastic kayak, but the Blackfoot uses every design trick in the book to improve fishing and paddling performance. And a hard plastic kayak will never fit in a suitcase.
Packing the Blackfoot
The final test for any inflatable kayak is packability. Wrestling a vinyl behemoth into a tiny bag can be a real buzzkill. And inflating the beast is a lot like work. At 13 feet long, the Blackfoot takes some effort to blow up.
The Blackfoot doesn’t come with a pump. To inflate the big boat, use a high-quality, two-stage hand pump. To hike the Blackfoot to a distant fishing hole, the hand pump fits into the case.
However, I strongly recommend an electric air pump. The best models plug into a car battery. Just pull up to the fishing spot, hook up the pump and in 15 minutes the boat is ready to fish.
Deflating the Blackfoot takes a few minutes. The boat folds into loose sections without much trouble. Best of all, it fits into the bag with space to spare.
The Blackfoot, chair, fin and accessories fit into the large carry case to create an all-in-one, go-anywhere package. The carry case fits into a car trunk or hall closet.
Admittedly, the bag is large and unwieldy for long treks through rough terrain. Remember, this is a 13-foot-long, 38-inch-wide kayak with a frame seat and soft cooler all in a bag. I’ll take the tradeoff in performance for a little less transport and storage convenience.
Who is the Blackfoot 130 Angler owner?
When I close my eyes and picture the perfect Blackfoot 130 owner, I see a serious fisherman who is short on space.
The frame seat, versatile rigging options and ample storage make the Blackfoot a serious fishing platform. I can even add electronics or a small electric motor.
While I always recommend primarily sheltered waters for inflatable kayaks, the Blackfoot has the guts to handle open water, whitewater and even surf launches. Tracking and rough water performance are aided by the seaworthy hull. Of course, any inflatable is going to suffer when the wind starts to blow.
The Blackfoot 130 has many uses, but I could see the boat bouncing down light whitewater and standup fishing the calm sections. The 41-pound boat also excels anywhere requiring a long portage.
The more I think about using the Blackfoot Angler 130, the more scenarios I imagine for the full-feature inflatable kayak. After paddling and fishing from the Angler 130, I rate the sporty and versatile kayak as one of the most capable inflatable fishing kayaks.
Where to Buy
Blackfoot Angler 130
- An incredibly rugged angling specific kayak
- Performance oriented drop-stitch floors
- Loaded with features to optimize angling-frame seat, universal mounts, etc
- Stable enough to stand and cast from
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As close to a hard-body kayak as a blowup boat can get. | Feature photo: Patrick “Buzz” Hayes
