Field&Stream Eagle Talon Kayak Review

When I was looking for a sit on top fishing Kayak, I couldn’t help but fall for the Field & Stream Eagle Talon Kayak.  It’s got everything an aspiring kayak fisherman would need to start out, its priced well, and it’s a fun stable kayak.  It comes rigged with some pretty cool features and is basically ready to fish.

I purchased the Field & Stream Eagle Talon Kayak at Dicks Sporting Goods for a little over $550.  Two weeks later I had realized it went on sale for almost $100 off!  I went back to Dicks Sporting Goods and asked if they would price match the sales price with my receipt.  They said NO PROBLEM!  I think they credited my account and I immediately used it to buy MORE fishing gear!

The Field & Stream Eagle Talon kayak has a bunch of really cool fishing features.  It comes with 2 flush mount rod holders, a front rod holder, and a molded-in area to bungee down a Plano 3600 tackle tray.  It has an anchor and trolley, and a bunch of other storage accessories.  There is a hatch in the cockpit where I usually store my phone, and wallet, and some other gear.  Inside there is plenty of room to store a few rods, or tackle boxes, or other gear, but don’t count on being able to access them while in the kayak.

When I brought it home, I installed the seat and hit the water.  This seat will need to be replaced, but for a test run, I was ok for an hour.  This is the first kayak I’d ever been in up until then so had no other kayaking experience at the time.  I remember feeling safe and secure as soon as I was seated and was off.  After a few wakes from some powerboats roiled by, my confidence only grew.  This boat is really stable, and the kayak rolled right over any wave the lake would throw its way, and on my lake that can typically mean 3ft rollers regularly.

In terms of speed, the Eagle Talon Kayak doesn’t feel particularly fast.  It’s not slow, but it takes
some effort to keep moving at a good pace especially weighed down with some gear.  I have paddled it miles to and from my fishing spots so It’s not hard work, it’s just work.  It doesn’t track perfectly.  I found myself going off course, and needing some correction.  At around 13ft long, this kayak doesn’t exactly do donuts either.  It takes a few strokes to turn it around.  At first I wasn’t sure if it was my NOOB status as a kayaker, or if it was the kayak.  Are all kayaks like this?  I had no idea, no experience, and not many people to ask.  After owning this for a while, I’m pretty sure it’s just the kayak.

It comes with a LOT of options for a $550 kayak as mentioned above.  However, you get the feeling that whoever designed this said, Hey just throw a bunch of fishing stuff on it just so it’s a fishing kayak!  Honestly, for the price, I have absolutely no problem with that.  I’ve fished with it for 2 years a few times a week, and am not disappointed at all.  I knew what I was getting when I bought it, and that was a starting point.  I knew I’d want a new seat, and make it my own with some modifications.

Having said all that, I would absolutely buy the Field & Stream Eagle Talon again in a heartbeat.  It was cheap, came with rod holders (which is uncommon even on kayaks 3x this pricerange), its stable, safe and fun.  I can paddle around in 6” of water, smash it into rocks, and it just slides off.  For me, it’s  been the perfect first kayak.  I’ve caught so many fish that would have otherwise been inaccessible to me.  Someday I’ll want to upgrade but for now, almost 2 years after buying it I’m still happy with my blue camo fishing machine.

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Dicks Sporting Goods Field & Stream Eagle Talon Kayak