It has been over a year since I got my Jackson Coosa X. Before doing a review on this kayak, I wanted to put in a lot of seat time to really put it through the paces and get the rigging dialed in. I am a “river rat” at heart. Kayak fishing rivers and creeks has long been my passion. With that in mind, my expectations for a moving water kayak are very high. I am tough on my equipment so I need durability that I can depend on. Over the years I’ve had many Jackson Kayaks in my arsenal used exclusively for river fishing. I’ve enjoyed piloting the Coosa HD, Mayfly, Liska, and Bite FD. All of them bring something different to the table. I can say quite confidently that the new Coosa X has become my new all-time favorite kayak.

Specs

-Length: 11’8”
Just long enough to track well but short enough to easily maneuver around obstacles in current.

-Width: 36”
Stability for days and enough space to let your rigging dreams run wild.

-Weight: 102 lbs with the seat
Some people would consider this to be heavy for a river kayak but I disagree. When it comes to weight you have to look at what features/components cause the added weight and if those things are worth that added weight to you. To me, the built-in features and comfort of the Coosa X are more than worth their weight. The 8+ hours I spend on the water in this kayak on any given day far exceed the few minutes of loading and unloading each trip. Give me the features and comfort every time for an enjoyable kayaking experience.

-Capacity: 425 lbs
For a relatively short kayak the capacity is pretty high because of the width. The weight capacity combined with the cavernous bow in-haul storage make this an excellent choice for overnight camping trips. If you are a tournament angler like I am, you will love having the capability to carry more gear then you will ever need.

Hull

Hull design is something that doesn’t get talked about enough and doesn’t garner as much attention as flashy features tend to. Jackson Kayak is well known throughout the industry for their innovative hull designs. Their designers continually set the bar higher and higher with each new kayak they release. They hit a grand slam with the Coosa X hull. With a single one-handed paddle stroke, I can turn this kayak 180 degrees. To be able to do that in a 36” wide and over 100 lb kayak plus gear, is simply unheard of. Every time I am in this kayak I am amazed at just how easily and efficient it paddles. A big part of its maneuverability and paddle efficiency is how shallow the draft is on this kayak. It literally feels like it could float on wet grass. The secondary stability allows you to lean into turns when motoring or paddling, making it the most maneuverable kayak I have ever been in. That maneuverability combined with the large bow make this a beast in rapids. You can turn on a dime and bust over and through rapids with ease. Its abilities will make you feel like a better paddler then you are.

Features

The Coosa X has every bell and whistle you could imagine. It’s part of that give and take between features and weight I mentioned earlier. You will not find any gimmicky features or components on this kayak. Every detail was well thought out and designed with function, comfort, and performance in mind.
-Deck Design:
If you look at the deck you will see something that stands out about its design. It is raised up with deep channels throughout. There are several reasons for this; 1. Allows a transducer cable to be ran from the transducer scupper to the bow in a recessed channel out of the way without having to drill any holes; 2. It makes the deck area much more rigid. Greatly improving the decks durability when standing, thus eliminating any potential deck warping. 3. Exceptionally fast water drainage out the scuppers.
-TriTrak:
This innovative track system by Jackson has been a game changer when it comes to rigging options. The skies the limit with how many ways accessories can be mounted and configured. You’ll have two very long sections of it running down the left and right sides, as well as a section of it behind the seat doubling as a cross bar.
Bonus Tip- You can purchase TriTrak from Jackson in 12” or 36” sections and then cut it to any size you want. I used a 36” section to make a dashboard down by the front hatch. It holds 2 YakAttack TracPak’s, a net holder, and ketch board holder with plenty of spare room to add anything additional.
-Anchoring Options:
Anchoring options are endless on this kayak from front to back. On the stern you will find the standard 4 bolt pattern that allows for a power pole mounting option. Also, on the stern on both the left and right sides are recessed channels that serve as anchor chutes for a drag chain. On the bow you will find another innovative feature. At the base of the front hatch area on both sides, there is tubing that was designed to allow a front anchor line to pass through the haul and out at the front nose. This feature eliminates lines from getting in the way and allows the front hatch to be unobstructed for easy access. On the top of the nose are sections of gear track on both the left and right sides that an anchor chute can be attached to.
-Additional Features:
• Two rod tubes on each side for horizontal rod storage.
• Bow tie down eyelets to fasten additional gear down.
• Flat top bow to allow a bow mount motor to be installed.
• Transducer scupper located under the seat with a protective bottom cover.
• One handed operation high/low seating.
• Large tank well area.
• Rear round hatch to access the stern haul area.
• Gear track everywhere you would want it.
• Two angled flush mount rod holders.
• Deck padding for barefoot comfort and noise absorption.

The folks at Jackson knocked it out of the park with this kayak. It is everything a river kayak should be but is versatile enough to handle any body of water. If you are a purest that loves to paddle you won’t find a better paddling kayak for moving waters. If you prefer motors, you have the option to do a bow mount or stern mount motor. The Coosa X strikes a perfect balance of included features while still allowing for endless rigging options. Stop by your local Jackson dealer and request a demo to try this kayak out for yourself. Just make sure you bring tie down straps cause you won’t want to leave without one.