Tips and Reviews

Wilderness Systems Recon 120 HD Review

After a few months of testing out the new Wilderness Systems (Wildy) Recon HD from North Carolina waters to Florida’s Kissimmee chain, the Recon HD has been put through the tests in wind, rain, cold, fishing deep, shallow, fast, slow and all the other potential situations with the only exception being a river trip.

First Impression

The moment I saw the Recon I was taken back by the width, which I knew was wider than other Wildy models. Comparing it to the Radar 135, I was even more shocked at the visual difference. A little shorter by over a foot, but with the design of the storage compartment and seating area it has more room for fishing gear in areas and in a manner that is far more accessible and convenient.

The drive base comes on the HD version installed and ready to go, a few tools and steps to put the Helix PD™ Pedal Drive together and you are good to go within 20 minutes.

Pedaling the kayak initially I had some discomfort with the seat bar on the AirPro ACE seat which was quickly remedied by adding $2 or less of pipe insulation to the bar, not everyone experienced this issue however, but a little padding resolves the issue.

It is noticeable that this is not a dry ride in heavy wind, but the drainage is quick and its not much of an issue 99% of the time. But if staying completely dry is essential, competitive kayak fishing probably isn’t the best sport for you anyway.

The pedals provided are a big improvement over the previous pedals with the pin based pedals that keep your feet both in the proper position and keeps them from slipping off completely when wet. I had purchased mountain bike pedals for the previous model that were virtually identical to the ones that now come with the drive.

Recon 120 compared to the Radar Series

	Recon 120 HD	Radar 115	Radar 135
Length	12’ 2” / 371 CM	11’ 8” / 356 CM	13’ 6” / 412 CM
Width	38” / 96.5 CM	34.5” / 88 CM	34” / 86 CM
Deck Height	15” / 38 CM	15” / 38 CM	15.5” / 39 CM
Hull Weight	95 LBS. / 43 KG	85 LBS. / 38.5 KG	90 LBS. / 41 KG
Max Capacity	450 LBS. / 204 KG	450 LBS. / 204 KG	475 LBS. / 215 KG
MSRP**	$2,149.00	$2,508.99	$2,648.99

*The available Helix PD™ Pedal Drive will add 20lbs to all models
**MSRP includes the additional drive purchase for Radar models

Stability and Comfort

The potential seat issue aside, the higher position and new one handed mechanical lever adjustment feature is ideal for bass fishing in most conditions. High winds or heavy current may pose a little concern on most kayaks, but with the stability of the wider hull the higher center of gravity is unnoticeable.

Standing has never been so easy and confident as it is with the Recon. The additional 4” width over the Radar models makes the stability second to none. The included Recon styled padding allows you to stand safely and comfortably for long periods of time wet or dry.

The AirPro ACE seat is comfortable and I find myself with less back fatigue than previous models from Wildy, which were great seats in their own right. The straps that adjust the seat back position are higher quality which was the only issue I had with previous models. Easy of install and removal is also improved with half the knobs to tighten or loosen respectively. They also have a hex key option to tighten the seat so there is no need to remove the seat while traveling by trailer of truck bed.

The adjustability of the seat also allows for plenty of room compared with the Radar for taking fish photos on your measuring board of choice. With the Radar, I was constantly cramped up trying to get a photo with no easy way to adjust the seat and hold onto a big fish. The additional width also helps by providing even more room to work with.

Storage

The front hatch is easily reachable and simple to secure while on the water making this a monstrous improvement over the Radar models. With the included storage bin you can load up in an organized manner, keep rain gear handy and out of the way, and bring along extra large items that were otherwise relegated to the back of the rear tank well for emergencies.

The storage around the seating area is plentiful with the higher seating position. You can fit a 3600 box on either side of the seat, 1 or 2 behind, and 4 or more under the seat if desired with all the room that is now available. The only issue with these areas is that they are not dry areas of the boat, and that needs to be taken into consideration. Adding some deck padding to create a higher base would probably correct the issue.

The rear tank well is plenty large for any size crate. The width is an improvement over the Radar’s narrow tank wells allowing more options for different crate styles and options. The length is big enough to add a small to medium size cooler if needed as well.

Rod Storage

This had to be its own section, because this has to be one of my favorite features of the Recon HD! Yes, side rod storage is a major feature of this kayak, something not available on any other Wildy model. For competitive bass fisherman, taking less gear is not an option that sits well in our gut. We want to be ready for any change of fishing conditions and sometimes that means more rod combos for specific bait presentations.

The storage allows for up to 4 rods on each side, although 2 rod combos on each side is probably the better way to manage the space. Normally I bring 6-7 rods but with this set up I could bring 10 easily with 6 rods in my Wildy Kayak Krate. However I bring 6-8, relieving some of the upright storage clutter.

The position of the rod storage could be costly if you don’t pay attention. The provided straps to hold down the rods is not an option but complete necessary. The top position of the storage area could easily allow a rod to go over the side and into the drink. Although I have yet to have that issue myself I have heard stories of close calls.

Accessory Gear Tracks

No fishing kayak can be without gear tracks, and the Recon comes with 2 mid ship tracks right where they need to be for essential items such as video arms, electronics and in my case the essential cup holder for my coffee.

However, this is also one of the issues I have had with the Recon. There seems to be very little flat space on the hull to add any more track, which has been a small inconvenience. I generally set my landing net in a track mounted rod hold to keep it more handy and ergonomically available when needed. Thus far I have yet to come up with a solution that doesn’t involve interfering with the rod storage.

The trade off for the rod storage makes the additional gear track placement a minor one. Although making videos to share is fun, the main purpose of this rig is to compete at a high level with the top kayak anglers in the country. That requires more fishing gear in convenient locations and not more video cameras.

Other Notable Features

The Recon models area also transducer ready with threaded inserts under the rear tank well for quick and easy installation. The only thing needed is the Through-Hull Wiring Kit that the boat is already molded for as well. A couple quick holes to drill for the wiring and installation is clean and complete. No more wondering what to do with the 20’ of transducer cable which is now in the hull out of the way.

The rudder comes mostly installed with a new internal based run of the deploy and retract cabling that is far easy to use with less binding as on the Radar models. The steering is also installed saving time and headache. The steering handle has changed from a vertical boat throttle type to a twist type, which seems better by being less of an obstruction and a simple left goes left and right goes right configuration.

Large molded in rear handles allow for easy loading and unloading with comfort. The side and front handles are solid and well placed for balance when trying to move the kayak around when needed.

The back of the boat is also configured for easy installation of powered stake pole or motor mounts making this kayak simple to accessorize or convert into a motored vessel. The access hatch on the back makes installing those options simple and convenient.

The Negatives and Wish List

Im my opinion an honest review needs to point out flaws and what seems to be lacking with a product. There is nothing worse than going off a glowing review to find out an obvious issue was left out. It also benefits the manufacturer so they know what they need to address with future generations of a product. With that said, let’s get into this!

1. AirPro seat - The straight bar across the back of the seat that caused the initial discomfort needs to be addressed in future models. Discomfort and pain is not acceptable for any product, regardless of how easy or cheap it is for the consumer to fix.
2. Where to put my measuring board? This is a kayak that is meant for competitive kayak fishing, but for some reason manufacturers forget we need to store our measuring devices somewhere convenient. It would be nice to have a convenient spot built in around the seating area.
3. Water drainage - there are numerous compartments and areas that hold water. Some of these are known mistakes that occurred during the mold making process that Wildy is aware of and says will be addressed in future releases.
4. Adding tracks - Although I think this is minor, it would be nice to have areas to install more tracks if desired.
5. Pedal drive - The improvements on the drive in a few areas is great, but the drive is very heavy. The auto pop up feature is good, but I find it rarely effective and not worth all the inconvenience that comes with it for weight, deployment and retracting and all the complicated latching mechanisms. The version of the drive shown at the iCast in 2019 looked more promising and I wish they would have made that work for this model.

Final Thoughts

With all things considered this kayak is well worth the money asked. For a quality hull that Wilderness Systems is known for alone, the price range is in a great spot. This kayak stacks up high amongst all the other competitive fishing kayaks on the market and I would recommend anyone who takes competitive bass fishing serious to go fishing in a Recon. You will enjoy the experience and want one for yourself!

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Eric Nelson
Professional Kayak Bass Angler

Biography

I was born in Southeastern Massachusetts, where I began fishing for bass when I was in my early teenage years, graduating to competitive bass tournaments in my late 20’s. I moved to North Carolina in 2015 and found the passion for bass fishing from a kayak, and quickly became involved in both the local and national kayak bass tournament scenes. My fishing skills have allowed me to qualify for almost every major event since joining the clubs, be it at a club, state and even national level.

Being a professional in the online web development and design field for publications, I have always used my skills to help promote the clubs and the sport as a whole in my spare time.  I have been a part of the club directors for Cape Cod Bass, and now for Carolina Kayak Anglers, one of the larger kayak clubs in the country. I am also a part of the national KBF tournament advisory board.

The Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) format has allowed me to travel across the United States, fishing against the best fisherman in the country. Now with the KBF Pro format, and the merging with the FLW organization, I am looking forward to where this adventure takes me in the future.

Highlights

Total Career Earnings - $3,250

Competition Highlights
Inaugural FLW / KBF Cup Championship Qualified 2019 - Hot Springs, AK
KBF National Championship Qualified 2020 - Lake Guntersville, AL
KBF Challenge Championship 2018 - Toledo Bend, LA
2019 KBF National Championship - 57th overall out of 462 anglers - Shreveport, LA
KBF Regional Trail Championship Qualified 2019 - Lake Wheeler, AL
KBF National Trail Championship Qualified 2019 - La Crosse, WI
2nd Place 2018 KBF National Trail - High Rock Lake, NC
2nd Place 2019 - Plastic Pirates - Randleman Lake, NC
11th Place - 2019 KBF Southeastern Region Trail - Santee Cooper Lakes, SC
13th Place - 2019 KBF Southeastern Region Trail - Chickamauga Lake, TN
46th Place 2019 FLW / KBF Cup Qualifier - Nickajack Lake, TN
2nd Place - Plastic Pirates - Randleman Lake 2019
1st Place - Cape Cod Bass,  2002 - Lake Winnipesaukee, NH
1st Place - Cape Cod Bass, 2008 - Glenn Charlie Pond, MA