Most modern sit-on-top fishing kayaks are outfitted with some sort of pedal drive system that gives them more power, helps keep your hands free, and makes them much more efficient on open water.

Some, like the NuCanoe Frontier 12, are keeping things exceptionally basic. This modern sit-on-top lacks a pedal drive, but as you will see, that is actually a big selling point. Here’s what to know.

What It Offers

In a nutshell, the NuCanoe Frontier 12 offers:

  • Stability, and more enough to stand in, plus non-slip deck pads, which makes it great for fly fishing and more.

  • A wide open cockpit that offers plenty of room for camping gear, decoys, crab traps and other disciplines.

  • Comfortable seating.

  • A shallow draft.

  • No pedal drive, which makes it easier for this kayak to get into thick stuff.

  • A rod chamber and gear vault at the front.

  • A square transom, which makes it possible to mount a trolling motor.

Beyond Fishing in Your NuCanoe Frontier 12

What makes the NuCanoe Frontier 12 such a great fishing kayak is its versatility.

Because of its stability, you can easily fly cast from it, even while standing. It is an excellent craft for fishing in both fresh and saltwater, no matter what your target species.

But on top of that, you can use this versatile and capable fishing kayak for:

  • Kayak camping: excellent stability, gear vaults and plenty of room in the cockpit for gear make it a snap to take this yak on an extended camping trip.
  • Scouting: the lack of a pedal drive means you sneak this yak into skinny, shallow water and scout from there, allowing the woods to remain quiet and unbothered until opening day.
  • Hunting: whether you’re an upland hunter whose turf is best accessed by water or you take to duck hunting from a craft like this, the NuCanoe Frontier 12 shines here. It’s stable enough to use as a shooting platform as well.
  • Frog gigging: silent and able to sneak into shallow water, the Frontier 12 is a great frog-gigging craft.
  • Crabbing: the same things that make the Frontier 12 a great frog-gigging craft also make it a choice for crabbing. There’s plenty of room for bushels and traps in the cockpit as well.
  • Birdwatching: Being on the water opens up a whole other dimension of opportunities for hardcore birders that wouldn’t manifest on land.

What Other Paddle-Driven Kayaks Offer the Same?

While the NuCanoe Frontier 12 is excellent for all of the disciplines and pursuits mentioned here, there are other paddle driven kayaks on the market that offer a lot of the same features, functionality, and overall value as this one. If you’re looking to shop some alternatives before you make a hard decision, the following are worth looking at:

  • NuCanoe Flint

  • NuCanoe 13.5

  • Bonafide P127

  • Native Falcon 11

  • Jackson Staxx

These are just a few of the best paddle-driven fishing kayaks for sale, but there are others, so make sure to do a deep dive before you make a decision if you’re sure you want one that lacks a pedal drive (and maybe read some Frontier 12 reviews, too).

Where to Learn More About the NuCanoe Frontier 12

Want to learn more about what the NuCanoe Frontier 12 has to offer before you get one? Take a look at what’s over at No Bad Days Kayak. There you can learn more about this paddle-driven fishing kayak for sale, along with many others that were mentioned above.

You can also get in touch with their customer service team directly at 512-229-0560 if you have questions or want personalized recommendations based on your target species or specific needs.

For more information about Hobie Angler Pro 14 and Hobie Lynx Please visit: No Bad Days Kayak.