SmallieHunter00

I fish the New River in southwest VA for smallmouth. I’ve had a cheap sit-in kayak for the past few years but I’ve only felt comfortable taking it out in the summer when the river is down. I’d like to upgrade to a better sit-on-top kayak (or maybe even a plastic Jon boat) that would be safe to use for some spring fishing. Any tips or recommendations for how to get on the water before summer, or is it just simply too dangerous to try at all? If it can be done, I’d prefer to stay in the sub $1000 range, but if it’s really worth it for extra stability/craftsmanship/etc, I’d be willing to look at options slightly above $1000. Thanks in advance