To Paddle Or Not

[ronaultmtd]

I started out as a canoeist. In my early twenties, I was a canoeing instructor trainer.....I certified instructors for the Red Cross.

Fishing from a paddled canoe was a natural for me. I bought an Old Town Camper from Joe Bruce's son in 1991 (Joe's original fly shop was in the back).

But the ravages of time, four knee surgeries, and two shoulder surgeries have limited my options. I would be confined to tiny local ponds if restricted to paddling only.
Pedaling is a no-go, I even had to give up biking.....knees couldn't take the strain.

So motor it is.

“Knees cannot take the strain”...after my fourth knee surgery my rehab was grueling..the therapists are really mean people...but thirty minutes on a stair stepper was essential, so sweating with the pain was the price you pay- I credit the Hobie Mirage Drive stair stepper propulsion system with keeping me from having to have a replacement knee surgery. I started out with paddle kayaking, but one meet and greet at PLO croaker fishing was it for me...the Hobie guys were coming back in with full stringers when I finally fought the wind and tide to get at the croaker grounds in Cornfield Harbor...and the trip back to the launch was equally rough as the tide was going the opposite direction and the afternoon winds did too...my very next fishing trip was in an Outback...never looked back and don’t intend to...I am not a pleasure kayaker, not a canoe paddler...if I had consistently good fishing off the bank I would never get on the water, although the sun rises and sunset are spectacular...I enjoy fishing- paddling and/or peddling is the price I pay for the flexibility of having the “portability of fishing”...had plenty of boats, they always have something...like a car or truck...lots of pricey maintenance and repairs, even on Jon boats...and registration fees, trailers, launch fees, etc. Nope, not for me...got my preferred kayak, but it may not be yours- to me it is a great, all around platform for so many different fishing techniques, conditions and seaworthiness in unexpected, unpredicted weather. No kayak is the “perfect” kayak...they all have pros and cons...price is one of them...

[Memory Maker]

Paddle Pedal or Motor. ............. why not all 3 ........ I don’t use my Yaks near as much as I should but there are times that I enjoy each. My PA is a monster to paddle but sometimes it’s necessary to get to a shallow spot and for launching and take out. The pedals are good getting there silently with power and it’s fun to pedal with my hands free to fish etc.

Lastly, the engine. I’m 68, way overweight and totally out of shape. I decided that I needed an engine while fishing with Marty Mood and Chad Hoover in Virginia. It was beautiful when we started and after awhile the wind REALLY kicked up making white caps coming at us exactly where we had to go. It was strong enough to make you lose 2 ft for every 3 feet gained. Half way back, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack but if you missed 1 pedal stroke you’d lose several feet. I don’t know about you but that was not the most pleasurable. I bought a Torqeedo after I had tried several other motor setups and couldn’t be happier. It took the concern out of dangers from being fat and old. It allows me to quickly check out concentrations of birds, new sites etc and get to the fish quicker and safer .......... and it is fun. Jus sayin.

[john from md]

I'm an arthritic 68 also. I added a motor to my big yak some years ago and last year added one to the small yak. It gives me the piece of mind that, when the wind changes and the waves come up, I can still get back to the launch. I still paddle, even with the motor on but I have to rest my shoulders more often these days.