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Tim raised these questions in John Veil's "for sale" thread on this forum:
"Do you find that you can cover the about the same distance paddling compared to peddling? I like the ability of being able to fish hands-free but I figure that an easier way to do so in a paddle kayak would be a stake-out pole or an anchor. I have yet to use either method as I typically drift and adjust with my paddle, but I find that my lure isn't retrieved through the water as much as I'd like for it to be."
I think they're good questions and deserve a community response so I've created another thread to discuss this while not impeding John's sale. Besides that, like many, I'm stuck at home and have time at the moment to comment.
I actually devoted a chapter to this topic in my kayak fishing book.
In his answer, John mentioned that he essentially used his pedal kayak for trolling, not often for cruising shorelines to cast. Well, I am kind of the reverse of that when it comes to kayak fishing. I have indeed trolled with my pedal kayak -- a Hobie Revo 13. But trolling is not my preferred method of fishing. I have not done an exclusive trolling kayak trip in years. I don't like to troll. I find it exceedingly boring. Further, during those times I trolled, I kept looking at the shoreline terrain I was passing and thinking, "I bet that spot holds fish." Often I would break off trolling and head to those areas that piqued my interest to cast to them.
Now to answer one of Tim's questions, I do find that a pedal kayak is a wonderful machine for working shorelines and structure just like a bass fisherman in a Ranger Boat with a Minn-Kota Trolling Motor. I think pedal kayaks are often undervalued for that purpose since they are so much associated with trolling. I can go in and out of structure and forward and back with my pedals. With my Hobie I can cruise through very shallow water by "feathering" the flippers which essentially means I keep them close to the hull to avoid striking the bottom. I still have to use my left hand occasionally to steer the boat. But a quick tap on the rudder control is all that is needed to correct my course. Further, I do not have to anchor. I can use the pedals to hold position in moderate current and wind or I can easily circle back to my target position. I carry no anchor on my Hobie.
All of the above is far easier than when I use one of my paddle kayaks. Constantly picking up a paddle to correct drift can become unwieldy in high wind or fast current. I do carry an anchor on my paddle boats and while I am reluctant to use it, I sometimes do to hold position as I cast to fish. But then there is the added effort to retrieve your anchor to move on to another spot. That can get old fast on an outing.
I have no trouble keeping my lures and flies in the water regardless of the boat I use. I think that's due to my experience in proper boat positioning and my ability to compensate for on-the-water conditions.
However, there are tradeoffs that favor paddle boats.
The first is that the flippers or propeller under your boat may actually become an impediment to your fishing. Think of a pond with spatterdock and pads covering large surface areas. I have to avoid them in my Hobie. But my Native Ultimate kayaks will cruise right through them. Think of areas where hydrilla just under the surface is thick. It will stop your in your tracks in a pedal boat. But a paddle boat can glide over them.
And then there is the pedal mechanism itself protruding from the center of your deck. It takes up valuable deck space. It's also relatively heavy to transport to and from your kayak. At the least, it's something extra to carry during trip preparation and besides that, it's mechanical which requires some degree of maintenance.
As you know I like to fly fish from my kayaks. I can do so in my Hobie, but I prefer to fly fish in my paddle kayaks. Why? Because inevitably my fly line gets tangled in some form or manner on my pedals. A simple gust of wind can make you marvel at the loops and knots that ensue in a fly line intertwined in pedals.
But on the positive side for pedal boats, I can cover a lot more water in my Hobie than in my paddle boats. I can go faster too, up to 6 mph in sprints. I can cruise without stopping for long distances at 3 mph. And there are times when I'm returning to the launch bucking against the wind and current that I'm glad my legs are suppling the power to propel my boat, not my arms.
Each kayak version clearly has its plusses and minuses. And I didn't mention cost or hull weight here.
I find that I use my paddle boats much more often than my Hobie -- a lot more. I'd say four or five to one. Much of that is due to my preferred kayak fishing style which is smaller calmer waters than big open tidal locations and the fact that I fish ponds in cold weather (where I do not need the advantage of distance that my Hobie brings).
So, the answer in my mind is that pedal boats are indeed great. They're more than trolling boats. But sometimes a paddle boat is a better tool. For all of you out there longing for a pedal boat, think seriously about how and where you want to kayak fish. It may be precisely what you need. On the other hand, it may not.
I welcome others to comment on this topic of pedaling vs. paddling.
Thanks for listening.
"Do you find that you can cover the about the same distance paddling compared to peddling? I like the ability of being able to fish hands-free but I figure that an easier way to do so in a paddle kayak would be a stake-out pole or an anchor. I have yet to use either method as I typically drift and adjust with my paddle, but I find that my lure isn't retrieved through the water as much as I'd like for it to be."
I think they're good questions and deserve a community response so I've created another thread to discuss this while not impeding John's sale. Besides that, like many, I'm stuck at home and have time at the moment to comment.
I actually devoted a chapter to this topic in my kayak fishing book.
In his answer, John mentioned that he essentially used his pedal kayak for trolling, not often for cruising shorelines to cast. Well, I am kind of the reverse of that when it comes to kayak fishing. I have indeed trolled with my pedal kayak -- a Hobie Revo 13. But trolling is not my preferred method of fishing. I have not done an exclusive trolling kayak trip in years. I don't like to troll. I find it exceedingly boring. Further, during those times I trolled, I kept looking at the shoreline terrain I was passing and thinking, "I bet that spot holds fish." Often I would break off trolling and head to those areas that piqued my interest to cast to them.
Now to answer one of Tim's questions, I do find that a pedal kayak is a wonderful machine for working shorelines and structure just like a bass fisherman in a Ranger Boat with a Minn-Kota Trolling Motor. I think pedal kayaks are often undervalued for that purpose since they are so much associated with trolling. I can go in and out of structure and forward and back with my pedals. With my Hobie I can cruise through very shallow water by "feathering" the flippers which essentially means I keep them close to the hull to avoid striking the bottom. I still have to use my left hand occasionally to steer the boat. But a quick tap on the rudder control is all that is needed to correct my course. Further, I do not have to anchor. I can use the pedals to hold position in moderate current and wind or I can easily circle back to my target position. I carry no anchor on my Hobie.
All of the above is far easier than when I use one of my paddle kayaks. Constantly picking up a paddle to correct drift can become unwieldy in high wind or fast current. I do carry an anchor on my paddle boats and while I am reluctant to use it, I sometimes do to hold position as I cast to fish. But then there is the added effort to retrieve your anchor to move on to another spot. That can get old fast on an outing.
I have no trouble keeping my lures and flies in the water regardless of the boat I use. I think that's due to my experience in proper boat positioning and my ability to compensate for on-the-water conditions.
However, there are tradeoffs that favor paddle boats.
The first is that the flippers or propeller under your boat may actually become an impediment to your fishing. Think of a pond with spatterdock and pads covering large surface areas. I have to avoid them in my Hobie. But my Native Ultimate kayaks will cruise right through them. Think of areas where hydrilla just under the surface is thick. It will stop your in your tracks in a pedal boat. But a paddle boat can glide over them.
And then there is the pedal mechanism itself protruding from the center of your deck. It takes up valuable deck space. It's also relatively heavy to transport to and from your kayak. At the least, it's something extra to carry during trip preparation and besides that, it's mechanical which requires some degree of maintenance.
As you know I like to fly fish from my kayaks. I can do so in my Hobie, but I prefer to fly fish in my paddle kayaks. Why? Because inevitably my fly line gets tangled in some form or manner on my pedals. A simple gust of wind can make you marvel at the loops and knots that ensue in a fly line intertwined in pedals.
But on the positive side for pedal boats, I can cover a lot more water in my Hobie than in my paddle boats. I can go faster too, up to 6 mph in sprints. I can cruise without stopping for long distances at 3 mph. And there are times when I'm returning to the launch bucking against the wind and current that I'm glad my legs are suppling the power to propel my boat, not my arms.
Each kayak version clearly has its plusses and minuses. And I didn't mention cost or hull weight here.
I find that I use my paddle boats much more often than my Hobie -- a lot more. I'd say four or five to one. Much of that is due to my preferred kayak fishing style which is smaller calmer waters than big open tidal locations and the fact that I fish ponds in cold weather (where I do not need the advantage of distance that my Hobie brings).
So, the answer in my mind is that pedal boats are indeed great. They're more than trolling boats. But sometimes a paddle boat is a better tool. For all of you out there longing for a pedal boat, think seriously about how and where you want to kayak fish. It may be precisely what you need. On the other hand, it may not.
I welcome others to comment on this topic of pedaling vs. paddling.
Thanks for listening.
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