Hanover_Yakker

Changed up my Hobie armada for the upcoming year. I added two new hulls - one is the new Hobie Outback which I will post later once I get it on the water and rigged. The one I have taken out so far is the Hobie Quest. It paddles like it is on rails and is super easy to handle on the water. I christened her properly last week with an inshore slam of striper, redfish and speckled trout.

One option I have seen used frequently is the no-drill anchor trolley. I will likely be doing something similar on my new Hobie Quest 13. It can be placed on either side of the kayak and can be removed and/or transferred to another kayak. There are a multitude of examples on the web/you tube.

I know Chad has his Lowrance unit mounted on the RAM Transducer arm you mentioned on his Commander 140. He has his mounted forward of his reach on his paddle stroke. The other thing he does is rotates/pushes the arm toward the front of the hull so that the downward arm is flush against the side bringing the transducer closer to the hull centerline. I had the arm installed on my Revolution 13 and loved it for its purpose, but if you are moving about frequently spot hopping, it can make some noise depending on your paddling speed. Nothing that is too loud but something to keep in mind. I'm contemplating adding a GEN2 HDS in the near future and will likely be doing something like that as well.

Welcome aboard!

It's the pre-2008 Wilderness mold from Confluence - good platform to start out with.

This is also the time of year to start watching Craigslist as well. Plenty of folks had the same approach as you earlier in the year when it was warmer, but now that the weather is starting to turn colder are looking to free up space in the garage. Whatever you decide, make sure you can get some seat time on the waterwith it first to see if it is a good fit.

Congrats! Welcome to the addiction!

PowerTeam Lures Bully Grass Devil and 4.5" Food Chain Tube.

Absolutely a Honda Civic can support a kayak using a properly installed rack system as long as you do not exceed the load rating of the rack. A friend of mine transports a Tarpon 160 on his Miata so anything is possible. Pay close attention to the size of the bag itself relative to the space in your trunk. Make sure you have enough clearance to avoid pinching any of the bag/kayak hull when closing the trunk, but if it works then roll with it.

I'll try to shed some light on this for you. There is some room to store gear, but it would be above the waterline meaning that you need to ensure you can secure it using the factory bungies. Most people opt for a tackle bag or keep it simple by using a single tackle tray. I assume you are referring to the single seat versions of the i series like the i9 or i11? I can tell you from a cost perspective, there is little price advantage to them over the traditional Outback Sport or Revo 11. So if storage is not a deciding factor, then I would opt for the traditional rotomolded hulls. Although the material is very sturdy and durable, I prefer the traditional hulls type. The i series stores in a large bag - approsimately 3'x3'x3' not including the Mirage Drive itself. I also considered purchasing one until I sat in one - the seating position while not uncomfortable is not the same as a traditional kayak seat. In the i series, your seating position is flat providing no leg angle relief compared to a normal seat. If at all possible, try to get some seat time in one first. Being in FL, you should be able to find a Hobie shop down there that has one you can try out. Look up Sunjammers and Mariner Sails. Good luck - hope that helps!

I'll chime in with my own personal experience having been on both sides of the dilemma before. I started in a Wilderness Systems Ride 135, spent time in the Tarpon 120 and 140, the Ocean Kayak Trident 13, Native Watercraft Ultimate and ultimately made my way through the Hobie lineup of the Outback, Revolution 13, Pro Angler 12 and now the Pro Angler 14. I also have had hands on and interactions with manufacturer and pro staffs for all of the major brands as well. Having said that, the ultimate choice of kayak is a product of a number of factors: 1. Your fishing style 70-80% of the time 2. Your target species 3. Your preferred waters 70-80% of the time 4. Your physical limitations 5. Your storage options for when the kayak is not in use 6. Your method of transporting (that includes roof top racks systems, truck beds and trailer options) 7. Your budget (needs to account for all costs including paddle, pfd, racks, etc) For me, I always wanted a Hobie, but like you mentioned, the initial cost factor was a hinderance for me at the time. After spending countless amounts of money on rigging and kayak hulls, I ultimately found my way into a Hobie, albeit the heaviest solo seat model prior to this summer's release of the PA17T. If weight is a concern, let me add a different perspective - I loaded my 2013 PA14 and my current 2014 PA14 on top of my Dodge Grand Caravan by myself by using physics to my advantage. I now load my PA14 on top of my Honda CRV solo using the same method and have no problems whatsoever, so in my opinion weight is not a reason to avoid a Hobie. Most traditional 13-14' kayak hulls weigh 70-80 pounds, so the 20-30 pound difference is negligible in my opinion when you consider proper loading and unloading techniques. While cost is also a valid concern, you have to look at the total cost of any kayak you are considering purchasing. I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that you will add another kayak at some point, whether due to limitations of your first hull purchased, wanting a spare for family and friends or realizing you made a mistake in your initial hull choice. We all end up adding at least one more at some point. I myself sold two of mine to get into the one I have now, and I will be adding at least one more in the very near future. Most likely a Revolution 13, Outback or a Quest 13 (paddle version of the Revo 13). I can tell you that my original Ride 135 cost me around $1000. What tha cost did not include was the items I added that being a good starter paddle plus I added a high end carbon fiber paddle ($450) later on, a seat upgrade (twice at $250 toal cost), a nice PFD ($100), a rudder kit ($200), a fishfinder and battery setup twice ($250 first, then $600 later), several rod holders, anchor trolley, crate system, cart ($200), rack system ($400), etc.....as you can see the costs add up. There are ways to save money either through DIY modifications using household or big bix hardware store pieces or even through the secondhand market (eBay, CL, wanted ads, word of mouth, etc). My only caution there is ensure you can test out the items before committing to a purchase. In the end, I spent well over $2800 in total after taxes within the first two years of owning my first kayak. By comparison, my first Hobie Pro Angler cost me $2500 in total and it included the factory 8 rod holders (6 horizontal and 2 vertical), the Hobie paddle, a comfortable seat, integrated Lowrance depth finder setup, a Hobie cart and anchor trolley. I added a $300 depth finder and $100 Hobie battery kit for a FF. In other words, I only spent $400 more and I didn't have to customize or perform any DIY modifications to the hull. In short, the total difference between the two purchases - $100 more for the Hobie in the end. My Revolution 13 I had prior to the Pro Angler 14 was even less. It came with 2 vertical rod holders, a paddle, a high back seat with adjustable lumbar support, an integrated rudder system and cost me only $1500. I added the $600 FF setup to it bringing my grand total to $2000 for that setup - far less than my earlier Ride 135. Don't fixate on the initial sticker price - you have to price out the entire package. That's not to say that your budget will allow for a Hobie, it's just pointing out the realities of purchasing a kayak. Also, don't force yourself into believing that you have to focus on just the Pro Angler series, there are other options in their models both Mirage Drive versions and paddle based. Keep an open mind! If you have any more questions about any of the Hobie lineup, just ask away so others can see it and benefit from your questions and the answers.

I know the owner of Feel Free who actually designed the Lure, so hang tight and I will ask him.

The clothing is actually fishing specific technical clothing. The pants are Columbia PFG and the shirt is a new performance wicking shirt just released by PowerTeam Lures. I also wear AFTCO technical shirts with the same moisture wicking properties.

Had a rare opportunity to fish three days in a row this past weekend when the wife took the kids and went to visit her parents. I loaded up my gear and the Hobie Pro Angler and made my way to three different locations. The first day was a late start, so I opted to hit a local pond I hadn't fished in over two years. Ended up with 5 bass on the day with the largest at 17". Hot bait for the day was the wacky rigged Sick Stick and the 4.8" JP Hammershad on a texas rig. The next day was a casual day at a larger impoundment with a friend and his wife who was just learning to kayak fish. She was the hot stick on the day landing ten fish all in the 14-18" range. I managed a few as well on the Sick Stick again and on the 7" Finicky Tickler but nothing worthy of a photo. The final day found me fishing with a couple of good PowerTeam friends - the owners themselves . Needless to say, I was stoked. I landed my best fish of the weekend and lost a citation in the process. The start of the day was not so great. As Bob paddled up to me asking how's it going, I see my jig n craw swimming away from me. I set the hook and immediately my flipping rod doubles over and drag starts peeling. I fight the fish for about 30 seconds and bring it alongside to lip her and that is when I see what I have in front of me. The mouth on this girl was the biggest I had seen in my entire fishing career. I can see the jig is barely pinned in the corner of her mouth. As I reach for her, she jumps and throws the jig right back in my face - heartbreak!! And Bob just looked at me and said wow that was a monster. Well the next hour saw me miss three more hooksets. By now I'm getting more that a little frustrated, so I switch tactics and start working the 7" Finicky Tickler on a texas rig and start getting some nice fish. A few more casts, and a couple more nice ones decide to join the party...... As the day is winding down to a close, I was working the same area where I lost the big girl earlier and decided to try a different approach - a dead sticked Finicky Tickler. After about 30 seconds of no movement, I felt a solid thump and my line starts swimming opposite of my hull. I asn't missing the hookset this time - I reel down and give a sharp snap of the rod away from the fish and the hook buries true! The fight is on now and she is not happy to have the hook buried in her. I fought her for what seemed like an eternity with several drag peeling runs and turns of the Pro Angler hull for an adrenaline pumping sleigh ride. She has her mouth snapped close and refuses to open wide for me, so I just cradle her and lift her into the footwell. After a few moments to get the hook out and a quick refresh in the water to keep her active and respirated - a quick weight registers 4lbs even on the scale. A great way to end the three days on the water if you ask me.

Nice trip Matt! Congrats!

Reedy Creek area in downtown Richmond. I plan on doing the Scottsville to Hardware float at some point. Water levels were down about a foot. The grass islands were all exposed.

It was! A long overdue one at that. It had been almost three years, since I had fished the river. Sad part is that this spot is only 30 minutes from my house. Doh!

That's a winner right there! Congrats!!