Hobie Mirage Pedal Kayaks - A Little Rant

[hoosierbass07]

 Am I the only one who thinks those Hobie Mirage peddle kayaks are rather overkill when it comes to kayak fishing?  I was watching the Extreme Kayak fishing tournament on NBC Sports a few days ago and of course they showed a Hobie Mirage kayak.  That thing looked more like a full fledged boat and not a kayak.  

 

 Whenever I look up local (Indiana) kayak fishing tournaments I usually find pictures of their tournaments and of course I see a few Hobie Mirage peddle kayaks.  To me those things look very funfair and should either be in their own class or banned.  

 

 I also wonder if those peddle drive kayaks will hurt the sport in the future.   If people, like me, who are just starting in kayak fishing, turn on a kayak fishing tournament on TV or go to a local event, and a good number of the competitors are in peddle drive boats, how do think I'm going to feel?  I have my $600 or $1,000 kayak but to compete I need to spend $3,000 for a Hobie?  Really, Hobie should be in their own class.  

 

 No offense to Hobie Mirage owners, but those Hobie's just don't look like a kayak to me and should should not be competing against others who paddle their kayaks.  

[Goose52]

I'm curious, will the Mirage always have an advantage in all types of water?  The Mirage looks pretty nifty for use in open/deep water, but I've always wondered what happens when they need to get into skinny water or vegetation-clogged water to find some bass?  Are those flipper-thingies retractable from top-side?

[Mike2841]

Goose, I'm pretty sure the mirage drive can be pulled up when necessary

Also I don't see it as overkill, it allows you to manuver the boat while fighting a fish. Like anything else you got to pay for the premium features.

[MikeinFresno]

it is easier to troll with them.

[flyfisher]

The fins can be made to be flat against the hull when needed.

 

I personally do not feel it is fair to have a paddle powered kayak compete against a pedal powered on in a tournament as they are completely different beasts.  And anyone who argues it doesn't make a difference probably owns a pedal drive boat and all the reasons they got the boat are because of the advantage it gives them.  It is also a way to get people into kayaks who may have shoulder issues but don't want the hassle of a full blown bass boat.

 

I am personally in the market for a pedal driven kayak because there are quite a few areas i fish that are pretty lengthy paddles and having a pedal drive would make them more manageable.  I am not look at the Hobie though as I am just not a fan of the fins and not being able to go in reverse so I am looking hard at the various native propel systems.

[Fishing Rhino]

When you get right down to it life is never fair. Never will be.

[bbgobie]

They are not much different

Its still a kayak. It basicsaly has a big scupper hole where the mirage drive fits in.

Seem like great fishing tools. You seem as envious as I do, just expressed differently

[hoosierbass07]

I'm not really envious. I guess I would like one but not sure I would buy one even if I had the money.

But I think the sport of kayaking fishing would do itself a favor if they started putting more paddle kayaks on TV. Almost every dang minute I see kayaks on TV it's a peddle and they push it like it's some kind of great envention. To be honest, those peddle kayaks look like they should be at a resort at Disney World.

Maybe there are some shows on TV that feature paddle kayaks. If so I've not seen them.

[gripnrip]

Having a peddle yak is like a 20ft with a 250hp.  A regular yak is a 18ft aluminum with a 90hp.  

.  

They both can enter a tournament but only one can win.  Both have different price points.  No matter what ya got, you'll want more.  If you have a bigger motor you'll be wondering what's on the next point rather that concentrating on where you are.  Get what you can afford. It's simple really.    

[HeavyFisher]

They look sick man, I'd love to own one. Unfortunately the price was about a grand to much for me : (. I went with the Jackson Big Tuna and have been very very happy with my purchase. 

[buzzed bait]

I'm sure a similar argument came about when they came out with the foot drive for trolling motors, handheld remote for trolling motors, GPS self pilot for trolling motors, etc.

Still a kayak, just on a different level in terms of features and price.  In fact, I wish it would breed more competition from the pedal drive manufacturers and get someone to put out a quality model that didn't cost about as much as a boat!

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Id rather have a paddle yak i can put it in anywhere .im about versitility not luxuries

[hoosierbass07]

 I guess my rant against the Hobie Mirage peddle kayaks is not really against those kayaks, it's more about not seeing enough paddle kayaks on TV.  I see them plenty on Youtube.  But it would be nice when a fishing program features a kayak they don't always go to the peddle kayaks.  They need to show how effective paddle kayaks are on small and medium ponds.  They are a blast to paddle around and fish from.  At least my Ride 115 is fun to paddle around.  I would love to see more bass fishing programs on TV featuring paddle kayaks, both sit-on-top and sit-inside.  And enough of salt water fishing, show me some fresh water pond fishing from kayaks!  

 

 I still think peddle kayaks should be in their own category in fishing tournaments.  

[MidTNKayakAngler]

My first thought was is a 225HP overkill on a 20' bass boat. My answer, not necessarily just depends on the manufacturers suggested HP, and weight of the boat.

 

If you are to much HP for the drive systems things will break, and break regularly. A pedal drive system is not an engine or motor, it's a dive system that that requires human power, strength and stamina. What about a sail? Would using a sail to get offshore, or to return to shore be cheating to assist you to reach greater distances with deeper water and bigger fish?

 

Four shows that come to mind off the top of my head about kayak fishing do not feature pedal kayaks, I see more pedal driven kayak fishing commercials.

 

The Kayak Fishing Show - Ocean Kayak now Jackson Kayak "Not pedal driven"

Kayak Bassin on WFN - Wilderness Systems  "Not pedal driven"

Knot Right Kayak Fishing - Wilderness Systems  "Not pedal driven"

The Extreme Kayak Fishing Challenge - Jackson Kayak

 

5 years ago is when my wife and I got into kayak fishing. We researched "THE BEST FISHING KAYAK". What kept coming up is the Hobie Pro Angler, so we bought two, one for each of us and a trailer. Later on my wife bought a Revolution 13 for the Ocean because the Pro Angler was just to big for her to wrestle it down to the beach when we would take our trips to the Gulf.

 

We fished from the Pro Anglers for almost 3 years, and my wife still uses the Revolution.

 

We ended up buying more and more kayaks when manufacturers "Wilderness Systems and Jackson" would come out with a new kayak. At one time we had 7. The boathouse was getting cluttered so we started selling and we are down to 3. 

 

After being out of the Pro Angler for more than 2 years now I really miss it, and now the Native Propel is out. I've only had a brief on the water experience with the Propel, but want some more time before I decide. 

 

I don't think pedal kayaks are unfair or cheating. There is always an issue with the possibility of mechanical issues. "What if you're Mirage Drive broke 8 miles from where you launched would you want to paddle a 130lb + kayak with another 100+lbs of gear and yourself in a kayak or boat that is 38" wide? Probably not

 

What if you were fishing directly below spill gates of a d**n and had to maintain 20-35 yards from the gates while spilling in order to keep on the fish. Having propulsion other that a paddle is a big help. You can paddle into the spilling water and maintain at a safe distance and fish at the same time. With a paddle kayak this is very difficult.

 

What about maintaining position in wind on a point, or maintaining position in current? Paddle Kayak Please

 

What if you are missing a hand, or arm? A pedal kayak for the win.

 

If I was fishing a swampy location filled with stumps give me a hybrid SOT/SIT IN.

 

Running a class 2 or 3 river, give me a paddle kayak that is short and nimble.

 

On the other hand fishing remote locations where I have to carry in I prefer a hybrid SOT/SIT IN where it weighs less than 50lb and I can carry it in on my shoulder, can't do that with a pedal drive kayak.

 

I run a successful tournament series in Tennessee and I assist in running another out of State which is one of the largest freshwater tournaments in the US.

 

From what I see pedal driven kayaks usually do place closer to the top, is this only due to the pedal drive, or is it this angler is more serious, has more on the line and needs to win, a better angler, just luck, or is it the drive. I'm sure it's a combination of all of these things, but a pedal driven kayak does not necessarily catch you more and bigger fish, but with your hands free it does give you more of a chance to do so. 

 

For speed I had a paddle kayak that I could smoke one of the fastest pedal driven kayaks out there, so speed isn't necessarily an excuse.

 

I will probably have another pedal kayak or two by next spring after I see what everyone is going to release, but I'll always have one or two paddle kayaks.

 

Dang, seems like I never have a short post.

 

Sorry,

 

Jeremy Meier

[flipin4bass]

I wouldn't be able to use a peddle craft in the waters I fish because of the weeds and mats that I like to get into. I personally enjoy the experience I get from paddling, however, I don't have anything against someone who wants to use leg power. As far as their use in tournaments goes, they are faster and can get on their spots quicker.

[flyfisher]

What paddle kayak were you using when you toasted the fastest pedal drive boat and how long of a distance?  The faster kayaks are not as good to fish from and definitely cannot be stood up in to fish so unless you were paddling a boat like a commander, slayer or other stable boat that you have the same features in it is not a fair comparison.  And there is no way anyone can maintain the same speed paddling in a like boat for as long as you can in a pedal drive as the two muscle groups are not the same.  you can use your legs a whole lot longer and without as much fatigue as your back and arms that you would use to paddle.

 

I also noticed you mentioned holding position and the situations you mentioned are true if your kayak does not have the ability to go in reverse but with the propel drive you have that ability.

 

All boats have their place and once you get into the sport a little bit more deeply, it is almost a given you will have multiple boats for varying conditions.  I had 2 boats, one for rivers and one for flat water.  Sold the river boat, gonna get another and most likely going to add a pedal drive (propel probably) to compliment my commander for flat water situations.

[Montanaro]

Let me throw this out there.

Is it fair to keep people who are not capable of paddling, out of tournaments when there is the mirage drive?

I'm young adult but have a bad shoulder and paddling kills me and I'm very fit. I will not buy a kayak unless I get a TM or a hobie.

[J Francho]

These arguments are silly. Don't like it, don't use one. My boat is leaps and bounds faster than anyone else's in my club. Do they restrict me? No.

I've been with kayak fishing since the start of the boom. Some guys I know have been with it much longer, like decades longer. As more people use them, and builders get input, the fishing kayak will evolve. I see them as personal fishing crafts. I don't make any distinction of whether it's SINK, SOT, hybrid, pack canoe, or what ever, unless I'm trying to describe it to a layperson. If you rig it to fish, be that a bungee fire one rod and a small pack of lures on a lanyard, or full blown fishing battleship with electronics and a dozen rods, then to me it's a fishing kayak.

Hobie makes a quality boat, quality that goes way beyond the Mirage Drive. They've sweated all the details, and that comes at a premium. Wilderness Systems, Ocean Kayak, Feel Free, Malibu, Jackson, and many others are building just as elaborately and thought out rigs that don't use Mirage Drive type of propulsion, for you purists.

Looking to the future, mark my words. In our lifetime we will see the whole landscape of personal fishing craft change, both in terms of hull design and sheer speed, as the price and efficiency of lithium powered propulsion comes down. "Green" boats are coming.

[Glenn]

So if somebody uses a $600+ fishing reel, should they only be permitted to fish "in their own class", away from the anglers with $125 reels?  Or anglers with expensive rods vs. inexpensive rods?

 

Point is, the same argument could be had for anything.

[Darren.]

Looking to the future, mark my words. In our lifetime we will see the whole landscape of personal fishing craft change, both in terms of hull design and sheer speed, as the price and efficiency of lithium powered propulsion comes down. "Green" boats are coming.

 

Indeed. Torqueedo has a full blown outboard now, though - as of last check - it is not for personal watercraft yet, just commercial uses. But that'll change, just like Harley Davidson's new electric bike. The future is green, LiON (variant) powered.

 

If I could afford a Pro Angler, I'd probably have one, although I really like reverse. Though using a paddle for reverse isn't too difficult to negotiate out of a sticky situation. I'm not as big a fan of Native's peddle (bike) system, but it is getting better, with less effort to move faster.

 

Heck, I built a motorized system for my Native Ultimate as I MUCH prefer hands-free fishing. Granted, I don't do tourneys, so perhaps there's a difference there.

[flyfisher]

So if somebody uses a $600+ fishing reel, should they only be permitted to fish "in their own class", away from the anglers with $125 reels?  Or anglers with expensive rods vs. inexpensive rods?

 

Point is, the same argument could be had for anything.

Nah i would have to disagree on that one.  Pedaling a kayak is much more efficient than paddling and if you take two people at the same fitness level who never were in a kayak I would bet that the pedal kayak would be more efficient than a paddle kayak.  Take two experienced paddlers and i bet you would see the same result.  

[flyfisher]

Indeed. Torqueedo has a full blown outboard now, though - as of last check - it is not for personal watercraft yet, just commercial uses. But that'll change, just like Harley Davidson's new electric bike. The future is green, LiON (variant) powered.

 

If I could afford a Pro Angler, I'd probably have one, although I really like reverse. Though using a paddle for reverse isn't too difficult to negotiate out of a sticky situation. I'm not as big a fan of Native's peddle (bike) system, but it is getting better, with less effort to move faster.

 

Heck, I built a motorized system for my Native Ultimate as I MUCH prefer hands-free fishing. Granted, I don't do tourneys, so perhaps there's a difference there.

i saw a guy on Diascund reservoir who had two torqueedo outboards on what looked like a 18-20' jon boat and he was flying around....and this is an electric only lake.

[Darren.]

i saw a guy on Diascund reservoir who had two torqueedo outboards on what looked like a 18-20' jon boat and he was flying around....and this is an electric only lake.

 

Same down here, but they're the smaller outboards.

The one(s) I'm referring to is the Torqueedo Deep Blue:

 

http://www.torqeedo.com/us/electric-outboards/deep-blue-for-commercial-operators-and-green-boaters

[flyfisher]

Yeah i saw those deep blue ones on their website....bet they are crazy expensive.  

[Darren.]

Yeah i saw those deep blue ones on their website....bet they are crazy expensive.  

 

If the Torqueedo Ultra light for kayaks is any indication, those Deep Blues must be the cost of a new car, LOL....