ATAK140 or LURE13.5

[MDbassin]

(SEE FURTHER DOWN FOR ATAK vs LURE) Looking to get a Jackson Big Rig pro or a Hobie Pro angler 14. The big rig pro is $100 more and you get the jkrate, power pole micro and raymarine dragonfly 5 where as the Hobie as you all know would just be the bare bones kayak.

 

Is the bare Hobie worth it? Or with the added features of the big rig pro would you guys go with that one.

 

Theres place a couple hours away but there next demo day isn't until July to try them out. But in reality it probably wouldn't be until then that I would be able to afford such a purchase but I would still like your thoughts 

[MattMurr]

Do you think the pedal drive would be of value to you? That's pretty much the trade off for all of the accessories.

That said I have not used either of the above boats... I have the outback and for me and the waters I fish it was a great upgrade over my cuda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Turtle135]

What kind of waters do you fish most of the time? The hands free pedal option is great to have in certain situations. I fish a lot of shallow weedy waters (Tidal Potomac) and shallow ledge rock (Upper Potomac and Susquehanna) where a paddle is the only way to go.

[fromTHEbank]

You always have the option with the Hobie to remove the mirage drive and just paddle.

[Turtle135]

3 minutes ago, fromTHEbank said:

You always have the option with the Hobie to remove the mirage drive and just paddle.

 

Have you ever seen anyone trying to paddle a Pro Angler? A buddy of mine brought his to Mattawoman Creek (Tidal Potomac River tributary). It was a nightmare at low tide! 

[MDbassin]

Where I fish has quite a bit of vegetation mostly rooted but in the summer it gets this vibrant green stuff that just goes around the lake just under the surface in patches we always called it snot grass cause it's slimy don't know what it's actually called

[Tracker22]

I went with the big rig (not the deluxe model). That being said, you will be happy with either. Not an easy choice. The Rig has an extremely shallow draft. Good in skinny waters. The mirage drive is awesome. You can cut across a lake in no time. Both are heavy and can be a bear to paddle especially in wind. You will want a trailer before it's over with. Quality is not an issue, both are good. While I absolutely love my big rig, if I had to choose today, I would probably get the hobie. Then spend another $2000 on accessories.

 

[fishnkamp]

Is there any chance you could go up to Delaware tomorrow?  Delaware Paddlesports has a big in water demo going on then. It is located in Lewes DE. They have several more scheduled in the next few months.

Another great idea would be to go over to  The Wharf on the Corsica River, 101 Water Way in Centreville MD 21617.  This is part of CD Outdoors. Chris Dollar rents kayaks and guides kayak fishing trips. His number is 410-991-8468 

Even if he does not use a kayak you are interested in, he can educate you, as well as rent you one to try out for a little as $20 an hour.  He guides on all of the rivers on the eastern shore and the bay.  A trip with him costs $325 for 4 hours. That might be a super fun way to be sure you and kayaking are meant for each other.  I think he was one of the guys that gave talks at Anglers Express during the open house this spring.  That should be pretty close to you.  I  would not want to invest thousands of dollars in a kayak and find I made a mistake.

 

I know I am an angler that enjoys guided fishing trips and thankfully so does my wife.  Most of the trips I have booked were done so to learn something new or get locked into the pattern of the fish during a vacation.

 

To me this would be a great trip to learn from.  Maybe the kayak is not one you are looking at, maybe it is, but you can get a good idea if it is for you, see how he organises his setups and what would you like in terms of rigging yours.  You never know if something in a specific location is helpful or aggravating.  I knew exactly how to rig my present bass boat because I had rigged and fished out of 10 previous boats.  

[MDbassin]

After some thought I've come to think that the mirage drive may not be the best for the waters I fish and the big rigs deck just isn't quite open enough for me and overall the price range may be just to much for me and my family right now.

 

So I was thinking in a different price bracket what are you thoughts on the ATAK140 or the Lure 13.5

[Master Bait'r]

3 hours ago, MDbassin said:

After some thought I've come to think that the mirage drive may not be the best for the waters I fish and the big rigs deck just isn't quite open enough for me and overall the price range may be just to much for me and my family right now.

 

So I was thinking in a different price bracket what are you thoughts on the ATAK140 or the Lure 13.5

 

 

I'd go ATAK.  I have the Lure 11.5 and while it's super stable, packed with features and very comfy it tracks like a bathtub and that drives me nuts at times.  Wildy hulls are generally faster and straighter tracking. 

 

[Turkey sandwich]

I have a Lure 13.5.  It's a pretty stable boat and can haul a ton of fishing and or camping gear.  The seat is a lifesaver for a guy with a messed up back, and probably the primary reason I went with it.  The center console makes setting up a sonar extremely easy and it's generally a pleasure to fish out of.  I'm very eagerly awaiting their electric/pedal drive.  The negatives (of any big, heavy, wide kayak) - paddling into current and head winds can be a workout.  It is not a blazing fast boat and having a rudder kit seems to make the tracking much, much better (to what I understand).  It is extremely difficult if not impossible to car top it with most racks unless you are Sasquatch. (If you are Sasquatch, read the Sasquatch thread because several forum members have been spending a lot of time searching for you.  It would be nice to meet them for a coffee.)

 

As for the ATAK, I have not paddled one, but they look like stellar kayaks and I'd very much consider one if I were back in the market.  

[clayton86]

The ATAK is a great boat I'm a little biased being that I'm on the wildy prostaff though. Here's some of the reasons I think it's a great boat though you might want to consider. 

 

Sheds wind like a champ with its low deck height you won't be as effected by the wind. Not that you won't be affected at all but it's much less in an ATAK. 

 

Storage space is plentiful between the large area behind the seat and the large bow hood area you can really pack it with a lot. Not to mention the storage hatch in the rear that goes into the hull, when I went to the national championship I stored 7 rods in here for the 14hr trip. However getting rods out while on the water near impossible. 

 

The seat is is extremely comfortable last year I spent several 12+ hr days in that seat fishing. Now wildy has also released storage bags that attach to the seat for added storage. 

 

Stability you can stand on it jump in it rock it side to side your not going no where unless your clumsy and fall out. You will lose your balance and fall out before she ever flips. 

 

Though irs marketed as a shallow water fishing machine it really is good in any water. I've had mine in everything from inches deep creeks to a mile off shore in Lake Ontario diver duck hunting out of it. 

 

Its "fast" now everyone's definition of fast is different but for what it is she's pretty quick. I use a adventure tech oracle angler for a paddle and can just leisurely paddle the kayak fully loaded at anywhere between 3.5-4.5mph just paddling and when I really want to crank and try and race and where myself out I can hit over 5 no problem. 

 

The flex pod pod also makes mounting your fish finder a breeze and you can just pop it out and put it in your vehicle or house to charge. 

 

It is a bit on the heavy side but not terrible. I car top mine on a Buick rainier(same thing as a chevy trail blazer). It's all about technique not brute strength. I put mine up on the back on a pool noodle then walk to the back and pick it up and roll it forward on the noodle and toss another under the back and strap down.

 

just some things to consider I could keep going but I wanna get out on the water this morning. If possible though I do suggest trying one first and several others get some seat and paddle time and make a decision. However I don't think you would be disappointed in the ATAK. 

[flyfisher]

I only paddled the Lure during a demo days (wasn't impressed) but have owned the ATAK 140 for 2+ seasons now and it is an outstanding boat.  I can easily paddle at 3.5-4 MPH, it tracks pretty well, is the most stable boat i have owned or paddled.

[MDbassin]

I definitely have my homework to do. I am considering the lure and atak cause of there stability, open deck, and the fact that both have an area for the fish finder and all its components are in one removable section and the transducer is in the water and protected as opposed to over the side or inside the hull.

 

I had considered the nucanoe frontier but it's just to blank of a canvas for me.

 

the only thing that sucks about this is that the closest dealers for wilderness systems and feel free are 2 hours away from me and in opposite directions so I won't be able to demo them side by side

 

The tracking or speed isn't a big issue for me as the waters I will be fishing them in aren't huge so I won't have to paddle very long distances unless the tracking is just god awful like you have to paddle on the right like 3 times on one side vs 1 stroke on the other just to go straight but I would hope that a kayak like that would never even make it to market 

[Master Bait'r]

42 minutes ago, MDbassin said:

I definitely have my homework to do. I am considering the lure and atak cause of there stability, open deck, and the fact that both have an area for the fish finder and all its components are in one removable section and the transducer is in the water and protected as opposed to over the side or inside the hull.

 

I had considered the nucanoe frontier but it's just to blank of a canvas for me.

 

the only thing that sucks about this is that the closest dealers for wilderness systems and feel free are 2 hours away from me and in opposite directions so I won't be able to demo them side by side

 

The tracking or speed isn't a big issue for me as the waters I will be fishing them in aren't huge so I won't have to paddle very long distances unless the tracking is just god awful like you have to paddle on the right like 3 times on one side vs 1 stroke on the other just to go straight but I would hope that a kayak like that would never even make it to market 

 

 

Its not that the lure boats track uneven, they're just set to spin off when a gnat farts.  If you get one, get the rudder or a hand paddle. Their hull will be lovely for their pedal drive, but just ok for paddling as it pivots on the low center.  It's a really nice boat to poke around the lake fishing but it simply isn't a competent distance paddler.  You can make it do anything too, I'm just trying to give my honest criticism as an owner- and actually I love the boat, just a little let down by the effort the hull requires at times. 

[scatterbrains]

i would def go for the atak 140, it will be my next boat after the summer. Has everything i want and more. Has the option for paddles pedals or motor.

[clayton86]

20 hours ago, scatterbrains said:

i would def go for the atak 140, it will be my next boat after the summer. Has everything i want and more. Has the option for paddles pedals or motor.

 That's the radar the ATAK is paddle and motor no pedals 

[scatterbrains]

I stand corrected i assumed the helix system included the pedal option also.