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Fishing => Fishing Equipment => Topic started by: FinsnFur on February 10, 2018, 10:31:07 PM

Title: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 10, 2018, 10:31:07 PM
Ed...said the day would come. lol
I bought my first one not knowing if I was going to enjoy it or not and I definitely did enjoy it.
I have no qualms about the first one. Enjoyed everything about it.

The new one is pretty much just more of everything I liked about the first one. Longer, heavier, more stable, more comfortable, more options for mounting accessories, more storage, and of course more money.
Cant wait to get her in the water.


(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180211/03ab12e872a35d00e5cfc437576ed5b0.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180211/5ca87a721d7aa84ce9ec3a3cea2cb52c.jpg)

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Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Todd Rahm on February 10, 2018, 11:01:28 PM
Nice!!!  :congrats: :congrats:

Been eyeing one at a local store but cant get the wife to let me pull the trigger.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: nastygunz on February 10, 2018, 11:32:15 PM
Purty sweet! Hey u only go around life once, have fun is my theory! Todd, try my technique on your wife, buy it then hide it from her as long as possible  :alscalls: :innocentwhistle:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Todd Rahm on February 11, 2018, 06:40:13 AM
Good plan in theory, but if I park her car outside to store it in the garage..........................she might notice.  :wo:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: nastygunz on February 11, 2018, 07:30:34 AM
 Tell her you're going to wash wax and vacuum her car when you get around to it  :yoyo:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Coyotes-R-Us on February 11, 2018, 10:07:22 AM
 :innocentwhistle: :innocentwhistle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYc5eWOqwaA  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYc5eWOqwaA)
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: pitw on February 11, 2018, 10:46:55 AM
How many miles on the old one?
Trade in?
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: JohnP on February 11, 2018, 12:04:37 PM
I'm wondering if'n I could handle one :wo:.  without drowning myself.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Hawks Feather on February 11, 2018, 01:41:37 PM
That looks great and as for the money - you can't take it with you.

Jerry
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: nastygunz on February 11, 2018, 03:34:10 PM
Did you crack a bottle of PBR across the bow to christen it?.... :wink:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 11, 2018, 08:01:04 PM
You definitely could John. You really have to try to roll the new ones anymore. Or take some MASSIVE waves from the side and get it rocking out of control. And still some of the higher end kayaks still stay upright.
The trick for the less stable ones is to point your bow into them. Like when an inconsiderate jet boat flys by. Point your bow to the wake and you dont even notice them. And actually thats a rule of thumb for ANY boat taking big waves or wake.

The old one I used for two years Barry. Couldnt tell you the hours but I used it almost every weekend for anywhere from 5 to 8 hours. The dealer I got my new one from DOES do trade ins and they DO sell used...but they didnt deal with the brand I was upgrading from which is an Emotion Kayak. SO I'll sell it out right one it warms up outside. I should be able to get better money for it selling it myself anyway.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 11, 2018, 08:02:59 PM
No I didnt nasty...I did my wallet though :laf:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: nastygunz on February 12, 2018, 01:39:32 AM
Haha💰💰💰💰💰
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Dave on February 12, 2018, 07:07:18 AM
Great looking kayak.  Stable enough so you will be able to stand and fish off it?  I feel mine is stable enough, but it's tough to actually pull it off (age and balance).
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: pitw on February 12, 2018, 08:24:43 AM
Quote from: Dave on February 12, 2018, 07:07:18 AM
Great looking kayak.  Stable enough so you will be able to stand and fish off it?  I feel mine is stable enough, but it's tough to actually pull it off (age and balance).

Think of the people around you who need an uplifting laugh and try it. :biggrin:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: JohnP on February 12, 2018, 12:01:03 PM
Jim - Make & Model please.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: weedwalker on February 12, 2018, 04:56:29 PM
Great kayak Jim. :yoyo: WS doesn't do much advertising but has some of the best quality kayaks made.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: centerfire_223 on February 13, 2018, 05:54:28 AM
John you need a kayak like mine, a might easier on the shoulders.

(https://i.imgur.com/Tlv09yz.jpg)
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: JohnP on February 13, 2018, 07:35:09 AM
Ya know I never thought about paddling the damn thing.  I get worn out using a cane and/or walker after about twenty minutes.  That's a great idea, think I remember you posting it from before, buts the older you get the more CRS sets in.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Todd Rahm on February 14, 2018, 01:02:05 AM
Ok Jim I'm blaming your for my future purchase, expect a call from the wife!!!!  :innocentwhistle:

After two days of videos on comparisons, accessories and how to do's.......I think I'm ready.  :biggrin:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 14, 2018, 05:29:41 AM
John, my new one is a Wilderness Systems 2016 Tarpon 120 Angler.
It's 12' 3" long and weighs 63 pounds.
I got it for 995 cause it was last years models. You could pay a little more and get some even better, stability etc. Mines not the top of the line, but it's not the beginner model either.

Todd, I love it! Too bad we didnt live closer we could do some outings. Cant wait to see what you end up with.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 14, 2018, 05:35:05 AM
By the way paddling doesnt really where you out, well...me anyway, unless your fighting some whitewater or racing across the country. It takes so little to glide these kayaks along.
When I got my other one the girls were afraid they wouldnt be able to have the strength to get back to shore with it.
I said are you kidding me? Its not like that at all. You need to try it so you can see how simple it is.
They did, and they agreed. It's like sweeping the floor. Very little effort.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: riverboss on February 15, 2018, 04:47:51 PM
Boy those old paddle boats you see at the vacation spots will sure wear your butt out.


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Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: slagmaker on February 15, 2018, 07:42:22 PM
A friend of mine has one of those paddle boats. It works well in his little ponds but man I sure wouldn't want to do any distance in one.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: JohnP on February 16, 2018, 09:41:40 AM
Comments/Recommendations on this one:

https://www.backcountry.com/wilderness-systems-tarpon-100-angler-kayak?skid=WIL001T-SON-ONESIZ&ti=UExQIENhdDpGaXNoaW5nIEtheWFrczox
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Dave on February 16, 2018, 03:15:00 PM
Todd,
You may want to check out the Hobie outback.  New they are pricey, but around here I could pick a used one up for around a grand on craigslist. Pretty much powered by paddling the 'mirage' drive with your legs almost like a recumbent bike.  It's simple and moves you along smoothly (they actually hooked a hobie up to a regular kayak and had an olympic kayaker paddle against the hobie - the hobie kicked ass) The mirage drive is a paddling system so you barely need to touch a paddle, allowing your hands to be free to fish. You can troll on larger pieces of water.  I've had mine a mile offshore (NJ) chasing stripers when there was no wind.   
The outback is their plain-jane model, while you can go bigger with other models. 
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that out there.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: weedwalker on February 16, 2018, 07:18:18 PM
Quote from: JohnP on February 16, 2018, 09:41:40 AM
Comments/Recommendations on this one:

https://www.backcountry.com/wilderness-systems-tarpon-100-angler-kayak?skid=WIL001T-SON-ONESIZ&ti=UExQIENhdDpGaXNoaW5nIEtheWFrczox

John. the 100 series are ok for a small adult or a child. They aren't too good for a larger sized adult. I think an adult should stick to an 11 1/2' or longer kayak.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Todd Rahm on February 16, 2018, 11:45:54 PM
Thanks Dave. Been doing some research and I like the Hobie but think my entry level (first for me) is narrowed down to an Old Town Predator PDL. After watching a bunch of videos and doing a lot of forum reading the Hobie had two down sides (Ok three if you count price).

1. With the Peddlers you have the ability switch directions and back up. (Bonus: With the Old Town you can lift the whole drive to remove grass if needed.)
2. There's a few attachments that may require you to drill into the kayak. The Hobie seems to have a higher rate of cracking from the drilled holes. The Predator on the other hand has removable and replaceable plates for these attachments.

If I ever get to the states it might be a full time venture for me. I told the wife I just want be retie somewhere, where I can be on the water fishing all day drinking my coffee.  :biggrin: Its been heavy on my mind for a while and Jim just got me excited with the whole concept.  :yoyo:

Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 17, 2018, 12:58:58 PM
Sorry Todd.
I mean, your welcome :laf:
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Todd Rahm on February 17, 2018, 09:05:06 PM
LIAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :biggrin: Thanks though.
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: JohnP on February 18, 2018, 09:11:42 AM
Thanks Ed, Jim's is the 120 Angler and the one I posted is the 100 Angler.  The price is what caught my attention on the 100 glad you brought the size to my attention of it would have probably been a gift to my grandson. 
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: Okanagan on February 18, 2018, 10:01:36 AM
FWIW personal experience on the Hobie pedal power vs traditional double end paddle.  I have two sit in kayaks and fished with Dave last year in his hobies.  We fished open water deep enough to keep the underwater propulsion gear from touching bottom.  Wonderful for trolling and casting into structure from open water, especially for the big stripers and blues that called for two hands on the rod.

For my fishing here at home on a big swift river and tight shallow estuaries, I have not tried the hobie but think I prefer my paddle boats.  Crossing strong eddy lines and maneuvering or powering through swift swirling current pockets, crossing wide shallow sections, and landing or launching from shallow gravel bars (all in swift current) seem to favor the clean bottom and instant, precisely placed power stroke of a hand held paddle.  I travel though such water to get to fishing spots but don't even attempt to fish from the kayak while having to maneuver the boat through tricky swift spots with a paddle in hand.

The few times I've HAD to maneuver the hand paddled kayak while playing a fish have been traumatic to my soul.  IE. a 16 lb. salmon pulling me into a kelp bed in swift tide current.  I would never have landed that fish had not my son in another yak pulled along side, grabbed my boat and maneuvered us while I played the fish.  With a hobie I could have leg powered out of the kelp without letting go of the rod or doing the weak one hand paddle with one hand on the rod. 

I would love the hobie for fishing trout on our inland lakes.  Hands free power to move the boat when and where needed is a huge bonus when casting or playing a fish.

Open water:  hobie.  Rivers:  probably the hand paddled kayak for me.


Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: KySongDog on February 18, 2018, 06:40:37 PM
This is not a fishing kayak but definitely unique! 

Oru Kayak (https://vimeo.com/80485187)
Title: Re: I pulled the trigger on a kayak upgrade this morning.
Post by: FinsnFur on February 19, 2018, 10:21:39 PM
Wow, thats crazy crafty