So who is looking at new fishing kayaks

[Smoky buck]

After getting into kayak fishing in 2020 I sold my big boat and only run the kayak now. I started out with a 12ft Hobie compass that has treated me very well with no complaints. It was a great choice as my first fishing kayak to see if kayak fishing was really for me without breaking the bank but now I am considering an upgrade.

With all the aspects of the Hobie fin style drives I like I can’t see myself looking at other brands. Right now I am looking at the Hobie outback with the 180 drive or maybe go all out and get a 12ft pro angler with the 360 drive

Anyone have experience with these models?

Who else is looking at fishing kayaks dreaming of open water?

[58thecat]

Always in the back of my mind, often my go to boat is my yak, just peaceful.

Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120 has my eye for upgrading

A few more months of ice fishing then the switch gets turned on for back bay walleye and pike

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Always in the back of my mind, often my go to boat is my yak, just peaceful.

Old Town Sportsman Salty PDL 120 has my eye for upgrading

A few more months of ice fishing then the switch gets turned on for back bay walleye and pike

That was a kayak I considered when I bought my compass. The salty is supposed to be quick but not as stable. The stability of the compass and the Hobie drive being weedless was why I passed on the salty

Covering lots of water with less weeds I think the salty would be nice

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

That was a kayak I considered when I bought my compass. The salty is supposed to be quick but not as stable. The stability of the compass and the Hobie drive being weedless was why I passed on the salty

Covering lots of water with less weeds I think the salty would be nice

Yeah I hear you on the stability etc that's why the Sportsman 120 pdl is getting tossed around too, plus it has in hull dry storage....weedless is definitely a bonus and I can see where popping up the drive and going to a paddle could be a pain.

Kinda a good site to read on yaks, many out there helping narrow the decision down to preference.

https://www.happinesswithout.com/kay...kayak-fishing/

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Yeah I hear you on the stability etc that's why the Sportsman 120 pdl is getting tossed around too, plus it has in hull dry storage....weedless is definitely a bonus and I can see where popping up the drive and going to a paddle could be a pain.

Kinda a good site to read on yaks, many out there helping narrow the decision down to preference.

https://www.happinesswithout.com/kay...kayak-fishing/

Sportsman is nice and old towns in general are quality kayaks. I just find the Hobie fin style drive has more advantages/tricks for my use that I would loose out on with the prop drive

YouTube I find is great when you are checking out different models

[HuyFishin]

hard to go wrong with any of these high end fishing kayaks now.

The only thing is kayak fishing boats are getting so expensive.

[58thecat]

Great times on the yaks, always a blast!


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[Demonical]

I found a few other pics that show the 8" back storage compartments I put in our boats.
Because I bought these kayaks at different times, the covers are different manufacture, but essentially the same thing.
They really add a lot of storage.


My wife in the orange boat and he sister in the green boat.


Close-up of my kayak kart prior to modifying the wheels.


I up-sized the wheels from 8" to 16".


And what she looks like on the big tires.

[Mumbles]

Been in Hobie for 6yrs now.
Revo for 4 seasons and Outback for the last 2.
I couldn’t imagine being in a prop drive kayak ever. The 180 drive is nice but reverse is not that much of a necessity for me unless fishing for large pike up against the weeds.
Old town makes a decent kayak but the Sportsman is just way too basic. Not set up from the factory for customization nearly as much as the Hobies, Jackson’s or even Widerness Systems.

My 2cents.

[Gbuss]

I won a 106 pdl at East slop tournament last year. Was the door prize. It has been great. I plan on strapping a couple razer blades to the housing were the prop goes on the help cut up weeds. It has been a great yak so far and I am putting a garmin uhd 75sv on it once it warms up a bit more.

If I was to get a new kayak for tournaments I would get the jackson nar. It has a 12:1 gear ratio on the peddle drive and can put 6 7' rods on the boat in the proper storage area in rod tubs. Nothing standing up behind you to get tangled in for casting. But that is my opinion.


All in all the 106 pdl is a nice comfy ride. The seat is great and I can fish for hours on it.

[Smoky buck]

I pulled the pin and ordered two 2023 Hobie outback’s they will arrive in late match early April. Wife wanted an upgrade too after seeing all my research on YouTube lol

Guess I will have to brave the mayhem selling both our Hobie compass kayaks for sale online soon