Okay, I can see them for Rivers AND Oceans. Absolutely. Or any waters with critters that like human legs[:)]
I wonder why the Hobie “Find a Dealer” locator doesn’t list Sid’s as an official dealer? When I bought my Pro Angler I had to drive all the way to Twin Falls to get one. That was before Scheels - which is the only Hobie-listed dealer in Utah.
I am looking at getting a Hobie Pro angler. Emailed Sid awhile back to see if he had any I could demo. He stated he was hoping to retire soon and so was no longer an Official Hobie dealer… He referred me to Scheels.
Sids does not carry Hobie. They haven’t carried Hobies for many years so that is way old info.
But you are going forward right? I have tried going forward dragging my line behind, missed a lot more fish, and the trying to set the hook from the side instead of straight up.
Yeah kayaks are not made to go backward. Even if the pedal system worked to go backward, it would only be to reverse a short distance. The rudder (it is in the back) and design of the kayak are not set up that way. But just like from a boat, trolling from a Hobie going forward is very easy. Plus our hands are free in the Hobie so you can troll one rod in front of you and also hold one rod at the same time. I am sure it is a little bit different if you are flyfishing and “dragging” your line.
All in the rigging. I do run two lines. One is a Type VII that is basically jigging. I have line marked at feet, so if I am in 30’ of water, I have 30’ of line out. The other rod has a holder in front of me for trolling while rowing(which is super effective, I think it is the jerk motions from rowing). But generally I am casting a stripping a slower sinking line. I am able to kick back very slowly finding schools.
And being a fly fisher, if one sees a rise, it is easy to just lift line and recast to that area (I guess you could do this with any type of fishing though). Catch a lot of fish doing that and not necessarily on a floating line.
Kayaks are great from point A to point B fast though. I live by the Jordan and keep thinking a Kayak would be awesome to float down that. Although Pontoons you can float in “inches” of water with feet up, in the Jordan I want to stay clear of the water, or what is underneath…LOL
After using the tube for fly and cast fishing, I also prefer going backward in my personal fishing platform.
One thing I’m considering short-term is up-sizing my tube to a pontoon. (A kayak is a ways down the road).
The Scadden tubes above are neato but I’m struggling to see what they’d buy me over a framed one for 1/5 the cost.
An 8’ framed one seems to be simple and would be able to carry A LOT of battery power – particularly the lithiums.
There are some other frameless types out there, but none of them look like they’re much higher out of the water than my tube with extra floatation.
I got to the point I hated the time it took to set up, but I go a lot.
Nothing wrong with the less expensive boat out there, just read the reviews first. I have read and heard of some frames seating too low, had bad welds, bad stitching.
Some are very heavy.
As far as the Frameless versions out there, another a couple members on the float tubing forum bought the Creek Company Voyagers. Problem I have read/heard on them is the foot bar holders rip.
NFO’s, I can guarantee you are out of the water. I wear hip waders.
I was given a couple of 22Ahr batteries that I will try with my setup. Do you know what gauge wiring your mini Kota has to the battery.
Do you mean the motor itself or what gauge wire I use?
I think the motor is 10Ga but not positive.
I’d like to know more about the 22Ahr packs you have. I’d like to find something ready-made at right about that capacity.
Set-up time is a big deal to me too as many of my tube trips are early morning before work ventures (2hrs of fun time or so) and any time I spend setting up/tearing down is time not spent fishing.
I always pictured keeping a framed pontoon together with just the tubes deflated in my trunk (with fold down back seats). Then just filling it and going at the lake.
Is that not a reasonable expectation with a framed unit?
I can only answer from what I have witnessed and that is you have to have the pontoon placed just right under the frame. Same spot. This could be done with a marker or strapping the pontoons on the frame, deflating them and folding them around the frame. So you have a roof rack or something like that?
A roof rack is an option. I was picturing just marking the location and doing a fine adjustment as each pontoon filled.
I was also considering attaching the pontoon to the frame itself with industrial-strength velcro so it wouldn’t move around while being transported.
I’d just fold the deflated pontoons over the frame, stick it in the trunk, and go. At the lake, unfold the pontoons, fill them, and launch.
That may be completely impractical… I really need to spend time with one
I was at Otter Creek the past two days and a guy and his other, had a two person hobie pedal power craft.
That thing could really move … It looked like they might have had a little probem positioning their gear and moving things around… May be a little awkward for two, but they were having a good time.
Those hobies look pretty dang sweet! Been seriously contemplating getting one! The vids on youtube make it very tempting
It’s called a portable power supply, if the picture is clear you can see its a compact unit that comes with a charger. There is a cigaret lighter type out put. It delivers 11.1 volts out .The company I work for we’re going to use it in a out door noise monitoring system, but went to a different setup.
After I read your post I checked on the ones left over, and was given two of them.
I hooked one up to my mini kota yesterday and ran it for 5hrs on number 3 speed, ran it down to about half charge. I am sure in the water will have bigger current draw.
I think it will work fine for what I want, and have the other for a spare.
I can also use it for my electric fillet knife, portable DVD player,etc.
I believe they were about $250 each when purchased, they are much lower now, if you can read the manual page it has a web site on it.
That picture with web site not clear.
Jiujiang Owell Industrial Co.
A few Pro Angler pictures.
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That’s a pretty nice setup you got there.
I’ve been thinking about lithium batteries, pedal power and even solar and wind power, too.
Related link of my previous post on my possible next fishing boat that entails all of the above (fits the title of experiments):
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=833077;#833077