By Jay Suhsen, 2017 Hi Tempo Hobie Fishing Team

When I give presentations about kayak fishing, one of the aspects I like to cover is myths about kayak fishing. If you're interested in getting into kayak fishing but you still have some trepidation then stick with me while I dispel a few of these. I'll try to take you from myth to reality and from the comfort of your couch to the adventure of being on the water.

Myth #1 Kayaks are unstable.

Like most myths, this one had a factual birth. Kayaks have been in use for thousands of years. Those early kayaks were tools for hunting. They were ultra efficient crafts designed to travel great distances with the least amount of expended energy. Efficiency and stability are diametrically opposite to each other. In other words, you must compromise one to get the other. Those early yaks evolved into today's very efficient but unstable sea kayaks. Almost everyone has seen video of people learning to roll their sea kayak. For safety's sake, if that's your sport, you really need to know how to do that.

Fishing is my sport and when you transition from sea kayaks to fishing kayaks a whole new world of kayak purchasing options are open to you. Hobie has done an excellent job of finding the perfect balance with their fishing kayaks. They have a wave slicing v-hull that smoothly transitions into a modified tri-hull shape. This gives you a kayak that's a joy to fish from yet still paddles or peddles with relative ease. How stable is it? I frequently stand up to fish, especially when fishing from the PA 12 or 14, but also from the Outback. I'm happy to say that since I began fishing from a Hobie kayak I have not had any unscheduled swimming events. Take a test drive in a Hobie Fishing Kayak. Several minutes of peddling and you will surely dispel for yourself this myth of instability

Myth #2 There's no room for gear.

That's simply untrue. I think this myth originates with people picturing the old sit-inside kayaks. Whatever you were going to bring with you had to get stuffed below deck; in the cubby hole behind you or in front of you. Both locations are out of sight and very difficult to access when you're on the water. Hobie Fishing kayaks (and most fishing kayaks today) are sit-on-tops, or SOT's. These designs provide for many more storage options. Everything is easy to see and to access. Are there limitations? Sure, but if you think about it, there are limitations in any boat. And truthfully, having everything I need with me and conveniently at arms reach greatly enhances my time on the water and that's what it's all about. Here's a list of what I carry with me for a day of kayak fishing. 4-5 fishing rods, Lowrance 7 TI and battery box, running lights, box of leader spools, 20 lb duffle bag of soft plastics, 5 Plano boxes full of lures, 1 Plano box of hooks and jigs, 1 Plano box weights, 1 landing net, 1 anchor wizard, line cutter, forceps, camera boom, action cam and accessories, 2 water bottles, and lunch. Does that sound like I'm depriving myself of anything that would enhance my day on the water? 

Myth #3 I can't fish tournaments from a kayak.

Do a Google search for "kayak fishing tournaments" and you can quickly dispel that myth. You'll see many pages of kayak fishing tournament options. Some of the big name organizations are IFA (Inshore Fishing Association), KBS (Kayak Bass Series), Kayak River Bassin, and KBF (Kayak Bass Fishing). I'm writing this article from the passenger seat as I'm returning home from the KBF National Championship on Kentucky Lake. There were 358 competitors this year and a first place prize of $38,000. In my home state, the Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association puts on many tournaments a year. If you enjoy tournament fishing and you enjoy being on the water in a kayak, you'll have no problem finding options at any level of involvement.  

Myth #4 Kayaks are uncomfortable.

That myth used to be true but the exploding interest in the sport of kayak fishing has created a very competitive market for SOT (sit on top) fishing kayaks. Manufacturers are constantly trying to out-do each other. That's always good for the consumer. The seats just keep keep getting better and Hobie seats are the best in the business. Their seats are made of a breathable mesh. They sit you high enough off of the floor to get a comfortable bend to your knees. The seat base and seat back both have angle adjustment. Also included is lumbar support.

Myth #5 Kayaking is too much work.

I have to admit that this myth kept me from discovering the joy of kayak fishing for many years. When I was growing up my dad had an old canvas covered canoe. He and I stripped the canvas off and replaced that with fiberglass cloth and resin. It made a "seaworthy" vessel but it was a laborious barge-like thing to paddle. Even so, my brother and I took it on many ill-conceived misadventures. These early float trips negatively shaped my opinions about paddle sports. If that was what all paddling was like then I wanted nothing to do with it. Today's kayaks are nothing like that old canoe. The first time I kayak fished, from the first few paddle strokes, I was amazed at how easy it is to propel yourself. When you add the Hobie Mirage Drive to the equation you get an enjoyable and almost effortless on the water experience because you're using the muscles that were intended to propel you.

Hopefully these few short paragraphs have helped you move past a few of the more common myths about kayaking and kayak fishing. Often times, seeing is believing. There's no better way than taking an actual test drive.

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