Thinking about getting a pedal kayak for fishing. Seems like Old Town and Hobie are most popular, but not inexpensive! Wondering if anyone has experience or opinions on these?
Thanks

I bought a used hobie outback. Good kayak. If I used it more I would get an updated one. I used it in fresh and salt water. You'll want one of the better seats that sit you up a little higher. I could stand up in calm water, but I'll play it safe and stay seated.

You can't really use the pedal motor In shallow water but it would be great in deep water.

4 years ago we had 3 kayaks all Hobie. We spent many hours in them until one developed a cracked hull, about 2 weeks before vacation. After 4 trips to the dealer and probably 15 calls, their solution was $100 off a brand-new $4000 yak. Really?

We dumped the remaining two Hobies and went with Old Town. Last year my wife had the hull on her OT crack. Our first thought was "Here we go again". One call to OT, along with a couple emails with pictures and a brand-new Kayak was delivered to our door. Old Town has a lifetime warranty on their hulls, and they stand behind it.

WS

Look into the Native brand. They are comparable to a hobie but different type if propulsion system. You won't be disappointed. I own two 12' ft fishing models. The propeller can easily be rotated up and out of the water if it's shallow.

Ol dad

Old Town.Great service.

I have been eyeing an old town that has an electric trolling motor in the well. Spot lock on a canoe is really cool. Powered by lithium batteries.

They are well worth the money.

cant you take the pedal drive out if your approaching shallow water?

You can but you would be getting out a lot.

Vibe Kayaks!

The system is retractable from the operators seat.

Works great hunting in dead waters hunting for wood ducks.

Thanks everyone for the replies, gives me stuff to consider.

One advantage (allegedly) of the Hobie is the propulsion system is a pair of rubbery paddles that fold up if you hit something. Versus the Old Town, and others, with the trolling motor like propeller system that isn’t as forgiving.

Thanks again!

I have a hobie. Use it exclusively in the ocean. The peddles help keep me from drifting too fast. They are much faster than paddling also. It's no big deal to go a couple miles and not have to worry about being able to get back because of a head wind.

The negative side to the hobie propulsion system is there is no reverse. Just something to think about.

I fish small missouri streams with current. When i float down the river and spot a fishing hole or laydown that i want to fish out i can pedal backwards and hold in in spot. The native system will pivot up if you hit something.

Ol dad

If I spent much time on flat water I would definitely want a paddle craft but I'm always on a river where paddles still come in handy.

Dont care how your kayak is powered, always have a paddle.

Thanks, definitely something to consider.

On the hobies you can just pull it out while sitting in the yak.