South East Fishing Meets

Like @Blackout14 said, Cabela's is worth a check, maybe Academy too. My buddies use a local place, Rock Creek Outfitters. See if there's anything like that local to you.

 

Yeah I have looked at demo's and constantly cruise CL/FB. But for saving $200 or $300 I might as well buy new.

 

Anyone know about the Bonafide SA127 SOT Kayak? There’s a 2018 that someone is selling local to me.

 

I just looked at one at a local shop. Nice and sturdy with a good width to it. You'd be able to stand up in it no issue.

 

What’s Pedal Drive?

Do I need it?

Will I be a better fisherman with it? Lol.

 

One or two solid seasons with a paddle and watching guys with peddles fish circles around you and you’ll know you need it.

 

Love mine too...after coming from a FeelFree Lure where I always had a paddle in hand more than a fishing pole.

 

Reverse is nice...

 

Aside from Hobie, what brands out there carry good pedal systems?

 

If you’re going for a pedal system, the biggest difference is fins vs propeller. When you pedaling fins, you’re pushing and pulling with your feet so the motion is linear. With a propeller, the motion is cyclical like a bike.

Having reverse with a propeller is as simple as pedaling backwards, with fins you’ll need the right “drive” system that’ll allow you to reverse the fins with the pull of a lever but the pedal motion remains the same.

That’s just a quick down and dirty of a couple of the many differences...YouTube will be your friend if you don’t have the ability to see some side by side firsthand.

Let us know if you’ve got some questions.

Also, as Joe said, I have the 2018 Hobie Compass which is a great boat. It hit every point I was looking for (weight, deck layout, rudder design, etc.) before I put a bunch of money into it to make it mine. The 2019 model had some nice changes to it...but not enough that would make me wish I had it over my current one. The 2019 Outback on the other hand...if that was out when I was shopping, I would’ve given it a VERY hard look. Totally redesigned and looks to definitely be a sweet boat.

 

Old town makes one with a propeller. I was sold on that boat until I saw a compass. I was very happy with my old town predator mx when I had it. Very very stable boat.

 

Somehow I’m drawn to the Jackson Coosa HD Flex Drive. I like the pedaling motion. I guess it’s because I’m a lifelong cyclist. I like the reverse pedaling for immediate reverse. The prop port between the legs is a neat idea, to be able to pull weeds in case of entanglement.

But all of the above is daydreaming.

I need to find some shops so that I can see and touch these kayaks to get a better feel for them.

I’ll need to look hard for a decent used kayak. I know they are out there.

 

Any Black Friday kayak sales you guys and.gals are tracking?

 

For some reason, I'm drawn to the 2019 Jackson Coosa FD.

Proven hull design, stable, pedal drive, can switch out the pedal drive module to an electric drive model.

 

Have you seen the Blue Sky Boatworks Angler 360? With the pedal AND e-motor module.

That’s what I want.

 

http://store.blueskyboatworks.com/360-angler/

 

I have a slayer propel, it's an awesome boat for saltwater and lakes. I still like to paddle in smaller water or if I have to worry about structure, so I fish from my jackson kilroy in those cases

 

It was just approved by KBF as legal for KBF sanctioned tournaments. So it must be a kayak. Lol.

It’ll fit in my Bantam trailer.

 

I'm old.

I now know how @loosnut feels on a good day.

 

OK. Here comes the noob again! Sigh...

I know I have a couple of circa 1980's Daiwa Baitcasters and rods in my attic somewhere. It's gonna take me awhile to figure out where it is. It's gonna take even longer to get back into the hang of casting.

In the meantime, I should get one or two rod/reel sets for the upcoming season.

What Baitcasting Reel and Rod would you fine folks recommend for fishing bass in our target Northeast ponds/lakes?

I wanna take advantage of the Black Friday sales.