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Have motors taken over the kayak fishing industry? I go over why you shouldn’t overlook pedal drive kayaks and thier importance to the kayak fishing world. #kayak #kayakfishing #pedaldrive #trollingmotor #fishing #kayakbassfishing
Intro – 00:00
#5 – 01:35
#4 – 02:40
#3 – 03:49
#2 – 04:50
#1 – 06:47
Consider this – 09:59
Motors new? Jeff Little was motorized back in 2010 or 2012. And that was with a Torqeedo, a commercially made kayak specific motor. Guys had been rigging trolling motors for ages before that.
As for the topic, I don't think anything is finished. Paddle, pedal, and motor all have their times and places. If you are not mechanically or electrically inclined then DIY motors can be quite involved and more costly in both time and money than youtubers let on. Not as much money as factory motorized kayaks, which definitely are cost prohibitive for many. Pedals and good old fashioned paddles will get you where you are going just fine until you feel ready or can afford to tackle a motor.
I have the old town 120 pdl Im 76 I love it …..I looked at the EPDL its $8000.00 CDN no way I would pay that much for any kayak plus it being so heavy I would need a trailer , my 120 I can easily put in the back of my truck
This is my first season with a pedal drive. I got a Slayer Max 12 and I was a little bit worried when I started seeing all these motorized ready kayaks like the new Bonafide for example. This video hit on all the reasons I purchased the specific kayak that I did. It was good to here. You mention all those reasons to still buy pedal 🎣
I have the old town sportsman 106 , absolutely love it , I looked at the auto drive but I would have to register it as a boat and that's what I don't want , who wants to pay boat fees for a kayak
The #1reason in my opinion reason is "keeping it simple".
Well brother, you made me feel better, after watching BD’s “Bearded Dad” video he had me thinking I should have gone with a motor setup.. lol Just kidding, but he came out with that video and I’d just bought my pedal drive.. Haven’t even taken it out yet! I pretty sure I like the simplicity of the pedal drive.. More though and go.. Thanks for the video BP!
Some states require you to register anything that is motorized on the water!!!
What about for short fat guys
Yes Sir thank you for sharing your on this subject, although I have made my decision to tournament fish I would go for the complete motor setup to get me to place to place and then bring me back home. I do like the peddle drive for more socializing adventures places that are tight like rivers and for getting a workout. Great points and when I do start to setup my kayaks I will be giving you a call. Tight lines and take care.
I've been leaning on the motorized part cause I would like to cover more ground and a buddy of mine had a spot lock in his kayak and to watch him sit in one place or more freely at will and fish I wanted that. I'm only 38 but kind of feel it. And being able to get more places than a boat, being able to reach more places with ease being motorized and being able to spend more time fishing and controlling something with a button kinda got me sold. Pedal drives are really like a paddle and can be something be there like a car when your car gets a flat tire. Dependable. I've taken .y time on getting things for my kayak so I don't over do it. But the one thing with motorizeing your kayak you get some more time fishing and I'm steering in that direction.
I have a cheap bass pro ascend kayak. I bought it a few years ago to primarily get to places off a lake to deer and turkey hunt. This year I have gotten into bass fishing off the kayak way more than ever. Because I want a kayak I can hunt and fish off, after all my research I am thinking that a Nucanoe U10 may be right up my alley at what I’m looking for. Stable enough to haul a deer and gear but has the fishing check list to fish when I’m not hunting. Plus I have a battery and minn kota trolling motor I could slap on it if I’m going a mile or two. I appreciate all your info!
I work with a local kayak shop and they sell sub $1500 paddle and pedal kayaks 5 to 1 over "motorized, serious kayaks". Pedal and paddle not going anywhere.
Copy/Cat business well said. Everything these days is copy/cat business.
The obvious answer is to own all three!!!
I have a bow mount kayak as my primary tourney rig, a slightly smaller pedal yak for places I either am not allowed to bring any kind of motor or places where the access is too rough to bring in the bigger boat, and then I have a smaller paddle kayak for tiny creeks, ponds, thick weeds, or extreme remote places.
I have the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120. I am mounting an XI3 on the front soon. I have the idea of having the pedal drive as a backup in case something happens to the motor. Then I have 3 options just in case . Thanks for great information that you always put out. Much appreciated 🙏
The kayak industry starting to act like a 3rd world country. Its a low budget paddle or full boar motorized steer and bow. I'm a little behind and trying to pick my first pedal kayak, propel 10.
The Ohio Kayak Fishing (OKF) series finale classic is at a paddle lake, one of my favorite lakes.
Good video. An important issue that was not mentioned is that many states require a vessel registration from the DMV once a motor is added to a kayak. That is just one more government annual fee to add to all the others. There will be a requirement of a vessel number affixed to the side of the kayak. If you do not like dealing with a government agency such as the DMV, a motor might not be in your future.
Well put sir. Paddle drive all the way. Paddle first- future motor… or not?
Nice hi-lights. Thanks.
I've been researching pedal kayaks but I love the nucanoe unlimited for all the space and swivel seat. I'm leaning toward the hoodoo impulse but I seen stuff about the quality.
If they had a pedal drive on that new wilderness tac pro it would be head and shoulders above everything else on the market. The instant reverse is huge. Who knows, maybe at icast 2025 they will have that or maybe native will copy that angled bow motor mount and pre-wire everything like wilderness?
The cost is definitely another huge factor. Considering you can get into an unlimited with an xi3 and battery for about what a titan x 12 retails for.
I fished for team NU last year out of a NuCanoe unlimited with xi3. The previous season I was fishing out of a Titan 10.5. I can honestly say that having the open deck space is super nice. It makes standing and fishing so much easier. You can literally fish 360 around the kayak in the unlimited with spot lock on. However I have started to miss my pedal drive because of having the option of going out without a motor just being super light and simple and also not being able to really fish my non motor kayak only lakes like I could when I had the Titan.
I agree with you.
Doomed? No. A little stagnant when it comes to some YouTubers thirsty for content? I’d say so. Ie that dude down in FL who flips kayaks for views.
Anyhow, the extinction of pedal driven kayaks is like that mindset in the past that our cars would be flying in the future. Pedal kayaks will be here for a long time. At least in some variation.
Most folks looking to get into a propulsion kayak are not going to want to put in the money, effort & time into retrofitting a motor in a kayak. Let’s not forget, registration process depending on the state. The more probable case would be to get into a pedal kayak or one with a motor, fitted from the factory, with a warranty, such as OT. Albeit pedal yaks are getting ridiculously pricey, that’s still the more likely scenario.
Fortunate enough to own a few kayaks, which all have their specific uses. I actually fish in them, predominantly in saltwater. When I’m out there to de-stress or I come home with a limit of fish for my family, the thought of pedal kayaks are dead never crosses my mind.
Pedal here for the exercise.. but mainly because I can't afford a motorized 😂
So I find it interesting. 10 years ago when I started kayak fishing the question was paddle or pedal and will paddling become obsolete. I still paddle, enjoy it and can still be relevant in human powered tournaments.
Anyone saying pedal drive are not relevant is crazy. The majority of people buy yaks will most likely not buy a motor. Motor are for the people who are deep in the niche. But for recreational BUY a pedal.
For me! Paddling has been ok. But it's not always great when trying to fish. When needing to maneuver the boat it can be a trick. Also, even though I have drip rubbers on my paddle. I still get water on me from paddling. It drips all over and you have to watch what you are getting wet.
Peddle drive offers the best all around. It's your legs controlling the power forward or reverse instantly. Its virtually hands free for fishing. Maybe it's safe to say E-motors don't normally offer that quick of controls. Some don't even have reverse.
I someday might consider an e-motor. Only for the more consistent speed for trolling. Which I don't troll much. But e-motor and all running hardware just gets too heavy. It becomes not simple anymore. If I do get an e-motor it will be likely and inexpensive Minnkota under $100 and rig up separate remote speed control. Most custom-made e-motors for particular brands of kayaks. Most certainly are way overpriced. Even peddle drives are ridiculously priced.
What do you think about ePDL and is that considered motorized when it comes to these non-motorized lakes? Also will other manufacturers start giving that ePDL option more in the future?
Good points! While there is a place still for pedal drive kayaks, I believe that the electric motor and lithium battery revolution will boost the sale of no frills paddle only yaks! I'm 70 and have been fishing from my 2016 Slayer Propel for the last 8+ years! My limited range and speed to the honey hole prompted me to buy the NK300 last October. Now I'm moving 6 to 6.5 mph instead of 3 to 3.5 mph. I recently relocated the NK300 to a 2018 ATAK 120 that I bought used a few years ago as a backup. Now, with more room in the cockpit due to no intrusive pedal drive, I am enjoying the ATAK 120 with the NK300. I do believe in powering a kayak that paddles well for backup – hence, I have no interest in a PA14 type of barge! Now I love my ATAK 120!!! I covered almost 9 miles this week in Louisiana brackish, inshore fishing, running about 80% power with 33% battery remaining! Power, baby!
I have a Hobie PA 360/XR. I'm 71. Fishing, I use the pedal fins. But when I want to travel a long distance, I use my Bixpy motor. Installation of the Bixpy is so simple that even I could do it! However, the price of the motor/battery combo and all the adapters was more than SOME kayaks! But for me, retired with unknown future ability to kayak, totally worth it.
The one other motor (or feature) I would think could be awesome is spotlock.
Roger, The Smiling BassHole
Being an older angler I like the motor to get to and back from my spots on a bigger body of water or tidal current . I use the pedal system for positioning.. I don’t always Plus I don’t always have to bring the motor for spur of the moment trips.
I really want a pedal drive kayak. But they are so heavy that Im just not sure that I want to deal with that.
I started kayak fishing in a perception pescador pro 120. Loved being able to fish and get a little exercise at the same time. I’ve since upgraded to an old town 120PDL. I can still get some exercise and have much better control of the boat while fishing. I don’t see myself ever going motorized.
I’ve got a Big Fish 120 that I use both motorized via a sonar pod mount in front of me, and also motorless just paddling. Considering a pedal drive for a second kayak but I’m not seeing much out there that are also lightweight. Great channel, love your advice and thought process on things. 👍
Dude, great response! You brought up some amazing points to consider!
The “ready out of the box” reason is solid. If you just want to go and not fuss, pedals are the answer!
Am I the only one that thought a pedal drive video sponsored by a motor battery was a bit funny 😆? Great video Andy 👊😎