I'm glad your surgery went well and wish you a speedy recovery. Let me know when you think you can get out, I'll come down there and pick you up. You don't need to be lifting a kayak by yourself.

I hope you have a speedy recovery, Alpha. Sure do miss your posts!

Awesome.....very much appreciate the offer Jeremy. I do want us to fish together some. I need to pick you brain about kayaking.....mods and so on. I have to get to HOOK 1 and see if the Ride 115 is for me. I want it tricked out with anchor trolley....a DSI sonar....and I will be getting the 9 foot parking pole so when I pull up on a bed of Gills I can put the pole in and stay there. I figure in 6 weeks I will be ready to go.


Regards

Thanks for all the support guys. It really helps me keep my spirit up. I walked the second time today and while I am not really walking it was much better than this morning. The block they put in my leg has not wore off completely yet and that is why I can't quite walk yet...the nerves in the muscle are blocked so they just don't work yet. So on we go.


Regards

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Now you've got me interested in the Ride 115!

Sounds like your recovery is going well, keep up the good work.

I bought the Stick-it it's a stake out pole before Luther came out with the Park N Pole, mine is 8', weighs a ton, dosen't float, and paid 2X more than the Park n' Pole. I've used the Park n' Pole and really like it.

As for the Ride 115, that's what I primairly used on my last Texas trip, and the Ride 135. The Ride 115 is a nice kayak, coupled with the elevated seat it is really nice. The new Air Pro seats are some of the best kayak seats I have been in and Sarah has admitted that also.

I'll be looking for you to be getting in touch to hit the water around the 1st of March.

Jeremy

Kayak comparisons
 

I am looking into getting a kayak. You and Alpha seem to be on top of the game. Do you have any opinions pro or con of the peddle drive vs. paddle drive kayaks. I'm specifically interested in the Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14. It would seem that being hands-free would be a great advantage.

Alpha, welcome back! I have a simple kayak and would love to join you all maybe below Normandy in the spring. It will be time before we know it!

Jeremy is the man for the kayak questions. I have a kayak I fish out of...a lot....but Jeremy is the man to talk to about kayaks....and he has both a paddle....and a pedal drive. Plus he has fished kayaks under many different conditions and has the answer to any question you may have. The only thing I will say is demo...demo....demo.


Regards

My wife and I have had Hobie Pro Angler 14's for the past 3.5-4 years, and she currently pedals a Hobie Revolution. We have also used paddle kayaks for the same length of time, Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120's, Tarpon 160i, Commander 120, Ride 115, Tarpon and Ride 135's. We have also had Jackson Coosa's. We have had at least 10 fishing orientated kayaks in the past 4 years.

The Hobie Pro Anglers are a great kayak, hands free, 600lb capacity, the bost stable watercraft in it's class, and great speed for a man powered craft 4-5 mph easily, and up to 6-6.5 depending on physical ability. They are a very comfortable water craft that you can spen a lot of time in and not be sore. Works well holding you in place against current, or traveling against current, like below the Old Hickory Dam for schoolie stripers.

Cons - Heavy, and limits you to navigating waters shallower than 18" fully utilizing the Mirage Drive. It can be easily transported in the bed of a pickup truck, or on a trailer, it can be cartopped but not easily. They do make tools to easily cartop, or SUV top. Price $3,000 before tax.

It's a great kayak, and if you know anyone wanting to buy one I might have one for sale in a month or two that hasn't even seen the water for a lot cheaper than one from a dealer.

Paddle kayaks weigh less, can access shallower water, no mechanical issues, and $2,200 cheaper.

Jeremy

Yeah below Normandy in Spring is a good time to kayak. You can usually paddle back upstream with out much effort. Plus lots of trout...Black Perch. It's just a nice place to fish.

Regards

Isn't the water below Normandy considered the Duck River? I saw on TWRAs website they have a precaution against eating any of the bass out of that water. I wonder if the crappie would be safe, kinda worries me.

Yeah it is the Duck River. Not sure what the fish restrictions are there.

Regards

Meh, those restrictions are more for pregnant woman and children. Pretty much all the lakes in MN have mercury restrictions, everybody else and I ate tons of fish out of them.

Jeremy,

Thank you! You are a wealth of knowledge by experience. Please send me a PM if you decide to sell the kayak you mentioned. I would also love to see pics of how you have your Hobie rigged. Again, thank you for the reply and hopefully we can meet and as Alpha says, "Sore Lip 'Em!"

Kellan Lamb