Trolling Motor on a Kayak vs. Pedal Drive - New Guy

[slim_velvet]

Hey y'all.  So, I am new-ish to saltwater kayak fishing; I have an open-top 10' fishing kayak that I've used for a couple of years fishing for pass and pike in freshwater, as well as occasionally stripers in salt ponds and back bays.  I recently moved to the CT coast (around Norwalk) and have pretty good beach access to launch in an area that's relatively calm most days.  There is a lot of multi-species potential, so my target species would include stripers, blues, fluke, tautog, etc.  I'm beginning to plan/save to pick up a new kayak rig for next season, as the shore fishing just isn't doing it for me and I don't think a standard paddle kayak is going to do the trick in terms of mobility, and being able to stick to spots once I'm out there.  My first instinct is to go for a pedal drive yak, though they are obviously pricey and a friend suggested that I could possibly pick up a longer/wider paddle kayak and attach a trolling motor to it for less $.

 

I'm new to this corner of the sport, and not sure whether this is a feasible idea.  I was wondering if anyone has tried this, and what your thoughts are.  I haven't seen many do this, and suspect there is a reason lol, but wanted to understand why/why not.  My fishing is fairly local and strictly inshore on water that is generally very calm--just looking for a way to get around and stay on spots where I'm not having to mess around with a paddle every 5 seconds.  

 

Thanks for your input--apologies if this topic is already covered somewhere else!

 

[buddha162]

11 mins ago, slim_velvet said:

just looking for a way to get around and stay on spots where I'm not having to mess around with a paddle every 5 seconds.  

 

The TM will get you to and from spots, but staying on spots while fishing is another story - that's where pedal drives come in. The best setup for doing both is powering up a pedal drive with a TM in the back, and keeping the pedals for maneuvering while fishing. 

 

The exception to this are the newer trolling motors that have spot lock features - Old Town AutoPilot has an integrated spot locking TM in the hull and seems wildly popular. 

 

[notime]

I would not get a trolling motor unless it has spot lock.   It is a game changer if you bottom fish or want to maintain position.   

[tcal4404]

Even in calm conditions, the current and slightest wind in the LIS will  be constantly pushing you around. I've seen guys that add trolling motors to pedal yaks but that's usually after a couple of seasons and when they want to cover more water. I don't think that would be a good first setup

 

You cant rent a kayak through three belles or black hall outfitters to get a feel for if a  pedal kayak is for you. There's also some fishing guides that take people out in kayaks (ct fish nerd). 

 

Look for used deals, I found my setup through fb marketplace

 

Make sure you read up on safety. 

[snag777]

1 hour ago, slim_velvet said:

Hey y'all.  So, I am new-ish to saltwater kayak fishing; I have an open-top 10' fishing kayak that I've used for a couple of years fishing for pass and pike in freshwater, as well as occasionally stripers in salt ponds and back bays.  I recently moved to the CT coast (around Norwalk) and have pretty good beach access to launch in an area that's relatively calm most days.  There is a lot of multi-species potential, so my target species would include stripers, blues, fluke, tautog, etc.  I'm beginning to plan/save to pick up a new kayak rig for next season, as the shore fishing just isn't doing it for me and I don't think a standard paddle kayak is going to do the trick in terms of mobility, and being able to stick to spots once I'm out there.  My first instinct is to go for a pedal drive yak, though they are obviously pricey and a friend suggested that I could possibly pick up a longer/wider paddle kayak and attach a trolling motor to it for less $.

 

I'm new to this corner of the sport, and not sure whether this is a feasible idea.  I was wondering if anyone has tried this, and what your thoughts are.  I haven't seen many do this, and suspect there is a reason lol, but wanted to understand why/why not.  My fishing is fairly local and strictly inshore on water that is generally very calm--just looking for a way to get around and stay on spots where I'm not having to mess around with a paddle every 5 seconds.  

 

Thanks for your input--apologies if this topic is already covered somewhere else!

 

i would get 16' sheetmetal boat and trajler,troling motor and 9.9 HP gas ingene,you can get that for price off fancy cayak.that is best option for fishing.

much easier with trailer,if you do not like to use trailer get 14' sheet metal boat and electric 36 V Terova troling motor much beter for fishing than cayak.

[RWP]

3 hours ago, snag777 said:

i would get 16' sheetmetal boat and trajler,troling motor and 9.9 HP gas ingene,you can get that for price off fancy cayak.that is best option for fishing.

much easier with trailer,if you do not like to use trailer get 14' sheet metal boat and electric 36 V Terova troling motor much beter for fishing than cayak.

Better according to who?

 

The best boat is the one that fits the users needs. A 16' aluminum boat with an outboard would be absolutely useless for my needs. It might be the best fishing boat *for you*.

[gellfex]

3 hours ago, snag777 said:

i would get 16' sheetmetal boat and trajler,troling motor and 9.9 HP gas ingene,you can get that for price off fancy cayak.that is best option for fishing.

much easier with trailer,if you do not like to use trailer get 14' sheet metal boat and electric 36 V Terova troling motor much beter for fishing than cayak.

This is a good point. By the time you have a pedal kayak rigged with a motor and battery it's so big and heavy you need a trailer anyway. As for sticking on spots, there's an invention like 5000 years old that doesn't require constant pedaling or batteries: an anchor.

[snag777]

10 mins ago, RWP said:

Better according to who?

 

The best boat is the one that fits the users needs. A 16' aluminum boat with an outboard would be absolutely useless for my needs. It might be the best fishing boat *for you*.

you can fish cayak only few hours and then you are crampt up,you have no room in cayak in colder weather you freeze only siting there.

i look for beter option and lees money waisted. when i fish i fish 8 to 12 hours on the boat 5 to 7 days a week.

by what you say you can fish with best cayak 8 hours 5 days a week..

[RWP]

5 mins ago, snag777 said:

you can fish cayak only few hours and then you are crampt up,you have no room in cayak in colder weather you freeze only siting there.

i look for beter option and lees money waisted. when i fish i fish 8 to 12 hours on the boat 5 to 7 days a week.

by what you say you can fish with best cayak 8 hours 5 days a week..

Again, those are issues that YOU have.....

 

I fish just fine in a kayak as often and as long as I want.

 

Buy the boat that works for you, but don't tell other people what won't work for them, everyone is different.

[notime]

5 mins ago, gellfex said:

This is a good point. By the time you have a pedal kayak rigged with a motor and battery it's so big and heavy you need a trailer anyway. As for sticking on spots, there's an invention like 5000 years old that doesn't require constant pedaling or batteries: an anchor.

To me these are two very different fishing platforms, so points are well taken about looking at other options vs. kayak.   My thought would be to either get the peddle kayak or a small boat.   I'm not sure a kayak with a trolling motor is the best option.   

 

As for the anchor, it works.   But ask anyone who has every used spot lock and I think 90%+ will tell you they'd never go back to using an anchor except when absolutely needed.  They are not cheap, so not a perfect solution, but I'll never own a boat again without one.       

[triumph]

I have a motor with a pwm. I can tune it down till the prop is barely turning and kinda hold a spot but the motor is best for covering distance.

 I think I would prefer pedal if I only had 1 choice and lived near the ocean for sure.

 Spot lock and a battery are going to cost you $$$ on top of the kayak and if you capsize...

 

Plus here in Va. if you put a motor on a yak you have to register it.

I had to provide a Title to the DWR to register my yak. Pay the fees, renew every 2 years and property tax 

 

 But... motors on the lake are awesome for me! I can go for miles

[gellfex]

39 mins ago, notime said:

To me these are two very different fishing platforms, so points are well taken about looking at other options vs. kayak.   My thought would be to either get the peddle kayak or a small boat.   I'm not sure a kayak with a trolling motor is the best option.   

 

As for the anchor, it works.   But ask anyone who has every used spot lock and I think 90%+ will tell you they'd never go back to using an anchor except when absolutely needed.  They are not cheap, so not a perfect solution, but I'll never own a boat again without one.       

There's no doubt spot lock is an amazing technology. But the original idea of kayak fishing was simplicity, and the flexibility to launch almost anywhere like down rocks or over a wide sand beach. By the time you rig it out to >200lbs of large heavy boat and propulsion gear you've lost both.  The OP lives on a shore with lots of access and great fishing close inshore, perfect for a minimal rig.

[buddha162]

59 mins ago, snag777 said:

you can fish cayak only few hours and then you are crampt up,you have no room in cayak in colder weather you freeze only siting there.

i look for beter option and lees money waisted. when i fish i fish 8 to 12 hours on the boat 5 to 7 days a week.

by what you say you can fish with best cayak 8 hours 5 days a week..

 

Something tells me your kayaking experience never encompassed a Hobie or Old Town PDL. 

 

I'll take any pedal driven kayak over a tin boat w/o a bow mounted spot lock TM any day of the week for any kind of structure oriented fishing.  

[buddha162]

2 mins ago, gellfex said:

But the original idea of kayak fishing was simplicity

 

So what? 

 

Again, someone with zero experience on a pedal kayak telling a newbie he shouldn't get one. Meanwhile 99.9% of people who fished from a pedal driven yak never looked back. 

 

The Hobie Lynx weighs 43lbs - plenty of people have added a Bixpy or TPP drive to the rudder and zip around just fine while keeping their pedals for fishing. 

 

 

 

[notime]

31 mins ago, gellfex said:

There's no doubt spot lock is an amazing technology. But the original idea of kayak fishing was simplicity, and the flexibility to launch almost anywhere like down rocks or over a wide sand beach. By the time you rig it out to >200lbs of large heavy boat and propulsion gear you've lost both.  The OP lives on a shore with lots of access and great fishing close inshore, perfect for a minimal rig.

I agree.  That’s why I said I think either the peddle kayak or a boat is your best option.   Kayak with trolling motor not the best option.  I was just commenting on the anchor comment.  If your buying a trolling motor anyway get the spot lock is my point.   Assuming you anchor a lot etc.