EDITOR’S ANGLE
Look Mom, no paddle. PHOTO: BOBBY NEUMAN
The Motor Trends Issue F
or years, when the guys in my town saw the rod holders on my kayaks they’d ask
me, half serious, where the trolling motor goes. Tis year I’ve stopped laughing and point to a hole in the hull or a ball mount on the stern and tell them the motor goes right there. Te looks of recognition I get from these
boat anglers tell me that the growth of kayak fishing isn’t going to slow anytime soon. I bet we think back on the progression
of kayak fishing and see 2010 as the year it all changed. Kayak fishing historians will consider this the year motors hit the main- stream. Hardcore kayak anglers will debate whether the sport plugged into the masses or completely sold out. Now we say, “Tat thing comes with a mo-
tor? Cool.” Amazing in fact. Besides decid- ing between different brands, we have only two basic options: motor, or not. In a future motor trends issue we may dive deep into details such as horsepower, torque, speed, and performance. As options proliferate,
you might select your boat make and then choose from an array of motors to match. Motors are now allowed in some tourna-
ments. Last issue, Kayak Angler regional editor Jeff Suber compared trolling motors to golf carts in the great game. To me, carts don’t change the game of golf they just make it la- zier. But motors truly change kayak fishing. Walking to get your ball doesn’t require
that much skill. No golfer is known for his ability or the speed at which he gets around (unless you’re referring to Tiger Woods). Carts may make golfing more accessible, but they don’t change the game. Motors surely make kayak fishing more
accessible, but the advantages of a motor go far beyond that. All of a sudden you can move and fish—rod in your hand. I took an Ocean Kayak Torque on my an-
nual Father’s Day walleye and northern pike trip. Adding battery, motor and charger to my checklist chipped away a little at my ego and the simple self-reliance that drew me to kayak fishing in the first place. And, I
couldn’t figure out what to do with my pad- dling arms as I buzzed full-tilt from spot to spot. Drink beer, I guess. Tat said, I couldn’t help but catch more
fish. I cruised the lake perimeter ever so slowly, at a precise casting distance from shore, working the weed lines and maintain- ing my position while steering with my feet. For five days I fished, casting non-stop,
or trolling with the rod in my hands instead of the holder. I didn’t touch my paddle the entire trip—except for the day I forgot to charge my battery and had to paddle back. As more anglers embrace propulsion
systems of all kinds on their kayaks, how these systems will be incorporated into tournaments will certainly evolve. How they will affect kayak fishing culture re- mains to be seen. Tis may be the first time we run the
headline, “Te Motor Trends Issue” but it will certainly not be the last. Scott MacGregor is the publisher of KAYAK ANGLER.
kayakanglermag.com… 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52