CHATTER COMMUNITY
KAYAK ANGLER CAPTION CONTEST We asked readers to caption this photo of Bren- nan Walter and his prize crevalle jack. Winners receive a free subscription and Kayak Angler swag. Here were our favorites:
Thanks for the ride, Jack! –Jeremy Fritch
Fishing feels so good it hurts! –Andrew Heyl
Yak Up, Jack Up YEEEEW!!! –Jeremy Mashek
Jack the ripper, finally reeled it in. –@millmonty1
BEST OF INSTAGRAM: RE: Winter Issue of Kayak Angler
Best issue yet! Have already gone through it cover to cover a few times! Great job! –Larry Wentworth Read the issue now at
www.rapidmedia.com/0341.
WEIGH IN We asked our Facebook friends, "When you're kayak fishing, do you wear your PFD always, sometimes or never?" Here's how the responses broke down.
76% 14.5% 9.5%
"Always, and I'm a good swimmer!" –Chet Radgsdales
"Sometimes. It's too hot in GA to wear it in the summer." –Robert William Romaine
"It's used as a seat cushion." –Anthony Howery
KAYAK ANGLER’S REVIEW OF THE OLD TOWN PREDATOR XL MOTORIZED KAYAK HAD US WONDERING HOW MANY READERS WOULD GET INTO AN ELECTRIC-POWERED PADDLECRAFT.
"Wow! You guys are crazy. Putting a motor on my kayak was the best thing I ever did.” —Kevin Dismuke
“Insane! The best part of a 'yak is no moving parts except you!” —Larry Wentworth
YES: 51% No: 49% [WHAT SU P?] POCKET SPORTSMAN
The new Sportsman inflatable builds on Hobie’s long line of standup paddleboards. Paddle anglers aren’t like other paddlers and the Sportsman is nothing like other paddleboards. The biggest difference is a three-chamber design with a flat center platform and two outer chambers that act as pontoons to improve tracking and stability. The outer chambers inflate to 10 psi while the drop-stitched center chamber can be pumped up to 15 psi for a rock- solid platform that won’t bend or fold under pressure.
On the water, the design results in an
inflatable that performs like a hard board. The platform is solid and stable. I could easily stand on one foot, move toward the bow or stern, even turn around and fish facing backwards. Paddling the Sportsman is easy; I was surprised how quickly the board glides across the water. Despite the pontoons, the board is low to the water and hardly affected by the wind or current. Two smaller skegs and an 8.5-inch center fin keep the board paddling straight. Since the Sportsman is less than 11 feet long, it is easy to navigate into tight places, turn on a dime and fit in any angler’s arsenal. Hobie packed the Sportsman with bells and whistles that make it a formidable fishing or hunting weapon. The camo color scheme is eye catching without standing out. Bungees in the bow and stern will hold a tackle box or small cooler. D-rings sprinkled across the board make it easy to
62 … KAYAK ANGLER
COLOR COORDINATED Beautiful fish. Even matches his shoelaces! LOL @indianayakfish
HOBIE’S SPORTSMAN INFLATABLE SUP COMES WITH
PADDLE, PUMP AND EASY-TO-PACK CARRY CASE. PHOTO: NATASHA BURNLEY
FRESH CATCH
HOBIE’S NEW INFLATABLE PADDLEBOARD GOES ANYWHERE EASILY
attach additonal bungees and tie downs. Add RAM Mount’s adhesive bases to in- stall rod holders, camera mounts and other accessories. EVA foam padding covers most of the deck to improve traction and reduce fatigue. Velcro loops in the bow, stern and on the deck are convenient handholds and provide more tie-down points. Skid plates on the bottom of the board resist abrasion so the angler can paddle over oyster bars, rocks and submerged timber with impunity. The board is built of puncture resistant fab- ric that repels fishhooks and other pointy objects. The whole package, including three- piece paddle, pump, patch kit and board comes in a carry case with backpack straps. Using the standard floor-pump, the board inflates in 15 to 20 minutes and deflates and packs away in less than five minutes.
In the short time that I had the Sports- man I found it an easy option for quick trips in skinny water. Grab the board, a box of tackle and the paddle and I was able to carry the Sportsman to isolated waters that would have required a long paddle in my kayak. Between trips, I packed the board away and it hardly made a dent in the ga- rage. Hobie’s Sportsman is a perfect fit for any angler looking to get on the water more often. RIC BURNLEY
FISH FRIENDLY FEATURES:
• Hi-Tech drop-stitch construction for extreme rigidity
• Three-chamber design improves stability and tracking
• Three high- pressure spring valves for quick, easy inflation
• Multiple D-rings and Bungee cords to lash down cargo
• S3 footplates improve rigidity and traction
• Built in carry handle
• Accepts RAM Mount adhesive bases
Hobie Inflatable SUP Sportsman SPECS
Length: Width:
Thickness: Volume: Weight:
10’9” 38”
5.75" 282 liters
In the Digital Editions this issue:
If you’re not also reading this on your desktop or device, here’s what you missed:
Johnson Outdoors pro Rob Choi shares secrets for spring fishing success (Spring Firsts, pg.38).
Take a spin in Old Town’s NEXT hybrid canoe/kayak (The Next Big Thing, pg.61).
Check out Hobie’s new Sportsman SUP (Pocket Sportsman, pg.64).
Get more kayak fishing skills, stories and news at
www.kayakanglermag.com.
www.kayakanglermag.com…69
PHOTO: BRENNAN WALTERS
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