FRESH CATCH
HOBIE’S MOST POPULAR MODEL GETS A MODERN UPGRADE WITH NEW
PROPULSION AND SEATING SYSTEMS. PHOTO: JAMESON REDDING
FISH FRIENDLY FEATURES: PRIMPING THE PROM QUEEN
Hobie’s redesigned Mirage Outback makes a great boat even greater [S P LAS H]
I was supposed to be covering the Hobie Bass Open on Kentucky Lake, but I was really itching to fish for bluegrass bucketmouths in the redesigned Hobie Mirage Outback. As soon as I found an unattended boat lying seductively on the lakeshore, I grabbed it and pedaled out for a joy ride. The original Outback started the pedal- powered fishing craze and the utilitarian workhorse is still Hobie’s bestseller. After 15 years, the Outback was due for a modern makeover. The angler-friendly boat retains a seaworthy hull that is easy to transport and store. Hobie repowered the new Outback with a peppy ST MirageDrive Glide that replaces bushings with bearings to reduce friction and increase efficiency. I put the pedals to the plastic and sped away from the crime scene to find some fish and escape any whistleblowers.
Once I was out of sight, I noticed that most of the upgrades occured on the topside. First, Hobie flattened the floor for more standing room. Then, they added mounts for an H-Rail stand-assist bar. The combination makes the stable Outback even easier to stand and fish. Even without the bar, The Outback's stability let me stand up,
66…KAYAK ANGLER
fish, turn around and pedal one-footed. You could even do a celebratory dance after a big catch.
Sitting down is easy, too. Hobie outfitted the new Outback with its innovative Vantage CT seating system. I was able to lift the seat three inches, lower it to the deck, recline and lean forward without getting out of the kayak. The Vantage CT can even be folded up and moved out of the way or removed for use as a camp chair. A Boa steel lace cable system in the back adjusts lumbar support for long days in the saddle.
Hobie also added more storage. I loaded my essential lures in the eight-inch tackle hatch between my legs. Mesh pockets on either side of the cockpit kept my tools and phone in reach but out of the way. The rear cargo area is designed to accept Hobie's new H-Crate or Hobie Livewell. The Outback can even be outfitted with a sail kit. When I got into a hot topwater bite on big bass, my hooting and hollering attracted attention. Before anyone asked questions about where I snagged the new Mirage Outback, I pedaled on to find more fish. I wasn’t about to give myself up! BEN DUCHESNEY
• Four molded-in rod holders
• Twist and stow rudder system
• Vantage CT seating system
• New ST
MirageDrive with Glide technology
Hobie Mirage Outback SPECS
Length: Width:
Capacity:
12'1" 33”
400 lbs
Fitted Hull Weight: 81 lbs Fully Rigged: Material:
Price:
www.hobiefishing.com 99 lbs
Rotomolded polyethylene
$2,299
DIGITAL EXTRA: Take a walk through the latest feature upgrades on the new Mirage Outback at
Rapidmedia.com/0441 or get the digital ver- sion of Kayak Angler on your desktop or device.
• Big bow hatch for oversized gear
• Large rear cargo area
• Mesh storage pockets
• Twist and Seal tackle hatch
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