Fishing kayaks exploded onto the angling scene about a decade ago, and the sheer number of innovations since then is tough to keep track of. You can rig one to your specific needs and desires, no limits. Ultimately, fishing consumers wanted a more affordable personal watercraft with all the same—or nearly the same— bells and whistles an angler demands on larger gas-powered fishing boats.
Recently, kayaks have become more angler-friendly putting the portable boats in high demand. What makes them “angler- friendly?” Largely, the ability to customize and personalize is a very attractive component, but more importantly being able to operate them hands-free is a key to catching and staying on fish.
Originally, and early in the fishing-kayak craze, a paddle was the primary source of propulsion. Fishing requires intentional multitasking and attention to many details, especially boat control. Being able to effectively wield a rod-and-reel, make bait changes, tie knots and accurately place casts is critical to kayak- angling success. Those requirements have spawned a number of electric-motor and pedal drive innovations worth the attention and investment of any serious kayak angler.
Some drive systems can be mounted on various kayaks, but many drives must be paired with their unique rotomolded counterpart. In other words, some boats are designed to be propelled with an exclusive drive system. Let’s dig in.
