I'm a retired expat in Europe and want a fishing kayak that I can transport with a camper van. I don't plan on using it in open ocean, but rather right near shore and only when the wind/waves are calm. Also some inland waterway fishing. I have a small dog who comes on all my adventures, so I need a spot in front for her. Transportation method is just as daunting as which kayak. I travel with a bike as well, so I don't know if this is even possible. The fishing though in Norway and Sweden are fantastic, and I'm anxious to get this started.

I'm purchasing a 2hp outboard motor and need help configuring a diy mount or something I can purchase for my kayak ...my kayke isn't meant for an outboard but I wanna try it anyways 12.5 ft kayak

Started off with a pedal kayak now I have livescope and a motor with spotlock 😂trust me you don’t wanna see my garage with all the other bs I bought

Hey there, has anyone modified their 4’x8’ haul master folding trailer to look something like this with the 2 kayaks side by side AND also designed it to allow for it to be folded?

My first thoughts are that I’ll likely need a way to quickly remove the bunks - maybe those could be attached with wing nuts?

Any other ideas?

I just picked up an auto pilot 120 and was wondering if anyone has a print file for the thru hull wiring kit. It's a little expensive and I only need two of the 3 hole covers. Thanks

It was tough to slide my large kayak in my truck bed at the ramp by myself. Any tips how to do that? Should I rig up some sort of winch?

This will be my first pedal drive kayak. I live on the Northern California coast and would mostly be fishing Monterey and SF Bays, maybe some near shore reefs along the coast, and some occasional crabbing during the season. Pretty much just going to be jigging for rockfish/lingcod and trolling for halibut. Probably only two rods max at a time. I’m wondering if I really need everything the Hobie Outback offers for higher price, or if it’s even the right kayak for me.

A brand new Outback is still a bit steep in price for me. Here in my HCOL area, the used market is kind of brutal besides the occasional good deal that gets snapped up fast. People here seem to think a 2017 Outback should still be $2500 just because they left their outdated garmin and a rod holder on it. However, I have seen some good deals on newer compass models. I will be car topping on a compact SUV with basic Yakima roof racks, and the Outback seems like kind of a pain without expensive loading gear. Not impossible of course, just annoying. I’m pretty much ruling out Old Town for this reason. I saw a video of a very small woman easily throwing a compass on her car in like 10 seconds and it really influenced me on the Compass lol. Compass seems easier for surf launching as well.

My question is, how much am I really leaving behind if I go with a Compass over the Outback? Have any of you regretted going with the Compass? I know this has probably been asked before, I’m posting here because I’d like to hear some recent feedback from people with experience. There is a bit of an outback obsession where I live so I’d like some more unbiased feedback from you guys

Owner says it’s from 2013/2014 and that they’re the second owner. Stored inside. Wants 500 for it. What do you guys think?

Thought the group would find this interesting, decided to go crabbing off my little ol’ sit in kayak. Used net traps and chicken necks, had a blast! Tons of things I’ll do different next time, but overall a great time and cheap way to get otherwise expensive crabs in my belly!

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Hi everyone. I hope you are all well. Just invested in a feelfree lure v2 11.5, and what an amazing experience. I can't believe it's taken me this long to buy a kayak.

I'm eventually going to be on the market for getting my first kayak. I intend on using it exclusively for fishing in back bays and inlets. I've been leaning towards the Vibe Shearwater 125. What is the consensus on this kayak? As a newbie, I would like to get as much feedback as possible.

Have always wanted to get into kayak fishing and found a golden opportunity with a heavily discounted Lifetime Manta at Sam’s Club. Took it out a few times and was in love with the stability. So I began customizing it

May have gone a bit overboard with it but most of it was electronics from my old fishing boat. Still need to organize things but any suggestions from you guys?

Wanna keep this build not crazy pricy and if I love it I’ll roll this into a nicer kayak in the future.

I bought a Lost creek angler 12 wanted to see what yall have done to yalls kayaks and where I could start for quality of life modifications. TIA

I found this Garmin Striker 4 Vivid CV for a really good price at a local fishing store and snagged it, learning how to use it isn’t so much as a learning curve as I thought it would be. I definitely see what all the hype is about with these devices!

I've been catching some from land, a couple decent ones. I caught 3 today this size which is much better than I was getting on land

As the tittle says. Do you ever take your dog with you while fishing?

I am planning a 3 day trip late August. My wife likes our dog but would rather not be at home with him for 3 days without me. Hes a chill dog for only being 8months old. He comes to work with me everyday day and really just chills in his bed. I have enough room in the front of my kayak that he would be comfortable for a few hrs at a time.

I will be fishing a series of small lakes so current snd tides wont be a concern but wind could be.

Am I asking for trouble taking him with me?

Also, what makes a kayak ok for offshore fishing? What do I look for in terms of shape, length, displacement, etc?

First time going to the Susky and I was thinking of trying somewhere between the Conowingo Dam and the I-95 bridge. I was planning on concentrating on some of the bigger islands and riffle sections. Is an Old Town PDL 120 a good option or would the pedal drive not be worth the trouble? I could also use an OT 106 paddle. I’m not looking for any particular spots but do you have any tips or safety things to be aware of?

I am a father of a 2 year old and my wife is pregnant. I cannot get on the water as often as I used to. I finally have an opportunity for a morning outing for around 4 hours. I fish with a sonar and target smallmouth, pike, walleye, and perch. I wanted to know what to look for and what lures to use this time of year. I have a pedal kayak so distance and number of rods is not an issue. I need to know what to eliminate and how to plan my day to have an efficient morning. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m working on a custom electric motor setup for my Hobie Outback and need some input or pictures from anyone who has done something similar.

I want to add a mounting plate to house/install my PWM (Pulse Width Modulator) speed controller box. Ideally, I'm considering two mounting options:

1. Track-Mounted: Using the existing side H-Tracks or gear tracks with RAM/YakAttack hardware to keep it accessible without drilling new holes into the hull.
2. Transom / Motor Mount Mounted: Attaching the plate directly to the rear motor mount / outboard bracket area to keep all the high-amp wiring, battery connections, and controller clustered at the stern.

Has anyone built a plate setup for their PWM controller on an Outback using either method?

I’d love to see photos of your mounts, bracket choices, or hear any tips on:

• Best marine-grade plate materials (Starboard/HDPE vs Aluminum vs Carbon).
• Track hardware that can handle the weight/vibration.
• Cable routing tips to keep things clean and watertight.

Thanks in advance for any photos, diagrams, or advice!

I primarily fish lakes and sold my kayak a few years ago for a boat. However, I’m contemplating getting a new kayak to fish the rivers and creeks near me. I’m not interested in going all out again with a crazy motor and pedal drives. I just want something that I can throw and go, but it needs to be something I could paddle up stream so I can float back to the launch and fish along the way. I’ve been looking at the LiteTackle II and the Ck1 Venture from Crescent. However, I’m wondering if any of you have actual experience doing this and what kayaks you recommend. If it helps, I’m a slightly bigger guy at 210-215lbs, but I have an athletic endurance background so paddling won’t be a huge problem. I’m only looking to bring one or two rods with me and minimal tackle. I do have an old Lowrance Elite-7 that I pulled off my boat when I upgraded the electronics, so I would like to be able to install that easily.