TexasKayakFisherman.com est. 2000

[RubenAlonzo]

Greetings fellow Texas, I hope to purchase my first kayak here come the fall and am looking at something like a Hobie. I was also wondering about the Classic Accessories Colorado XT pontoon, and was wondering how hard, or even if it is feasible to install the Hobie Mirage Drive onto the front? Anyone have thoughts on if this is a dumb idea or maybe it may be worth it to try?

The reason I am looking at a pontoon is the added stability factor, that's all. But I do not want to install a trolley motor or any motor of any sort on the pontoon or Hobie as that means getting insurance and registration etc. on it right? My budget went up from about $500 originally for a kayak to now about $1200, and this would be all in, including a PDF and/or Paddle.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Ron Mc]

first question is always where do you plan to fish

Most salt fishing is decided by the wind. Low fast boats shine if you have to travel distance and want to fish when you get there no matter what.
Folks like Tombo, who live there, can pick and choose less than 10-kt-wind days, where they find a pontoon the perfect platform - but also have a back-up low and fast kayak to handle the windy days.
Think I'd be looking at Hobie Outback for all-around the coast.

[Tombo]

One of the biggest concerns with first timers is stability. Stable equals slower for the most part. Pontoons also get in the way paddling, fishing, launching ect. I second the recommendation for getting the outback, newest design. I know folks that can stand up in this kayak.

[RubenAlonzo]

Thank you for the reply's, my wife bought me the Classic Accessories Colorado pontoon. I get it here in the next couple of days and am super exited. My first water craft to go fishing. I plan to use it on Lake Casa Blanca here in Laredo and am looking to join a group of like minded folks that I can learn from.

I am a total noob when it comes to fishing, I mean the real-deal Holyfield kind of noob. But i'm watching alot of videos and reading a bunch of reviews and trying to learn as much as I can.

[Tombo]

Go fishing, you got the craft so get out there and get some time on the water. You might change your mind about the pontoon or maybe not.
I have two kayaks, one is a Hobie Revolution 13 and the other is a Bluesky 360. I use the Bluesky when wind is low and the Hobie the rest of the time.

[Ron Mc]

Certainly a lot of people fish these on small stillwater bodies, ponds, small natural lakes and impoundments. But keep them away from big wind on big lakes - and keep them far away from coast wind.
They're primarily made for floating rivers.

a good place to take a boat like that is the Guadalupe tailwater in winter.
There are several good livery companies along River Road - you launch on their upper property and they pick you up on their lower.
Also choice to pack up and ship to Alaska to float the Kenai, et. al.
and of course many tailwaters in the Rockies, Arkansas, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/50-Best-Tailwate ... 193922604X
Closer to home you could float the Devil's R., and of course that needs arrangement for access.

[impulse]

Thank you for the reply's, my wife bought me the Classic Accessories Colorado pontoon. I get it here in the next couple of days and am super exited. My first water craft to go fishing. I plan to use it on Lake Casa Blanca here in Laredo and am looking to join a group of like minded folks that I can learn from.

I am a total noob when it comes to fishing, I mean the real-deal Holyfield kind of noob. But i'm watching alot of videos and reading a bunch of reviews and trying to learn as much as I can.

Make sure you keep the paperwork in case you want to register the boat if you put even an electric trolling motor on it. Dollars to donuts you'll eventually want to put a troller on it to extend your range and make casting more efficient by not having to work the oars.

Inflatable pontoons like that don't get the respect they deserve in Texas. Back in Colorado and Wyoming, I used mine to fish the rivers, and tiny to huge reservoirs. I also used it to good effect fishing bass on Lake Conroe. The best part was easy storage, easy stowage, no trailer, and it took up just a small portion of a closet between trips.

[Ron Mc]

...
Make sure you keep the paperwork in case you want to register the boat if you put even an electric trolling motor on it. ...

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