Having been lucky enough to fish from most brands of fishing kayaks in the last decade, I can easily say the unstoppable trend of pedal and electric-motor power is here to stay. But it’s a huge jump to plunge into pedal drives, electric motors and electronics if you’re just getting started.
For a non-kayaker, often a sit-inside model with a plain-old seat and heavy paddle is what comes to mind. That’s like thinking a Motorola flip phone is as far as cell phones have progressed. Enter the Magellan Outdoors Pro Pedal Drive Kayak (at just $1,199.99) that’s sold in Academy Sports stores and online.
With base models of most high-end pedal kayaks starting at $2,000 or more, I was able to test out the reasonably priced kayak in Florida’s lakes and saltwater shallows this winter to see how it compared to the market. What stood out to me about the roto-molded ’yak was my ability to sight fish and cast from its standing platform.
A Thoughtful Kayak Design
The ’yak starts upfront with an oversize hatch for storage. That’s where I placed my dry bag and PFD (when I wasn’t wearing it). Throughout the boat, different accessory rails allow you to add options such as rod holders or mounts for electronics. Where your legs rest is room to stand up and fish. If you’d rather sit, use the area to spread out tackle you want within easy reach.
For propulsion, a lightweight pedal drive sits in between your legs. Pedal it like a bicycle. When you want to remove the drive, it’s as simple as undoing two pressure points on the bracket, lifting the drive straight out of the water using the top handle, and then laying the drive in a purposeful pre-molded spot that has a bungee cord to keep it in place. There isn’t much give if the drive were to run aground, so be careful.
Back in the stern, there’s a rear tank well where I bungeed down an old-school milk crate. That’s where I put most of my gear, although there’s a smaller hatch with a circular lid in the well, too. Two built-in rod holders come standard with the kayak. The steerable rudder is easy to deploy and retract with the help of two cords that run underneath the elevated seat.
The Kayak Seat Matters
When it comes to kayak fishing, the seat really matters. A good seat means fewer backaches, while a bad seat means your spine and tailbone could be sore for a week. The Pro Pedal Kayak seat has a strong and supportive structure to it, what I like to describe as similar to a beach chair. Plus, it’s elevated so anglers can store gear underneath. I put a dry box and tackle tray underneath mine.
The chair sits on rails, which allows it to easily fold forward or even be removed. Not so important on the water, but when traveling on the road, being able to quickly remove a seat while loading is a big plus. The seat is adjustable to move forward or back, higher or lower, depending on your comfort level. Make sure your legs can reach the adjustable foot pegs and pedal drive.
Behind the chair, it’s easy to reach your gear. Multiple tackle storage slots hold even more tackle trays that don’t fit under the seat. Looking forward again, within arm’s reach left or right, is where to mount the steering knob for the rudder. The knob mounts to an accessory rail, so place it in a spot that works best for you.
A Kayak Ready to Modify
At 88 pounds, with a width of 35 inches and length of 10 feet, 6 inches, Magellan’s Pro Pedal Drive Kayak is manageable without a trailer. Toss it in the back of your truck or on top of a roof rack. Max weight capacity is 400 pounds. Molded-in handles make for convenient transportation, especially if you have a fellow angler to help out.
Truly lightweight kayaks tend not to be great sight fishing platforms or can get tossed around in open waters. I didn’t feel like the wind was going to blow me away in this rig. There were a couple of times when I felt like the standard rudder and drive were a bit under-gunned, so that’s when I would pull out the paddle to help with maneuverability.
If you make the jump to an electric motor, Magellan has you covered with a vessel number, manufacturer statement of origin, bill of sale, and rigging mount ready for a bracket and electric motor. That’s the perks of buying new; less hassle at the DMV. Plus, the Pro Pedal Drive Kayak is transducer ready.
Fishing In the Backwaters
The days I went fishing were cloudy and cool. Florida shallow-water sight fishing is my favorite style of angling, but wintertime conditions had me exploring mostly mud-bottom backwaters looking for reds and trout. The deep holes on the coldest days held fish. I used a stake-out pole to anchor in positions near shoreline edges.
On one trip, I fished a local freshwater lake, standing and casting while drifting shorelines to catch fun-size largemouths. While bass seem to bite just about everything in northern states, I always find that Florida bass can’t resist a swimming worm rigged with a bit of weight. I used the pedal drive to get around docks and islands effortlessly, but heading into the wind I got a bit of spray.
Fishing in lakes much deeper than Florida has to offer seems like a completely reasonable option. No doubt, there’s an angler out there right now fishing this kayak with a trolling motor and fishfinder, absolutely slaying the bass and crappies in 30 feet. It’s a pick-your-own-adventure in today’s kayak world, and many are blazing their own trails when it comes to modifications, rigging and fishing style.
