Choosing a Pedal vs Paddle Kayak
Choosing a Pedal vs Paddle Kayak
When choosing your next fishing kayak-or your first-you should consider whether the pedal-driven foot propulsion system is right for you and your budget; this way, if the weather is bad, you can reach your honey hole faster and leave the lake or ocean quickly/effectively. A fishing kayak with a pedal drive option will be better than one that just provides a paddle, but there are definitely some affordable options for advanced professional fishing kayaks.
The pedal drive is usually easy to get into your fishing kayak and lock the position. The difference between the various pedal drives on the market is the way they are propelled in the water: either use "fins" to cut underwater weeds, which are strong but lightweight and can enter very shallow waters. The boat itself is heavier and more likely to be entangled by underwater plants.
Beyond the question of what kind of pedal drive is available, then whether you should upgrade your fishing kayak experience pedal drive or simply use a paddle is all you need to have fun, hook up, and cover the corners of your favorite water.
Do you use a pedal or paddle when fishing kayak? What works best for you?
Pedal
Advantage
(1) Speed and efficiency-For most kayak anglers, it is very important to reach as many fishing locations as possible within a limited time.
(2) Freehand control-using the correct position of the paddle on the water for your fishing kayak is often a challenge, even if there is no wind or current. Use the pedal drive system to control the position of your kayak more easily, you only need to use your legs, and occasionally you can use the tiller on the side of the kayak to adjust the rudder.
Disadvantage
Just like dealing with anything, sometimes you have to deal with something. For pedal drive, because the propulsion system is under the kayak, you need to make sure you have a certain amount of underwater clearance so that you will not "ground out". Fin propulsion drives have greater clearance than most propeller drives, so you can enter fairly shallow waters, but they also require space under the kayak to operate. You can always pull up the drives, or use fins to "flat" them, but if you just use paddles, you can enter very shallow waters without so much trouble.
Paddle
Advantage
(1) Price-Using a paddle is simply cheaper than buying a pedal-driven propulsion system for your fishing kayak.
(2) Simpler-on the water, it may be slower to go around it with only a paddle, but for some anglers, paddling is just a more traditional way.
Disadvantage
(1) Less control-you can't easily control your fishing kayak with only oars, taking into account wind or current. If you need to adjust your position, gripping and paddling will become more difficult.
(2) The water speed is slower-if there is sudden bad weather, or if you need or want to go faster, the stroke will be slower than the pedal or motor.
Whether you equip your fishing kayak with a pedal-driven propulsion system or insist on using paddles, either way, you will have a wonderful time fishing and on the water.
