Hobie Outback Mirage Fishing Kayak

[Grampa Spey]

Has anyone tried or owned the Hobie Outback Mirage Fishing Kayak?

I have been seriously thinking about buying one of these for about 2 years. In between our New Year Flood and the early spring floods two years ago, I was casting for stripers at our local river. The river was high and unwadeable.

A young guy with a Switch rod and one of the Mirage Outbacks brought his Mirage Kayak upstream across the river just below the entrance of Napa Creek into the Napa River with the foot pedals. He got about 50' below the entrance of the creek where a big hole exists and stripers get in the hole and wait for a quick meal to float downstream into the hole.

After a few casts, he hooked into a very large striper and both went downstream.

I never got to talk to him, but that was an ephinany moment.

As I get older, the less I enjoy taking my jon boat out to fish by myself. Also, fish get very wary with the sound waves and pressure waves that even a small jon boat put out. These SOT Kayaks don't seem to bother the fish.

However, the guys with just paddle power seem too busy paddling to cast fly rods. The Mirage Kayaks enable them to guide their Kayaks with a little lever and be able to cast their rods.

Also, they seem to be able to go upstream with these Mirages without a lot of paddling and can come downstream with their paddles or the Mirage system.

I would fish from the Kayak with my Switch Rods and use my Spey rods on isolated spots on rivers where I can beach the Kayaks.

So is there any experience with the Hobie Outback Mirage Fishing Kayaks, good or bad?

[Tie-Dye-Fly-Guy]

i have had one for 4 years now and absolutely love it. the pedal system has completely expanded my fishing range here on atlantic shore line. the outback is the fattest one with most primary stbility and plenty of room to store stuff. here on the east coast they are quickly replacing traditional yaks for fishing. larger muscle groups mean less fatigue and i assure you the pedal system is quite strong and impervious to most neglect, only problem was with housing molded scupper for pedal system caracked sometimes in first production year. i know hobie was good with warranty to original buyer to replace whole hull with the improved model. id just be careful with second hand buy of original series hull. too much to say to give you specifics so i have included two sights of easter kayakers and their reviews and specific inputs. best boat for the utility and money that i know of. has saved me from buying center console to chase the fall migration here on the easter sea board. i only uyse the paddle to get far away from shore enough to drop the pedals and go.

sites are reel-time.com, new england kayak fishing (google for site)

good luck with your research

[Grampa Spey]

Originally Posted by Tie-Dye-Fly-Guy

i have had one for 4 years now and absolutely love it. the pedal system has completely expanded my fishing range here on atlantic shore line. the outback is the fattest one with most primary stbility and plenty of room to store stuff. here on the east coast they are quickly replacing traditional yaks for fishing. larger muscle groups mean less fatigue and i assure you the pedal system is quite strong and impervious to most neglect, only problem was with housing molded scupper for pedal system caracked sometimes in first production year. i know hobie was good with warranty to original buyer to replace whole hull with the improved model. id just be careful with second hand buy of original series hull. too much to say to give you specifics so i have included two sights of easter kayakers and their reviews and specific inputs. best boat for the utility and money that i know of. has saved me from buying center console to chase the fall migration here on the easter sea board. i only uyse the paddle to get far away from shore enough to drop the pedals and go.

sites are reel-time.com, new england kayak fishing (google for site)

good luck with your research

That is an excellent testimonial.

What rods do you use with your Mirage Outback?

How do you haul it around with your vehicle?

Thanks
Dave

[Tie-Dye-Fly-Guy]

i have thule j style side mounts which work great. yak has two or three built in rod holders for spinning rods which i dont use. i put a scotty fly rod holder in on starbord side in front of paddle range and that has worked really well. most guys put a milk crate in recessed area just behind seat and then attach rod holders to the milk crate. i dont do that but i do have a cooler back there for provisions that fits nicely. you cant help but want to drink and drive with this yak peddle set up. i also have put in hummingbird ff with through hull transducer that works great and also a sea anchor, real anchor line that goes around whole hull. sea anchor is great because it can set you up for down wind cast off good side and minimize slack associated with drift and fly casting. real anchor is simply for transportation from one rocky or sandy area. it is a great yak to fish from, but even better taxi to the marshes, sand bars and flats edges and rips without ever worry of being stranded or wandering too far on incoming tide. the thing is heavier than most yaks no doubt, especially with all the crap on it but i use the back trolley wheels most of the time as i fish solo alot. can also bungee the wheels on to back.

things to do and not do;

do get life jacket
do wear life jacket
whistle
headlamp/flashlight
compass


dont: forget to screw drain plug in when go out
dont even try to untangle fly from rudder in back if droopy back cast or drift gets it caught, you will so capsize so easily trying. youll be fine but your gear will join davy jones locker and that sucks.

[Subtropicalspey]

I have had a Hobie Outbacker Fisherman kayak for two years now and I can't say enough good things about it. I sometimes fish with my Sage 8110 switch rod in it while bonefishing on the saltwater flats of Biscayne Bay Florida. I also fish canals and lakes in it. Recently I bought an outrigger from Spring Creek inc. and this allows me to stand up in it and cast. Yakima makes excellent roof mounts for cars if you need that. With this kayak you do get excellent stealth although there are times when wave action is up that it give a slapping sound from the waves hitting it. Another problem is all the envy it excites in other fishermen, sometimes from those with super expensive boats.

With regard to a leader tangled in the rudder, just momentarily lifting the rudder with the rudder handle often releases the fly and leader.

[Grampa Spey]

Thanks again with your excellent real life info.

Originally Posted by Tie-Dye-Fly-Guy

i have thule j style side mounts which work great. yak has two or three built in rod holders for spinning rods which i dont use. i put a scotty fly rod holder in on starbord side in front of paddle range and that has worked really well. most guys put a milk crate in recessed area just behind seat and then attach rod holders to the milk crate. i dont do that but i do have a cooler back there for provisions that fits nicely. you cant help but want to drink and drive with this yak peddle set up. i also have put in hummingbird ff with through hull transducer that works great and also a sea anchor, real anchor line that goes around whole hull. sea anchor is great because it can set you up for down wind cast off good side and minimize slack associated with drift and fly casting. real anchor is simply for transportation from one rocky or sandy area. it is a great yak to fish from, but even better taxi to the marshes, sand bars and flats edges and rips without ever worry of being stranded or wandering too far on incoming tide. the thing is heavier than most yaks no doubt, especially with all the crap on it but i use the back trolley wheels most of the time as i fish solo alot. can also bungee the wheels on to back.

things to do and not do;

do get life jacket
do wear life jacket
whistle
headlamp/flashlight
compass


dont: forget to screw drain plug in when go out
dont even try to untangle fly from rudder in back if droopy back cast or drift gets it caught, you will so capsize so easily trying. youll be fine but your gear will join davy jones locker and that sucks.

[Grampa Spey]

So, your 11' Switch rod isn't too long to bring those on speed fish in your area?

I have a Honda Ridgeline, and if I can get it into the short truck bed and maybe mounted on the rear with Cabella's trailer hitch, canoe/kayak holder, I may go that way. If it doesn't work, I have to find a cross bar attachment that will fit across the rear roof of the Ridgeline and then use the Cabela's trailer hitch, canoe/kayak holder folded up at the right angle to hold the rear of the yak.

Do you have the standard yak rollers to move it across the beachs or the one with the really big tires.

My wife and I went to our local west coast beach yesterday, Bodega Bay, Doran Beach on the calm ocean side. I would have had to roll or lug a yak well over a hundred yards of sand to get even close to beach water. The standard narrow tires on the Hobie Yak Roller might not have worked. My wife being a wise wife re seizing opportunities said that I could load up the yak with her chair, blanket, and cooler and haul her gear to and from the Ridgeline.

If you have picture of your yak with the Scotty fly rod holder and your rod in the holder, I would appreciate seeing it.

Thanks again. The info I have gotten from this thread will save me a lot of misery and trying to figure out what to do.

Originally Posted by Tie-Dye-Fly-Guy

i have thule j style side mounts which work great. yak has two or three built in rod holders for spinning rods which i dont use. i put a scotty fly rod holder in on starbord side in front of paddle range and that has worked really well. most guys put a milk crate in recessed area just behind seat and then attach rod holders to the milk crate. i dont do that but i do have a cooler back there for provisions that fits nicely. you cant help but want to drink and drive with this yak peddle set up. i also have put in hummingbird ff with through hull transducer that works great and also a sea anchor, real anchor line that goes around whole hull. sea anchor is great because it can set you up for down wind cast off good side and minimize slack associated with drift and fly casting. real anchor is simply for transportation from one rocky or sandy area. it is a great yak to fish from, but even better taxi to the marshes, sand bars and flats edges and rips without ever worry of being stranded or wandering too far on incoming tide. the thing is heavier than most yaks no doubt, especially with all the crap on it but i use the back trolley wheels most of the time as i fish solo alot. can also bungee the wheels on to back.

things to do and not do;

do get life jacket
do wear life jacket
whistle
headlamp/flashlight
compass


dont: forget to screw drain plug in when go out
dont even try to untangle fly from rudder in back if droopy back cast or drift gets it caught, you will so capsize so easily trying. youll be fine but your gear will join davy jones locker and that sucks.

Originally Posted by Subtropicalspey

I have had a Hobie Outbacker Fisherman kayak for two years now and I can't say enough good things about it. I sometimes fish with my Sage 8110 switch rod in it while bonefishing on the saltwater flats of Biscayne Bay Florida. I also fish canals and lakes in it. Recently I bought an outrigger from Spring Creek inc. and this allows me to stand up in it and cast. Yakima makes excellent roof mounts for cars if you need that. With this kayak you do get excellent stealth although there are times when wave action is up that it give a slapping sound from the waves hitting it. Another problem is all the envy it excites in other fishermen, sometimes from those with super expensive boats.

With regard to a leader tangled in the rudder, just momentarily lifting the rudder with the rudder handle often releases the fly and leader.

[Subtropicalspey]

For a rod holder I bought the stainless steel flyrod rigger from Blue Water Designs, http://www.bluewaternet.com/products.html#flyfishing. I really like it and it can be removed quickly and re-positioned on the opposite side of the kayak when you need to change your direction of cast and it would be in you way.

I bought the large soft tires for use on the beach. Without them, you have to drag your kayak to the surf.

I sometimes go out for half a day or more, so to avoid a tired bottom I got gel seat pads from Skwoosh, Inc., http://www.skwoosh.com/

[Scott Thornley]

Originally Posted by Grampa Spey

Has anyone tried or owned the Hobie Outback Mirage Fishing Kayak?

I apologize for dredging this topic up from the archives, but it came up when looking for information on using switch rods from kayaks.

Grampa Spey - you might want to check out the NorCal Kayak Anglers forum. There's even a fly fishing subsection that even shows occasional signs of life. There are many dozens, if not hundreds of folks using Hobie Mirage kayaks of various models (Outback, Revolution, Adventure)

As for using a Switch rod with two handed casting techniques on a kayak, I think, though am not sure, that it might be a little easier than trying to shoot line while in a Sit on Top (SOT) kayak. I know that I tend to get the line hung up on every little thing in my SOT, While I have no issue when in my Sit Inside Kayak (SIK) using a spray skirt that covers everything nicely.

There's at least double the amount of objects you could tangle shooting line on in a Hobie than on a standard, paddle type SOT.

Scott

[ibboone]

I have fished out of a kayak for about 3 years and since I have started spey fishing I carry my spey rod with me anchor the yak get out and wade fish. I don't beach the yak because the land that I am near is posted. I just recently got me a switch rod and can't wait to get out and give it a try from the kayak.

Do you'll over head cast of do you do spey cast with the switch rod from the yak?



Dan

[Grampa Spey]

Thanks for the input.

As we all know, our fly lines will/can snag on anything that is around us.

I have some friends, who are my age, 70ish, and long time kayakers, and they have gone to the sot kayaks to be able to get back on the kayak if they take a spill.

The pedal kayaks are often recommended by PTs and orthopods for those of us with bad knees and who have had knee surgery. I will be 8 weeks post op on the 13th. Recovery in the past weeks has been excellent. However, I need to keep that knee moving by walking or doing some exercises while sitting to keep it limber. The unoperated knee may be even worse with inactivity. I might not be able to get out of a SIS kayak if I was in it an hour or more.

What I may do is use an evil short spinning rod while in the water and have a switch rod handy to anchor and cast from the kayak or get out and cast.

I will be discussing this with my ortho pod on the 13th of this month during my eight week post op appt..

Thanks for your input.

Originally Posted by Scott Thornley

I apologize for dredging this topic up from the archives, but it came up when looking for information on using switch rods from kayaks.

Grampa Spey - you might want to check out the NorCal Kayak Anglers forum. There's even a fly fishing subsection that even shows occasional signs of life. There are many dozens, if not hundreds of folks using Hobie Mirage kayaks of various models (Outback, Revolution, Adventure)

As for using a Switch rod with two handed casting techniques on a kayak, I think, though am not sure, that it might be a little easier than trying to shoot line while in a Sit on Top (SOT) kayak. I know that I tend to get the line hung up on every little thing in my SOT, While I have no issue when in my Sit Inside Kayak (SIK) using a spray skirt that covers everything nicely.

There's at least double the amount of objects you could tangle shooting line on in a Hobie than on a standard, paddle type SOT.

Scott

[Grampa Spey]

I don't own a kayak and haven't tried a switch rod from a kayak, but my switch rods work very well while sitting in a drift boat floating down stream.

My Z7110 can easily roll cast 40 to 50' of line and leader/tippet up stream and allows easy control by mending. In a drift boat or any boat if I'm in the rear seat, I can roll cast, Perry Poke and Overhead cast with any of my switch rods.

Who knows what will happen if and when I get a kayak. I may do what you do re stopping, getting out and casting.

Originally Posted by ibboone

I have fished out of a kayak for about 3 years and since I have started spey fishing I carry my spey rod with me anchor the yak get out and wade fish. I don't beach the yak because the land that I am near is posted. I just recently got me a switch rod and can't wait to get out and give it a try from the kayak.

Do you'll over head cast of do you do spey cast with the switch rod from the yak?



Dan

[gldr1]

Gents,

A very interesting thread, wetted my appetite. What does one wear when using one of these craft? Waders would seem dicy in an upset.

GT

[Bill_I]

Grandpa Spey,

You mentioned "your getting older". Don't buy a kayak to fly fish from!

I have 3 fully rigged for fly fishing s.o.t. kayaks. Prior to that sit in's. I have been involved in Kayak fly fishing from the start about 10 years ago. Even guided out of them with special tag.

Kayaks (pedal or paddle) for flyfishing do two things well. 1) Are fasts transport down a river or creek to use for wade fishing. Much beter/faster BTW than those one person pontoon craft. 2) Paddle troll flies (don't knock it till you try it....awesome!) effeciantly & effectively........like no other.

They all suck for sitting on your butt attempting to cast & flyfish. Much better at that for the spin guys plus, it's a young in shape mans / womens game doing that........pedals or paddles.

I do think you would enjoy paddle trolling flies for those stripers. If so, a 9 1/2' foot rod is prefered over a longer. It offers the length needed to get out away from the paddle in troll mode yet, aloows you to land fish yak side. You will have one HECK of a time attempting to land a Striper yak side in water with a longer rod and likely will bust the rod.

Stick with your jon boat or get a kayak for paddle trolling flies or prepare to use spin gear while fishing from your butt. I prefer sit on tops and like Ocean Kayaks If your loading and un-loading it yourself a fat (wide0 little 11'er like the Ocean Kayak Caper is much easier for old grunts to rack and un-rack than a 14'er. The 14'er will be faster in water however. It's easy to flycast with paddle in lap, it's just not enjoyable to cast and strip from that position long regardless of paddle or pedal. Paddle trolling flies is lots of fun however and very effective .......and nothing of paddle/oar design will transport flyfisherman down river fast like a kayak .......while the single person potoons are getting blown around with the slightest breeze and moving at snail speed to the next good section......kayaks fly buy them