Tournaments and Trolling Motors

Like a " Ol timer's " category. 

A note from your doctor ?

Alex

Of course there are advantages to many of the things we use while kayak fishing. Simply fishing tries to level the playing field. Youth, strength, skill, local knowledge, money and free time all give an advantage, but it is impossible to level the playing field 100%. I don't know enough about trolling motors to say if they would extend my range beyond that of a young strong skilled Hobie kayaker. I do know that a pedal kayak can do things that are impossible in a paddle kayak. So, is the problem a kayak purest thing or excessive advantage?

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

+1.

FWIW, in 2014 we made a whole separate AOTY category and leaderboard for Sails...in 3 years only 2 people have entered any fish lol.

I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes it might seem like a good idea to make another category/division to an existing tourney, but sometimes it is more work than it's worth.....

I'm off to get a drink and start my vacation!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

+1.

FWIW, in 2014 we made a whole separate AOTY category and leaderboard for Sails...in 3 years only 2 people have entered any fish lol.

I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes it might seem like a good idea to make another category/division to an existing tourney, but sometimes it is more work than it's worth.....

I'm off to get a drink and start my vacation!

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Very good points on both.

Of course there are advantages to many of the things we use while kayak fishing. Simply fishing tries to level the playing field. Youth, strength, skill, local knowledge, money and free time all give an advantage, but it is impossible to level the playing field 100%. I don't know enough about trolling motors to say if they would extend my range beyond that of a young strong skilled Hobie kayaker. I do know that a pedal kayak can do things that are impossible in a paddle kayak. So, is the problem a kayak purest thing or excessive advantage?

   Very well said...     If it's competition of course I think the decision to allow motors / sails etc  becomes a rule, decided by the organizer.         
      I still get plenty of work-out moto-paddling.   It greatly increases the battery life/ range.  A 30 mile estimated range cruising at 3.5    That's on the smaller Torqeedo battery.   Besides,,, using my motor  prevents me from taking an advil.   

  Pedaling,,,   I'm a believer now.  The legs have it. And,,, with the new Raptor G2 you can do both simultaneously.!!!     ( Cheap Ad... LOL )      Still requires an expensive mechanical device.. 600 for a mirage drive, vs,,,, $200 for a MinnKota.
They both breakdown.    Paddling is simple, traditional kayaking.  It's bomb-proof by design in comparison.

   I'm just into the fishing,, not tournament kinda fisherman.  Just love getting out on the water, sinking it into a big fish. The scenery, the wind, salt spray in your face. That's what it's about.  The tournaments are just an excuse. 

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

That would be interesting for someone to have a tourney like that to see what type of participation or suggestions might arise from people who would consider this.

That would be a great task for you Ken. I would consider helping if you needed. You could start it off as just a chill with just simple recognition for the winners. 

Alex

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

It's not so much that I want one. It just seems that the writing is on the wall, even if it is still a little faint. Compare a base pickup today to one from 1936. Everything has to be bigger, better and more powerful than last year's model. Wilderness is building in electric motors. How long until everyone does. That doesn't mean we have to change the rules, but it will soon be time to at least consider what our position will be. As anyone that fished the Fresh Kats series knows, I don't fish tournaments to win. OK, I did like winning all those fish finders. Culture is often slow to change. People with an obvious advantage over paddlers might scream bloody murder if they think someone is going to get an advantage over them. It's just human nature. The topic of motorized kayaks is something I've been looking into lately. It's not something I'm pushing to change.

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

That would be interesting for someone to have a tourney like that to see what type of participation or suggestions might arise from people who would consider this.

That would be a great task for you Ken. I would consider helping if you needed. You could start it off as just a chill with just simple recognition for the winners. 

Alex

I'm just getting started on getting my own trolling motor. Maybe we could do an invite for an Anchor Bay FNC next year and hope the conditions are better than the one I tried to do in November. 

I was curious and raced my brother in my AI while he was in my Predator XL with trolling motor, it wasn't even close. I blew him out of the water half assed pedaling while the motor was running at full speed.

I don't really see the predator XL having any advantage over pedal yaks. Maybe over the non-mirage drive ones? From my understanding the Mirage is much faster than the propeller pedals, but I have not used the new propeller pedals.

Kayak mounted 40# thrust motors on the other hand, yeah maybe.

None of this is me saying they should be allowed. Just my experience with them so far. Advantage wise, I feel my AI with one outrigger gives me much more of an advantage than nearly anything except an AI + trolling motor.

Until something breaks.

If you want a kayak fishing tournament that allows kayaks with electric and/or gas motors, put one together. If it's successful, others will follow suit.

There's a couple guys up here that regularly use motors and in sure those who do use motors on a regular basis would appreciate the opportunity to use them in a tournament.

Handicap systems seem unnecessarily over complicated.

That would be interesting for someone to have a tourney like that to see what type of participation or suggestions might arise from people who would consider this.

That would be a great task for you Ken. I would consider helping if you needed. You could start it off as just a chill with just simple recognition for the winners. 

Alex

I'm just getting started on getting my own trolling motor. Maybe we could do an invite for an Anchor Bay FNC next year and hope the conditions are better than the one I tried to do in November. 

I am all in Ken. Needs to be a little closer to Monterey though. 

Alex

All out! balls out! anything goes "KAYAK" fishing tourney in late spring at Bullards bar or Rollins? Gas, electric, sail, stand up board.... 2 day... camp at lake or Weimar compound... Who would be into something like that? pre check for live bait  (not allowed) Worms ok.... Biggest fish 3 categories. Pot split 3 ways 3 fish each species could win 1 angler all 3 pots... Interest???

I was offered the new Helix MD from Wilderness for free and I turned it down. Told them to give it to someone else on the team.

Definite advantage to "hands free" propulsion in my opinion.  However, would like to know whether the majority of tournament winners paddle or propel.   

Well, since you asked........I paddle!

2014 GS8 1st Place AOTD
2014 Trinidad Rockfish Wars 1st Place--- Teamed w/ATD
2014 AOTY 3rd Place-Again
2013 AOTY 3rd place
2012 Berryessa Salmon Slam  1st Place
2012 Sonoma Slam 1st Place---Teamed w/ATD
2012 TRW 2 1st Place----Teamed w/ATD
2012 PIF Big Salmon Winner
2012 Fresh Kats Series Champion
2012-13-14 Team NCKA Kayak Wars 1st Place Team Overall