Minnesota Kayak Fishing On Non-Motorized Twin Cities MN Lakes

Tim Lesmeister Teaches Hi Tempo's Sheri P. (background) how to catch Lake Harriet Bass

Thursday July, 25, 2009
What a day! The sun was bright, the temperature was moderate and little to no wind. We loaded up 4 Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks, our fishing gear and headed for Lake Harriet in Minneapolis to meet Outdoors Expert Tim Lesmeister to do so some Kayak Fishing. We know Hobie Kayaks and Tim Lesmeister knows fishing. Hi Tempo worked with Tim to put together a decked out Hobie Outback Fish Kayak for his use. His rig is equipped with sonar, GPS, rod holders and ample storage for gear and tackle.

Hi Tempo Owner Brad Nelson Hooks In To A Lake Harriet Bass

It didn’t take long and Tim had us on some nice Lake Harriet Bass. He knew the Lake, the strike zone and the Hobie Pedal Kayaks were perfect for fishing this non-motorized twin cities fishing lake. I fished from the Hobie Pro Angler for half a day and thoroughly enjoyed the spacious, stable comfort. I could stand up and cast from it ease and confidence.

We’ll be posting a full  photo gallery from our outing with the fish master Tim Lesmeister soon. Stop by our website or our store to see the best in Minnesota Kayaks from Hobie, CLICK HERE.

Minnesota Kayaking Is Exploding In Popularity

According to a recent St. Paul Pioneer Press article Kayak registrations in Minnesota have grown 331 percent since 1999. The article was written by Chris Niskanen and featured an outing to Square Lake with Hi Tempo’s Jack Zweber to give the author a hands-on (or feet on) experience with Hobie’s exclusive pedaling kayaks.

The outing became an “aha” moment for the author. Here’s how Niskanen described the experience:

“Zweber and I were on Square Lake in northern Washington County, testing a pair of Hobies on a fishing trip. Zweber paddled — I mean pedaled — across the lake to a weedy bay, tossed a spinnerbait into the water and quickly landed two northern pike.

A small craft that is easy to propel and handy for small lakes — now I saw the allure of fishing from a kayak”

-Chris Niskanen, St Paul Pioneer Press

The article is a fun, informative read on the use of kayaks in Minnesota. We’d like to thank Chris Niskanen and the Pioneer Press for the privelage to show off our Hobie Mirage drive pedaling kayaks.

CLICK HERE TO READ “kayaking’s newest niche” ARTICLE

Nature Photography From Hobie Fishing Pro Angler Fishing Kayak

Our friend Ron Hustvedt of WriteOutdoors.com has been putting the Hobie Pro Angler to the test all over lakes in the upper midwest. His podcasts have been focusing on fishing from the Hobie Pro Angler but in his most recent podcast he explores features of the Pro Angler in some interesting ways.

For nature photographers, having your hands free while moving about a lake allows you to capture wildlife scenes at precious opportune moments. With Hobie Kayaks, you can have your video or still camera at the ready at all times since you peddle the boat with your legs. Your hands are free to operate your camera. In the latest WriteOutdoors.com video, Ron uses the Hobie Kayak to get up close and personal with deer and ducks…and of course gets close enough to some large mouth bass to get them to bite his bait.

But for me the most interesting views in the video are the underwater scenes. You get a unique view of the Hobie Mirage Drive in use. But even more interesting is the underwater view of the Hobie Pro Angler. THIS BOAT IS HUGE! In one scene you see the bottom of the Pro Angler’s tri hull design. You really understand that this boat is built for stability. It is wide and very comfortable. Suitable for people of all sizes.

Watch the video, then come in to the store and see all the Hobie Kayaks and talk with our Hobie product specialists. THANKS, again to Ron Hustvedt for allowing us to share his video.

Minnesota Kayak Fishing Enthusiasts Should See This Video

Northern Pike Caught In Holland From A Hobie Kayak

Kayak fishing is really gaining in popularity. The benefits of fishing from a Hobie Kayak are well known and obvious. The primary benefit is the “hands-free” nature of a kayak you “peddle” with your legs, rather “paddle” with your arms. After all fishing rods and reels are made to be operated with hands and arms. If you’re busy paddling you can’t operate your rod and reel. So as Kayak fishing gets more popular, many fisherman are looking to Hobie Kayaks as the best way to enjoy the sport.

The folks at Hobie are well aware of all the buzz around kayak fishing and have produced a new film titled “Fish The World”. It’s a lot of fun to watch. Check out the video, watching people catch fish is fun and gets you pumped to get out there and get a line wet. You’ll see kayak fisherman using multiple Hobie Kayak models to catch multiple species of fish. And if you fish Minnesota lakes like I do, you have probably hooked in to a Northern Pike from time to time. You’ll see kayak fisherman in Holland hooking in to Monster Pike from their kayaks.

Check out the video, then come in to Hi Tempo to check out the Hobie Fishing Kayaks.

Click here to watch the Hobie “Fish The World Video”

Lake Mille Lacs, Minnesota – Fishing Big Water With The Hobie Pro Angler Fishing Kayak

In a previous post we talked about the benefits of Hobie Fishing Kayaks for accessing smaller non-motorized lakes. In a recent video, Ron Hustvedt of WriteOutdoors.com put the Hobie pro angler to the test on some big water. Ron took the Pro Angler to Lake Mille Lacs where waves can test the stability of any water craft.

Watch the video to see how the Hobie Pro Angler Fishing Boat handled the waves on Lake Mille Lacs. Thanks to Ron Hustvedt for allowing us to use his video. For more information on the Hobie Pro Angler, call Hi Tempo Water Sports, 800-429-3446. Hi Tempo can ship kayaks any where in the United States.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH Hobie Pro Angler tackles Lake Mille Lacs from WriteOutdoors on Vimeo.

Minnesota Kayak Fishermen Uses The Hobie Pro Angler On Non-Motorized Lake

Ron Husvedt Shows A Bass Caught While Fishing From The Hobie Pro Angler Fishing Kayak. Watch the video, see link below.

Ron Hustvedt of WriteOutdoors.com made a visit to Hi Tempo to take a look at the new Hobie Pro Angler Fishing Kayak. He had a pretty specific use in mind. We loaded up the Pro Angler and Ron headed for a small midwestern lake that did not allow motors. Even better the Bass fishing was excellent on this lake. And even better than that, the Hobie Pro Angler Kayak made fishing this restricted lake accessible, easy and enjoyable. The Hobie line of fishing kayaks is perfect for fishing remote Minnesota lakes.

But best of all, Ron attached his video camera to the fishing kayak so we can experience what using Hobies new fishing boat is all about. Watch the video, see how easy and enjoyable kayak fishing is from a Hobie pedalling kayak.

We’d like to thank Ron for allowing us to share his kayak fishing video with us. And if your interested in kayak fishing we invite you visit our store or our fishing kayak website for more information, CLICK HERE.

Watch The Video Of Ron Hustvedt And The Hobie Pro Angler Kayak in action, CLICK HERE from WriteOutdoors on Vimeo.

Learn About Hobie Mirage Touring Kayaks

The Hobie Mirage pedal kayak lineup is 11 models strong.
As with just about anything, more choices sometimes means confusion in trying to determine which Hobie Mirage Pedalling Kayak model is right for you. While this isn’t an official Hobie doctrine, I like to think of the eleven models as falling into one of three categories the names of which broadly describe what the boats are best used for; Touring boats, SUV boats and Inflatables. While there certainly is crossover between some of these categories, thinking of the boats as falling into one of these three categories will help you decide which boat is right for you.

As the name implies, the Touring Group Boats are the best boats for folks that are thinking they’ll be covering some distance in their boat. These boats are our sleekest boats with very pretty traditional kayak lines. They are our best paddling boats and they differ from the other groups in that they are our sleekest, most efficient kayaks. A single pedal stroke in a touring boat moves the boat slightly further forward in the water than the same pedal stroke in an inflatable or a SUV boat. Therefore over longer distances, whether that means an easy meander around your favorite bay with a friend or long distance packed touring, the Touring boats are slightly less fatiguing.

The smallest boat in the Touring line is the 13’5” Revolution- single user. This is the lightest of the four boats in the line and as such is easiest to get up onto a roof rack. The boat will accommodate kids, men or women from about 4’ to about 6’4” in height.

The other single user boat in the Touring line is the 16’ Adventure. This is the longest kayak that Hobie makes and it is by far the fastest single. The unique thing about the Adventure is how smooth the ride is. Its long length spans wave tops and makes the ride as smooth as a new Cadillac on fresh pavement. The Adventure is also a very dry boat. The bow wave is very far up front from the cockpit so the splash from the front of the boat that happens in windy weather doesn’t reach the cockpit. The Adventure also has the longest leg room of any of our kayaks so it’s the best boat for tall people.

The Tandem (2 user boat) in the touring line is the 14’6” Oasis. This is Hobie’s fastest pedaling kayak. Even though it’s a bit shorter than the Adventure it has twice the pedal power so it really flies. One of the cool things about Hobie tandems is that the Mirage Drive units are not linked. The person in the front can pedal at a differentpace than the person in the back and the boat works just fine. Comparing the Oasis to the hard-shell tandem in the SUV line, the Outfitter, the Oasis has sleeker lines and is faster. The Outfitter is a bit wider (which makes it a smidge more stable when you’re not pedaling) and has stowage trays along the side for fishing gear and has fishing rod holders built into the hull.

The question everyone asks about any of the tandems Hobie offers is, does it make more sense to have two single kayaks or one tandem?
Answer is this. If you’re always going to go with two people the tandems make a lot of sense. If you’re ever going to go alone, particularly the smaller of the two pedalers, having two singles makes quite a bit of sense because singles are lighter and easier to maneuver than tandems. Also, with two singles you can go side by side with a friend which makes for easier conversations. Lastly if kids are involved and they are going to go alone, two singles are a great choice.

Known by its followers as the “AI”, the last boat in the Touring Line is the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island.
The Adventure Island comes standard with 58 sq ft of sail on Hobie Cats patented roller furling mast and 9’ folding outriggers. The most unique thing about the AI is that it’s actually three boats in one. In its full up mode when you’re pedaling and sailing at the same time it is the fastest sailing kayak on the planet and is as stable as a pontoon boat. Pop out the sail and snap off the outriggers and the AI becomes the standard Adventure kayak. With the Mirage drive out and the drive well plug in place, it is Hobies fastest paddling kayak. The Adventure Island caught fire faster than any new kayak that Hobie has introduced and is the boat of choice for both inland lake and blue ocean adventurers.

The Mirage Touring kayaks are the right choice for a lot of people; fishing folks looking to cover a lot of ground, cabin people that are looking for relaxing comfort and easy pedaling, thrill seekers looking sailing speed and stability or anyone that thinks they may want to paddle their new pedaling kayak.

Have You Seen The New Hobie Mirage Pro Angler Fishing Boat?

In March 2009 Hobie released the Pro Angler. I’ve been waiting for ice out on Minnesota lakes ever since. This boat is the newest in the Hobie Kayak line. But what really winds my binder is that it is built specifically with the fisherman in mind. Let me tell you a little bit about this boat.

Super stable, super comfortable and you can haul loads of gear

Minnesota kayak fisherman can spend a lot of time on the water. I’m sure enthusiasts from other states are the same. So we want to be comfortable and have all the gear we need so we don’t waste precious time running back to camp for things. This boat is big and designed so you can have all your rod rigs, tackle, lunch, camera and more with you.

Here’s a quick list of Hobie Pro Angle features:

• Hobie MirageDrive w/Turbo Fins
• Adjustable Cool Ride Seat
• Retractable Rudder System
• Horizontal Storage for up to six rods
• Two vertical Rod Holders
• Large Front Hatch w/removable Liner
• Work Area/Cutting Board
• Center Hatch w/removable Tackle Box
• 8” Twist & Seal Rear Hatch w/Gear Bucket
• Two Mesh-covered Stowage Pockets
• Four assorted sizes of Plano Tackle Boxes
• Replaceable Mounting Boards for attaching optional equipment
• Heavy Duty Mid-Boat Grab Rails w/Retractable
• Bungee® Gear Keepers and an 18” Ruler
• Heavy Duty bow and stern handles
• Integrated / Replaceable transom skids
• Two-piece Paddle w/additional T-Handle
• Drink Holder
• Dry Bag

I’m going to be field testing the Hobie Pro Angler this fishing season. I’m really looking forward to the comfort and capacity. The boat can be decked out with all the options you add to your power boat, fish finder, livewell, anchor, drift sock and more.

Stop in to our Minnesota showroom to look this fishing machine over, or visit our website for more information or to order your very own Pro Angler.

Stop back to our blog to read more about the Hobie Pro Angler and see photos of my outings with this fishing machine.

Photos Of Rainy Lake In Minnesota From My Hobie Outback Kayak

After An Afternoon Of Walleye Fishing I Shot This Photo From My Hobie Kayak

Rainy Lake is on the border between Minnesota and Canada. It is part of the National Park System and is a huge wilderness area. Having a Hobie Mirage Outback Kayak along for a trip I took in June of 2008 allowed us to fish the very shallow backwater bays that our power boats could not reach. Rainy Lake is one of the premier Bass fisheries in the country. The Small Mouth Bass action was phenomenal from the Hobie Kayak. I could go further in to shallow bays than the guys in the power boats.

Hobie Mirage Kayaks: Pedal Kayaks Versus Paddle Kayaks

Animated Hobie Mirage Drive Visual

What is the Mirage Drive, and how did it come about?

From its first unveiling in 1997 till today, Hobie Cat’s Mirage kayaks have gone being an interesting curiosity to one of the best selling kayak lines in the industry. Behind it all is the Mirage Drive Pedal mechanism developed by Hobie Cat engineer, Greg Ketterman. Mirage pedal drive kayaks are as different from paddling kayaks as downhill skiing is from snowboarding. They aren’t really better, or worse, than paddling kayaks, they’re just different.

In its most simple form, the Mirage drive fin (called a Hydrosail) works exactly like a penguins fin and for the same reason a Penguin goes forward through the water, so does a Mirage kayak. Each Hydrosail consists of a stainless steel rod on the leading edge that supports a flexible polyurethane fin. The fore and aft motion of the pedals at the top of the drive mechanism, move the fins back and forth under the water. This back and forth motion sculls the kayak forward at an amazingly fast speed.

How are Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks different from paddle kayaks?

There are three things that all Mirage users notice the first time the get into the kayak. First, they’re fast. Much faster than a like sized paddling kayak. The two Mirage drive fins together are almost twice the size of the blade of a paddle so they move twice the water with each pedal stroke. It takes about half a dozen strokes to get the kayaks up to speed; from then on it’s an easy pedaling stroke to keep the boats going. Pedaling the Mirage drive feels about like a 5-10 mph pace on a bicycle on flat pavement. It’s really easy. And, for the bigger is better crowd, those clever folks at Hobie have developed two optional larger sized sets of fins for even more speed.

The second thing people notice is how stable the kayaks are. The back and forth motion of the Mirage drive fins adds stability to the boat unlike any other kayak or canoe. As long as the operator keeps pedaling, the boats are extremely quiet in the water, even in waves.

Third, your hands are free! Mirage kayaks are steered with a small steering lever that controls a rudder at the back of the boat. They have a much smaller turn radius than any other kayak or canoe. The lever is mounted right next to the seat. Point the lever right the boat steers right, point it left, the boat steers left. The cool thing about the steering control is that it’s designed with just enough resistance to hold its position without having to keep your hand on the lever. That leaves your hands free to fish, shoot pictures, eat or drink, work your GPS or just plain relax.

It’s been said that a Mirage kayak is to a paddling kayak like an iPod is to a Walkman. There’s probably not that much difference but they sure are cool. Find your local demo site, give em a try and see what you think. As the Hobie Cat motto says, “The world is a Waterpark. Since 1950 we’ve made the best rides”.