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I have been an avid fisherman my entire life until recently. About 10 years ago I developed severe symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Before medication, every joint in my body would flare including my hands which became so swollen the looked like ballpark franks. Long story short, I started to become a prisoner in my own home so much so that I hadn't been fishing in almost 2 years. Then one day I was flipping through the channels and happened upon the "Hobie Outdoors" show on one of the sports channels.
Between that show, all of the posts in this forum and countless videos on Youtube, I decided to take my life back. I remember the first video I saw was with what I wouldn't call a fat person but a rather large person. At 6'6" and 240lbs I know a thing or 2 about large people. Anyway, it was seeing him and how much he was enjoying himself I realized that if he could do it, what was my excuse? I didn't have one.
I did my research and decided to purchase the Pro Angler 14 from Austin Kayak since the nearest dealer to me in Kansas was about a 4 hour drive to Springfield Missouri. I think I added it to my shopping cart on ack.com 3 or 4 times and closed down the browser each time until one Wednesday night when I finally pulled the trigger. To my amazement, I had everything but the kayak by that same Saturday and received a call by Tuesday arranging a Friday delivery time.
It was still cold then. I spent about 6 weeks customizing and waiting for the weather to warm up. I didn't want to take my first trip until the water temperature was warm enough that I could be in should I happen to turtle the darned thing. The day finally came one Saturday. I told all of my friends that I was just going to take it out to get to learn how to operate it and was going to take any of my fishing gear. They convinced me otherwise and I am glad that they did.
That day couldn't have been any more perfect. The lake was flat calm and it was about 55 degrees that morning. I think it took me longer to figure out how to get my Lowrance out of demo mode than it did for me to learn how to peddle and steer. After about 30 minutes, it was time to wet a line. Within 10 minutes, I boated my first fish ever on the kayak. A 19" saugeye which is 1 inch about the 18 inch minimum on this lake and isn't bad since it is only 121 acres. Amazing, first fish and had much lunch for later that afternoon. I didn't catch any more keepers but did manage 6 more saugeyes, a few white bass and a couple of catfish. When I got back to the dock, I was astonished how I seemed to have lost 5 1/2 hours. I had no idea I had been out that long on my maiden voyage.
Since then I think I have been out a total of 8 times and have caught about 40 saugeyes including one last Saturday that was longer than my 22" measuring board. It ended up being 24" and a little over 6lbs when I got it home.
All I can say is Thank You Hobie, Hobie Cat Forums and Youtube for helping me take my life back and enjoying fishing again. I am HOOKED.
Jeff - Kansas Yaker
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