When I heard Hobie was releasing a new kayak, I never would have expected the 180 I encountered strolling up to the testing event at ICAST. Instead of a new boat following the course of continually-hulking rigs, Hobie saw an opportunity to introduce an easier-to-transport, more nimble, less-frills kayak option, and transformed their iTrek inflatable pedal kayak into an angler line.
On the water with Hobie’s new inflatable iTrek Angler
The iTrek Angler comes in 10- and 12-foot versions. I had the opportunity to test the 10-foot version. It’s super light, at only 30 pounds, and super maneuverable. It’s perfect for people who don’t have space in their lives for a hardshell kayak, but you don’t lose any of the fishing features you’d expect.
One of the coolest features to see is that Hobie has included the MirageDrive 180. This pedal system gives you both forward and reverse, plus it has the Turbo Fins for more power andย speed.
The iTrek Angler also has Hobie’s H-Rail system. This means you can attach both gear track accessories and Hobie H-Rail accessories to the rail, including rod holders, fish finder transducers, cup holders, and all the accessories you want on your fishing kayak.
The seat is also attached to this H-Rail system, which gives it a lot more reinforcement and a solid feel. Between this setup and the high pressure of the dropstitch chambers, you really don’t even feel like you’re on an inflatable.
In the back, where the rudder mounts, there’s a space for an electric motor. You can also move the rudder to the mounts on either side so you can still steer with the rudder system while using your electric trolling motor. There’s also space for a battery, rod holders, and crates. Basically, everything you’d expect out of a traditional hard-plastic fishing kayak, you can find on this iTrek inflatable.
All this comes with the portability and storage capabilities of an inflatable, which really makes the iTrek the best of both worlds.
Feature image: Kayak Angler Staff
