Conditioning and difficulty

Before I got some unsolicited tips from an expert paddler, I was making the usual novice mistake of using my arms and shoulders to paddle.

This is how I paddle

When I'm trying to be stealthy sneaking up on some rising trout, or if I notice that I'm paddling right over some fish when I'm trolling, I will often just use my arms and shoulders to execute gentler, quieter strokes for a short distance. I don't want to spook the fish.
But I don't do power strokes that way for cruising. Paddling power comes from the legs and torso. By the end of my stroke, though, coming out of it, I am pulling back just a little with my arm and shoulder, prior to lifting my blade from the water as it passes my hip. (Go past the hip, and it just slows you down).  I try to keep my elbows low and in close, to protect my shoulders. Throughout my stroke, the angle between my fore arm and my upper arm usually never gets much wider than about 90 degrees.

This is for going in a straight line. You know, when you've got to cover some distance and you must become like a machine. You concentrate on a clean entry and exit, and keeping the blade square and vertical, and you get in the smooth rhythm, and although your head pivots on your neck like a swivel as you take in the surrounding natural wonders, below your collar bones you are a machine. You fished later than expected, and now the wind and tide are against you, and you still have 3 miles to go. tch, tch.
Braces, sweep strokes, pries, and rudder strokes, etc are different dynamics.

I noticed in a few videos that some use the straps on their mirage drive pedals, while others don't.    I was wondering how use these straps just to keep their feet in place and how many are utilizing them for a complete pedal stroke to some degree for the extra power as a cyclist would?

If I were wanting to get into "Hobie Shape" during the winter months,  I would look into utilizing a recumbent exercise bike for pre fishing training.

I use the straps on my Hobie pedals but don't generally use them for power on the backstroke.  They keep your feet from slipping when things get bumpy or you are twisting and turning in your seat.  Also with the straps you can pull a foot out and still pedal with one foot by using a power backstroke.

A recumbent trainer is the ideal way to prepare for a Hobie Mirage drve.  I have been a recumbent biker rider for 7 years now with a 40 mile roundtrip commute to work in the summer time.  The muscle groups are the same but the angles may vary.  I practice "full circle pedaling" on the bike so pulling on the straps of the Mirage drive is second nature to me.  The additional power and speed, not to mention lower fatigue, are pretty dramatic when pulling.  My wife has a Revo too, no conditioing to speak of, and can ride for hours without issue.