Pluses and minuses for electric trolling motor

Pros:

In the right circumstances (slow, calm water & easy launch point), he can cover a lot of water with minimal effort (once on the water).
It costs about the same or less than a peddle kayak, but your prop is a lot more sturdy then those $$$ flippers that can shear off.

When has that EVER happened that you have witnessed?  I beat the crap out of my fins. I still have the original turbo fins I purchased in 2011.  They have hit many large underwater rocks, ran aground numerous times on the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers, had more unexpected high speed beach landings than I can count, and have instantaneously stopped my forward propulsion when hitting under water trees and yet, I still am using those original fins (and chains and sprockets and....).

I was thinking of switching to a pedal kayak myself, but I will lose the space in the front to keep 2 crab pots. I like to crab and fishing at the same time, so that will not work for me. I fished at Shilhole bay in the summer, and the current was really strong and I had a hard time fishing and getting back to the dock. So I decided to put in a trolling motor this winter, hope to see some of you guys out there in the summer.   

I used to carry two crab pots on my Revo out in the ocean all the time. They sit behind me on the tank well. It is easier on the Outback, on which I have carried three.  I have discovered that in the ocean, only one is necessary to get a limit of crab.  The last time I pulled a pot in Pacific City, I had 28 crabs in it and I was tossing back keeper males. I have not carried more than one for a couple years.  Unless I am only crabbing in the bays, then I have stacked three on the rear tank well.

I destroyed 2 sets of bars duck hunting when I peddled over submerged trees. It does happen, but not often. 

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I destroyed 2 sets of bars duck hunting when I peddled over submerged trees. It does happen, but not often. 

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Yeah, duck hunting is where I have bent the most, but I just find a strategically located crook in a tree and unbend them.   I know eventually they may break, but until that happens that drive is my river/duck hunting drive. I have had to straighten them close to ten times now and they are still going strong (albeit slightly less strong than when new). I may x-ray them to see if there are hidden cracks just for shits and giggles.  My off shore/Columbia River drive (the 2015 model) that came with my i12 is not permitted for duck hunting or shallow, swift water.

Thanks for all the great responses. I've been off line a few days and just caught up to this interesting conversation. For the record, I'm over 55, but healthy and able to paddle. In fact, the more exercise, the more beers I get to drink!!  I think my concerns were about coordinating paddling to get to speed  enough, then dropping a herring rig or superbait and maintain speed and control. Springer season will be a ways off, so I think I will wait and do some winter paddling and get in better shape.  Looking forward to it!!. I imagine I will be paddling a lot on the Willamette in the Willamette Park/ South Waterfront area. If you see a Winter Camo Feel-Free 11.5 Lure cruising around, stop me and say howdy!!

This topic came up on NCKA with a link leading to here...    So,,, gotta throw in my two cents.  LOL.   

         I've been using a Torqeedo ultra-light since 2009.  Love having a motorized yak.  Motor & Battery total is only 15 lbs, damm near what some of these new pedal drive units weigh in at.    I don't always use it, but there's times when I want to get 2-3 miles to the fish and still get back home not exhausted.   Getting back , sometimes with winds and current can be a challenge, especially the older we get.   Combine electric with paddling ( moto-paddle ) and you can cover a lot of water and have the advantage of that boost in speed  that a motor can give you.   

      It's about Fishing, not "extreme sports" as some want to make it.   Rig it the way you want, don't be intimidated by those that want to feel superior in some way...      Haters R gonna hate.   Paddlers hate Pedal'rs,  Fly Fishermen hate the Spin casters,   Spin casters hate the bait fisherman.  I hate Chinese kayaks... and brussel sprouts.

And no one likes broad generalities....   

Yaktastic, Istarted this sport of ours around 1990 for excerzie and found myself in skinny water here in Tx that I always wanted to fish, been thru 14 yaks of all types. Caught more damned fish from the yaks than I ever did from PB. Tore my shoulder up at theshipwreck this fall and had to leave for home when I found I couldn't self rescue. If all works out after surgery I hope to beat bouy 10 early Sep. see y'all there. Art

 Art.....I sure plan to be healthy enough this year to  get out there and join you Yeah ....I've got a few ailments and physical problems to eliminate.....but I will Make It Happen . Or at  least adapt and overcome.

 I too, have been pondering an electric kayak.  Still thinking about it----strong and hard. Started kayak fishing in 1974. Saw a few guys on the Merced River ( in the part running through Yosemite National Park) in some dinky whitewater kayaks  goofing around , called them over and asked if I could take one for a spin. They accommodated me , came out and gave me a whole new world of tips about something that was brand new to me. Had a great 6 hours with those guys. (kinda got hooked quickly) I'm still grateful to those guys , whoever they were, and got me started in this madness of kayak fishing. No spray skirts, no PFD's, they did ask if I could swim, just a heave and a hoe and I was going for it. A little before I was getting comfortable I asked about fishing from these contraptions. Two of the six boats had fishing poles stashed. Swapped boats for the 3rd time and hooked up with the other guy with a pole. Pretty clumsy for a while but was finally casting a spinner fair enough . I caught two 10-12" rainbow's and thought I was pretty bad-ass. When  I got home a few days  later I went to GEMCO and bought my 1st kayak.
  A lot of fish have died due in a large part to my fishing from a kayak. I won't bore you with old tall tales---or even newer ones. You guys will make your own stories. And share your tall tails ...... with others. Whew....made t.
 
  So I am gonna keep an eye out on all the many configurations coming out soon. Lots of cool ideas that I've seen already.  Time alone will tell how this next adventure unfolds. But it will........

     Mark