I had the opportunity to use the MirageDrive 180 for the last two weeks that I spent in Florida kayak fishing nearly every day. In the beginning I was moderately impressed that the new drive offered some convenience. I mean, how often during a typical day of fishing did I, or you, actually need to use the paddle to back up? Maybe two or three or even a few more. Not so many as to make it feasible to spend the kind of money the MirageDrive 180 costs. That was my initial impression. It was nice, it was convenient, but it was too costly to justify. But then I began to realize that it had way more to offer than just an easier way to reverse direction.
I live in Pennsylvania and kayak fishing is not feasible in the winter. At least not for this 70-year-old fisherman. So, when the opportunity to stay for free for two weeks in Florida (thanks to my great wife) was offered to me I could not resist. Most of my fishing friends know that on a trip of more than two hours in a car I am usually unconscious or way droopier than usual. But, I needed to get down there with my kayak. I wanted to bring all my equipment. A load of it and a lot of spare rods and reels as well. So, for several weeks I mentally prepared myself for the long, long drive. I made plans to stop along the way to see fishing acquaintances and forum friends. I even packed and loaded the car up two days in advance! This is unheard of behavior for me. Just ask Joe.
So, I left at 9 am in the morning. I arrived at my Florida destination by 7 am. 1134 miles in one trip.
It seems that the driving trance coupled and amplified by the gotta-go-fishing syndrome took over. I was driven, literally, to go fish that day upon arrival. However, after doing some food shopping and unpacking, I made the mistake of sitting down for a few seconds of rest. It was dark outside when I revived. I did fish nearly every day after that except for the four days my wife flew down for my family reunion. Which is my I was down there, let my family think that…
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On my first day in the outback with the MirageDrive 180 I immediately was impressed with my ignorance…. I put it in backwards…. Really, I did and I have no rational explanation for it. But I righted my wrong and shoved off to find the bass in Lake Osborne. The first thing I noticed was that there was more resistance with the new fins on the 180 than on my old MirageDrive with turbo SST fins. And it was a touch faster when I pedaled at my usual slow pace. I quickly got accustomed to the new feel of this system. I did not go far when I decided to pull on the red handle and put her in reverse. It smoothly snapped into its reverse position with a solid feeling thunk. I applied pressure slowly to the pedals… And the forward momentum immediately stopped and yak and I began to go backwards.
It was as one would expect if it was to work at all. I pulled on the green handle and in a snap I was heading towards the pocket of lily pads and reeds in the northeast corner of Lake Osborne. It’s that corner very close to route 95 and the railroad tracks. I worked along the edge of the weeds throwing one of my not quite the right color for the customer stick baits. Within ten minutes I had an 18-inch large mouth.
A few moments later a 15 and then another 17, and so many more that I failed to get to the ‘yak. The fishing that first day was so good that I did not take note of the 180’s performance.
Lake Ida was very near where my family reunion was being held. I made a side trip during the reunion to scout out lady Ida. The ramp was convenient, the lake was typical of that area in Florida I spotted several likely fishing areas within an easy pedal.
My wife was leaving at 11 am the next day and I wanted a place to fish not too far from the airport. Lake Ida was about 14 miles from there so I decided to go.
I launched at about 1 pm. I headed up towards the canals at what I think is the top of the lake but I could be wrong and it probably is the bottom end… I tossed one of my favorite go-to baits, a black with lots of small silver flake 6-inch utail worm into the weed edges near the shore line and picked up several inexperienced bass. I realized that I was drifting faster than I wanted to in this stretch of the lake. So, I thought why not anchor here? Because you did not bring the anchor or the river stick…. I pulled the red handle and pushed the pedal ever so slightly and the yak slowly stopped. I just discovered one of the best things about the MirageDrive 180…
I can fish in the same area for a much longer time with not much effort and absolutely no hassle… This is great…
I played with it after that when I realized it was way more versatile that I had originally thought. I could position the yak in almost any direction I wanted with just a few reverse and forward pedal strokes. Now I was really having fun. I would go backwards just because I could… For no need or reason other than to get the feel for steering in reverse.
The real lesson was yet to be learned. I pedaled to the docks and private boat ramp almost directly across from the public launch ramp. That’s how I remember it but that could be erroneous information due to faulty memory circuits. There were a few lily pad fields, no that is an overstatement. There were several small clusters of lily pads near the docks I was throwing one of the black and white laminated color 7-inch stick baits I made for a customer. I like how they looked so I made some for myself. I do that on occasion but not many know it.
As I pulled the bait next to the last lily pad at the edge the water erupted, my rod buckled, I set the hook and it was on. I fish mostly braid but this time I added a fluorocarbon leader. And this was no weakling bass The line was being stripped from my reel as the fish was getting deeper into the weeds and the ‘yak was being pulled into the weed bed. Would the fluorocarbon leader hold? I had no choice but to do it. I reached down and pulled the red handle and began to pedal, slowly reversing away from the lily pads into open water. My line was still unspooling. It was a standoff. I knew now that this was no ordinary bass, if it was a bass at all.
I cupped the spool on my spinning reel to lock it down and not allow it to yield to the fish. I pedaled backward more and more applying more pressure to the fish. I could feel as it came around one lily pad stalk Now it was tight against the final lily plant. I continued to pedal back into the open water.
Would my uni to uni knot hold? Would the leader line hold? I pedaled more and felt it give, but the fish was still there and now we were both in open water. I had no idea how big or what it was on the end of my line but whatever it was it has given me a great fishing experience. And then it swam to the surface to get a look at me before it leaped into the air and tried to fin me. I have never seen one before other than on shows. But there it was on the end of my line doing aerials for me. I finally landed my first peacock bass. And she was a beauty. About 17 inches of raw muscle and strength.
I know that if did not have the ability to reverse while fighting this fish I probably never would have landed it. It would have pulled into the weeds and gotten more tangled than my bait caster after a poor cast into a head wind. And then I would probably have to reach down into the tangle of lines and weeds to retrieve the fish if it was still on. Now, you tell me, which way would you rather catch your fish?
The MirageDrive 180 has increased the ‘yak versatility and my fishing enjoyment way more than it costs.
Doc. Irv is a lifelong fisherman who founded Doc Irv Custom Baits in the 1970s to save a little coin. He is a Hobie Fishing Team member.
