Maybe you don’t have a motorized fishing boat, or perhaps kayak fishing is just too much of a workout. But you also know you want to be out on the water to catch some catfish or bass with the family. A paddle boat might just be the perfect alternative.
Paddle boats can be good for fishing. The wide base provides a lot of stability to prevent tipping. The roomy interior opens up a lot of space for bait, fishing line, and even large coolers. The use of foot pedals makes traveling by paddle boat less tiresome and more efficient than kayaks or rowboats.
A paddle boat might just be what your family needs to get out on the lake and spend the day fishing. So, let’s go over why a paddle boat can be good for fishing first. Then, we’ll talk about things to keep in mind and some possible downsides.
Why Paddle Boats Can Be Good for Fishing
When we talk about “paddle boats,” we’re referring to what you might know as a “pedal boat.” These are the boats that you can rent down by the lake at local parks and campgrounds.
Paddle boats usually provide seating for between two and five people. They have a sit-in design and are propelled by manual foot pedals by those sitting in the front seats.
Let’s talk about which features of a paddle boat make it so good for fishing:
- Adjustable Seating: Fishing trips might last an hour or the entire afternoon. The adjustable seating of a paddle boat allows you to move the seat backward, forward, and into a reclined position. Not only does this make your ride more comfortable, but it also lets you adjust the seats so you can reach the pedals perfectly.
- Foot Pedals: Kayaks, rowboats, and manual fishing boats are all useful, but the sheer amount of upper body strength required for long trips in choppy water is exhausting. The foot pedals of a paddle boat are much like pedaling a bicycle. Lower body endurance and a second rider make speedy travels in a paddle boat a reality.
- Fishing Rod Holders: It’s unrealistic to think that you’ll have your fishing pole in hand at all times. You might need to put your fishing pole down to rest your arms, put the pole aside as you focus on pedaling, or even take the time to relax on the water. The inclusion of fishing rod holders on a paddle boat guarantees you won’t lose your pole in the water.
- Storage Space: Most types of personal watercraft are tiny on the inside. Paddle boats have a huge interior space, especially if you don’t have passengers using the seats in the rear. Most paddle boats will have room to store your tackle box or drink cooler. And some paddle boats can support over 800 pounds, so overpacking isn’t too likely.
- Wide Base: The wider the base of a watercraft, the more stable the watercraft is. Paddle boats are sometimes known to be 5-feet wide or larger. That means jerky movements when you cast a line won’t cause your paddle boat to rock as much. And a paddle boat is much more stable if you find yourself facing choppy water ahead.
- Speed: If you’ve ever been on a kayak or a rowboat, then you know how tiring it can be on your upper body. Since paddle boats depend on your lower body strength and endurance, you can move through the water much faster. But this all depends on how quick you’re pedaling and how calm the water is.
- Shade: Spending hours out on the lake or the river while fishing usually means sunburn and overheating. One of the greatest features of paddle boats is that they have canopies. These can keep you out of direct sunlight while on the water and keep you cool during those long fishing trips.
As you can see by the features of a paddle boat, this boat can clearly handle a fishing trip and make it enjoyable for the entire family. These boats are stable, seat more occupants than a kayak, and offer storage space that even boats don’t seem to offer.
Here’s a video describing some features of paddle boats and how they’re used.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV6AvYWeuJM
Things to Keep in Mind
Using a paddle boat for fishing is nothing like using a motorized fishing boat or even a fishing kayak. So, even the most experienced fishermen will struggle the first time they use a paddle boat for fishing.
Let’s talk about what you have to remember.
Your Body Position
Whether you prefer fishing while standing onshore or seated in a kayak, you know the position that you like to be in. You also know that sitting in the same position for hours can be extremely uncomfortable.
Keep in mind that you’re usually in a reclined position when on a paddle boat.
That means you’ll have to get used to casting your line and reeling in a fish while slightly reclined. There’s also not much you can do when it comes to swiveling your seat, so it could be a little uncomfortable at first.
Number of Occupants
Kayak fishing is easy because you’re usually doing it in your own kayak without the help of anyone else. Paddle boats can be a little complicated when you start adding more occupants to the boat.
If you’ve ever kayaked in a two-person kayak, you know where this is going.
Having two people in the front seats of your paddle boat means you both need to be pedaling to go forward or backward. One person might be focused on going forward and backward while the other might be steering in the center console.
Some paddle boats will work with just one occupant. But you’ll need to be sitting in the center of the boat and make use of both pedal systems.
Weight Capacity
While paddle boats usually can support well over 500 pounds or 227 kilograms (occupants and supplies combined), you need to consider how this weight impacts your journey. As you approach the maximum weight limit, your watercraft is more likely to capsize and sink.
But just because your paddle boat supports five people doesn’t mean it actually supports five people.
That sounds a bit complicated, of course, but the five seats usually support two adults and three children. So, it’s a better idea to keep an eye on the actual weight limit in pounds rather than how many people can fit on board.
The Possible Downsides
There’s no such thing as the perfect watercraft for fishing. And paddle boats do have their own downsides when it comes to this hobby.
For example, transporting a paddle boat can be tricky.
While paddle boats are usually lightweight, they also tend to have pretty beefy dimensions. So, you’ll probably need an extra-large pickup truck bed or even a boat trailer to bring your own paddle boat down to the lake.
Then, there’s the limited movement.
It’s not that moving a paddle boat in the water is hard. The problem is that the deep well you’re sitting in doesn’t really let you turn. Since you’re stuck facing forward, it can be tricky to reel in a fish that’s moving.
Conclusion
Paddle boats are clearly built for enjoying your time on the water. And the common features of a paddle boat makes it a great tool if you’re looking to go fishing.
Paddle boats can seat the entire family (two adults and three children), offer a superior amount of interior storage for bait and beverages, and are definitely less exhausting to pedal.
Just remember not to overload your paddle boat and communicate with your occupants when it comes to pedaling and steering.
It takes time to get used to, but a paddle boat is great for fishing.
