Field Testing An Inflatable Fishing Paddleboard

The Sea Eagle FishSUP 126 may simply be the best choice in terms of an inflatable fishing paddleboard. I’ve had the pleasure of fishing from this inflatable SUP from Lengthy Island Sound to the distant ponds and lakes of upstate New York, and I’m actually impressed with it’s portability, flexibility, and ease of use for each highway journeys and impromptu fishing missions.

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Over the previous 3 to 4 years inflatable paddleboards have grown extra in style, and a rising curiosity in utilizing them for fishing has led to an explosion of latest manufacturers and fashions getting into the market. I’ve been a devoted kayak fisherman for some time, however I’ve been looking for a paddleboard to make use of for pond hopping, and as a fly-fishing platform. Nonetheless, there aren’t many inflatable paddleboards which are geared particularly in the direction of fishing. Generally, the most-popular paddleboards required costly add-ons and attachments to be sensible for fishing.

Enter the Sea Eagle FishSUP 126: a steady, inflatable paddleboard designed to be fished proper out of the field, made by an organization that’s been in enterprise for practically 60 years and relies on my residence of Lengthy Island, NY.

Paddleboard vs. Kayak: Why an inflatable fishing paddleboard?

The 2 makes use of I had in thoughts for a paddleboard have been for fly fishing and road-tripping.

One in every of my largest pain-points when fly fishing from a pedal kayak are all of the tangles and snags that happen on the deck when stripping fly line. With no sensible area for a stripping bucket, free line would wrap across the pedals, my fish finder, or my ft. I attempted to treatment this by eradicating as many equipment as doable from my kayak, nevertheless it was nonetheless a irritating expertise.

When it got here time for a highway journey, bringing my 14-foot kayak led to considerations about safety, parking, and entry. A kayak weighing over 80 kilos isn’t the simplest factor to hold round, and after I was achieved fishing for the day, I needed to go away it on my truck, which made parking at a restaurant or on the town an issue, if not not possible. I might go away it the place I used to be staying, however then I’d fear it will get stolen whereas I used to be away. Moreover, some small ponds or hand-launches have been too small for a fully-rigged fishing kayak to be sensible.

I’d checked out a couple of completely different fashions of inflatable paddleboards and even some non-inflatable ones, which I’d anticipated can be extra sturdy. However as a rule, they have been too-heavy or impractical for fishing, with no capacity to tie-down gear like a cooler or rod holders. Many of the inflatable paddleboards I checked out fell quick too, as a result of they didn’t have the soundness or sturdiness I wanted. They have been designed with leisure paddling in thoughts, not critical fishing.

Once I got here throughout the Sea Eagle FishSUP 126, I used to be very excited to see it got here with 14 metallic D-rings welded into the hull from front-to-back for tying down gear. It additionally included a sturdy transom mount which permits for a small trolling motor to be simply hooked up, with loads of room between the transom and the seat for a water-resistant battery field or fishing deal with. It even included a mesh bag with two vertical rod holders.

What makes the FishSUP 126 an awesome inflatable fishing paddleboard?

When you ask me, the most effective qualities of the FishSUP 126 are it’s customization potential, portability, and stability. At 45 kilos when fully-inflated, it may be simply carried over your head to the water and moved round your yard or storage when storing. Evaluate that to making an attempt to stow your common hard-plastic canoe or kayak in extra of 60 kilos.

The hooked up handles in the back and front make it easy to hold as a staff you probably have a buddy with you, even when it’s fully-rigged up with gear. It’s kayak cart suitable as properly and, when deflated, it might probably match within the backseat of just about any car.

The additional D-rings make it a breeze to connect a cooler or seat. As a paddleboard, it does take some water over the deck in tough circumstances, so I like to recommend utilizing waterproof storage for something you don’t need to get moist, and one thing to sit down on to keep away from chafing. Whereas fishing in calm circumstances on Lake George nonetheless, I stayed dry till the new climate compelled me to take a dip over the aspect.

What’s the finest paddleboard fishing setup for the FishSUP?

Sea Eagle gives numerous gear packages for the FishSUP 126, starting with their ‘Begin-Up’ base-model bundle, which incorporates:

a dual-action guide air pump
transom mount
stand-up paddle
mesh storage bag
carrying pack

It is able to fish out-of-the-box, however you may discover it lacks some creature-comforts. On the prime of their record of packages is the ‘Professional Motor Fishing Rig’, which comes with all the pieces above included, plus a swivel seat, trolling motor, and battery field.

» Go to the FishSUP Product Web page for the total record of substances packages!

How steady is the Sea Eagle FishSUP 126?

The FishSUP could be very steady to fish from—partially as a result of the deck is 36 inches huge. I’m a husky human being at 200 kilos, and I nonetheless had loads of area to crawl across the deck, sprawl out, and get comfy. However the FishSUP additionally has wonderful major and secondary stability. Even in tough waves, the paddleboard remained completely flat, with out rocking in any respect. Generally, I’d lay flat on my stomach and paddle it like a surfboard, or kneel and paddle it like a canoe when my again or butt wanted a relaxation.

I’ve sat with my ft over the aspect whereas jigging for fluke with out worrying about tipping over, and we even match one other 200-pound angler on it throughout a 4th of July journey to Lake George. Though we got here near the 500-pound weight restrict, the Sea Eagle remained sturdy and tracked properly within the water whereas we fished for smallmouth bass below docks and downed bushes with our legs over the aspect.

The bow of the paddle board goes over waves relatively than by way of them, which helps preserve you dry and permits it to trace properly in uneven circumstances. The steadiness of the FishSUP additionally makes it simple to get well within the extremely unlikely occasion of flipping, or should you determine to take a dip, like I did.

What is an efficient motor for the Sea Eagle FishSUP 126?

The Sea Eagle FishSUP 126 has a couple of completely different bundle choices that embrace a WaterSnake Venom 34 trolling motor, or a Bixpy Ok-1 Electrical Motor. However one other light-weight possibility is the brand new ePropulsion eLite electrical motor. This all-in-one electrical trolling motor weighs simply 15 kilos, produces 500W or 1.5 HP, and is extraordinarily transportable, with no exterior battery required. I had by no means used a trolling motor earlier than, and I used to be shocked at how simple it was to mount and function proper out of the field.

I lately examined the motor on my FishSUP and though it was one other windy day, the ePropulsion eLite made mild work chopping by way of the wind and reaching pods of bunker that have been a mile offshore. The eLite additionally features a carrying case, which made it simple to retailer below my rear seat. I additionally took it with me to a distant river, the place it made touring upstream a breeze. I used to be capable of hit a prime velocity of about 4 knots upstream, and 5 knots with none present or wind.

» Study extra in regards to the ePropulsion eLite by visiting their web site.

What’s fishing from an inflatable paddleboard like?

In a single phrase: relaxed. It’s a very minimalist expertise when fishing from a paddleboard. Having simply the fundamentals and loads of room to loosen up whereas an electrical trolling motor takes you to a spot is nice, particularly in the summertime. When you’ve ever spent 10 hours in a fishing kayak, you already know what I’m speaking about.

My first voyage with the FishSUP 126 was with nothing however a cooler and my fly rod. It was in no way a relaxed day. West winds as much as 10 knots made for powerful paddling circumstances, however the FishSUP tracked straight with the included skeg fins hooked up.

Even with light rollers and boat wakes in my path, I used to be capable of stand and forged to blitzing striped bass & bluefish. There have been a couple of occasions I practically fell over whereas making back-casts, however the FishSUP remained planted on the water, and I might regain my steadiness.

I then launched into a road-trip to fish a secluded river for smallmouth bass, northern pike, and musky. This time, I hooked up the very comfy and downright-essential swivel seat that got here with my FishSUP bundle. The seat provides hardly any weight, and makes it far simpler to function a tiller and make casts 360-degrees round me.

The FishSUP gives a flat, spacious deck for touchdown and measuring fish as much as 36 inches. The deck ruler makes measuring a slot-striper or keeper-sized fluke a breeze with no further gear required.

Is the FishSUP Sturdy?

A standard concern with inflatable watercraft, typically, is sturdiness. The FishSUP makes use of powerful, 1000 Denier Bolstered Drop Sew materials. On prime, there may be an EVA deck-foam platform that’s comfy for sitting, standing, and kneeling on. Sea Eagle additionally strengthened the hull in areas most probably to make contact with jagged or abrasive surfaces.I pulled my FishSUP throughout Lengthy Island’s rocky North Shore, dragged it throughout my truck mattress, and ran into boulders with no issues. However, do you have to run into any points, Sea Eagle additionally features a restore package with the FishSUP to simply patch holes of any measurement.

Sea Eagle has a video on their YouTube channel the place they clarify the supplies, stability, and sturdiness in-depth; they even run over certainly one of their inflatables with a jeep.

If that isn’t sufficient, Sea Eagle’s boats are additionally NMMA licensed, and have handed rigorous testing for high quality & security.

What kind of fishing is the FishSUP inflatable paddleboard good for?

The FishSUP 126 excels in again bays, inshore areas, back-country ponds, rivers, and lakes. With a spacious deck and a steady casting platform, you’ll be able to comfortably sight-cast to fish even on a breezy day. The massive, flat deck can maintain stripped fly line, and gives a full 360-degrees of casting freedom. The flexibility to make false-casts with no worry of snagging something in addition to myself was one thing I wasn’t used to. (Facet word: The FishSUP received’t make you a greater fly angler, however it might probably make it simpler to be taught.)

It’s also a perfect-match for the touring angler. You’ll be able to throw it in your automobile, drive to a distant pond, carry it to the water together with your fishing gear, and have a relaxed day catching bass, trout, or different freshwater fish.

When you’re a fly fisherman searching for a steady platform, a pond-hopper who wants one thing simple to move, or simply somebody who prefers the leisure of paddleboard fishing—the FishSUP 126 might be the best choice for you. Sea Eagle thoughtfully designed the FishSUP with the particular wants of fishing in thoughts, from stability, to sturdiness, and customization. Their gear packages present distinctive worth and make the FishSUP simple to rig, so that you’re able to hit the water as quickly ASAP.

» For extra from Sea Eagle, go to their web site at seaeagle.com or be taught extra in regards to the FishSUP 126.

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