Has anyone done a DIY poling platform for shallow water fishing? I have a Hobie PA12 that I’d like to try one on and just looking for some ideas. Thanks WC

I wonder if a paddle board would be even better?

A form of Kedging is another way that might work, instead of poling depending on why / where it is being done and the nature of bottom structure. Kedging does not require a platform. I used a heavy duty rod and reel with high test line and a heavy spiderweight thrown to a rocky bottom or Riverbank tangle. The key is to let the rod do the work and the reel takes up the slack each time after a pull. But my boat was a lightweight inflatable, don't know if it will work with a heavy kayak, which would require heavier gear. I don't use that system anymore, went to a very lightweight trailing shaft mud e-Motor with a prop that can easily run at 6 inches draft or less in surface piercing mode.

Hope this helps..

I would think standing on an elevated platform in a kayak would spell disaster at some point. A Kaku Zulu (not really a kayak) has a seat that you can sit on the back portion raising you up a little higher but that kayak/board is designed for that type of use. I use an inflatable SUP board with a cooler for a seat to sight cast reds in the back lakes. Not a poling platform but I sit high enough to sneak right up on them. I have caught a red literally off the front of the board before.

Your PA12 is a stable kayak but honestly to do true shallow water fishing that kayak won't float shallow enough. At least mine wouldn't with me in it.

Thanks for the replies. I’m thinking in 6” water I’ll be good to do some stealthy poling while
Fishing. I found a few ideas but I’m not sure which one would be best. One guy just did a platform that lays on the seat frame and another guy made a PVC platform frame that you can place in the rear storage area or the area where the pedal drive is. I’ll have to play with the height but I’m thinking 6-10” might be all I need for sight fishing.

There is a standing Hbar for the Hobie 12.

The Hobie H bar (or stand assist bar) reminds me of something you see on Pinterest. Looks catchy to the eye but doesn't function well. I've seen many people with H bars (mostly) on their Pro Anglers and never seen anyone using it. Sure they can assist in standing up but once you're standing they're in the way. Unless you have bad knees or some other physical restriction standing up in a Pro Angler isn't hard to do. I've had 2 Hobie's (bought used) that came with H bars and I took both of them off and never used them. Not saying it won't be a good fit for someone else I've just never found anyone who likes having it on the kayak.

CCTX not trying to shoot your idea down this is just my experience with the H bar.

I have the H-Bar on mine and don’t use it like Jerry713 stated. It mine be useful with a platform though.

Agree, but if someone were say 5'9" and 150lbs, I think they are practical (in low wind).

For anyone over 6' tall and/or over 200lbs, standing in an unanchored kayak in any wind is a recipe for trouble.

The primary need to stand would be sight fishing. Probably useful if you live on the coast and you fish clear water, shallow flats and bays.

In the rest of Texas, the benefits of sight fishing are primarily in the Spring. There is hardly a day in the Spring with wind less than 10mph in most of Texas.

I had a Dagger Cayman, a OK Trident 13, and a OK Torque. I also had a Solo Skiff. I stood and poled all of those boats routinely. The Solo is the only one of the four that even approached being stable enough to handle even a short poling platform, but I doubt I’d have been comfortable with it and I never saw the need. None of those boats poled as well as my Skull Island skiff. A platform, in my opinion, would be more of a liability than an asset on a kayak. And as stealthy as a kayak can be, you should be able to see fish far enough away that the additional elevation isn’r really necessary.

Thanks guys. My primary kayak fishing spot is a spring feed 7 acre pond and sight fishing there is almost all year long. I can see where the wind would be an issue but I probably wouldn’t be sight fishing on those days.

Here is a guy who built a platform to rest on the Hobie seat.

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=52613

You could modify a heavy-duty expandable paint stick to use as a push pole... this way you easily can shorten the pole when in very shallow water.

I have never used the standing rails, so take this with a grain of salt... in my mind, the standing rails would be more likely to cause a turtle scenario. Meaning, if you fall out without the rails, you might simply fall out while leaving the kayak upright. If you fall out with the rails, grabbing the rails would be more likely to cause the entire kayak to flip upside down (or at least dump more of your gear out). I don't know if this is true, but in my mind's eye, this is how I see it playing out.

Looking forward to seeing what you " come up" with . . . no pun intended. The idea is great for a smallish pond and on days not fighting the wind.

I have published this photo before, me in my Meyers Sportspal S-15 canoe. I'm not standing on elevation but the vessel was so stable I believe one could likely easily stand on a platform 2 or so feet elevated. We lived at the very far tip of Lake Athens and I used to stand and paddle all the way to the boat ramp about ~1 mile away and sometimes the only time I sat down was to go under the bridge. I also recall crossing Wheeler Branch heading back to the boat ramp when I had it rigged with a trolling motor and I stood the entire way in a stiff cross wind. Other than my Blue Sky 360, nothing I've ever been in a kayak is even remotely as stable.

So, one could also likely get by with a shorter 13 or 14 footer Sportspal with little loss of functionality for your purposes.

Anyway, a lightweight option in the event you are going to spend too many dollars rigging up and modifying a kayak for your purposes.

How shallow can one go in a Sportspal? The old saying "it'll float in wet grass" is not very far off.

Brad

Nice pics Brad... makes me want to fish those pads!

Thanks Brad R. I’ll post whatever I come up with.